CMB LUDC meeting will discuss Short Term Rentals -- Wed, Oct 26, 4 pm

From: flamingo33139@aol.com [mailto:flamingo33139@aol.com]

Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 10:11 AM
To: Flamingo33139@aol.com


City Commission
Land Use and Development Committee,
Wednesday, October 26, 2011. 4pm
City Hall, City Manager's Conference Room


Last month, the Committee postponed consideration of this issue until this coming Wednesday.


We have reliable information that the short-term rental ordinance we all fought so hard for will be endangered by the action proposed by the administration.


If you can get to the meeting even after 4pm on Wednesday, 10.26, it would help. See below for information:


The CMB Land Use and Development Committee (4pm City Manager's Conference Room, City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive) will revisit the subject of short term rentals once again. Item one is a discussion of enforcement; item two is a discussion and possible Commission guidance statement concerning the application of at least three property owners to be included among those grandfathered in the Flamingo Park neighborhood. The guidance statement could include a request for the drafting of an amendment to accomplish that.


Since some FPNA members, including me, are away, it would help if Fighting Flamingos got to this meeting. I hope that you can urge the enforcement of the 2010 CMB ordinance in light of the FPNA resolution of 2009(attached).


1. the ordinance should be enforced;


2. no amendment should be made to the ordinance that would diminish its effectiveness, either by putting the whole ordinance at risk given the new state law prohibiting the City from making new laws limiting short term rentals or by giving additional properties openings when they clearly had not met the provisions of the FPNA resolution for grandfathering.


I think it important that the official position of FPNA as expressed in the August 2009 resolution be supported.


Jeff Donnelly

Short Term Rental to be discussed at Land Use and Development Committee meeting

Land Use and Development Committee
Wed, Oct 26, 2011, 4:00 pm
City Manager's Conference Room

Commissioner Jorge Exposito has placed on the Agenda --
Item 3 -- Enforcement of the Short Term Rental Ordinance

Jeff Donnelly and Eric Herarri advise that advocacy by the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association on behalf of effective enforcement is crucially important for this meeting.

From: "jeffdonn@aol.com"
Date: October 24, 2011 9:18:12 PM EDT
Subject: Re: 751 meridian

I hope that FPNA will be an effective presence at the 4pm LUDC meeting in the Managere's Conference Room on Wednesday, October 26.
 
It is important that FPNA insist upon fair and effective enforcement of ordinances FPNA has supported and helped to pass.
 
Jeff

Public Hearing before City Commission on Short Term Rental -- Scheduled for Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 5:00 pm

The City Commission has scheduled the Second Reading Public Hearing at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 on the Short Term Rental of Apartment Units / Townhomes.

The proposed ordinance precludes future additional operators to rent their properties short term and also sets a criteria to allow certain existing short term rentals to continue.  While there has been great difference of opinion on the issue, our Association has been consistently in support of such a compromise. 

While the final proposed Ordinance and staff recommendation is not yet available, it is generally thought that the proposal will be generally within the parameters previously stated and will be supported by the Association. 

City Commission to Decide Flamingo Tennis Facilities on Wed, April 14, 2010, sometime after 5pm

The City Commission will decide upon whether to adjust the Flamingo Park Tennis facilities at its meeting on Wed, Apr 14, 2010.  The discussion has been scheduled for sometime after 5pm along with a number of items of importance to the Flamingo neighborhood and other neighborhoods of the City, including consideration of an amendment to short term rental ordinance.  In Sep 2009, the Commission adopted a plan for 17 courts and a new Tennis Facility.  Controversy on whether the courts should be clay or hard surface has now led to a proposal to increase the number of courts.

The Historic Preservation Board at its last meeting approved the 17 court plan with the statement that the adopted plan fits the need for a balance in varied recreational facilities and green open space respite in a way that respects  the original plan for the park.

Our neighbor and member Wanda Mouzon shares with us the following article and thoughts:

Here is a link about Urban Parks and lists some of the great Urban Parks. I have been to all but 3 of them, and I agree that they are all examples of successful parks. The key to this success is in the definition. The larger and more dense the city, the more important it is to provide residents a place to escape into nature and experience trees, grass, flowers and the like. These parks depict the many ways that this "escape" can be realized and is often based on the local climate, topography, etc. The important point is that if we allow Flamingo park to be consumed by single use recreations, this escape to nature is lost and the primary purpose for an urban park is not even achieved!

http://architecture.about.com/od/landscapedesign/tp/cityparks.htm


Great City Parks
Landscape Design in City Parks and Urban Spaces
By Jackie Craven, About.com Guide

As cities grow, it has become important to set aside green space where urban dwellers can enjoy trees, flowers, lakes and rivers, and wildlife. Landscape architects work with urban planners to design city parks that integrate nature into an overall urban plan. Some city parks have zoos and planetariums. Some city parks encompass many acres of forested land. Other city parks resemble town plazas with formal gardens and fountains. Listed here are landmark examples of city park design.

Central Park in New York City1
Central Park in New York City was officially born on July 21, 1853 when the State legislature authorized the City to buy more than 800 acres. The enormous park was designed by America's most famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.

Parque Güell in Barcelona, Spain
Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí designed Parque Güell (pronounced par kay gwel) as part of a residential garden community. The entire park is made of stone, ceramic, and natural elements. Today Parque Güell is a public park and a World Heritage monument.

Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C.
Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C. extends 12 miles from the Potomac River to the border of Maryland. With hiking trails, a planetarium, an amphitheater, a dock, and riding stables, Rock Creek Park offers a retreat from city life.

Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California6
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California is a vast 1,013-acre urban park with extensive gardens, museums, and memorials. Once covered with sand dunes, Golden Gate Park was designed by William Hammond Hall and his successor, John McLaren.

Forest Park in Queens, New York7
Designed by Frederick Olmsted in the 1890s, Forest Park has 538 acres of trees and fields. Forest Park is located in the New York City neighborhood of Queens.

Balboa Park in San Diego, California8
Balboa Park in San Diego, California is sometimes called the "Smithsonian of the West" for the concentration of cultural institutions. Balboa Park encompasses 8 gardens, 15 museums, a theater, and the San Diego Zoo.

Manito Park in Spokane, Washington9
Manito Park in Spokane, Washington has a perennial garden, a rose garden, a conservatory with tropical plants, and a 3-acre formal European garden designed and built in 1913.

City Park in New Orleans10
Spanning about 1300 acres, City Park in New Orleans is one of the biggest urban parks in the USA. A highlight of City Park is the Bestoff Sculpture Garden.

Bryant Park in New York City11
Bryant Park in New York City is modeled after small urban parks in France. Bryant Park is located in mid-town Manhattan.

Cherokee Park in Louisville, Kentucky12
Amenities like A 2.4 mile scenic loop, a fenced dog park, and a bird sanctuary, make Cherokee Park in Louisville, Kentucky one of the most-visited parks in the USA.

To view this page in its original form, please visit: http://architecture.about.com/od/landscapedesign/tp/cityparks.htm

©2010 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.

City Commission to Decide on Short Term Rentals on Wed, Apr 14, 2010

At the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Meeting on Monday, April 5, 2010 it was reported that the draft Ordinance to be presented to the City Commission at its meeting on Wed, April 14, 2010 is consistent with the position of the Flamingo Neighborhood previously adopted by resolution.

Accordingly there will be consistent advocacy on behalf of adoption of the proposed ordinance by the Association.

A copy of the staff report and recommendation to the commission can be accessed at the following link:

http://flamingomb.org/2Q2010/CMB-short_term_rentals_Memo_4-14-10.pdf

A copy of the ordinance will be posted as it is made available.

Flamingo Continues to Seek Positive Resolution of Short Term Rental Issue

At its meeting on Monday, March 1st, the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association heard a report on the Short Term Rental Issue, discussed the issue, and reaffirmed its support to continue to seek a positive resolution on Short Term Rentals.  and adopted the following position::

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association continues to support the process of trying to obtain Commission approval of a short-term rental ordinance

•  that comports with the FPNA resolution of September 2009,
• that prohibits short-term rentals in the Flamingo neighborhood, and
• that provides eligibility criteria by which current property owners doing short term rentals might obtain an exception of the prohibition if they can show a consistent history of short term rentals and compliance with local and state requirements for resort, sales and other taxes. 

Short Term Rentals: No Recommendation from the Land Use Committee; Likely to Require Additional Committee Discussion; Commission Not Scheduled to Act at Feb Meeting

It is likely that there wil be significant discussion of the Short Term Rental issue at the Flamingo Neighborhood Meeting on this Monday, February 1st, at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvnai Avenue.

Access Reference Material
http://flamingomb.org/ShortTermRentalsLUDC02012010.pdf

Over the last several months there has been substantial community discussion of the issue among residents and property owners, including some who have been engaged in short term rental activities.  There has developed a consensus position  -- perhaps best characterized as requiring compromixe from all parties.  The consensus position was embodied in the Resolution adopted by the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association and was largely the basis for the Planning Department recommendation to the Land Use & Development Committee.  After extended discussion at its meeting on Thurs, Jan 28th, the Committee was unable to formulate a recommendation to the City Commission.  

This matter will be discussed at our meeting on Mon, Feb 1st and will likely require additional community discussion and Development Committee action before resolution at the City Commission level.

The following material includes (1) the recommendation of the Administration; (2) the policy recommendation of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association (Sep 26, 2009), and the proposed draft ordinance.

http://flamingomb.org/ShortTermRentalsLUDC02012010.pdf

Short Term Rentals in the Flamingo & Espanola Historic Districts

Much discussion and controversy has arisen regarding Short Term Rentals in residential districts -- both single family and multi-family zoned neighborhoods. Planning Department staff opined that the rental of multi-family or town-house propeties in districts that do not permit hotel uses for period of less than 6 month and one day as transient use, probhibited under existing regulation.

The City staff recommended a revision to the current code which would allow short-term rentals in RM-1 and TH zoned neighborhoods excluding the Flamingo Park Historic District.  At its September 9, 2009 meeting, the City Commission arrived at no concensus and did not adopt the proposed Ordinance.

Following the City Commission meeting, a group of residents concerned with short term rentals and a group of property owners currently engaged in short term rental of their properties conducted a series of meetings to evolve a compromise proposal. 

At its meeting of September 26, 2009, the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association adopted a resolution urging the City Commission to take the following action as soon as possible:

Preserve the current policy limiting rental periods to a six month and one day minimum in the RM-1 and TH zones only of the Flamingo Park and Espanola Way Historic Districts, as well as the exception allowing Bed and Breakfast facilities, while allowing the issuance of a "grandfathered" short term rental license to those property owners who qualify according to specific enumerated criteria.

The full text of the adopted Resolution can be accessed, as follows:
http://flamingomb.org/FPNA_ShortTermRentalResolution_ADOPTED_9-26-09.doc