Dear Editor,
Re The Live Local Act has Supersized Development Projects, I was glad to see the strong showing. The turnout (roughly 75 people) was remarkable given a Labor Day meeting at 10:00 a.m. It was unfortunate that District 114 Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (whose district includes Village West) and Senator Alexis Calatayud chose not to show in person. Rep. Cabrera did not even respond to any emails, texts or phone calls. District 113 Rep. Vicki Lopez and Commissioner Damian Pardo are to be commended for holding this workshop.
Although Pardo was called away on a family emergency, Javi Gonzalez did an admirable job helping ask questions, moving things along and working on follow-up to questions raised. Rep. Lopez arrived early and stayed late, answering questions and getting input.
Anthony De Yurre, a featured speaker and a land use attorney, was knowledgeable and presented clearly. He insisted that smaller lot sizes along the Grand Avenue, Douglas Road and SW 27th Avenue corridors and economics would keep the Grove protected. I am not certain that message was readily accepted by many in the room.
Frankly, the general mood is that the Live Local Act is a poorly thought-out law that will destroy many neighborhoods. Wynwood, which is fighting LLA towers, is the best example nearby. We are saved temporarily in the Grove only because of timing on Grand Avenue. The current Bimini project was well underway and thankfully, tries to conform to the architectural wishes of the NCD-2, as did the Gibson Plaza. But had these projects not already started, there is a sense that “there but for the grace of God go I.”
I was glad Marc Coleman was there to clear the smoke from an assertion by Mr. De Yurre that Miami 21 and the NCD’s offer protection on setbacks, codes and trees. Our NCD’s have no enforceable ‘teeth’ in the intent and the courts ruled such a few years ago. The NCD’s are routinely ignored.
A speaker from NCD-1 pointed out, passionately that the NCD-1 overlay provided absolutely no protection in their neighborhood where the Sears location is being replaced by a tower.
The other issue not answered is “what is affordable?” Is putting 450-square-foot studio apartments a solution, when families can’t live there? “Affordable” feels like a buzz word used to get the breaks these developers need. I am not against “affordable housing,” I just want to see it work. I also hope it is true that residents of the areas being displaced can have first pick at getting into the developments. I hope that will be honored. We’ve displaced too many over the years that have to rely federally funded projects where a lottery system almost guarantees local displacement.
My impression was that many people left feeling that there isn’t the protection we need. I have yet to see, in writing, how the LLA has to conform to NCD and Miami 21 zoning. In fact, the wording seems to state just the opposite.
John Dolson
Coconut Grove
