CIP and Public Works Departments will propose changes to BODR for Euclid and Pennsylvania Avenues; HPB Planning Department Staff recommends APPROVAL -- HPBoard meets on Tues, Aug 10, 2010, at 9:00 am

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City of Miami Beach
PLANNING DEPARTMENT

HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD
STAFF REPORT

FROM: Richard G. Lorber, AICP, LEED AP
Acting Planning Director

DATE: August 10, 2010 Meeting

RE: Historic Preservation File No. 7192
Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue between 5th Street and Lincoln Road - Streetscape Improvements

The applicant, The City of Miami Beach is requesting revisions to the 2002 Basis of Design Report for portions of Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Streetscape Improvement Plan, including the introduction of bike lanes between 5th Street and Lincoln Road on Euclid Avenue, and narrowing of vehicular travel lanes and increased landscaped swale areas on Pennsylvania Avenue.


HISTORY:


On April 12, 2005, the Board approved streetscape improvements to the Flamingo / Lummus Neighborhood, including along Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue


EXISTING SITE:


The application includes rights-of-way improvements in portions of the Flamingo Park Local Historic District.


THE PROJECT:


The applicant has submitted plans entitled “Euclid Avenue Roadway Improvements“ and “Pennsylvania”, as prepared by the City’s Public Works Department, undated.


The City is proposing to modify the cross sections of both Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, which were part of the overall Flamingo / Lummus Streetscape Improvements previously approved by the Board in 2005. The existing, previously approved, and currently proposed street section dimensions for travel lanes, parking and sidewalk and swale area, is provided in the charts below.


As indicated by the charts below, the overall paved width of Euclid Avenue will increase from the previously approved BODR dimensions of thirty-eight (38’) feet to forty-four (44’) feet with the introduction of bike lanes, for an overall increase in the paved street section of six (6’) feet.


The street section of Pennsylvania Avenue is also proposed to be revised as part of this application. Whereas the previously approved BODR indicated an overall paved street width of forty-eight (48’), the current proposal is to reduce the paved street section by eight (8’) feet to a width of forty (40’) feet.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


COMPLIANCE WITH ZONING CODE:


The application, as proposed, appears to be consistent with the requirements of the City Code.


The above noted comments shall not be considered final zoning review or approval. These and all zoning matters shall require final review and verification by the Zoning Administrator prior to the issuance of a Building Permit.


ACCESSIBILITY COMPLIANCE:


Additional information will be required for a complete review for compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 Edition, section 11 (Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction.) The above noted comments shall not be considered final accessibility review or approval. These and all accessibility matters shall require final review and verification by the Building Department prior to the issuance of a Building Permit.


COMPLIANCE WITH CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS CRITERIA:


A decision on an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness shall be based upon the following:


I. Evaluation of the compatibility of the physical alteration or improvement with surrounding properties and where applicable, compliance with the following criteria pursuant to Section 118-564(a)(1) of the Miami Beach Code (it is recommended that the listed criteria be found Satisfied, Not Satisfied or Not Applicable, as so noted):


a. The Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as revised from time to time.


Not Applicable


b. Other guidelines/policies/plans adopted or approved by Resolution or Ordinance by the City Commission.


Satisfied


II. In determining whether a particular application is compatible with surrounding properties, the Board shall consider the following criteria pursuant to Section 118-564(a)(2) of the Miami Beach Code (it is recommended that the listed criteria be found Satisfied, Not Satisfied or Not Applicable, as so noted):


a. Exterior architectural features.


Not Applicable


b. General design, scale, massing and arrangement.


Satisfied


c. Texture and material and color.


Satisfied


d. The relationship of a, b, c, above, to other structures and features of the district.


Satisfied


e. The purpose for which the district was created.


Satisfied


f. The relationship of the size, design and siting of any new or reconstructed structure to the landscape of the district.


Satisfied


g. An historic resources report, containing all available data and historic documentation regarding the building, site or feature.


Not Applicable


h. The original architectural design or any subsequent modifications that have acquired significance.


Not Applicable


III. The examination of architectural drawings for consistency with the criteria pursuant to Section 118-564(a)(3) of the Miami Beach Code and stated below, with regard to the aesthetics, appearances, safety, and function of any new or existing structure, public interior space and physical attributes of the project in relation to the site, adjacent structures and properties, and surrounding community. The criteria referenced above are as follows (it is recommended that the listed criteria be found Satisfied, Not Satisfied or Not Applicable, as so noted):


a. The location of all existing and proposed buildings, drives, parking spaces, walkways, means of ingress and egress, drainage facilities, utility services, landscaping structures, signs, and lighting and screening devices.


Satisfied


b. The dimensions of all buildings, structures, setbacks, parking spaces, floor area ratio, height, lot coverage and any other information that may be reasonably necessary to determine compliance with the requirements of the underlying zoning district, and any applicable overlays, for a particular application or project.


Satisfied


c. The color, design, surface finishes and selection of landscape materials and architectural elements of the exterior of all buildings and structures and primary public interior areas for developments requiring a building permit in areas of the city identified in section 118-503.


Satisfied


d. The proposed structure, and/or additions to an existing structure is appropriate to and compatible with the environment and adjacent structures, and enhances the appearance of the surrounding properties, or the purposes for which the district was created.


Not Applicable


e. The design and layout of the proposed site plan, as well as all new and existing buildings and public interior spaces shall be reviewed so as to provide an efficient arrangement of land uses. Particular attention shall be given to safety, crime prevention and fire protection, relationship to the surrounding neighborhood, impact on preserving historic character of the neighborhood and district, contiguous and adjacent buildings and lands, pedestrian sight lines and view corridors.


Satisfied


f. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic movement within and adjacent to the site shall be reviewed to ensure that clearly defined, segregated pedestrian access to the site and all buildings is provided for and that any driveways and parking spaces are usable, safely and conveniently arranged and have a minimal impact on pedestrian circulation throughout the site. Access to the site from adjacent roads shall be designed so as to interfere as little as possible with vehicular traffic flow on these roads and pedestrian movement onto and within the site, as well as permit both pedestrians and vehicles a safe ingress and egress to the site.


Satisfied


g. Lighting shall be reviewed to ensure safe movement of persons and vehicles and reflection on public property for security purposes and to minimize glare and reflection on adjacent properties and consistent with a City master plan, where applicable.


Satisfied


h. Landscape and paving materials shall be reviewed to ensure an adequate relationship with and enhancement of the overall site plan design.


Satisfied


i. Buffering materials shall be reviewed to ensure that headlights of vehicles, noise, and light from Structures are adequately shielded from public view, adjacent properties and pedestrian areas.


Not Applicable


j. Any proposed new structure shall have an orientation and massing which is sensitive to and compatible with the building site and surrounding area and which creates or maintains important view corridor(s).


Not Applicable


k. All buildings shall have, to the greatest extent possible, space in that part of the ground floor fronting a sidewalk, street or streets which is to be occupied for residential or commercial uses; likewise, the upper floors of the pedestal portion of the proposed building fronting a sidewalk street, or streets shall have residential or commercial spaces, or shall have the appearance of being a residential or commercial space or shall have an architectural treatment which shall buffer the appearance of a parking structure from the surrounding area and is integrated with the overall appearance of the project.


Not Applicable


l. All buildings shall have an appropriate and fully integrated rooftop architectural treatment which substantially screens all mechanical equipment, stairs and elevator towers.


Not Applicable


m. Any addition on a building site shall be designed, sited and massed in a manner which is sensitive to and compatible with the existing improvement(s).


Not Applicable


n. All portions of a project fronting a street or sidewalk shall incorporate an amount of transparency at the first level necessary to achieve pedestrian compatibility.


Not Applicable


o. The location, design, screening and buffering of all required service bays, delivery bays, trash and refuse receptacles, as well as trash rooms shall be arranged so as to have a minimal impact on adjacent properties.


Not Applicable


STAFF ANALYSIS:


At the time Euclid Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue were approved by the Board in 2005 as part of the streetscape improvements to the Flamingo Park neighborhood, there was not yet a Bikeways Masterplan in place. Such plan was approved by the City Commission on October 17, 2007, and Euclid Avenue was identified as one of the major north-south Avenues for the introduction of bike lanes to connect Fifth Street to Lincoln Road.


As indicated by the charts within the project description section of this report, as well as the street sections provided in the application, the overall paved width of Euclid Avenue will increase from the previously approved BODR dimensions of thirty-eight (38’) feet to forty-four (44’) feet with the introduction of bike lanes, for an overall increase in the paved street section of six (6’) feet. The overall width was mitigated by reducing the travel lanes from twelve (12’) feet to ten (10’) feet, which is an adequate width when dedicated adjacent bike lanes are provided. Staff believes that although the overall crossing distance will be increased by six (6’) feet, this is a modest increase that will allow for the creation of safe dedicated bike lanes, especially for families with children.


The street section of Pennsylvania Avenue is also proposed to be revised as part of this application. Whereas the previously approved BODR indicated an overall paved street width of forty-eight (48’), the current proposal is to reduce the paved street section by eight (8’) feet to a width of forty (40’) feet. Because there is not a dedicated bike lane on Pennsylvania Avenue and bikers will be sharing the roadway with vehicles, the reduction in vehicle travel lanes to ten (10’) feet would not be a safe roadway, when also considering the adjacent parallel parking. Staff believes that twelve (12’) foot travel lanes and eight (8’) foot parallel parking aisles, as proposed on Pennsylvania Avenue, will substantially increase the amount of swale area and landscaping, substantially reduce pedestrian crossing distances, and result in a safe, shared roadway for bicycles, vehicles, and pedestrians. Staff has no objections to the proposed modifications and recommends approval as noted below.


RECOMMENDATION:


In view of the foregoing analysis, staff recommends the application be approved, subject to the following conditions, which address the inconsistencies with the aforementioned Certificate of Appropriateness criteria:


1. Revised hardscape and landscape plans, prepared by a Professional Landscape Architect, registered in the State of Florida, shall be submitted to and approved by staff. The species type, quantity, dimensions, spacing, location and overall height of all plant material shall be clearly delineated and subject to the review and approval of staff. At a minimum, such plan shall incorporate the following:


a. A fully automatic irrigation system with 100% coverage and an automatic rain sensor in order to render the system inoperative in the event of rain.


b. Further study of the sidewalk and swale widths shall be required to ensure that sufficiently sized and appropriate street trees can be placed within the allowable landscaped areas, in a manner to be reviewed and approved by staff. At a minimum all sidewalks shall be 6’-0” in width, subject to the review and approval of staff.


c. The utilization of root barriers and/or structural soil, as applicable, shall be clearly delineated on the revised landscape plan.


2. All new and altered elements, spaces and areas shall meet the requirements of the Florida Accessibility Code (FAC).


3. At the time of completion of the project, only a Final Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or Final Certificate of Completion (CC) may be applied for; the staging and scheduling of the construction on site shall take this into account. All work on site must be completed in accordance with the plans approved herein, as well as by the Building, Fire, Planning, CIP and Public Works Departments, inclusive of all conditions imposed herein, and by other Development Review Boards, and any modifications required pursuant to field inspections, prior to the issuance of a CO or CC. This shall not prohibit the issuance of a Partial or Temporary CO, or a Partial or Temporary CC.


4. The Final Order shall be recorded in the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, prior to the issuance of a Building Permit.


5. The Final Order is not severable, and if any provision or condition hereof is held void or unconstitutional in a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction, the order shall be returned to the Board for reconsideration as to whether the order meets the criteria for approval absent the stricken provision or condition, and/or it is appropriate to modify the remaining conditions or impose new conditions.


6. The conditions of approval herein are binding on the applicant, the property’s owners, operators, and all successors in interest and assigns.


7. Nothing in this order authorizes a violation of the City Code or other applicable law, nor allows a relaxation of any requirement or standard set forth in the City Code.

RGL:TRM:MAB
F:\PLAN\$HPB\10HPB\AugHPB10\7192.Aug10.doc

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

From: "Cary, William" WilliamCary@miamibeachfl.gov

Subject: RE: Euclid/Penn Ave Cross Section Mods Proposed

Please find HPB Agenda and Staff Report attached. Please be aware that the Staff Report does not reflect information regarding travel lane widths which Jeff Cohen just advised Rick Saltrick of. Our Report must be based upon the information contained in the application and drawings submitted and available for public inspection, not on information received at the last minute. I will ask Rick Saltrick to clarify the new lane width information provided by Jeff Cohen during the HPB meeting.
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From: Saltrick, Richard [mailto:RichardSaltrick@miamibeachfl.gov]

Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 4:28 PM
Subject: RE: Euclid/Penn Ave Cross Section Mods Proposed

Our presentation shows 7-foot parallel parking on Euclid, and Jeff is requiring 8 feet. We are also reducing the travel lane on Penn to 11 feet.