HISTORY

On January 17, 2016, the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Sea Level Rise discussed the attached Ordinance amendment and recommended that the City Commission refer it to the Land Use and Development Committee and Planning Board.  Commissioners John Elizabeth Alemán and Joy Malakoff are the sponsors of the item. 

ANALYSIS

In an effort to mitigate the effects of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, the City has adopted regulations related to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) and City of Miami Beach Freeboard to encourage the ground floor of new buildings to be developed at a higher elevation.  In addition, the City is raising the levels of roads and sidewalks to ensure that they remain dry and passable.  However, until such time that the roadways are raised, there is a transitional period in which the sidewalk and ground floor would be located at different elevations.  This poses an issue for commercial buildings which may rely on customers passing by the sidewalk and being drawn in by the view of the commercial uses inside. 

As a result of the issue described above, the attached Ordinance Amendment would allow for buildings in commercial districts to be developed with an additional ten (10) feet of height, provided the ground floor is a minimum of 18 feet high with the review and approval of the Design Review Board or Historic Preservation Board, as applicable.  This would allow for the ground floor to be placed at a lower level, while providing sufficient ceiling height for the ground floor to be raised at such time when roadways and sidewalks are raised.

Additionally, the proposal amends and expands allowable height exceptions for sustainable roofing systems and alternative forms of energy. This includes, but is not limited to, solar roof, blue roof, white roof, cool roof, green roof, and rooftop farming roofing system, along with solar panels, wind turbines, and other alternative energy fixtures as allowable height exceptions in all districts except single-family districts.