To the Editor:
At the April 9 City Commission meeting, Chairwoman Christine King sponsored an amendment to PZ.1 to increase in the amount of additional density that can be received under Affordable Housing Transfer of Density Program from 50% of base density to 100% of base density. There was no discussion of this amendment other that the motions to adopt it. The motion was unanimously adopted by the commission.
This is similar to the last-minute substituted language that was included in the ordinance that allowed for an additional three stories of building height.
I see no policy reason to increase the amount of additional density that can be received under this program from 50% of base density to 100% of base density.
Coconut Grove currently doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to support increasing the base density of Coconut Grove projects by 100%. The Coconut Grove roads are badly clogged now and sidewalks are closed for years during construction.
In order to double the density of a Coconut Grove project, there would need to be infrastructure in place to accommodate the necessary portable water supply, sewage treatment capacity, garbage disposal capacity, per capita park space and hurricane evacuation time.
Recommendation: In order to protect the quality of life of Coconut Grove residents, Commissioner Pardo should sponsor an amendment to PZ.1 (with the advance 10-day public notice prior to the Second Reading of the proposed Amendment) to carve out the NCDs from the additional density that can be received under this program from 50% of base density to 100% of base density.
Barry Subkow
Coconut Grove
