COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – TRANSIT MASTER PLAN AND CONCURRENCY INTERMODAL FACILITIES:

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, BY OBJECTIVE 1, ENTITLED “LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS,” TO ALLOW “TRANSIT INTERMODAL FACILITIES” AS A PERMITTED USE WITH IN THE FOLLOWING LAND USE CATEGORIES: P LOW INTENSITY COMMERCIAL CATEGORY (CD-1), MEDIUM INTENSITY COMMERCIAL CATEGORY (CD-2), HIGH INTENSITY COMMERCIAL CATEGORY (CD-3) PUBLIC FACILITY HOSPITAL - PF (PF-HD), PUBLIC FACILITY: GOVERNMENTAL USES (PF), PARKING (P), GENERAL MIXED USE COMMERCIAL “PERFORMANCE STANDARD” CATEGORY (CPS-2), TOWN CENTER CORE CATEGORY (TC-1), AND TOWN CENTER COMMERCIAL CATEGORY (TC-2); AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO MODIFY THE DESIGNATION “RECREATION OPEN SPACE” (ROS) ALONG THE JULIA TUTTLE TO “PUBLIC FACILITY” (PF); AMENDING THE PARKING (P) LAND USE CATEGORY TO ALLOW THOSE USES PERMITTED IN SURROUNDING LAND USE CATEGORIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESIDENTIAL USES WHEN ASSOCIATED WITH A TRANSIT INTERMODAL FACILITY OR PARKING FACILITY; AMENDING AND UPDATING THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND RELATED POLICIES OF THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT AS FOLLOWS:  OBJECTIVE 1, ENTITLED “LEVEL OF SERVICE,” TO REFLECT THE CITY’S ADOPTED MODE OF TRANSPORTATION HIERARCHY; OBJECTIVE 2, ENTITLED “COORDINATION WITH LAND USE,” TO DETAIL THE NEEDS FOR TRANSIT INTERMODAL FACILITIES; OBJECTIVE 3, ENTITLED “ROADWAY PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION,” TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS; OBJECTIVE 4, ENTITLED “MASS TRANSIT,” TO ENCOURAGE MASS TRANSIT OPTIONS THROUGH THE 2015 TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN; OBJECTIVE 5A, ENTITLED “TRANSIT MODE” TO DETAIL OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE; OBJECTIVE 6, ENTITLED “MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY OPTIONS,” TO CLARIFY STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS; OBJECTIVE 7, ENTITLED “ENHANCE, PROTECT, AND PRESERVE THE CITY’S NEIGHBORHOODS,” TO  CLARIFY COORDINATING AGENCIES AND STRATEGIES; OBJECTIVE 8, ENTITLED “PARKING,” TO ENCOURAGE SMART PARKING SYSTEMS; OBJECTIVE 10, ENTITLED “TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS,” TO REQUIRE COORDINATION RELATING TO “TRANSIT INTERMODAL FACILITIES;” THE GLOSSARY OF TERMS TO INCLUDE THE TERM “TRANSIT INTERMODAL FACILITY” AND RELATED DEFINITIONS; AMENDING AND UPDATING THE POLICIES WITHIN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION ELEMENT TO INCLUDE COORDINATION RELATING TRANSIT INTERMODAL FACILITIES; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; TRANSMITTAL; REPEALER; SEVERABILITY; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendments at First Reading and schedule a Second Reading Public Hearing for March 1, 2017.

 BACKGROUND

On September 14, 2016, the City Commission discussed proposed amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDR) and the Comprehensive Plan, and continued both items to a date certain of October 19, 2016.  On October 19, 2016, the City Commission approved the subject Ordinance amendments at First Reading, with certain modifications.

On December 14, 2016, the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment was still under review by the State Land Planning Agency and other review agencies.  As such, in order to allow the state agencies sufficient time to review and comment, both the items were continued to the January 11, 2017 City Commission meeting. 

On January 11, 2017, the City Commission tabled, indefinitely, the proposed amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDR). The Commission continued the Comprehensive Plan Amendment to February 8, 2017, for a new First Reading, so that the Amendment could be revised, removing the proposed inclusion of ‘Transit Intermodal Facilities’ from all applicable Future Land Use categories.

PLANNING ANALYSIS

The Miami Beach Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was adopted by the Mayor and City Commission on April 13, 2016, the first comprehensive mobility plan in the City since 1999.  A key component of the plan is the modal hierarchy adopted by City Commission on July 8, 2015, as part of the plan development process. The adopted modal hierarchy consists of the following prioritization order:

·         Pedestrians

·         Transit, Bicycle, Freight (depending on the corridor)

·         Private Vehicles

The adopted modal hierarchy increases person through-put along City corridors, while at the same time addressing safety and mobility needs for bicyclists and pedestrians.  Based on the projects recommended in the TMP consistent with this mode hierarchy, projects that could be implemented in the next 5 years, depending on funding availability, could increase capacity in some corridors by as much as 50% person trips.  Increases in bicycle and pedestrian trips also improve the health of the City and further reduce traffic inducing vehicles.

The TMP identified priority transit and bicycle/pedestrian corridors throughout the City and identified the potential areas for future transit facilities throughout the City (Attachment 1).  Further, the TMP identified transfers as an essential part of an effective transit system because they maximize the coverage area and diversity of active transportation services. Hence, in order to obtain a successful transit environment, it is of critical importance to provide efficient and attractive transfer stops/centers to improve the quality of transit services as well as support the surrounding community.  Transfer stops, transfer center/stations, and park-and-rides (intercept garages) are all defined in the TMP as different types of transit infrastructure.

The TMP defines Transfer Centers/Stations as “a more elaborate transfer facility that may accommodate more than two articulated buses and may include amenities such as retail, restrooms and lounge”.  The locations for the desired transit infrastructure improvement from the TMP are summarized in the attached map.  Further, the City Commission has discussed the need for parking facilities at intercept locations throughout the City.  Intercept garages have been identified as part of the City’s mobility plans for over 15 years. 

Various amendments are being proposed to the City’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan in order to ensure consistency with the adopted Transportation Master Plan and Bicycle Master Plan. The following is a summary of the proposed modifications to the Transportation Element:

·         Ensure consistency with the Transportation Master Plan

·         Ensure consistency with the 2015 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

·         Reflect the City’s Adopted Mode of Transportation Hierarchy

·         Further clarify and encourage mass transit options

·         Clarify strategies to implement multi-modal transportation options

·         Encourage smart parking systems

·         Define “Transit Intermodal Facility” under glossary of terms

Additionally, the Intergovernmental Coordination Element is proposed to be modified to ensure that the City coordinates the planning and development of future Transit Facilities with Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and surrounding municipalities, as applicable.

Finally, the proposal amends the Future Land Use Map to modify the designation of properties along the Julia Tuttle Causeway from “Recreation Open Space” (ROS) to “Public Facility” (PF). Since a park is not practical or feasible within the Julia Tuttle Causeway/Alton Road interchange, this amendment makes sense from a Future Land Use Planning standpoint.  Additionally, this City is evaluating the Julia Tuttle interchange as a site to connect to regional transit services, as well as provide for intercept parking, both of which would connect to our trolley system. 

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING REVIEW PROCESS

This application includes a text amendment to the Transportation 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.

PLANNING BOARD REVIEW

On August 23, 2016, the Planning Board transmitted the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the City Commission, with a favorable recommendation. The Planning Board recommended the following modifications, which have been incorporated into the attached Comprehensive Plan Amendment:

1.    A modified title with minor clarifications.

2.    The removal of private vehicle targets, and setting targets for the alternative modes of transportation as minimum targets for the City’s 2035 vision in Transportation Policy 6.5.

SUMMARY/UPDATE

Since the last full discussion on this item, the City Commission has taken a modified approach to the proposed light rail system and connection to the mainland. As such, the City Commission continued, indefinitely, the previously proposed Transit Intermodal Facility LDR amendment.

The Commission continued action on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, to a date certain of February 8, 2017, for a new First reading.  In this regard, the Comprehensive Plan Amendment contains a number of important policies related to the implementation of the adopted Transportation Master Plan. Additionally, the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment is needed to address Concurrency Waivers for facilities on public property in the Government Use (GU) and Civic and Convention Center (CCC) districts, which include the North Beach Bandshell, Botanical Gardens and the Shane Water Sports Center. The legislation authorizing the approval of such Concurrency Waivers, which was adopted on December 14, 2016, is contingent on the modifications to the Comprehensive Plan proposed. Alternatively, a separate Comprehensive Plan amendment would be required.

Since the previous Land Development Regulations (LDR) amendment has been tabled indefinitely, there can be no approval or authorization for Transit Intermodal Facilities until such time as the LDR’s are amended in the future.  Additional amendments to the Comprehensive Plan would also be needed in the future, to create the framework to allow Transit Intermodal Facilities in future land use categories, and as an LDR amendment.  In this regard, the previous proposal to establish “Transit Intermodal Facilities” as a permitted use in certain future land use categories has been deleted.  Also, explicit references to ‘Light Rail’ and development allowances for uses accessory to future Transit Facilities (residential) have been deleted.

The State Department of Economic Opportunity has indicated that there are no objections to the proposed comprehensive plan amendment.  The Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have also indicated that there are no impacts to facilities and resources under their jurisdiction, and thus have no objections to the proposed amendment.  Additionally, the staff of the South Florida Regional Planning Council (RPC) has provided verbal support for the proposed comp plan amendment. However, before the RPC recommendation can be formally transmitted, the full RPC Board must vote on the item. The RPC is scheduled to vote on the transmittal on January 23, 2017. Since this falls outside of the 30-day comment period, there are no issues expected with the transmittal. 

The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendments at First Reading and schedule a Second Reading Public Hearing for March 1, 2017.

In accordance with Charter Section 5.02, which requires that the “City of Miami Beach shall consider the long term economic impact (at least 5 years) of proposed legislative actions,” this shall confirm that the City Administration City Administration evaluated the long term economic impact (at least 5 years) of this proposed legislative action.  The proposed Ordinance is not expected to have a negative fiscal impact upon the City.