William Cary Clarifies Research Findings, Position of HPB, and Role in Any Further Plans

Subject: RE: Meeting of MBTPA and City Staff 3/16/10 re: Flamingo Tennis Center


Mr. Cary was aware of most of the assertions made by Ms. Boyce and Mr. Berger at the meeting, but disagrees with many of those assertions based on his own research and examination of historic aerial photographs, as well as the original master plan for Flamingo Park, and his personal field observations of on-site of activities that currently occur in the open green space and have occurred there historically, as well as testimony given by Flamingo Park Neighborhood residents at the March 9th HPB meeting that diverse activities in the open green area are ‘good’ and desirable.

Mr. Cary further observed at last night’s meeting that members of the HPB at the March 9th HPB public hearing expressed serious concern about the appropriateness of expanding the density and length of the tennis court area further northward in the southeast quadrant of the park and the adverse impact that this would have upon the adjacent historic residential district, and Mr. Cary stated that this is an ‘appropriateness’ determination that only the Historic Preservation Board can make.

Any new proposal to the HPB would have to convince the Board members otherwise.

Wm Cary
MIAMIBEACH
William H. Cary, Assistant Director
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Tel: 305-673-7550 / Fax: 305-673-7559 / www.miamibeachfl.gov