Item Coversheet

Ordinances - R5  H




COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission 
FROM:Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager 
DATE:September  16, 2020
 

2:15 p.m. First Reading Public Hearing

SUBJECT:SUNSET HARBOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY OVERLAY - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AMENDING THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BY AMENDING THE “RESILIENT LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT,” GOAL RLU 1, ENTITLED “LAND USE,” TO ESTABLISH OBJECTIVE RLU 1.5, TO BE ENTITLED “NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY,” TO PROVIDE POLICIES THAT FOSTER CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS, PROVIDE FOR THE INCLUSION OF POLICIES THAT PROVIDE VISION AND GUIDANCE POLICIES FOR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND ESTABLISH A POLICY SPECIFIC TO THE SUNSET HARBOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH FOSTER ITS UNIQUE LOCAL, SMALL TOWN, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING, MIXED-USE CHARACTER; AND BY AMENDING THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP SERIES TO ESTABLISH A “NEIGHBORHOODS MAP;” PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TRANSMITTAL, REPEALER, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RECOMMENDATION

The administration recommends that the City Commission approve the subject ordinance at first reading and set a second reading/public hearing for November 18, 2020.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

On June 5, 2019, at the request of Commissioner Ricky Arriola, the City Commission referred the discussion item to the Land Use and Development Committee (Item C4 Q). The item was discussed at the September 18, 2019 LUDC meeting, and continued to the October 30, 2019 meeting with direction to include copies of existing formula establishment regulations for reference.

On October 30, 2019, the item was discussed and continued to the December 2, 2019 LUDC, with the following direction:

1. The City Attorney will draft an ordinance for review by the LUDC.

2. The Administration will place a C4 referral item on the December 11, 2019 City Commission agenda, as a place holder, in anticipation of a recommendation for referral to the Planning Board.

The December 2, 2019 LUDC meeting was cancelled, and the item was moved to the January 2020 agenda of the newly created Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC). On December 11, 2019, the City Commission referred the proposed ordinance to the Planning Board (Item C4I).

On January 21, 2020 the LUSC deferred the item to the February 18, 2020 meeting. On February 18, 2020, the LUSC discussed the item and continued it to the March 17, 2020 meeting. The March 17, 2020 LUSC meeting was cancelled. On June 30, 2020 the LUSC recommended that the Planning Board transmit the proposal to the City Commission with a favorable recommendation.

ANALYSIS

PLANNING ANALYSIS
On October 28, 2019, a town hall meeting was held in Sunset Harbour to discuss the above proposal. The discussion, led by Commissioner Arriola, focused on (i) the current mix of restaurants and retailers that primarily serve residents in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood, and (ii) the appropriateness of adopting regulations on formula commercial establishments. Sixteen residents attended the meeting, and a consensus of the residents present expressed support for placing restrictions on formula commercial establishments in the neighborhood, in order to ensure that restaurants and retailers in Sunset Harbour continue to serve the needs of local residents.

The following is a summary of additional issues raised at the meeting:

• The need to achieve a balance between zoning restrictions vs incentives to businesses and property owners;

• The need for a diversity of uses;

• The high rents in the area; and

• The need to ensure a proper mix of retail and restaurant uses around a vision for the area.

The following additional suggestions were proposed:

• Consider hosting a focus group with restauranteurs;

• Consider additional activation of the area through special events; and

• Conduct a survey of residents on what they would like to see in their community;

The administration and the City Attorney’s office have retained a land use consultant to study the appropriateness of regulations on formula commercial establishments in Sunset Harbour. The consultant’s study is attached to the companion LDR ordinance.

The proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment establishes a framework by which the Comprehensive Plan will support the unique identity of specific neighborhoods in the City. It encourages the use of zoning tools to encourage the uniqueness. The amendment is structured in a way that policies can be added in the future which apply to specific neighborhoods and provide guidance for future amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDRs).

Specifically, the amendment incorporates policies related to the Sunset Harbour Neighborhood. It encourages and supports LDR amendments which will achieve the following:

• Support the continued development of the neighborhood with a mixed-use nature, including light industrial, artisanal retail, small-scale commercial, and residential development;

• Encourage the establishment of small-scale businesses and restaurants that are intended to serve the residents within and in surrounding neighborhoods;

• Foster the establishment of businesses and restaurants which create dining, retail, and personal service experiences that are unique within the nation; and

• Support the ability of small-scale business to adapt to climate change and sea level rise.

This amendment sets a framework for future amendments related to the Sunset Harbour neighborhood. Staff has reviewed previous LDR amendments that have been adopted for the Sunset Harbour neighborhood, including the establishment of Parking District No. 5 and alcoholic beverage and entertainment establishment restrictions and they are consistent with the proposed policies.

A companion LDR amendment, which creates a prohibition on formula commercial and formula restaurant establishments, is under separate consideration. This LDR amendment encourages the establishment of small-scale dining, retail, and personal service experiences to service residents.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ISSUES
This application includes a text amendment to establish Objective RLU 1.5 and subsequent policies in the Resilient Land Use element of the Compressive Plan. Under Section 163.3184(2), F.S., this amendment shall follow the expedited state review process for adoption of comprehensive plan amendments. This process requires a public hearing by the local planning agency (Planning Board), a public transmittal hearing before the City Commission, after which the amendment must be transmitted to several state agencies for a 30-day review period, and a final adoption public hearing before the City Commission.

The amendment is effective 31 days after it is adopted if there are no appeals. In order to accommodate the 30-day review period required for the companion comprehensive plan amendment, second reading and adoption of the ordinance is recommended to be set for November 18, 2020.

PLANNING BOARD REVIEW
On January 28, 2020, the Planning Board continued the item to the February 25, 2020 meeting. On February 25, 2020, the Planning Board continued the item to the March 24, 2020 meeting. The March 24, 2020 meeting was cancelled, and the item was deferred to the May 19, 2020 meeting.

On May 19, 2020 the item was deferred to July 27, 2020. On July 27, 2020 the Planning Board held a public hearing and transmitted the ordinance to the City Commission with a favorable recommendation by a vote of 7-0.

CONCLUSION

The administration recommends that the City Commission approve the subject ordinance at first reading and set a second reading/public hearing for November 18, 2020.

Applicable Area

South Beach
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
Yes No 
Legislative Tracking
Planning
Sponsor
Commissioner Ricky Arriola

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Exhibit A - MAP
FA ORD - Comp Plan
Ad