Monday, September 3, 2018

Avoid the political distortions. FT&I report rebuts the opportunistic political distortions going on regarding plans for a Community Center.

Preserving Public records (the public records laws) are the best friend to an informed public.  We can go back and see what happened and when.  This is why I remain a huge proponent of transparency and posting our documents online for 24/7/365 for access by the public (and elected officials).  

I invite everyone to read the Franjo Triangle Commercial Island Charrette Report to get the straight story, rather than the distortions disseminated by less than correct political candidates, of how the Community Center has always been envisioned for the commercial area, not within any Palmetto Bay parks.


I have previously posted information on this FT&I district, as part of the DUV debate. See: November 16, 2014, The Franjo Triangle Commercial Island Charrette Report – posted online and Sec. 30-50.18 of the Village Code  http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1021/ML102110564.pdf  

Note that this is an 84 page document and is a slow download.  This is “A Citizens’ Vision Plan” November 2004 and was a partnership with Palmetto Bay and the Miami-Dade County Department of Planning and Zoning, Community Planning Section.

The failure of some candidates to even acknowledge their prior inconsistent recommendations during campaigns is troubling to say the least.  I am pleased to see her position ever so slightly evolve back to her original 2004 position, based (I believe) upon listening to residents rather than campaign consultants. This is why political candidates have poor reputations.  

Please look to page 23 for the recommendations from Group 3 - a group which chose current District 3 candidate Marsha Matson as its presenter.  Under my leadership, Palmetto Bay has complied with all the recommendations of Group 3, Marsha Matson presenter. See PAGE 23 of the Franjo Triangle Commercial Island Charrette Report

Here are the recommendations of the Marsha Matson table (Group 3):
Summary of requests:

• Entrance markers
• Narrowed streets with wide sidewalks;
• A dog park outside of Perrine Park
• Pedestrian bridges over U.S. 1 
• Improve Busway stops
• Improve pedestrian design
• Allow rental and owner-occupied townhouses is Triangle area
• Allow mixed-use in the Island area
• Develop town center similar to Miami Lakes’ Main Street centered around Franjo Road and Banyan Street
• Provide a village hall and community center on vacant property between Perrine Park and Franjo Road (Emphasis added)
• Provide additional access to park from Franjo Road, improve landscaping around Brandsmart
• Retain residential area east of Franjo Road

The above was taken from table 3, the table/group who chose Marsha Matson to present their visioning plan.  See table 4., Citizen's Requests, numbers page 26, for the list representing the compilation of the most common suggestions received during the Charrette process. 

As noted in the report (page 26): 

A theme that unites nearly every request is the desire to see that the Franjo Triangle Commercial Island area develop into a distinct area with an attractive public realm that is pedestrian-friendly, accessible to the surrounding area, and provides a range of residential and employment opportunities.

This list is as follows (again, taken verbatim from page 26):

• Improve public infrastructure: sidewalks, street lights, landscaping, water and sewer
• Announce arrival to the Village with entrance features, signs, buildings, fountains and landscaping
• Make Franjo Road a neighborhood main street
• Locate the Village hall within the Franjo area
• Encourage mid-rise business/commercial/mixed use development on the Island
• Provide a pedestrian friendly mixed-use town center in the area
• Incorporate shops, restaurants, hotels, cafes, office, residences and ‘mom and pop’ businesses in new
development
• Create North-South connectivity through the Island
• Connectivity to a future Metrorail Station at Banyan Street and the Busway
• Retain the residential area and its character completely
• No additional commercial development east of Franjo Road
• Provide a community center in Perrine Park
• Enhance bus stops with benches, trash cans, signage and improved street lighting (eliminate orange
lighting)
• Provide roundabouts and traffic calming on key intersections
• Incorporate pavers in crosswalks and medians
• Provide a dog park
• Provide a skate park
• Provide an upscale flea market
• Provide an amphitheater for public events
• Provide more east-west connections as pedestrian linkages or bike routes
• Build additional neighborhood pocket parks and Village green
• Create a transitional buffer between the commercial and residential uses
• Improve the physical appearance of U.S. 1
• Standardize business signage along U.S. 1
• Restrict billboards
• Improve Landscaping and appearance of the Brandsmart area
• Add new buildings to display cars and dealerships
• Consolidate large parking areas into structured parking
• Replace obsolete buildings with new structures that respond to the community’s vision
• Improve and enhance the Perrine Wayside park
• Provide entrance to the expanded Perrine Park from Franjo Road
• Improve landscaping along all major streets and corridors• Provide a charter school within the area

Who were the individuals recognized for giving up a saturday to assist in this vision?  See page 78:

Daniel Alfonso, Vee Baldeo,, Sharon Maclvon Bame,r Ed Beh,l Jim Berg, John Breder, Sean Brennan George Cadman III Ginger Cates, Henry Clifford, Tucker Crusan, Thomas David, Lowell Elsea Margana Elsia, Arlene Feller, Bruce Ford Clara Fowell, Sheiela Frazier, Kim Frederick Barbara Golob Phillis Guthrio Stewart Guthrio Bill Gwynn Bill Hall Tom Hall Dee Dee Heacock David Hill Lou Kassinosis Timothy King Carol Klingbeil Amy Lamneck Vicki Lamneck Chuck Latshaw Donna Latshaw Jorge Liapur John Lindgren Wally Lucky Ed Ludovici Phil Ludovici Patricia Gadala Maria Carlos Martinez Donna Masson Barbara Mathews Marsha Matson Karen McGuire Barrie McHugh Chris Merinkers Todd Morrow Benn Mullins Pamela Mullvis Lois Neidhart Paul Neidhart John Overholt David Palm Paula Palm Joe Porter Vivian Poulos Juan F. Quintero DMD Sandy Bruce Robinson Julio Rodriquez Moises A. Saca Susan Schreiber J. Serohia Bonnie Simon Shelley Stanczyk Bernard Steele George Steele Marcelo Stolarczyk Cary Sylis Ralph Thiele Carolyn Thiele Petra Vandervlugt Mike Werner Marvin Winhold Eleanor Winhold T




1 comment:

  1. what bearing does this have on whether or not people want a community center now, or whether building one is actually in the best interests of the residents? The same "community" wanted the DUV Code and that is already being re-written.

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