Test one, two. test one two community room. As you guys test. One, two. Thanks. >> Thank you. What was the Recording in progress. I don't hear you.
>> How is it? There we go. The date is June 17, 2026. Call in the meeting to order. All of you, if you can, please silence all your phones and beepers. [laughter] Sorry, >> I think that was a beeper. >> Good evening. This board is comprised of
seven members. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum and an affirmative vote of four members shall be necessary for the adoption of any motion. [snorts] If only four members of the board are present, an applicant may request and be entitled to a continuence to the next regular scheduled meeting of the board.
If a matter is continued due to lack of quorum, the chairperson or secretary of the board may set a special meeting to consider such matter. In the event that four votes are not obtained, an applicant except in the case of a comprehensive plan amendment may request a continuence or allow the application
to proceed to the city commission without a recommendation. Pursuant to resolution number 2021-118, the city of board has established the ability for public to provide comments virtually. For those members of the public who are appearing on Zoom and
wish to testify, you must be visible to the court court reporter to be sworn in. Otherwise, if you speak without being sworn in, your comments may not have evidentiary value. Lobbyist registration and disclosure. Any person who acts as a lobbyist must
register with the city clerk as required pursuant to the city code. As acting chair, I now officially call the city of Coral Gable's planning and zoning board meeting of June 17, 2026 to order. The time is [snorts] 6:02. Jill, please call the roll.
>> Ignasio Alvarez, >> present. >> Robert Behar, >> present. >> Alice Bravo, >> present. >> Jane Mclashian, >> present. >> Felix Partardo, >> here. >> Gonzalo Sanabria, >> here. >> Alex Bello,
>> here. Notice regarding exparte communication. Please be advised that this board is a quasi judicial board which requires board members to disclose all exparte communication and site visits. An exparte communication is defined as any contact, communication, conversation,
correspondence, memorandum or or other written or verbal communication that takes place outside a public hearing between a member of the public and a member of the quasi judicial board regarding matters to be heard by the board. If anyone made any contact with the board member regarding any issue before the board, the board member must
state on the record the existence of the exparte communication and the party who originated the communication. Also, if a board member conducted a site visit specifically related to the case before the board, the board member must also disclose such visit. In either case, the board member must state on the record whether the exparte communication and or
site visit will affect the board member's ability to be to impartially consider the evidence to be presented regarding this matter. The board member should also state that his or her decision will be based on substantial competent evidence and testimony presented on the record today.
Does any member of the board have such communication and/or site visit to disclose at this time? >> No. >> I went to the site yesterday. I just went myself. I stepped down and inspected the neighborhood. >> Thank you. >> Swearing in. Everyone who speaks this
evening must complete the roster on the podium. We ask that you print clearly so that the official records of your name and address will be correct. Now, with the exception of attorneys, all persons physically in the city commission chamber who will speak on the agenda items before us this evening, please
rise to be sworn in. Zoom platform participants. I'll ask any person wishing to speak on tonight's agenda items to please open your chat and send a direct message to Jill Menendez stating you would like to speak before the board and include your full name. Jill will call you when it's your turn and I ask you to be concise for the
interest of time. Phone phone platform participants. After Zoom platform participants are done, I will ask phone participants to comment on tonight's agenda item. I also ask you to be concise for the interest of time. Can I have approval of last month's meeting? >> Motion [clears throat] to approve.
>> Second. Motion. >> All in favor? I >> I >> I. >> Procedure we'll use tonight. [clears throat] Identification of agenda item by Mrs. Suarez. Presentation by applicant or agent.
Presentation by staff. Then I'll open it to public comment. First in chamber, then in Zoom, followed by phone. I'll close public comment. We'll have board discussion. Then we'll entertain a motion discussion and second of the motion and then board's final comments and finally vote.
Mr. City attorney, can you please read the first item? >> Yes. So, we have four items on today's agenda that we will consolidate for purposes of the public hearing. My apologies, dealing with some technical issues here. Um, so we have four items on today's agenda. Um, E1,
and I'll read them all together so that we can consolidate them for purposes of the public hearing and discussion. Um E1 is an orance of the city commission of Coral Gables, Florida amending the future land use map and mixeduse overlay district map of the city of Cro Gable's comprehensive plan pursuant to zoning code article 14 process section 14-213
comprehensive plan Texas and map amendments and smallcale amendment procedures from religious institutional to commercial mid-rise intensity and to include within the boundaries of the north ponds mixuse district overlay block 21 revised plat Gable's Douglas section Coral Gables Florida providing for provision serverability clause and
effective E2 is an ordinance of the city commission of Coral Gables making zoning district boundary changes pursuant to zoning code article 14 process section 14-212 zoning code text and map amendments one from special use to mixuse 2 and two in to include within the boundaries of the north pond's
mixuse overlay district mixeduse district overlay block 21 revised plat Gables Douglas section 110 Phoenicia corables Florida providing for repeat provision severability clause and an effective E3 is an ordinance to the city commissioner of Cro Gables, Florida, granting approval of a planned area development pursuant to zoning code
article 14 process section 14-206 general procedures for planned area development for a mixeduse project referred to as Crystal Residences including a private school and property legally described as block 21 revised platables Douglas section 110 Phoenicia Corables Florida superseding ordinance number 1909 and ordinance number 2962
including required conditions providing for repeated provision severability clause and providing for an effective date E4 is a resol Resolution of the city commission of Croable, Florida requesting mixeduse site plan review and an encroachment agreement pursuant to article 14 process section 14-203 conditional uses for a proposed mixeduse project referred to as crystal
residences including a private school and live work units on property legally described as block 21 revised plat Gables Douglas section 110 Phoenicia Avenue Corables Florida superseding ordinance number 1909 and ordinance number 2962 to permit the current accessory school as a principal use including required conditions providing
providing for repeated provision seability clause and providing for an effective presentation by staff. Yeah. Or are we going to hear all >> by the applicant or >> I'm sorry. Yeah. Correct. >> Mr. Chair, board members, good evening. George Zavaro with offices at 333
Southeast 2nd Avenue. Um we have a PowerPoint presentation if uh we could have it placed on the screen. Um by way of intro uh joining me this evening we have Mary Palasio from Crystal Academy uh Serena Santino and Tony Talabbert who
are the project principles uh our lead project designer Albert Cordov is here as well as our planning consultant Bob Chisum. We're excited to be here this evening to present what is truly a unique uh and important mixeduse project. a project that has been 5 years
in the making. It's a mixeduse project that includes residential live, work, and open spaces, but it's not your traditional mixeduse project. This project is anchored by a new permanent home for Crystal Academy. Uh I'll
discuss this project in greater detail uh uh shortly, but I think it'd be helpful to provide a little bit of background of how we got here today. >> [snorts] >> There we go. Uh, so this process began in 2021. That's when we first started
working with Crystal Academy. It has undergone an extensive historical, architectural, and public review process. As illustrated in this timeline, uh this project was carefully evaluated and it's been refined through
a historical review and architectural review process that went on for many years. And after years of hard work, we're here before you this evening to request the zoning approvals that are needed in order to make this project a reality.
The request before you, as was uh mentioned by your city attorney, is a change of land use uh from religious institutional to commercial mid-rise intensity and to add the property within the boundaries of North Pon's mixeduse district. It includes a reasonzoning
from special use to mixuse 2, a planned area development and a concept and and a conditional use for our proposed site plan. For many years, this property was owned by a church and it was leased to Crystal Academy. It's a uh for those of you that may not be familiar with Crystal
Academy, it's a nonprofit school here in Coral Gables that has served more than 600 families for more than 16 years. It is actually the only school in Coral Gables that provides specialized therapeutic treatment and education for kids with significant development and
learning disabilities. When the church decided to sell the property in 2021, Crystal Academy faced the real possibility that it would lose its home and its ability to serve the families and the children that depend on it. My client made a commitment at that time
to preserve the school on site and to invest in its future by dedicating a 5,000qt space within its project and to provide a 4,000 square foot outdoor recreational area for these children. This is being built by the applicant uh
fully funded by the owner and leased back to Crystal Academy for 99 years rentree. Uh this commitment is especially important given the growing need for these services and the lack of available institutions that provide it. While
Coral Gables is home to many outstanding educational institutions, Crystal Academy is the only one that provides this specialized care. This project will provide Crystal Academy with a permanent home where it can continue its missions for generations to come. And before we get into the specifics of this project,
I'd like to invite Mary Palasio up so she could tell you a little bit more about this important organization and what this project means to them. Thank you. >> Good evening and thank you for your time here today. Uh my name is Mari Palasio as George said and um I've been a
resident of Cory Gables for more than 25 years. Over the years I've always um been standing in this room and city hall because I have served in several boards advocating for inclusion and opportunities for residents with uh disabilities and students with
disabilities. But tonight I'm talking from a mother perspective and a founder of a school for children with special needs. 20 years ago, one of my sons was diagnosed with severe autism and um I was trying
to look for a place here where I live that I could find their services for my son and I couldn't find that and I had to travel and that's how Crystal Academy was founded 17 years ago because we had
a need in this city for the families that live here, for the families that live nearby to find a center and a school that would serve their children. Today, Crystal Academy serves the most vulnerable children in the autism
spectrum. Most of our children are nonverbal. They had feeding tubes, they use wheelchairs, and they have extreme behavioral challenges that require a onetoone intervention. They do get better, but they start that way.
I'm grateful to be here again today. This is the first time that this project comes to this board because having a rentree and a new building is just transformational for generations to come. Our building is aging. And I don't
know if you've been there, but it's just the amount of money that we spend instead of spending it in in in community based instructions, in tools, in specialized staffing. It's it's was just it's a burden. And the fact that
five Field Companies has honored the agreement that Century Builders did 5 years ago, we are very grateful for them having to do that. So here I am humbling just asking to see if you can move this project forward so we can continue
providing these children and these families with the services that they need that they can learn they grow in a place that this that they call home because they this is where they live. Thank you so much. [clears throat]
Having discussed the community mission that started this project, I'd like now to turn into the planning context uh and the design considerations that we took um into consideration when we first started designing this project. I think
it's important to understand the context of this area and where this project is. Um, at a high level, the project has 184 residential units, 16 groundf flooror live work units, a new educational
facility for Crystal Academy, and it also includes a 5,000 ft publicly accessible courtyard, and a 4,000 ft² outdoor recreational playground that will be used by Crystal Academy during school hours and open to the public in the afternoons. Uh and on weekends,
which is, you know, being a father, that's usually when you take your kids to these types of spaces. Um so in terms of location, the property is located right on East Ponds Boulevard, which is the main arterial roadway that connects Ponds into Douglas entrance and
Southwest 8th Street. The property serves really as a transitional area in the North Pon area. And to take a step back as to what the intent of the North Pon area was when it was created, it was a
undertaking that took many years to come across. Uh many workshops and community meetings were done, planning exercises. It was adopted at that time to try to promote the revitalization of this area of the city by encouraging new housing for young families and young
professionals. Create a walkable environment. City saw this area as an area that was uh ripe for growth because of its proximity to transit, its proximity to commercial uses um and nearby employment centers. And the idea was really to create a walkable
community. Bring in residential so it could be walkable to commercial. bring in residential so it could be walkable to education, bring in commercial so it could be uh residential so it could be walkable to all the different office uses in the area. And that's really what this project accomplishes. Uh and we
believe it's very consistent with the intent of the North Ponds area. And as you can see in this map, this property is directly adjacent to the one of the overlays in your North Pon area, which is the North Pond mixeduse district, which is highlighted in blue in this
exhibit. And directly to the west and to the south, you see that under the existing North Ponds framework that exists today, to the south and to the west, you could have 190 foot building with 125 dwelling units per
acre. To the east of this property is what we call the neighborhood conservation district. Uh and this area uh this overlay was created really to encourage existing garden style apartments to have additional development incentives to preserve them.
But it also simultaneously increased the development cap uh the development capabilities in this area by increasing the density and the building height to 100 ft and 100 units per acre. So this property essentially serves as a
transition in this area between the high intensity commercial and mixeduse corridor to the west and the midrise multifamily residential corridor to the east. Our request for MX2 and mid-rise commercial is intended to
create an appropriate transition between these two areas, between these two overlays, uh while still maintaining the mid-rise character of the area and not exceeding the allowable height that you have there today, which is 100 ft in height, but also having a zoning that allows us to
maintain and enhance this existing school that's on site. From a use perspective, the project's fully compatible with the area. It preserves the existing educational uses and it integrates them and introduces residential uses which are uh already
permitted within the broader overlay today from a height perspective and this gives you a context of the area. U you can see the project there um in the middle but here's a here's a better area. Uh from from a high perspective the way we
designed this building was to try to respond to the location. And this was as a result of a lot of feedback and conversations with area residents over the last 3 four years. Um, we incorporated a tier massing approach that Albert will explain that scales
down the height of the building from nine stories and approximately 93 feet on the western edge of the property that abuts the existing North Pines mixed juice district um and transitions as it goes west into the m into the mid-rise multif family
area to eight stories 83 feet which is well below the 100 feet that's allowed today. Um equally important if you can see from this uh aerial compatibility image is that the project's height and massing are very consistent with both
existing and recently approved projects in the immediately surrounding area. The architecture and design of this project including its proportions, scale and massing was heavily reviewed by multiple different levels uh and boards. It was approved by the board of architects. It
was unanimously upheld by the special master board and it was also upheld by the city commission board. So this is a project whose architecture has gone through a very strenuous and very detailed review process. With that context, I'd like to introduce Albert Cordov so he could walk you
through the project in greater detail. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, George. Mr. Chair, good evening board members. Um Albert Cordovas with Coral Architects at 4210 Laguna Street, Coral Gables, Florida. Um first and foremost, I want to thank you for your time this evening in reviewing
our application. We are extremely happy to finally be here before this board. This is a project that we've been working for quite some time with city staff, our client, the ex-clients uh but uh more importantly with the board of architects which we had
numerous meetings with and a true collaboration to what I think culminated with an incredible project, a beautiful project for the city and for this community. Um and since the onset of design um let's move the uh
since the onset of design I think we found ourselves with an amazing [clears throat] opportunity to create something beautiful in a small city block in a beautiful area of this uh incredible city. Um and of course one of our main goals was to take that existing
pedestrian realm to truly another level. And in doing this, I think one of the main design goals was to start with ground floor active spaces uh within the project. And in doing this, we actually, as you can see in our ground floor plan,
we anchor the main what we think and believe is the main visual corner of the project of East Pont Antia with our main entrance uh to the to the project. We also have within the 200 units 16 live work units that are anchoring a very
active use and space at ground floor. Um and again the goal was to maximize the true active spaces throughout the realm. Uh we also have uh the 5,000 square ft school, special needs school as Marty mentioned, one of our pride and joys of
this project and again anchoring with another beautiful green space on the northeast uh corner of the project. Um we felt it was important that not only anchoring the realm with the active use spaces but also providing additional
landscape areas which we have given this project throughout basically all the frontages additional spaces from that of the minimum required setbacks and it was not enough to do that. We also wanted to bring that green and quality of life spaces to the interior of the project.
We created a more than 5,000 square feet courtyard which is going to be um part of the uh the green elements and the open space of the project. We also flanked it by a pass through po from north to south to just expand on that
connectivity for the for the entire project. Um as we said before with we have 200 units. One of the things that we are very proud also is that our 301 parking spaces as you can see are essentially fully linered from the visuals from the
from the street levels itself. Most of the floors are typical creating that openness in the courtyard. Articulation throughout each floor varies a little bit to create the elevations that that we have presented. Uh and then we culminate at the top floor with the
eighth level being lower. That's one of the ways that George mentioned before that we essentially provided a an eighth level to ninth level transition from east to west. As you can see here, this floor houses our pool, our amenity area, and uh the additional units that we have
as the uh penthouse units. These are some of the elevation designs, but I want to before we leave you, I want to leave you with some of the renderings of a project uh that are part of your package. Again, everything designed with uh meeting the Coral
Gables Mediterranean standards approved by the board of architects with many of the features that we find in the true Mediterranean Coral Gables design. This is a view of the courtyard that I was mentioning before. Bringing in that quality of life again to the inside of
the project. Another view from above. All in all, we're again extremely happy to be here open for any questions and answers you might have. But uh this is one that we worked long and hard again with the board of architects, with city staff, with our client to again as I
said before in the beginning truly feel that is an amazing project for the city and for the community itself. Thank you very much. >> Thank you Albert. Um, so as Albert mentioned, uh, the P A request, which is one of the requests before you this evening, is what makes many of the
project's most significant design and community benefits possible. Uh, this includes the integration of Crystal Academy into the project, the use of active liners uh, to fully line the entire parking garage, um, expanded open space amenities that would otherwise not
be allowed under the existing regulations. For example, just to give you an idea, we're providing three times the amount of open space that's required by the North Pond's overlay regulations and 55% more than what your traditional PAD regulations um require. So, we are
exceeding the open space standards on all counts. Uh and as Albert mentioned, the reduced building height and envelope with tier building heights uh well below the allowable uh 100 foot height limits that are currently in place for the North Ponds Conservation District.
Like to take credit for many of these design features, but they actually came as a result of a lot of conversations and meetings with area residents and city staff over the last several years. Uh the proposal before you reflects that feedback that you're seeing this evening. Uh some of the changes that
we've made uh was obviously reducing the building heights. We reduced the project's overall F by more than 10,000 square ft. We incorporated a dedicated pickup and drop off area within the PO uh as was uh requested by some of the residents across the street in order to
minimize impacts uh on adjacent streets. And we made a commitment not to include any ground floor retail on the ground level. They're fully lined, uh, fully activated with live work units, and that was really to help with the transitional nature, uh, of the project. Um, I'm
happy to say that as a result of these changes, we've been able to obtain more than 500 petitions from area residents. These aren't residents in the other part of town. These are residents within eight blocks of this project. And I have a map here. Uh, hopefully
it'll pop up. But [snorts] uh we have met with many residents uh in this area over many years uh and we've spoken to a lot of them and their feedback maybe not all their feedback but a lot of their feedback has gone um into this project.
Here I'll give you a that's our project uh identified in red with all of the uh petitions in favor of this project and its mission uh highlighted in green. Your planning staff has also done a very detailed
review of this application. Uh they've prepared a very detailed staff report that's part of your record outlining how this project complies with each and every criteria in your code for approval and is recommending approval subject to certain conditions which we are in agreement with. Uh we agree with the
staff report. We believe this project contributes positively to North Pon area and achieves a lot of the goals and initiatives that were thought of when this overlay was first created um by delivering new housing opportunities, open spaces, and most importantly a
meaningful community benefit through the preservation of Crystal Academy for the next 99 years. And we ask for your support here this evening in accordance with the staff recommendation. Mr. Chair, uh thank you for your time. I would simply like to request five minutes of rebuttal at the conclusion of the public comment.
>> Understood. Thank you. >> Presentation by staff. >> Good evening. Jennifer Garcia, planning and zoning director. Thank you. So we are here for four requests. A smallcale map amendment to the future land use map operative plan. uh the zoning code map
amendment uh plan area development or pad designation and then conditional use. So as you know this is the entire block 21 of the declass section uh in um in between east pawns and Galliano and south of Phoenicia and Anthia to the
south side. Um this is an aerial as you can see it is um St. James Church right now. The structure it's home to Crystal Academy and I believe a church is renting there currently right now as well. Um, as far as landmarks, it is south of the women's club and to the
east of Chateau Blue. Um, to the east side of the project is the subject site is the multif family building. It's a different scale. This is a view looking south from the applicant middle. You can see the the proposed building there in the middle
the light colored um the proposed sorry the approved project that's just north is in the foreground. Um you can see the Douglas entrance to the right side and Pon Legon on the sorry on the right side and um Douglas Douglas entrance on the left side.
So the school was approved as a change of zoning back in 1967 as an accessory school to the church at the time. That was amended then later in 1971 the to allow that kindergarten to expand I believe to third grade and then again in
1991 to allow to fifth grade again still as an accessory to the school as a land use again is religious institutional significant. So the request again is comprehensive plan uh future land use map amendment z code map amendments planned area development of the nation
and then a conditional use. The conditional use has four parts to it. It is the mixeduse site plan approval um because that is the exceeding the required threshold uh for a public hearing for the site plan approval. Uh the private school is a conditional use
as well. uh live work units on the ground floors, conditional use as well as an encroachment on the Galliano side where the entrance of the school is. So currently the land use is religious institutional as you can see there and
what's proposed is a commercial midrise intensity. So north you can see the women's club to the south and to the east you can see multif family medium density and then directly west is the commercial highrise. that's bordering um
framing along Pon Leon. So looking at the context existing buildings are shown in white and the the subject site is the middle uh green block. Um so as you can see that there are a mix of different scales of buildings. Most of the larger buildings
are on on Leon and there are a few that are within a block um at the allowed height of 97 feet um directly uh south and to the east. Um but looking to the
future land use map of what's allowed for the height um with existing zoning and land use that height for those multif family buildings is 97 ft or 100 ft as Mr. Navaro alluded to for the residential infogulations or the RA
overlay. What's shown here actually is the six stories of the 97 ft of the MF2 um without the RA overlay. So you can see the red that's along uh Pon Leon to the left of the slide and again to those
those brown buildings are the existing land use and zoning allowed to have. So if they propose um they're proposing to change that land use of that site um from institutional land use to be um mid-rise commercial midrise
as you can see also there are some buildings so such as 911 Pon building sorry 911 East Pon is the address the condo building it is exceeding the allowed height you can see that the top of the slide here.
So the zoning code map amendment is including the change of zoning from special use to MX2 and also moving the line between the mixeduse overlay district and the conservation overlay district. So the conservation overlay district or
its formal name is North Pon neighborhood conservation district overlay um is really geared towards the preservation and conservation of these older apartment buildings that are in the North Pon area. So it includes additional uses that are allowed only in this area for MF2 properties and
additional conditional uses for the historic properties. There is a historic preservation benefits program when it comes to parking, TDR ascending sites and signage. And there's a garden apartment conservation benefits program as well that allows for variance
requests and also some um flexibility with parking if you add on to an existing structure that's built before 1964. That's the criteria to be a considered a garden apartment um in this area. And then for any uh new
construction, there's landscape requirements for the front yard. So there's no um walls or fences permitted. Uh there's limitations on the driveway widths as well as a parking setback to have space facing the the sidewalk for
those front yards. Um again there's no other limitations in the conservation overlay or new for new construction that limits height that limits F or denser setbacks. All that still applies with MF2 underlying zoning.
The third request is a plan area development or the pad is a nation. Um so their main um um benefit for this project is the Crystal Academy and I'll get to that in just a second. There's publicly accessible park that's going to be in the northeast corner. Uh
accessible after hours after um the school is out. Um crosswalks, internal drop off and pickup to make sure that all that activity of the school is happening inside the building and not along the streets. Um internalized circulation such as that pedestrian po
the courtyard and some uh public plaza on the south uh west side. So, as you know, the PAD allows for code deviations or deviations from the requirements of the zoning code and in response to public benefit. So, there
are two um identified code deviations that they have. They are proposing to have nine stories on East Pon when eight stories is allowed. That's only along the East Pon Deleó Boulevard side and as he said, it scales down to eight stories along the east side of the project.
Another code deviation is the ground floor transparency. They're only providing 27% along the north side which is Bonicia. So in in uh response to that they are offering 5,000 square ft of uh space on [clears throat] the ground floor for
Crystal Academy or a future nonprofit and such as Crystal Academy um cease to exist. Um the school would be able to be built there by the um applicant at no cost to the school and then there for rent free for 99 years. The 4,000 foot
park on the corner the norththeast corner of the property would be for daytime outdoor learning space for the school and then public use through a public easement um uh after school hours as well as a public easement for the pedestrian po and the courtyard on the
property. And the last request is the conditional use. This is a site plan. Again, the park, the school on the east side of the property, veicular entrance off the south as to not um impact the neighbors to the south of Antiga. You'll be
entering into the driveway on that side. Um the public plaza on the south uh west corner. Uh live works along the ground floor uh 84 units above. the courtyard again and the exit of vehicular traffic would be on the north side to not impact
uh the neighborhood. So that the the site is 1.49 acres. Uh the F proposed would be 3.5 or 126,000 square ft. The maximum building height
allowed per the um MF sorry MX2 zoning would be 97 ft. They are at 93 feet. So just below the allowed heights again eight stories are allowed per code. They're proposing to have nine stories on East Pon Leon uh through the pad um
designation. Um they're allowed to have 186 units per acre. Sorry 186 units total proposing to have 184 just below the allowed density. again 16 units on the ground floor of the project will be the school and
then um total parking they're providing is 301 uh parking spaces and a total of 20,000 square ft of open space. This is another rendering uh looking on the east elevation. This was reviewed by staff at the DRC
review committee uh back in January of 2022. Board of Architects reviewed it in 2022 and 2023. Um, and then they came back for a neighborhood meeting earlier this year. Um, here we are for pling zoning board. This would have to be reviewed um by the city commission for
two hearings for those ordinances. Letters were sent out to properties owners within 1500 ft. And I'm happy to see that it worked. We have plenty of people here. Um, so I'm happy that people got their notice and they're here to um um express our concerns or
comments. Um, so that was sent out for neighborhood meeting earlier this year as well as for this meeting tonight. Property was posted eight times. The website was posted eight times and the news advertisement was once for this meeting for tonight. So staff has determined it is consistent
with the comp plan as it is providing housing in an area that has been identified as an area for increased housing as well as um progressing our mobility um goals and policies of our comp plan. Recommend approval with conditions.
Those conditions are are um listed at the end of your staff report. But here is the highlight. a maximum height of nine stories or n 93 feet um 500 square feet of of space for Crystal Academy, a cap of 75 students, which is consistent
with the existing ordinance that allows the school to be a accessory use right now. um the removal of the arcade along the frontage of the south frontage and the west frontage to provide for front yards be more consistent with the
conservation overlay district and replace those arcades with stoops or or porches. uh incorporation of a landscape setback on the north side on Phoenicia and then a public easement required for courtyard and a covered walkway in the park after
hours and then of course the offsite improvements of intersection improvements, pedestrian crosswalks and the streetscape. I think that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. [clears throat] I guess we'll open it to public comment. And before we do, I just ask that everyone who's speaking here today, if
they can be concise, it seems like we have a lot of speakers both here and on Zoom. So, if we can keep it to three minutes, if we have to go over, that's fine. But let's just try to keep it to the three-minute mark. With that said, Joe, if you can call the first speaker, >> Carol Smith.
Good [clears throat] evening. My name is Carol Smith. I live at 824 Galaniano Street. It's two blocks away from the Crystal Academy and I've lived there for over 20 years. M >> Mr. Chair, can we ask the speaker to
speak into the microphone, please? >> So, um before I Oh my goodness. Before I begin, I I would like to say that I'm a retired teacher and have worked in both private and public
schools and um my grandson went to Crystal Academy for classes and at the same time I'm very concerned about losing the green space in our neighborhood. And um because of my experience working
in schools, I have an idea of how they change over time, how boards change, enrollment changes, funding changes, and all kinds of reasons that are un anticipated
that even though a school plans to be there for generations, they may need a larger space or a different space. and in generations to come. I wonder what will happen to, you know, with the 99th
year lease. [clears throat] So, with that in mind, um, I'd like to read this. If the educational component is being cited as a public benefit supporting this resoning, what ensures
that benefit remains if the school relocates, ceases operations, or is no longer in that space? How does the board evaluate the durability of a public benefit used to
support a permanent land use decision? If that benefit intended to be, is that benefit intended to be permanent and enforcable or contingent on circumstances that may change over time?
Once the zoning change is granted, what remains if the public benefit no longer exists? Thank you. >> Thank you, Jill. uh Carmen Diaz
and following speaker will be Miss Carbonel. Okay. Good evening. U my name is Carmen Diaz Bedron and I have been a resident of Cora Gables for nearly 60 years. I currently serve as president of the Villagers, a historic preservation
organization. I respectfully urge you to deny this proposed ninestory development. The project is inconsistent with the property zoning. The site is designated special use religious and permits a
maximum height of four stories. A nstory building is more than double the allowable height and a major departure from the regulations governing this property. This property is also inco This project, I'm sorry, is also
incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The area is characterized by one to fourstory buildings with four single family homes directly adjacent to the site. A building of this scale would overwhelm nearby residences and
permanently alter the neighborhood's character. This is a historically sensitive area. Six designated historic structures are located on Phoenicia Avenue and three on Antia Avenue and the neighborhood is
currently being considered for historic district designation. Approving a project of this magnitude would undermine preservation efforts and threaten [clears throat] character that makes this area unique. Residents made
their views clear during the community vision workshop, recommending development limited to two to four stories and even identifying this site as a possible potential park space. This proposal would completely ignores the
community's vision. The impacts on infrastructure are equally concerning. Narrow residential streets were never designed to accommodate a Nstory building and an over 300 car garage. Increased traffic,
congestion, noise and safety concerns will de directly affect nearby residents. So for all these reasons, its conflict with zoning, incompatibility with the neighborhood, impact on
historical resources, infrastructure concerns, and lack of general public benefit. We respectfully ask you to deny this application. We thank you for your consideration.
>> Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. Good evening. My name is Carelia Martinez Carbell and I'm here representing the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables. I'm president of the organization.
On behalf of the Historic Preservation Association, please accept this as an opposition to the project as presented. The key points are these. Their zoning violation. The block is
zoned special use religious with a fourstory max height. A Nstory building clearly exceeds this. It is incompatible with the neighborhood. Surrounding structures are
one to four stories tall. Four single family homes are directly adjacent. There's historic sensitivity. Six historically designated structures on Phoenicia,
three on Antia, and the neighborhood is being studied for historic district designation. Violates section 1-103. The zoning code requires new development
to be compatible with the surrounding architecture and protect residential neighborhoods from incompatible uses. It violates two additional ordinances. the North Pines Neighborhood
Conservation Overlay District, which is section 2-404, and the Coral Gable's Historic City Plan, which is ordinance 2011-13 both call for lowrise development in
scale with the neighborhood. It contradicts the community vision workshop. The city's own planning process called for two to fourstory limits and converting the site into a
park space. Infrastructure cannot support it. Narrow residential streets are not equipped for a nonstory building with a 300 plus car garage.
And the pad is quite misleading because we had heard that the uh public benefit would be a green space which really wouldn't be accessible um when would only be accessible when
the adjacent school wasn't in session. But this should never be accepted as a qualifying green space. But now we understand that it's Crystal Academy. And with all due respect, my niece is on the spectrum, but that's not a public
benefit. It's a private school with tuitions over $41,000, very limited population, and it's not open to the public. So again, I am absolutely respectful of what the school
offers, but as a public benefit, it does not fit that definition. And I'm sure other people will have that definition when they come up. So in closing, please understand this area is
under a commissionf funded study which is in consideration for historic designation and the project will directly affect the preservation of the garden of our lord. And if you haven't been in that area, please go and visit because it's a
beautiful green space. Second, the project is an encroachment into the North Pines neighborhood. The developer bought the parcel as institutional religious and seeks a variance to build its mixeduse development. This area is
under a commissionf funded study and consideration for historic designation. Third, the neighborhood is protected under the zoning code section 2-44 North Pond's neighborhood conservation
district, excuse me, it's a long long word there, district overlay. This code was passed to preserve and enhance the garden apartment character of the North Pines residential neighborhood properties. George
Merrick's historic city plan and again if you haven't read it I encourage you to read it refers to this area as the Douglas section and it specifically states on page 17 and page third uh page
33 how this neighborhood and this section should be preserved and developed but it should have its restrictions. And fourth, the proposed project's density will have an adverse impact on the quality of life and
wellness of the residents living on the abuing streets and the historic landmark surrounding the area, specifically the nationally recognized Coral Gables Women's Club and the Douglas entrance. And finally, the proposed project will
not only raise the garden of our lord, deemed a cultural landscape by two nationally recognized prominent M school of architecture professors, but will remove the historic green canopy and
heritage trees surrounding the property. If you saw the rendering, there's hardly any trees and the trees around that area are all 100 plus years old. Um, and then um I'm sorry I lost my and
heritage trees surrounding the property. They're original Tumeric's Garden City Plan neighborhood. The garden is also a memorial to World War uh veterans and a burial site. So respectfully, I ask that you deny
this proposed project as presented. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Through the [clears throat] chair. >> Yes. Yeah. If we could if we could limit the clapping after every speaker just so >> through the chair. Joe, how many speakers are there? Because we have a
we're going to terminate. I got I got a hard stop by 9:30. >> Okay. So the question is how many speaker? because I want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to come up. >> We have over 25. >> Okay. I think my my suggestion is try to
keep it to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to come up. Otherwise, we're going to we're not going to be able to see, you know, through this tonight. [clears throat] >> The chair, should there be a set time limit for each? >> There is a threem minute time cap, but I
know some speakers go over by a few. So, what I plan to do is call at least two speakers up so we kind of keep the speakers moving. >> I think it's important that everybody comes up, but I want to make sure that >> the time is allowed corre correctly. >> Correct,
>> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. >> Um I I agree with with Robert as far as listening to every every speaker and the chair 3 minutes, you know, times 25 that's about an hour and a half. It's 7
o'clock now, 8:30 hard stop. >> I just want to make sure. >> Yeah, >> Felix, that everybody >> No, I I agree 100%. But I mean, the due process I I really uh um so far we've had three speakers and I've learned something from each one of them. I don't
I don't want to stop that. So, I I want to make sure that that gets into the record. uh and and you know, respecting the hard stop at 9:30, you know, from uh our board member, uh I just want to make sure that we get everything on the
record and that um that we look at all the sides. We've already heard almost an hour's worth of presentation from staff and from the applicant. So, right now we're into three speakers and I think it's important that we uh do this in a very
fair process. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. >> The following three speakers will be Bonnie Bolton, Maria Longo, Maria Cruz, >> Miss Bolton, I think she was calling. She was just saying the next three so you could be ready to come up, but I think you were next. Miss Bolton,
>> I if you don't mind, I have I have to leave. So my my name is Maria Christina Longo and I live at 16 Fenisha Avenue at the same street where the proposed project is and I own this house and this
is one of the historic significant houses that they're talking about. I support preserving the school and I appreciate the effort to retain an educational use on the site. Keeping a school that serve children with autism
is a worthwhile objective. However, the issue before you today is not whether the school is worthy. The issue today is whether this application meets the requirements for a planned
area development or pad. The applicant is requesting a pad which provides flexibility from the underlying zoning regulations. In exchange for that flexibility,
a pad is intended to provide a significant public benefit to the community. I do not believe the required significant public benefit has been demonstrated. The school serves an important purpose,
but the majority of the students and families who attend do not live in the immediate North Pines neighborhood. I do. I live on the same street. The school provides a valuable regional
service, but it is not by itself a significant neighborhood public benefit proportional to the increase in high density, intensity, and development rights being requested.
The project's courtyard like Mr. Ravaro showed or the architect showed is an interior courtyard. It's inside the building. It is not
a public space. It is an open space. There is a difference between public and open. It is not public. An interior courtyard primarily serves the residents of the development, not the surrounding neighborhood.
If the board is inclined to approve this pad, I respectfully ask that the approval be conditioned upon the creation of a true public benefit. One way to accomplish this will be to redesign the project by flipping the
courtyard and opening to the public. creating a visible, functional, and publicly accessible green space that directly serves the surrounding neighborhood. If the city grants
extraordinary development rights through a pad, the public should receive an equally meaningful benefit in return. I just want to end by telling you this. The project has been in the process for
five years. It didn't pass with flying colors. It went through a very rigorous process because it was not well designed. As a matter of fact, the revision of the med bonus happened and
were triggered because of the design of this project and the potential impact. I'm asking you to please look at the facts, improve the project by giving it a real
public benefit. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Good evening. Um, I wanted to start off by mentioning that there are over 160 unique letters from residents
of the North Pon Garden Apartment District. And I also want to mention that the letters submitted um by the developer. >> If before you be if you before you start, if you can give your name and address. >> Um, my name is Bonnie Bolton. I live at
42 Phoenicia Avenue and my apartment overlooks the site. Um the form letters that the developer presented um a vast majority of them are from uh
Little Havana neighborhood. [gasps and sighs] Okay. Um, the proposed zoning changes for the Garden of Our Lord must be denied. The project violates numerous laws in our zoning
code and contradicts the very principles the city was built upon. The site sits in a residential neighborhood. Four single family homes are right next door. The block is currently zoned special use
religious with a fourstory height maximum. And if you look at the surrounding streets, they're primarily one and twostory buildings and um two threestory structures and one fourstory
building. And um it's also very important to remember that this neighborhood is being studied to potentially be designated a historic district. I'm going to cite section 1-103
of the zoning code because it's there to implement um George Merrick's original vision for Coral Gables and ensure that new development doesn't steamroll existing residential neighborhoods.
Um, new projects must be compatible with surrounding architecture and they must protect residential areas from incompatible uses and they must preserve the low inensity character that defines
these neighborhoods. Um, it also contradicts the North Pon neighborhood conservation overlay district ordinance which the city commission created specifically to
preserve the character of the North Pon Garden apartment district and it contradicts the historic city plan. quote, and this is from the north uh from the historic city plan,
multifamily residences were to be low in height and remain in the same scale as the single family homes. In fact, some multifamily residences were designed to
look like single family homes from the street," unquote. That's from the historic city plan. It also goes on to state that steps will be taken to quote save from destruction fullgrown trees
when new buildings are erected. All of the fullgrown trees and old foliage will be kept intact and utilized in arranging the landscaping of the newer buildings. And that's specifically from our
historic city plan which is a landmark landmarked ordinance. Also, it contradicts the North Pond's community vision workshop which um identified the garden and the playground
as two sites which the city needed to purchase to convert to public park space. And the PAD request um the under the terms of PAD it says that um a
project must provide substantial public benefit. What's being offered here is not substantial public benefit. It's a highly specialized small school of 40
students. Um, it only serves a very small segment of the population that has severe autism and is very wealthy. And also, they're supposed to be providing
20% landscaped open space, which they're not doing. So, I'm urging the board to please reject um the zoning changes requested by the developer. Four different changes. I think it's um way
too much. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Just a reminder, please keep it to three minutes, please. Thank you, >> Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. In case you're wondering, I care about the
whole city, not just a section of the city, not just a portion of the city. Cora gave us belongs to all of us and when a section of the city is affected all of us are affected. Several things have been repeated already. So I've been taking notes and I
think some of the stuff that the developers and Miss Palasio have said contradict what they're trying to do. For example, uh she said that this is for residents with disabilities. Well, most of the students are not
residents. She also said that is there's a need in this city for families that live here. Well, if they don't live here, the other places, too. I've also heard, not tonight, but I've also heard that moving
the the the children from this uh property will affect them. They're going to have to move for the building. So instead of moving them twice out of here someplace else and back to here, they
could just find some property if they if the property owners are so good that they want to help this uh children. I'm sure that they could provide something that will be just for the school and not
use the school as an excuse to be able to build nine stories. Um, we discussed the public accessibil accessible park. Obviously, it's not a park accessible to everybody because it's only partial. Most of the little
children that will go to parks do not go in late afternoon. They go in the morning because that's when they're home. The little kids that go to parks do not have to wait till after school hours to go to the park. That's a
fallacy right there. Okay. I was impressed by the picture um that Mr. Navaro showed. Beautiful building, but I couldn't see the women's club there. You know, it would have been nice to have to show the building and the women's club
so we could really get the idea of what we're proposing. It is a real shame that we're considering this a compatible project when it doesn't fit there. The building is beautiful, but there are better places to build it and there are
better places if they really want to help the school. But also, it caught my attention that there's a caveat on the 99 year lease. It says for Crystal Academy or another nonprofit. Another
nonprofit doesn't have to be a school. Could be anything that is nonprofit. And there are several nonprofits that are not schools. many of them. Okay. So, my last comment is going to be about how you if you looked at what they
presented, they claimed that there was a neighborhood meeting May 4th. I happened to be there and it was not a meeting. It was a way for the developers to show us what they were proposing.
But we all the people that were there, we couldn't talk. We could only talk to one on one so they could explain what they were showing, but we couldn't hear what the sense of the whole community was. That is not a community meeting.
That is a sales pitch. That's like going to a developer and looking at what they're proposing and putting your deposit down. Obviously, we and the people that live there in those gardening apartments do not see the
purpose for this and they are here. Most of them, a lot of them are here. And from the other side of Coral Gables, I'm here to tell you this is not what is proposed to be. This is not a public
benefit to the contrary. It doesn't benefit the the public that lives there. Like when you look at the map and you see the big buildings on the other side of ponds, there's a reason for that. There was a reason for the overlay to
protect this side, not the other side. So the big building, their property is on the other side. They could build it on the other side of ponds where the big buildings are and not on this side. Thank you. Next speaker,
>> Omar Packard, Maria DeLeon, Mariana Fletes. Good evening. My name is Omar Packard. I live in 911 East Pon Boulevard. I am a lifelong Coral Gables resident who has spent more than 40 years living
in the North Pon area. I have to say I am absolutely disgusted by the proposed development at 110 Phoenicia Avenue. The design is nothing more than a giant concrete box with a few cheap token Mediterranean details painted over it.
The kind of building that has no business being in our historic low-rise neighborhood. But my disgust goes goes far beyond aesthetics. What truly concerns me is what approving a project like this does to our city. Laws exist
for a reason. They are what differentiate Coral Gables from every other part of Miami. The tree canopy over our streets, the scale of our neighborhoods, the fact that a residential block feels like a residential block. None of that happens
by accident. It is a result of decades of planning and ordinances that were put in place to protect the city from exactly what is being proposed here tonight. And yet here we are watching those laws be pushed aside for a wealthy
developer from out of state who couldn't care less about us or our community. Let's talk about what's being asked of us tonight. This block allows for four stories. This project wants nine double that amount.
The street around the streets around are lined with one, two, and threetory buildings. Four families live in a single family home in single family homes right next door. There are ordinances that exist specifically to protect this neighborhood from exactly
this kind of development and this project violates every one of them. As for Crystal Academy, before Crystal Academy, there was a school on the same property called Guardian Shepherd, a school I attended. Some of my fondest
memories are running around on the field catching grasshoppers. If you look online, there are countless studies showing the positive effects of teaching autistic children around a nature-based environment. I've yet to see one study showing the positive effects of teaching children in a
ninestory building. Crystal Academy can exist with or without this development. There is no good reason for them to support a project that ruins our community, except for one. The developer financially incentivized and purchased their support by offering them free
rent. In closing, I want to make a plea to this board. Do not destroy our community. For once, show the residents of this city that their voices matter more than a developer's checkbook. Show us that a wealthy developer cannot
simply come in from out of state, violate every rule we have, ignore everything this community has asked for, and walk away with an approval because of their money and connections. The people who live on the street on these streets have trusted the city to protect them.
Tonight, you have an opportunity to honor that trust. Please do the right thing. deny this project. >> Good evening. My name is Maria Deon Fletes. I live at 825 Messina Avenue. I'm an architect. I'm also adjunct at
the University of Miami. Um I don't live directly in this neighborhood, but my daughter does live Caddy Corner, so I am in this neighborhood all the time. I just ask you, you've heard, I sent you a letter with all of the technical reasons why I believed that this was not an
appropriate building for this neighborhood. I'm sure you have it. Um, but I'm just here again just asking you to listen to the people who walk their dogs in the morning, before work, after work, who walked the Tintang Cafe in
this beautiful treelined streets with a lot of pedestrians. And this building would just realistically just destroy the historic character and the scale. It is very incompatible with the existing buildings that are there. Um, and Miss
Palasio, I'm sorry that you've been placed in this whole situation. Um, I think she's running a a lovely school. Uh it's a lovely mission and I honestly feel that there are other ways that they can be accommodated on this site that
would not destroy the historical character of this block. And I have spoken to the architect and the attorneys about this before at that community meeting. Um so I really hope that you take all of these comments into consideration and we ask that you um
consider rejecting these applications. Thank you. >> Thank you. If we can if we can stop with the clapping al together after every speaker please. Thank you. >> Hello. I need to be sworn in. Sorry. >> I swear. My name is Mariana Fletes. Um I
currently reside at 49 Phoenicia Avenue. I have a a big statement but I have heard a lot of what I'm about to say already. So I will skip for the sake of time. Um I will say that I am an
architect and I currently work at Joanie Plater Zipberg. We work a lot with codes and urban planning. Um but specifically I wanted to talk about the women's club. Um, directly next door, as you all know, is the Coral Gables Women's Club,
completed in 1936, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, and one of the last surviving examples of this architectural style in all of Florida. If we decide today that the NPCO overlay is negotiable for 110
Phoenicia, what stops the future developer, a future developer from making the same arrangement against the women's club? A national register's listing does not protect a property from local reasonzoning. The precedent set here matters. The garden of our Lord is
one of only three biblical gardens in the United States. Once it is gone, it cannot be replicated. Once this overlay is compromised, every parcel in this district is more vulnerable. I urge this board to deny the z the reasonzoning.
The overlays and conservation districts written into the city's code must be enforced or they mean nothing at all. I have grown up in Coral Gables my whole life. I was living in West Miami while I
attended the University of Miami and I specifically moved back recently within the year because of the beautiful canopy and because of the wide setbacks, the wide sidewalks. I love being able to walk my dog into a shaded canopy.
[snorts] And I think that this project directly violates that reason and I think it will be detrimental to the historic overlay. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker,
>> Alexis Santos, Judith Packard. >> Before Before we go to the next speaker, can we take a threeminut break? This gentleman needs to use the restroom. >> Sure. I have to use restroom. >> I have a motion for a three-minut break. >> Where is the restroom? [laughter] Okay.
>> in in in make it a very >> recording stopped. Morning. >> I'd like to welcome all of you uh to the city commission meeting. recording in progress. We can take our seats.
I can go ahead. >> Uh if you could just wait. We're missing two board members. >> Two minutes. >> I don't Hi, how are you guys? My name is Alexis Santos and my address is 1300 Pon de
Leon Boulevard, apartment 308. You may remember me from coming here and reading a letter from my friend. I helped collect approximately 500 signatures and support as well. Well, now I've recently moved here. I fell in love with the
neighborhood and couldn't think of a better place to be. And being here to support this project as a neighbor of Crystal Academy is just priceless. So, I'm happy to tell you that I am not only collected 500 signatures, now I can sign my own and I have it here and I also
have a friend of mine that signed hers today as well. Thank you. Do you want me to turn it into you? >> If you can turn it into Jill. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, >> Judith Par. read it into the >> following will be Maria. Maria
>> through the chair. Can we read the letter into the record? >> Yeah, >> we don't know what it says. >> Yeah. >> In support again. >> If you want to pass it around, Joe, we can >> if you want, we can pass it around in the interest of time. >> That would work.
>> And these were I believe that these were attached to the these are part of the the record. >> Oh, okay. That was new. I'm sorry. Good evening. My name is Judith Packard. Um, I live at 911 East Pon DeLeon Boulevard. I've lived in the North Pon
neighborhood for over 43 years. I'm here tonight because this project concerns me deeply as a resident and as someone who cares about the future of Coral Gables. I walk down these streets every day. I know the tree canopy that covers them, the quiet of the blocks, the way this
neighborhood has maintained its character over the decades. That character exists because this city has rules to protect it. Rules that this project violates. Not one person I have spoken to in this area supports this development. Not one. This project would
change everything about what makes this neighborhood what it is. And the people who actually live here do not want it. I also want to speak to the Crystal Academy argument because as a retired teacher, it is something I feel strongly
about. I've spent my career studying how studying how children learn and what environments help them thrive. The research is clear. Children, especially those with special needs, benefit enormously from access to nature, open space, and low stress
environments. A nstory building is not that. Green fields and open skies are. Crystal Academyy's students deserve better than that and so does this neighborhood. In closing, I'm asking this board to uphold the rules that were
created to protect this community and to listen to the residents who live here and will be affected by this decision long after tonight's meeting's over. Please vote no. Thank you. Maria, [clears throat] Maria Eisenwagon.
Following will be Lette Arango and Vanessa Salas. Good evening. Uh my name is Maria Sbanganger. My address is 800 to Glass Road 608 of Corable Street 33134. Okay. I'm here to support
um this project. One second. Sorry because I'm trying to my English is not good. Okay. Um, I'm here to voice my support for this proposed project. I believe it in represent and tonsful investment in our
community and I will have a positive impact on this neighborhood. New housing opportunities can help strengthen corables and support it continue growth. I am an in favor of this project and
respectfully encourage its approval. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Vanessa Salas. My address is 1300 Salceto Street, Coral Gables 331
[laughter] 34. I I really want to support this project because I think it's a great opportunity to help others especially with the Crystal Academia School for our
kids and they go to build they go to building a beautiful apartments on here at the Gables. I say yes for a beautiful buildings and a beautiful communities at Gables. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you, >> Jerry Ekerman Christopher. >> Hi, good afternoon. My name is Lisette Arango. I live at 4152. I'm sorry. Oh, sorry. Lette Arango, 4152 Southwest 13th
Street, Apartment 3, Cora Gables. [clears throat] Good afternoon. By the way, I've been reading about people saying this project is incompatible with the neighborhood. I don't think a neighborhood is defined by across the street. A neighborhood is the
place people call home. >> Excuse me. Can you speak into the mic, please? >> Lower the mic. lower the mic. >> Yeah, you could lower it. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. Should I read a start? >> No, no, go ahead. Keep going. >> Oh, okay. Okay. [laughter and gasps]
Okay. A neighborhood is the place people call home. Live, raise, children. These things are happening all around here in buildings just like this one. Doesn't mean that people who don't live in a house don't belong in this neighborhood.
I live in an apartment and it's my home. I am proud of it. I am proud of my neighborhood. I like to be proud and I would love to live here. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you,
>> Cheryl Eri. And then you could follow. Thank you. >> Good evening and thank you for your time on this project. I am against the ninestory building that it would be incompatible with the neighborhood. >> Name and address.
>> Yeah, if you could give your name and address before you. >> Cheryl Acriman, 816 Collola Avenue. It's in North Gables. But I do believe that this project is not going to be
um consistent with the study for the historical designation, the North Pines district ordinance and the historical city plan. It's located next to the women's club and that will place a burden on the neighborhood.
And please vote no. Thank you. >> Thank you. Christopher, please after Christopher Thomas Money and Scott Pearson. >> Good evening. Uh, my name is Christopher Sas. I live at uh 10630,
excuse me, 10630 Northwest 88th Street in Dural. However, my son does attend um the Crystal Academy. Um, and I'm here to speak for him because he cannot. Um, my son is one of those, um, students that,
um, Miss Maria Palasio spoke of that is non-verbal and, um, excuse me. [clears throat] Frankly, um, I believe that this project is good for the, uh, public here. I love this neighborhood as well. Um, sure I don't
live in the immediate vicinity. However, my son does and my wife and I come to this neighborhood all the time to drop him off at school and everything. So, we fallen in love with it also. And well, to be frank, hopefully we could move into this development at one day and uh
be able to drop off our son uh going down the elevator for, for example, instead of having to do this long drive and whatnot. Um, long story short, excuse me, the need exists. Um, it may not be needy
for everyone. Um, however, a good 4% of the population does show that up here on the spectrum. Um, so quite frankly, statistically speaking, one of your grandchildren would probably need this
school one day. And frankly, it's changed my son in ways that I'd never dreamed of. I thought he would never speak. And hearing him say, "Daddy, just last year," again melted my
my my heart all the way to my soul. Um the Excuse me. Sorry. Sorry. Um, I've heard arguments about this place being for only the wealthy, and I can
guarantee you. It is not. Um, I am going into that trying to get my son to be able to get the education and therapies that he needs. And this was the only place in the entire county that I felt comfortable and well [clears throat]
that he is attending and growing in ways again like I never ever imagined that he would be growing. I can see him growing into into a man that that that is going to be lovely and be able to communicate which
again is was my ultimate dream for this. Um, and as for the arguments for um, again, I I apologize. I must I I need I need to stop. Thank you,
>> Mr. Mooney. >> Good. Uh, well, I normally say good afternoon, but good evening. Um, first off, uh, Thomas Mooney. Um, and my address is 601 Navar Avenue. Um, I'm a longtime resident of Coral Gables. Um,
I've been a resident since 2000 and I live in North Gables. And, um, I'm speaking to you tonight wearing two different hats. Um, the first and probably most most important is I'm a parent of a son who is on the autism spectrum. And um just by way of
reference um he attended the Crystal Academy from 2010 when it was first uh opened up until about a month ago. He actually finished the upper school program and he's going to start a new program um in the fall. And the uh
Crystal Academy actually has become part of the fabric of that North Gables area. And I've seen the school grow personally, not just in terms of the number of attendees. My son first started attending Crystal for therapy purposes and then uh began attending the
school full-time in 2016. Um but the school has grown in terms of its mission um and in terms of its relationship to the city. Um and this is important because um an institution like Bristol
that has become part of the fabric over the last 16 years will continue to grow and and and become a more permanent uh part of the uh fabric of the community. But in terms of the experience um and the public benefit um my wife and I
tried a number of options in the public school for my son um through kindergarten and first and second grade and the public schools just were not able to offer him the type of education that he needed. Um, and so we uh had to
put him in a learning experience where he had one-on-one, otherwise he never would have flourished and blossomed the way that he has. And so from a public benefit standpoint, I can't underscore enough how important Crystal has been
over the last 16 years and how they will continue to be that uh major uh contributing institution to this community. Um, I also think it's important to um point out that um while
um it would be great if um Crystal Academy owned the property that it was occupying, they don't and they simply don't have the financial resources to purchase the property and they're struggling just to simply keep basic
maintenance and and basic up upkeep. And so, um, it's it's very very difficult for specialized schools like this to make it on their own. Um, lastly, um, and this is my second hat. Um, professionally, um, I've been an urban
planner for almost 40 years. I've been practicing in the field since 1989. And I can tell you that within this area, the code changes and the land use changes that are being proposed are fully consistent with the built context of the area and the future context of
the area. This is a property that is located between two major transit corridors, one on Douglas Road, one on Pon Boulevard. Um, it's a very walkable area that's close to a supermarket. It's close to a commercial area. And this has actually benefited the school because
all of their students and my son included have become very adept at using transit, using the trolley and be able to have those type of life skills that are associated with an urban environment which is very very beneficial. So with
that um I fully support the staff's recommendation and I would encourage you to transmit the proposal to the commission with a favorable recommendation. Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. Before he goes, Mr. Monique, what is your professional today?
What do you do >> currently? Well, for the next two weeks, I'm the planning director for the city of Miami Beach. And uh I've been the planning director uh for uh over 12 years. Um and I've been with the city of Miami Beach and the city of North Miami
Beach uh collectively since 1989 in the field of urban planning. Okay. >> Thank you very much. My name is Scott Pearson. I live on 4111 Santa Marorrow Drive. I moved to the Gables in 1974.
And I've seen the past governments of of our city preserve our city and the the beauty of the city and the the quality of life for the residents. But in the last few
years, I've seen more and more large buildings going up and traffic getting worse and worse. Great cities have great green spaces. We need more green space, not less.
The longer we wait to get more green space, the harder it is to get it because it's all going to be built up. The city government is supposed to
protect its people, its citizens. It's not supposed to be working for developers. And we need this garden, this beautiful garden to be preserved
and green space expanded. Great cities like Paris and London have height limits and vast areas of their city that they have protected for over a hundred years. Why can't a wealthy city like Cora
Gables do the same thing? I see no reason why we should bow to the pressures of developers when we have the resources to fund good
things like Crystal Academy and increase our green spaces. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Following art after will be Nicolas Cabraa Zuli
Partardo. Good evening. My name is Art Koserovichas. Uh I live at 24 Phoenicia Avenue. We we own a historic designated home there. Uh I've sent a letter, you know, with with lots of detail and you know, a lot has been said here. So, I
just want to uh uh kind of reiterate in in summary. So, again, we're residents of a historically designated home just about a block uh you know, half a block away from from the proposed de development.
And and we, you know, really strongly oppose and and have been, you know, through all the stages that that it has gone through. uh because the way it's currently designed, you know, it it it really doesn't uh fit the neighborhood
and and you know, again, a lot has been said about that. Again, you know, we are not against development uh and and we don't oppose thoughtful and and contextual development that you
know fits well and and brings beautiful architecture. So, uh and and you know having the school there is is definitely you know a plus and and you know it should should remain on site but in order to approve
this project you know it it needs to be significantly redesigned to to really match what the neighborhood is. And you know, basically, you know, the project as it is, it violates, you know, as as many
people already mentioned, many existing zoning and and legal protections. [clears throat] It also uh uh is not incompat. not compatible with the surroundings of the neighborhood. The the setbacks are
really extreme and unacceptable. I mean the the building, you know, the way it was shown also encroaches on on uh streets around it and definitely the infrastructure of the neighborhood cannot handle and and support the
density that that's coming, you know, and and there are more things happening. So, you know, there's a median on ponds that now changes all the traffic flow. There are other developments approved that they're coming up. >> If we add this building in and the way
that it scale and and the mass that it's proposed, uh there's no way uh it it's [clears throat] not going to negatively affect the whole uh area. And you know, also, you know, again, you know, a lot of things were said about PAD and the
public benefit. Again, I I really think uh closed uh you know, courtyard and and is is really not a significant public benefit that uh uh is required for for that type of approval. I think uh what
you know really would make this project uh acceptable is again you know if if the building height is reduced you know consistent with with the existing neighborhood and and surrounding context that the setbacks are significantly
increased again to allow for more pedestrian walks. uh that the density is reduced you know the number of units uh and and I think we really need to preserve like you know the speaker before me said uh the green space and
and the canopy that's there uh the project right now does not incorporate any of that uh in in its design basically everything is removed this massive building goes up uh and and that's it so again I think if it's
designed pedestrian friendly, if if it protects the trees, you know, the oak trees on East Bonds and Nilla, uh, you know, there are ways to do this project, you know, thoughtfully and and well, so uh again, uh, you know, we're opposing
the project the way that it stands. Uh but but definitely uh you know you could write a lot of conditions to to make sure that it meets uh the the uh zoning and and legal protections of the
neighborhood. Thank you. >> Thank you. [snorts] >> And David Winker thereafter. Yes. Good evening members of the planning and zoning board. My name is Nicholas Cabera and I reside at 45 Antia Avenue, Coral
Gables, Florida. For context, my building is located directly across the street from the proposed project on Phoenicia. I have made comments similar to these before and I'll be re reiterating some of those points. I'd like to express my support for this
project in all aspects. As a neighbor, I'm witnessing firsthand the value this project and others like it are bringing to my neighborhood. There are many reasons why this project is compatible in this neighborhood, but most importantly, the following. The
northeast quadrant of Coral Gables, this neighborhood, is probably the the last most ideal area for development in our city. And here are four reasons why. It has little to no historical significance.
I hear you. I hear you. That doesn't mean that there are not historic structures like the women's club. Number two, it is the most accessible area with Southwest A Street, Douglas Road, and Lune Road as its perimeter and
accessible roadways. Number three, it is also the most transient section of our neighborhood of our city with mostly rental apartment buildings and very few single family homes. Number four, this developer has worked hand inhand with the city to ensure
their project is smart development, not development for the sake of development. This is more of a reminder to my neighbors and fellow residents. There's an incredible opportunity before us to bring the appropriate type of growth to our city and to create a bright future
for the students, families, faculty, and staff at Crystal Academy. Additionally, staff's findings very specifically state that this project results in public benefits, including, and I quote,
enhanced open space, improved pedestrian circulation, and the integration of residential and educational uses. This can be found quoted on page 14 of the staff's report. I'd also like to make a couple notes on some of the points of
opposition. Somebody stated uh that we're losing green space. Let's be very clear. The green space is not currently publicly accessible. It's private property that belongs to
Crystal Academy through their lease. The green space, however, proposed by the new project is publicly accessible, and if I'm not mistaken, that's 5,000 square feet. Number two, the project is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. There
are other projects currently in development that are similar in size and density. An image was presented by the applicant which shows all other buildings that are much larger than the two to three story apartments already in this neighborhood. If that's not evidence about the compatibility of this
project, I don't know what is. I'd also like to uh make a perhaps well I can't make a correction on the record, but I'd like to bring something up. Miss Bolton stated that letters in support came from residents of the Little Havana area.
This is a very harsh accusation to make, particularly if it is untrue. If it is untrue, it must be appropriately corrected on the public record. With that, I'd like to submit my own signed letter in support at this time as
a resident of Coral Gables that lives directly across the street from this project. Thank you all for your time this evening. We appreciate uh your service to this community. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Good evening. David Winker, 4720
South Leune Road. I have a PowerPoint that I'd like to quickly go through. Thank you. Here we go again. Another developer wanting to build an outofcale project by getting the city to grant its
special concessions. Now, an out of town developer is before you asking the city to red to relieve it from its obligations under our city
code. Obligations it was aware of when it bought the property to build more than twice what they other would otherwise would be able otherwise be allowed to build. And this is a problem
that keeps happening in Coral Gables. This is a problem that residents are consistently expressing concern about because it begs the question, what are we getting in return
for these concessions to these developers to build projects that have significant impacts on our neighborhood? I'm going to go through the city code and I think I can show you that legally they do not meet the requirements to
allow them to do this. Neighborhood context matters. The property sits within an established residential neighborhood or single family homes directly abut
this project. Remember the comprehensive plan has this currently zoned as special use religious. That's what people rely on when they look at the future of the city. The current height is limited to four
stories and the surrounding development as you saw in the maps is predominantly one and twotory structures. The the I'm not going to belabor this. We've gone through this specifically put on the record the historic resources
resources that are at risk. I want to get into the code provisions. Section 103 of the zoning code states that the purpose is to implement the comprehensive plan, protect Coral Gable's historic and architectural character, preserve George Merrick's
vision, protect res residential neighborhoods from incompatible use, and requires compatibility with the surrounding architecture and development. This project clearly on its face conflicts with the requirements of
section 103. 200,000 square ft of development, 184 units, 93 foot out ofcale height. It also conflicts with the North Pond's conservation overlay.
The overlay district was adopted to preserve the neighborhood character, to preserve the garden apartment fabric. This is not what's happening. It's being ignored and there's no reason, there's no justification for
for not complying with the overlay. It conflicts with the Coral Gables historic city plan. Calls for the preservation of neighborhood character. Supports maintaining low-scale development patterns. nine stories is consistent with the objectives of the
historic city plan. It conflicts with the north pants community vision. The vision workshop recommended preserving the the garden apartment character recommended maintaining two to four stories encouraged [clears throat] preservation of scale supported
exploration of public park and open space opportunities. We're going to get into that how this doesn't do that. Comprehensive planning consistencies. Remember this was bought as religious institutional site. You're hearing a lot
of talk about oh Crystal Academy. Crystal Academy does great things in our community. No one's against Cris Crystal Academy. That's what this is zoned for. They should be able to continue to do that. The developer is the one that's undermining their mission and putting
what they're doing at risk. The compatibility analysis is clear. It's not compatible. Traffic and concerny problems, concurrency problems. I think this is one of the biggest areas. The traffic study does not take into account the
recent changes. You come in now, you see the changes on pon, you see the development. None of that's been accounted for in what they've been done. They should be sent back to the drawing board to bring that report and get that done properly. infrastructure concerns. These
neighborhood streets simply cannot cannot deal with the traffic that is going to come off of this parking garage. The most important and I think the reason that makes it clear that you should recommend denial is the failure
to meet with our code concerning PAD public benefits. The PAD process is intended to reward exceptional public benefits. [clears throat] applicant is seeking flexibility beyond ordinary zoning standards in exchange
for public benefits. What exactly does the code say? Three-section 501 says a pad can allow additional development rights only when the project provides quote substantial
additional public benefit. It's been a little bit of a moving target for us. At first it was, oh, we're giving some green space in in this interior space with limited access. Now, we're being told the benefit is the Crystal Academy.
Well, the Crystal Academy exists. It's not a substantial additional public benefit. Apparently, the benefit is they're not going to get rid of the school. That does not meet the requirements of the pad. The city must find equivalent public
benefits. So it must be at least equivalent to what is there. The question is what are we the taxpayers and residents getting in exchange for additional
height, additional density, increased intensity and the departure from the otherwise applicable zoning requirements. If the benefit is not equivalent, the pad must be denied. Again, claim benefit Crystal Academy
private school tuition of $40,000 a year. It calls for 70 students. That's $3 million a year in tuition that this entity is receiving, not open to the general public,
accessible only to a limited number of families. The PAD code is simply not met. It requires benefits to the broader community, not just people paying $40,000. Finally, I want to bring your attention to section 3-502C6,
which requires at least 20% of landscaped open space. The courtyard, if that's what the benefit's going to be, does not beat that requirement, and it [clears throat] does not satisfy the code. This is a bad deal for taxpayers.
We rely on our city government to negotiate with these developers. They want something from you. Please make them give something of value. Please make them do the hard work to make our community better.
It sets a terrible precedent. You've heard other people talk about it. What's going to happen to this area if you do this? We're asking for a recommendation of denial of all four of the special exceptions um that they're asking for to
allow them to build this project. Thank you for your time and service. Andres Himenez, Lucila Himenez. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Andres Himenez. I live at 888 South Douglas Road and uh I have been a resident of
Coral Gable since 1978. Um, I want to quote something here from an old friend. Where is it? Where is it? Right. Um, the quote basically indicates that this is what's happening here
today. Two groups of people trying to protect what they value. The residents are protecting a neighborhood deliberately chose that they deliberately chose. The developer is trying to increase the economic value of
the land it has assembled. And then my friend says the zoning board's job is to decide where the balance lies. We have to then to remember that the zoning board is appointed by the city and the name of the residents in order to
protect the best interest of the uh residents of this city. I also like to point out that the residents of the city, the current residents of this city, um many of whom you heard speaking in here have the right and the
obligation to maintain the uh the benefit the city in the state in which it was intended to uh to become. And uh this is what I see here that you know the residents are um uh opposed by
a group from somebody mentioned that they are from out of town. The uh company is from Chicago and uh you know it's not that they're every anybody in this country has a right to come here and do what they want. uh but you know
um there have been uh several situations in Chicago in which they were named and the situation was exactly the same. One of them was in well I lost it anyway. So, what I'd like to uh point out to you
is that uh uh you know the the foxes are getting closer to our hen house and uh basically you know these functions are very smart and uh in the way I see it
they had made a very very interesting um how should I say a strategy in selecting uh a small u entity that provides very good service I am sure to a small number of people but they have
used it as a sort of like a bone for us to uh accept and approve their project. So um again I do hope that you look after the residents of Coral Gables uh from by whom you were appointed and make
the right decision uh that one that you can go to sleep at night. Good night. Thank you >> Lucila Jimenez Swain and Anna.
Good evening. My name is Katherine Swain. I've lived in the Gables since 1969. I grew up here. I teach at Coral Gables Prep Academy. I'm a member of the Coral Gables Woman's Club, who has a
completely free children's dental clinic that does service Crystal Academy. I'm opposed to this proposition and I have a few questions. Number one, who's the realtor that
didn't tell this group that bought the property that there is a height restriction? You're welcome to buy the property, but it's in a historical area that's been designated by George Merrick, whose wife
was part of the Coral Gables Woman's Club. So therefore, why did all of a sudden this person or group who decided to buy the property say, "Oh, we're going to make a
ninestory building even though there's a restriction because we have it in our pocket or somebody else's pocket that we can change people's minds." And I'm so sorry if I'm boring you. I know you've been on your phones. I know you've been
on your watches. This is important to the people of Coral Gables. We live here because there is a design. Yes, I have watched a lot of wonderful
things happen in our city. growth number one, but I'm really concerned about how people are not paying attention to the guides. If there are rules, why are people
breaking them? If a realtor says, "Here's a property. You can develop it up to four stories or let's look somewhere else." We have so many places that developer
can go. Not only that, why are we using a company that doesn't employ the people from Coral Gables? Why are we going to Chicago? That boggles me. We have the University
of Miami. They have an awesome school of architecture. We have engineers that you are personally aware of. I mean, some of them helped build a building at EV 11:09 Almria that the person took down a little bit every day
and you guys worked on that. But as I'm looking at some of the notes that I made, um, if nothing changes, if you allow the the proposal to stand as it is,
you're hurting the city. Well, let me rephrase that. Let's look at George Merik's plan. If we keep George Merik's plan, Bristol Academy is still there. They can still be serviced by the Coral Gables Women's Club. People can still
walk the streets and be comfortable under the shade and everybody wins because that company that wants to buy the property can follow the rules that you
already set up, that George Merrick set up, that you are following. If in my classroom I told somebody, "These are the rules, but you know what? I'll change them for you. What is that saying? Are you being
wishy-washy? Are you not following the rules that you're supposed to follow? I'm not trying to be your mother. I'm just saying look at the rules that are in front of you. Follow them. Follow the people who have put you here.
There's no reason that that we can't follow these rules. Why do we have realtors? They take classes in ethics. They should be the ones saying this property has a limit.
I'm sorry I'm taking your time, but please, I'm voting against this. I love my city. I live, work, and play here. I I volunteer, but this is not a good proposal. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Anna. Anna Edmmono. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Hermanino. I live in 888's Douglas Road. It's just a couple blocks apart from the building project that we are discussing
today. is also a sevenstory building just to let you know and this project uh I really support it because it brings not only the opportunity to bring the stability to the um crystal
academy. It also brings more opportunity for housing and it opens also the possibility for more projects in the area that is already built with office buildings. There is dele and also
residential areas that Miami is lacking off of lacking off houses and buildings. This is a very good opportunity for Corables to grow up and also bring more people, good people to our community. I
appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, we have uh two more speakers and these are in Zoom. Um they must open up their camera if I'm not mistaken. >> Yes. To be sworn in. La olivos.
Hello. I can't um switch off my video for some reason. So, if you cannot um appear on the video, then you can't be sworn in, but you can make your public comment. It just cannot be considered testimony.
>> Can you try one more time, please? >> Trying here, but bear with me. My apologies. Would you like me to go to the next speaker who's on camera and gives you a few minutes? Oh,
>> yeah. If possible, so that I can try to figure out this technicality. My apologies to everyone. Sure. >> Katherine Cow. Hi, good evening. Can you hear me? >> We can hear you. Can't see you. >> Um, give me one moment now. Can you see
me? >> No, we can. Yes. >> Okay. >> You'll need to be sworn in. One moment, please. >> Will you raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth? I swear. So, good evening. Uh, my name is Katherine Gal. I live at 14944 Southwest 59th Street. Uh, nowhere near the Gables, but I have worked there and dedicated more than 12 years of my life
to Crystal Academy and the children that we serve. I'm here tonight not only as an employee but as somebody who has witnessed firsthands the impact that the school has had in the community and vice versa. While we are a private school, we
are also a nonprofit and every decision that we have made is driven by the mission to serve the children with specializ specialized needs and provide programs tailored to reach their fullest potential. Our focus has always been creating opportunities, independence,
and meaningful outcomes for the families and the children. I would like to address the suggestion that was made that we only serve wealthy families. That statement I believe has no merit. The reality is while raising a child
with profound needs comes with very large financial, emotional and logistical challenges, many of our families have spent many years fighting insurance companies for medically necessary services only to face denials, reductions in care, and lengthy delays.
As a nonprofit, part of our mission is also to work to raise funds to provide scholarships and financial assistance to children that do attend our school in multiple ways, not only for tuition, but also for the specialized therapeutic
services that they need. For years, our families have worked around an aging building. While we consider it very charming, also requires a lot of repairs, has many leaks, and we really look forward to having an environment
where we can focus more on serving the children instead of really worrying about what the next problem the building might bring. To be honest, this process has been truly frustrating over the last few years because we have often felt that we
have help right around the corner, but that has been difficult and has not happened. The building proposed, I believe, is consistent with the character and quality of Coral Gables, but ultimately my objective and my goal is that we want
to better serve our children. Being part of this community does allow us to utilize the urban environment and all the city has to offer, which provides valuable teaching opportunities for many of our students who go and walk to Target, who go to Publix to shop for
their groceries and meal plan. Most importantly, Crystal Academy is not just a building. It really is a community. It's a place where our children feel accepted, where our families have found hope, and where our staff, many who drive an hour or two, have dedicated
their lives to helping others. For many of us, this is not simply where we work, this is our home. So even if many of us do not reside in Coral Gables, this is again our home. At the end of the day, we're not asking for anything extravagant. We understand that there is
conflicting opinions about this, but we ask for the opportunity to continue serving our children in this environment that really does meet their needs. On behalf of the students, families, and staff, I ask for your support. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. [clears throat] Good evening everyone. Sorry about those technical difficulties earlier. >> My name you could be sworn in please. >> Will you raise your right hand to be sworn? Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give shall be
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but [clears throat] the truth. So help God. >> Yes ma'am. So, good evening everyone. My name is Dr. Laura Levos. I'm a child psychologist and I'm also privileged to serve as a current board member for Crystal Academy. I do not come to you to
pretend I have any real expertise in zoning, planning, or architectural studies. However, I am considered an expert in the field of autism and developmental disabilities. In our clinical community, Crystal is known as the school that takes the children with the most complex and layered profiles
that other schools reject. This is the only school of its kind in this community. I know it because I live it as an aid to Coral Gable's families in finding the right placements and educational environments for their children all over South Florida. I wonder for those that have spoken
against this project if they have ever stepped foot inside of the school, communed with the staff, children, and families therein. You speak about how Crystal does not provide any substantial public benefit. Has anyone ever heard of the unparalleled contributions Crystal and
their families have done to create an atmosphere and culture of inclusion for our city? How many families and children can finally feel seen, heard, and they finally matter to their city because of the work they've pioneered? Is that not enough of a substantial benefit for you?
You talk about green spaces, but what are green spaces worth if not accessible for every child or family? Take for example Salvador Park. It's an unparalleled green space for children and their families designed to be ADA compliant and friendly. made possible because of the tireless advocacy and
contributions of dedicated city officials, but also Crystal Children and their families advocating for it. Because of Crystal and their tireless work, CG Crystal Coral Gables is known as a beacon of what inclusion can do for a city. Research shows inclusion
benefits society in so many ways, including economic growth. It cultivates empathy and makes all of us more connected and understanding of one another. It is the ultimate example of what being a good neighbor is. Whether you live in a high-rise apartment or home, for those staying for those saying
it is a school for the wealthy. They are a school that takes Medicaid where families use scholarships to receive quality care. It is a school that is accessible for various reasons. We are continuously at the mercy of begging for donations to stay afloat. We hold our breath every year. A neighborhood made
from the heart. a heart that has room for every child in their family, regardless of where they come from or how their minds work. I also heard residents arguing that a child learns best in green spaces, especially neurode divergent ones. Valid. However, one of
the biggest agents of positive change in a child's education and therapeutic process is the relationship that they have with their educators and therapists. If one does not feel safe or have predictability in their life, they cannot learn and they cannot thrive. This is not just a theory. This is
neurology. Moving them creates unpredictability and risks regression. It risks employees and valuable trained clinicians and educators leaving this job to find something more predictable and perhaps less of a commute if moved elsewhere. What good is a green space if a child is stripped from their usual
routines, neighborhoods, and potentially the familiar faces that sit in the trenches with them day in and day out? I cannot stand before you and argue the nuances of zoning and planning, but I can stand before you and provide a voice for the voiceless. Hear their plea. Keep
them in their home. Thank you for your time. >> No more public comment. >> No more public comment. >> Then let's close public comment at this time. >> Thank you. Um Mr. Mr. Chair, if um the IT department could put the PowerPoint up, I'm not going to wait for it to go
up. I know you've had a very lengthy public hearing. I'd just like to take a few minutes uh to correct uh and clarify some of the statements that were made as well as answer some of the questions that were asked. The first question was well, you know, what is the commitment
or what is the um shity that Crystal Academy will continue to operate here? and uh we've entered into a private agreement with Crystal Academy as soon as the property was sold to ensure that they could remain operating. Uh obviously their facility is is not up to
the standards that it needs to provide the specialized care that they need. That building requires an infinite amount of repairs and they have been waiting 5 years for this new facility. But uh we also have a private covenant uh but we also have a a covenant with
the city and that covenant provides that Crystal Academy can't remain in this space if this project moves forward uh until they no longer pursue their mission. Um in the event that they don't and we anticipate that will be a very very long time from now. We hope they
never do uh stop because what they do is truly special. But uh we have a provision in the covenant that says that we will work with the city to select another nonprofit that does a very similar uh mission than Crystal Academy does. So this space is earmarked. It's
reserved for generations to come for this important need that this community has and this is the only institution in the city that does this. Um you've heard a lot about the garden of our Lord this evening and the garden on
site. Um this is an issue that we dealt with for 2 years. Uh and I want to address this is a private garden. Uh it's not accessible to the public. Um there is also mention of a pending historical study that is underway for this area. And there is that study is
looking at sites in this area that could meet historical designation criteria to make sure that a site that warrants historical designation that this city values very much are protected. And that is a study that we're in support of. But I would like to tell you uh something
that's very important that has not been mentioned. The historical significance of this site has been reviewed by your historical preservation officer, your historical preservation board, your city commission. They've all considered whether this site meets the criteria for
historic designation, and they've all concluded that it does not. Those determinations were subsequently upheld in court after various appeals by Miss Bolton, who you heard from tonight. So, we have four separate authorities that have reviewed the historical eligibility
of this property, the garden, and all have unanimously concluded that this property is not historic and that current study will not change that fact. Um, also the characterization and one thing
I'd like to mention is the existing garden is a private green space. There are no public green spaces on this property. This project will actually increase the amount of publicly available um open spaces, publicly available open
spaces uh by 9,000 square ft. And in terms of open space, this project provides 30% open space where your code requires 20%. For a P A of which almost 70% of it is open to the sky.
So this project is is delivering in fact public open space benefits. Um and that is a public benefit and it's been accepted in other PADs in the past. Uh, it's important to clarify that also the PA AD does not require that the
landscape space you provide is public. A PA AD allows you to provide both private and public open spaces. So, there's no requirement that this be only public in order to qualify. And that's an important distinction. Another item I want to address is the
characterization of the North Pines overlay by Mr. Winker as a low-rise area is factually and legally inaccurate. And I'll leave and I'll put up a picture here while I go through this because I think a picture paints a thousand words. Um, this is the context that we're
talking about here. This is the context that your board of architects reviewed in looking at the design of this project for architectural compatibility with the neighborhood. I think you could tell in this picture that this is not a single
family neighborhood. This is not a low-rise neighborhood. This is an area that is planned for mid-rise residential buildings. Uh that is what the North Pon area was created for. Um you could see
here that there are already many buildings residential office and mixeduse buildings that greatly exceed the height that we are proposing. So our project is very much in context with not only the planned
um framework for this area but the existing development framework in this area. And with that, I'd like to introduce Bob Chisum uh to who is our um urban planner with many years of experience uh to just talk a little bit about the North Pines area and how this
project fits into its context and then I'll say a few words and we'll and we'll conclude our our rebuttal. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Robert Chisum. I'm the uh founder, managing
principal of RH Chisum Architects located at uh 782 Northwest 42nd Avenue, Sweet 650. I've been a resident of Coral Gables since 1975
and uh we do some projects in Coral Gables. My latest project just went into the permitting process last week and we have another couple of projects that we're working on. So, I'm involved in in the area. I've known the area for many, many years, and I
frequent this area constantly. Uh, the city of Coral Gables is blessed by what they've done in the past and what they're doing in the present and what they're planning for in the future. And I think that
the outcome of this pro process that we're going through is exemplary. and everyone is to be commended, the the citizens, the staff, and the professionals. Um, I uh I've only been given a minute by
George to talk about this thing. I hope I can do it quickly and certainly under three minutes, Mr. Chairman, but um it it is I I you know, I have a master's degree in urban planning. I have a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in architecture. I've been
practicing since 1973. all aspects and I've had my company since 1978 and I continue to practice accordingly. Um I was the head of historic preservation for Miami date county at one time. I organized the official office and I was also in charge of the
handicap uh access program back in the 70s. So I've as a planner I was involved a lot in consensus with the in citizen input and that's the role of government and that we have to do but I think the
fact that for example that uh the team [clears throat] had the the five team had to go through five uh reviews by the BOA is a compliment to both the BOA and the team for the commitment to make sure that this project was exemplary in every
way and uh I think from I analyzed it clearly from an architectural point of view and in terms of just about every textbook aspect of how this project has been put together in terms of uh architectural design is an example I can
go into detail whenever the the committee requests if you if you do so and and I just think that the um the neighborhood uh context in terms of how this projects will contribute. The
public benefit is not only the academy in my opinion. The public benefit is the quality of providing residential components which are critical to the social environment of any community and any neighborhood. and the way it's been laid out, the way it's
been articulated by Corewell architects again and I I'm not a uh I'm not a hire gun by any yes I'm getting paid for this of course because my my my knowledge and my time is is requires that but um when
five contacted me I I told them let me think about it let me take a look to see if it was worth and had any merit and value and what the [snorts] city has done what the team has done what in the Citizens have every right to express their concern. The the future is always
an unknown, but uh the example we have here in the city of Corugos as to what has been accomplished over the years is an an example to everyone in in our country and everybody knows about the
city of Coral Gables so on and so forth. I I don't want to belver the point, but I think there's been professionals here who who know the context and have told you that this project will work and it will work
to the benefit of our community. Thank you very much. Thank you. So, um in terms of I know that [clears throat] there was comments about the substantial public benefit that the PAD requires. I think we've mentioned
there are open space enhancements. There are significant streetscape enhancements. We have created very large and well landscaped sidewalks. We've committed to installing 16 ft trees at the time of planting. Um but we all know we need schools. Uh we're very much in
need of schools, especially schools that serve childrens with disability. And if that's not a public benefit that provides an essential service to our community, then I don't know what is. Just to give you a monetary value of what this public investment in Crystal Academy means over the term of this
99-year lease, that would be $6 million, which is probably the largest public benefit contribution ever made by any P A that's been requested. Developers usually give a park after we've taken the density out of it. This is an actual financial contribution that's taking a
very significant spot in this building and it's being fully built out by this developer and maintained that way for 99 years. I'll close by saying that every community makes decisions about the places that it wants to create. Coral Gables is known as a city beautiful and
we often speak and you've heard tonight about preserving what makes the city beautiful. But what makes Coral Gables beautiful is not just its treeline streets or its world-class architecture or its art or its parks or its rich history. What truly makes this community
beautiful is a set of values we share as a community and the high quality of service and excellence that Coral Gables delivers to his residents. These values are the reasons why so many people, including myself, choose to call Coral Gables home.
This project reflects those true core Coral Gables values. The city's known for some of the best educational institutions in the state and nation. And that's because Coral Gables realizes that investing in public education and private education is an important public
benefit and public need that's worth investing in. And this principle should extend to every child with no exceptions. This project does more than just deliver new residential housing opportunities to activate an area or beautify and
activate a site with a new Mediterranean project. As you've seen before, it preserves and strengthens the only school in Coral Gables that services our most vulnerable kids, a resource that's impossible to replace and impossible to
duplicate if lost. So tonight, we have the opportunity to do something truly special and truly beautiful. We have the opportunity to create a project that reflects the very best in Coral Gables, a city that values excellence, inclusion, education, and service. A
city that recognizes that every child matters and that every family that lives in this city deserves to have access to the resources they need. Your staff has done a very detailed presentation. You've heard a lot of evidence on the record this evening. Uh your staff found
that this application meets all the applicable criteria of approval and warrants approval and we ask for your approval in accordance with the staff recommendation. Thank you so much for your attention, your time this evening. Our entire team is here answer any questions. >> Thank you so much. I'm going to open it
to board discussion and I'm going to start with Miss Bravo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I I have been looking at the the agenda package that included the architectural plans. Would it be possible to pull those up on the screen?
>> You mean you don't mean the PowerPoint presentation? You mean from the um in >> one of the attachments in the agenda package? >> The robust agenda package. >> It is the applicants. Uh >> yeah. >> Yeah. In the attachment a applicant that
[laughter] Sorry to put the technical team on the spot like this. Maybe we can I can ask a few questions. There you go. That's it. Um, could you flip to page 30 in that
PDF? page. >> Well, actually, if if it's going to be hard to scroll through um [laughter] the ground floor plan. >> But if you want to stop on
>> I think she's looking for the ground floor plan. [clears throat] >> If you stop >> probably A30 A30 >> actually page 24 if you want to stop there first. I could ask a few questions about that.
But that if you got there that's that's hard to put everybody on the spot. [laughter] Could could you just walk us through the a does this reflect the most current design the one that went through various iterations with the board of architects?
Is this the current iteration? >> The previous iterations what what changed? >> No, I want to know >> a little bit more about >> is this the most current approved version through all the >> correct. >> All right. So could you walk us through >> absolutely
>> the the design? >> So as I mentioned before the the primary goal was to provide active spaces throughout almost throughout the entire perimeter of the uh of the small city block. As you can see there we have the liner units in
blue. We have the main entrance of the project on access with what we consider the main focal point which is that artery. Uh that's the corner of uh East Pawn Santia. And then we circle back all around on Gallaliano. We have the
school. Uh we have the park um on the very norththeast corner. Um and then obviously we have the internalized coryard. But one of the things we did also we wanted to make sure that the complete circulation of this the
pedestrian uh was was unique in all in every sense. Notice that in the front setbacks on East Pawns and on Antia, we provided more than the required setback just to increase the landscaping somewhat and feel more of a beautiful pedestrian
realm. Today, the sidewalks that are currently there don't have that. You have the actual existing property abing right to the inside portion of the sidewalk. These are wider. These have more landscaping. Uh we wanted to bring more larger trees into the site as well.
And uh ultimately also we created the centralized PO. We didn't have to do that, but we wanted to make sure that that courtyard which is also set aside for public use had a very direct connection from the south and from the north extending to it with with a really
nice beautiful white pale. The last thing we did is also we wanted to make sure that the vehicles and the entrance and the drop off areas to the school were totally internalized. We created a second lane. It's a oneway uh direction from south to north, but we
created a second lane to be able to have the pass through of vehicular cars coming into an internalized entrance to the parking garage which works in a clockwise direction, not affecting the drop off areas as well. And ultimately, we internalize the loading facilities
which have direct access to one of the elevator cores for moveins and move outs. So again, all in favor of creating a beautiful pedestrian realm with minimizing the curb cuts and enhancing the pedestrian quality and the connectivity.
>> Okay. And then on the north side of Phoenicia, that's where you have the the women's club. >> On the north side is where we have across the the street and and we look at the elevations of that where even though we have a small amount of back house areas there that are required by code
like the uh FPL vault uh and and some of those items, we dressed it up in a way that they look in complete harmony with the building. It's a residential appearance throughout. And does that street also have the increased setbacks?
>> Everything has. Yes. Correct. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Um >> including the park which really anchors that corner really beautiful which it does not provide it provides a relief of a massing in the corner >> and that park is completely open to the public. >> It is open to the public after hours
after the school closes. It is open to the co. >> So is it fenced in? >> It's dual use. Right. >> Right. Could you You're on 30. Could you go back to 24? Page 24 of the PDF.
Yeah, you're very close. Right. Um I I found this view uh interesting in terms of putting things into context on the lower leftand corner. That's the Douglas entrance property. >> Correct. >> How tall are those buildings?
Do we know the height of those buildings? How many floors? >> The height of those buildings is probably including the ones across bonds are 16 stories, 14 stories, 10 stories higher than us for sure. >> Okay. >> Yeah. the entire overlay. If you if we look at the map also as well, uh it is
essentially allowing the height that we have and even a few more feet than we have proposed here. >> And then on on ponds, we can see that there's two tall buildings. There's the glass one, the one behind it, and then after that, there's like two smaller
properties. I think one of them is a a motel, >> correct? But those are allowed to be, and maybe this is a question for the director, those two properties south of the tall buildings on ponds, the zoning there would allow those to be the same height.
>> That could go up to 190 ft. >> Thank you, Mr. Director. >> Thank you. >> Yes. So, all the properties you see on Post Leon are zone MX3, they're allowed to be 150 or 190.5 with Mediterranean bonus, >> right? So like that first glass one that
we see >> that is that representative of what's allowed there? >> That's probably 150 cuz it's not Mediterranean >> and and we're allowed to go up how high >> to 190 with a Mediterranean bonus. >> All right. Um and then there's the the
subject property and then you can see I guess other buildings here that have been approved, you know. So, I think this gives some context that that what you're proposing here is not scale. >> We created that slide for that same
reason because it's very telling. Um, if we look at one specific little property here and there, yeah, they're scattered, smaller. Uh, but the entire area is destined for that. It was zoned for that. And it uh starts being exactly what we're looking at. It's in right in
context with a lot of the buildings out there which are even taller than us. And I imagine I I when I look at this and and there's that motel property south of the two tall buildings on ponds, I imagine it's only a matter of time before >> it probably is. I think it's on the market.
>> Very valuable property. [laughter] >> Um okay. I I I I think this is an interesting area. Um especially when you look at the context of of Douglas entrance and and the volume of office space that's there. um you know in in
terms of reducing traffic, having habitable spaces that complement those office uses that that seems to me like smart planning for this area. Um so I a question to our staff. Um you know there
there were different issues raised um during the public comment period is did you hear anything that that wasn't addressed or reviewed by staff in providing the recommendation? Well, I heard I heard concerns about traffic and we have a traffic study. Um, we had the consultant here as well. I heard
concerns about the historic and we went through the historic process um and beyond. Um, other concerns I I heard about was the city plan which wouldn't be applicable here because that's really dealing with the rightway and changes to the rightway and those are the way we
amend them as well. Um, our historic u officer of the city did not deem this change to be a change to the city plan. So, we didn't go through that process. Um, I'm I'm trying to think any other concerns, but again, this has been through a long lengthy review process
with the city staff, with the boards, with the city commission even. >> So, is this a typical timeline for a project >> in the city of >> expanded? Okay. So, in in order to summarize what you said, is it is it
safe to say that then the comments you heard here were vetted and and considered and staffed the the issues that were made in the comments. >> Yes. >> Okay. Right. Well, um you mentioned somebody's here uh that prepared the traffic study.
>> Yes, we had the consultant or we have city staff here from public works transportation who reviewed the traffic study. >> Okay. >> How do you questions for them? Um I I I just in in in terms of your review and
and the capacity of the network. We're close to A Street. We're close to Lun. I like to talk about transportation. >> All right. Um well, hi, my name is Sher Menendez. I'm a transportation engineer for the city. Um so we did review in
2022, October 2022, a traffic impact study for this development. They took into consideration the pawns phase 3 median project along Ponelon Boulevard. That was something that was taken into consideration. Also, there were two FDOT projects along um Southwest 8th Street.
Um one was a resurfacing project >> and that's already been completed and then the other one's lighting. Um the study showed that it wasn't going to have a negative impact to um the neighborhood and basically it was approved uh at the end of October 2022.
A technical memorandum was um sent out and that was already reviewed. Um most recently we looked at pawns 8 and >> yes so the ponate project uh did not trigger enough trips to require a traffic study based on the the existing
land use versus the the future land use. There was a net gain of 26 trips in the peak hours. And also for um recently due to the changes out in the that were in the site plan, we also reviewed for the um Crystal Phoenicia development their
revised trip generation letter to see if it would negatively [snorts] impact the neighborhood and also if they would need to update their traffic impact study. After review, it actually created less trips because they removed um the office space from the site plan. Um, and we use
our IT engineering manuals to verify that. So, we didn't have them revise their traffic impact study. So, they were good to go from there as well. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh, it's Charles Hart.
>> Thank you. >> Through through the chair, can I ask them one question? I'm sorry. Just one question. I'm on the map is off Ameda and Pon >> and one block south of there. It looks like they're doing the center lane and
they're doing the red doing the sidewalks. Looks like it's going to go down in one lane. >> Oh, which one? I'm sorry. Um >> ponds like by 999 ponds. >> Yeah. >> Um >> right off of 8 Street. They're median >> south of 8th Street. from from street to
>> Manotis to a >> correct the center medium is being done to them. >> Yes. Yes. That's a [clears throat] pawn stage three project. >> Be one lane or two lanes. >> No, it is two lanes. >> Two lanes. Looks like it goes into the one lane. There's no way you can fit two lanes in it. It is a two lane. They're
not What they're doing is for the work now. They're putting the barriers the temporary barriers, but it's it will be a two lane. >> No, it's not a temporary barrier. They're doing the like the the curb >> because those cars are going to become parallel parking instead of angle
parking. They're going to become parallel. >> There'll be less parking. >> Yeah. Parallel parking instead of di, you know, angle parking, which is dangerous backing up onto Ponellion. But it's going to be a two lane with parallel parking that I know because I'm
doing a project. I finished a project across the street. So, I had to adhere to those plans. I'm eager to see how they could put two lanes there because that curb comes like straight out. >> What I don't like is that they every other street they limit the left turn.
>> They limit the left turn. That is so just a reminder the court reporter can only take down you know when one person is speaking. [laughter] Sorry. >> Sorry. Sorry. >> Um so that was my only question how it was going to affect because I thought it was going to go down in one lane. >> No it I assure you it's going to be two lanes with a parallel parking and we are
going to lose some parking spaces. >> All right. I'm sorry. round. >> Okay. >> Um, >> Mr. Chairman, or I'm sorry. >> Oh, I go ahead. >> Um, well, whenever you're done, I' I'd like to ask them a question so they don't have to sit down and come back up.
>> Um, I I don't have any other questions. I I I think you know the the ponds corridor has a jagged edge and in terms of modifying the zoning to capture this property. I think this is a a sm smart development and [sighs] I'll be in
support of it. >> You have a question for the board. Can I move on to the board? Oh, go for it, please. >> Okay. >> Thank you. So, I read the Kimley Horn uh traffic analysis, and it's almost like building a ship in
a bottle. It doesn't take anything else into account. the the quote unquote improvements that are being built now on ponds. Uh every time you have a limited access highway, if you will, um you have
less of an ability of people using more of those arteries and they've used less arteries. Uh today in my single family home on Kadima, it took me 10 minutes to be able to back out of my driveway onto
the street because everybody on Google is getting all of the traffic go down Kadeima because if they go down university, they have a traffic light on Lun and they're being rerouted that way.
So, our traffic has increased maybe 400% in the last 3 months and that's with school being out. What is the level of the the FDOT level of service on the trail right now
>> on 8th Street? >> Yes. >> Um, if it's Well, I have to triple check. I know the level of service on the June is F. Um, it's probably close to F or dear F on 8th Street. >> Yeah, I I think I think you're right. The June is F.
>> Yes, >> 8th Street is F. And I would not be surprised if Douglas is close to that. So, when you have a glass of water and it's filled all the way to the top, you just have to add one
drop for it to spill. And I think that Kimley Horn being a very large firm with a very large traffic component to their firm when they when they give the analysis
it's almost um like everything around it is not being taken into account. So when people drive and you see backups at any time of day,
adding one parking trip or one traffic trip rather u becomes a problem. And every time I hear that because it doesn't warrant a traffic study
because the site does not project enough trips, you're using it as a vacuum and it's being it's a disservice to the citizens of Coral Gables that have to then not only accept the fact of that particular
project and all the other projects when you add them, but also the cross the cross traffic that goes through our city every single day, east to west and west to east. I mean, I think that it is
wrong for this to be glossed over this way. We have an enormous traffic problem. We have a trip problem and it's it's not being resolved by adding medians on the north south corridor of
ponds that way. >> Well, the pond space 3 project was the design was ongoing prior to the traffic impact study in October 2022. The reason why you see median enclosures is typically because there's a high number of number of crashes. So those e east
west movements and I've seen it myself as I drive down every day down ponds a lot of people throw their cars across and there sometimes there are severe accidents. So that's why those median closures took place. >> I I know I know and it's the same thing
as Lun >> and it becomes a problem. I mean we're in the police uh station right and it becomes a an enforcement issue when it comes to speed. So you can't even assume 30 miles an hour, 25 miles an hour when people are flying through there 50 miles
an hour. That's part of the crashes that you do get. But what I'm saying is right now it's becoming a funnel effect on not just one street but many of >> extend >> and then when [snorts] you take out all the parking that we're >> second we need to extend before the 9:00.
>> Yeah. >> So we could continue >> a motion for 30 minutes. 30 minutes. >> Mo motion to extend to 9:30. >> 9:30. >> You moved it. Second. All in favor? >> I >> I Okay. >> Sorry. Go back.
>> No. No. Robert, I don't have any chairman. >> What does F mean? >> If you will allow me, Mr. >> Let them finish. I'll call >> second. The the levels can be explained by our vice chair. Um, you know, because
FDOT has a rating. You know, you got an A, you got a B, you got a C. F is the worst when it comes to traffic volume. That means that the road cannot take the amount of volume there. So, we're surrounded by F. But then the part
that's not in there is all of our little side streets, if you will, all of our little residential streets, which are it it becomes a tsunami when it when it is um uh early morning or late afternoon,
going to work, picking up kids, coming back at the end of the day. So what happens is that our little collector streets, residential streets are flooded with that. The worst part now is that [clears throat] because now the city is
putting in this median, putting in parallel parking as we did many years ago on on Miracle Mile, we're going to lose a certain percentage of that parking. So your business on on punts and everybody else's, they're going to
have to now bleed parking into these residential areas. So there'll be less parking, which is is created by many things, but based on some of the decisions that have been made of the improvements that are being built now.
And I just wanted to add um for the traffic impact study, the original one did consider the pawns phase 3 project in its analysis. And then the reason well the revised um tra trip generation letter was compared to that study,
>> right? And that came up with fewer trips than the original forecast. So, so we were just using an analysis that was already done and then using a trip generation letter that it showed less trips to determine whether or not the, you know, any changes had to be done or
if a revised um traffic impact study needed to be done, but it wasn't that we did not consider the pawns phase three. >> No, and listen, I don't mean to pounce. >> No, no, I understand. I just want to make sure it's corrected on the record. I'm just saying that we we have a very
serious problem and then when we look at projects in a vacuum, it it just makes everything else worse. It's the same thing as looking at the site plan and you're not seeing, you know, what the what the driveways and the uses are
across the street. We do well we do take that into account and we also have to submit anytime we do any closures or anything we have to submit our plans to Miami date county for them to look at it as well for them to take it as a whole because it's a whole network like it's our city
>> we want to make sure we don't negatively impact our city but all the roads in Miami day county are network so we're not in a >> chairman I would like to have a moment to speak please >> yeah I I'll call the next board member let let Felix finish once I >> and and if and and I'm I think this is
so important for every project that we're looking at, but it becomes very complex. And by the way, um the the next natural outlet going north south is this street right here, Zita.
And and that is right now, except for a couple of exceptions, that is a very residential street with parallel parking. right now people fly through there where they have built at least from here to 8th street at least 8 to 10
um speed humps to try to slow people down. So it is becoming more and more of a problem and I think that really staff should do a more holistic job in presenting uh the information you know to this board for our decision.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you Gonzalo. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman, you can sit down now, please. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. We have heard endlessly,
repetitively pulling at the heartstrings of Crystal Academy as if it was the most important thing that we are looking at today.
Truth is, fact is reality is the project we're talking about is 226,000 plus square feet. The promise
to Crystal Academy is less than 2% of that total buildout, 5,000 ft, a minimal contribution versus what the impact of that building is. So, let's be totally clear about
this. A very small contribution. I know it was mentioned numerous times and the applicant has competent staff at all levels and I admire that. But let's be frank and let's be real. This is a massive development.
And I would just like to have Bonnie come up for a second and just give me a history again of the gardener of our Lord with the benefit of the information we could use. Bonnie, if you would, are you in the area here? You still >> come on up
>> before Chicago City just can we? >> You mean the the the process that involved the uh request for historic designation, >> the history of the garden, our Lord, and I I think that'll >> the garden of our Lord. >> That's not before the board today. Um
what's before the board today is the applica the applicant's application for the proposed development. >> I hear you. So, um, they could also switch out the green space that they have on the northeast corner of the
property with the garden. And I would stop fighting, but um, yes, I'm very happy to talk about the garden of our Lord. >> Just tell us what year it started in the tradition, please. >> It was built in 1951.
1951 >> by Robert Fitchmith, a renowned South Florida architect whose many of his projects have been designated historic. It's a cemetery. It's one of the first three biblical
gardens in America. Some of the trees and bushes that grow there at this minute came as seeds from Gethsemane. That's the garden where Jesus was the night before his crucifixion.
It's also a war memorial, medical memorial, and community [clears throat] memorial. >> Mr. Chairman and city attorney, why are we this is not part of this application? I >> I don't believe this is I don't think it's applicable here.
>> I I happen to agree as well. Okay, >> Gonzalo, if you can wrap up your comments and then this Miss Miss Bonnie >> I appreciate Bonnie's comment. Thank you. Mr. So the balance sheet here is that we have a
project coming to that square block 1.4 acres and also caveat empther the century group are very very savvy
investors and developers from years back. They did not buy this property on the blind. I'm sure they did the due diligence. They knew exactly what they were buying and a development that they could do in place.
However, something happened and now they're seeking a small scale amendment, a radical change from the current zoning. And the thing that everybody here on
this board and the colleagues and everybody is listening to this is this is not a Crystal Academy application. This is a developers application. Crystal Academyy's footprint on this is
2% of the buildout. So with that said, I'll also like to say a few more other things here. The normal setback under the current zoning for building on this property varies
from 25 ft to 15. The proposed project setback is 8 in 9 in basically zero setback. So this
open space dialogue that we have been listening to is an internal patio area for the development it is really in Congress what we've been hearing. So I hope my colleagues understand that what we're
dealing with here is a major impacting development in a very cherished open green space area. Thank you Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you Shane. Any comments? I just have a few quick questions. Uh maybe for staff if possible or the applicant,
whoever is best suited for the question. Uh I know earlier we looked at page 24 of the applicant's package and that was an image of you know the subject property and it I just want to make sure I have this right just because it's a predicate to my next question. But it
looks like we have digitally filled in the construction for the subject property as well as a few other properties have been approved. Right. >> Correct. Okay. So, I've seen in the papers and in conversation that this is called a transitional property and that
it's an inappropriate transition. And my question is what maybe this is a simplistic question, but what makes it transitional? When I go to the property, for example, when I saw it yesterday, um to me it looked like it fit appropriately in the conservation
district. So, what makes this a transitional property as opposed to other properties on that that area that's within that that conservation district? And I think the second part to that question is what stops the precedent from all those properties being upzzoned. >> So, I'll I'll take the question. We obviously have your planning and zoning
director who also did their own independent analysis of this request, but [snorts] just taking a step back. I know we're all looking at this property like it's special use district, right? And I'll get to your question, I promise. But I think this context is important. When
the North Ponds area was studied, it created two areas. It created the North Ponds mixeduse district, which allows, as your planning and zoning director said, between 150 and 190 ft in height. And then it created the residential
infill district, which is known as the North Ponds Conservation District, which allows 100 ft in height and 100 units. There were properties that were not studied at that time because they had existing schools and churches. If you look at the north plan, North Ponds
corridor plan today, the only properties that aren't MF2 or MX in the entire area are the religious and schools. And that's because from a planning perspective, you leave those institutions in place because they are existing uh educational
uses. Um what makes this property a transitional property is that East Pon Boulevard um currently has three properties on the west side. One of them already pre approved for I
believe 165 ft which is a Regency on the park and it has 190 ft directly across the street from it. East Pon is a corridor that basically is the main arterial corridor in that area other than Pon. It connects Pon directly to Douglas entrance which is one of the
largest retail and office destinations outside of probably downtown and Merit Park um in this area. So it is a main roadway and you have right now you have directly to the north of this property
the North Pon MXD already extends. So what makes this a transitional site is that this is not half a block or a portion of a block. It is an entire block that basically sits between 190 feet in height and 100 feet in height.
And what this project tries to do is to keep the midrise, keep it at 100 ft, but create a mixeduse project that transitions from this very high intense, the most actually the most intense zoning and land use that you have in this city to a mid-rise residential.
It's creating a buffer between these two areas and that's why this is a transitional site. I don't think there's another site in this whole area that sits between these two that's an entire city block and that sits on a main arterial roadway. >> And is that last part essentially the
distinguishing factor for other properties on that same area from all being upzoned? >> Correct. Yeah. And I think what would be interesting is if we could take a time machine and go back in time how the North Pond Cherret would have treated that particular property. Uh because it
was not studied. It was just left as it's a school. It's a church. We're going to leave it >> just just as institutional. >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. Uh, if if I if I may, I'm probably
the last living member of the North Pon apartment district, not it wasn't a sharet, it was a committee and I excuse me, I sat on it >> and what you just said is not correct.
What you are referencing is something that happened many years afterward and we did an analysis of every historic building that was in that area and as many
>> uh many studies it was shelved. But was it studied? Yes. Was there an intent? Yes. And I speak from a historical standpoint because I was there and what was just
said now is not correct. But but Felix, I wasn't involved as you were maybe, but I was involved in the sense that in 2015 the city took it upon to change that area and allowed Can you pull up the
map, the zoning map, because maybe what you did was 20 years before that, but that evolved to something else. So that has to be put in the past and the present today. look at the zoning map to see what is allowed because you allowed
100 feet in that area. >> Well, that's become because it became an urban in >> that was passed through commission. It went through the approval. >> I understand that >> didn't it went through approval. So, that's what we're looking at today. >> I understand that. But this was what I'm saying is that it was not done in a
haphazard way. No, but but the that what was done that is in place today was done correctly and it was looked at every property what what Mr. Navaro stated is correct that institutional property were not taken in consideration which they
should have have been done as well because unfortunately a lot of those institution churches are going away. Every single one of them was zoned S as in special >> as a special because there was a special
zoning for that. Not anticipating that in the future they could become something else >> through the chair. If I could just yes >> finish answering uh the question. So interesting case is actually directly to
our north at the time of the 2015 2016 sharet which I was a part of. Uh there is a site just north of this. You can't see it on this map but you can see it on the map that we had that shows the land use there. The east ponds corridor was being studied and they just decided to
say there was a site they wanted to include but they didn't include it. They wanted to see the project that was going to go in there and that's Regency on the park. Uh that site was recently included in the North Pines mixeduse district expanded understanding the character of
East Pon Boulevard today. Another important point is that this site was not always religious. In 1971, this site was reszoned to religious to permit the church. But in George Merrick's plan and in the old
zoning code where we have the height maps that show what this property was designated for and we have our planning and zoning director here who could confirm this. This block is actually a transitional block because half of the
block in the height map that was created for this district allowed 150 ft in height and that was the western portion of the block. The eastern portion of this block allowed 60 feet. That's how this area way back when before we
started talking about north ponds or north pawn cherettes or anything. That's how this area was planned for. This site actually has a sightsp specific zoning uh in place today that allows 150 ft in height and allows for residential. Obviously, there's been a change in
policy with the creation of North Pines district, but those sight specific standards date back all the way to when George Merrick planned this uh planned this town. So, this is a transitional block today. It was a transitional block back then. And the reason is because it
is a block that sits between your most intense commercial areas on a commercial corridor that is used to get, you know, 28th Street and the Douglas entrance and that sits between Midrise Residential. >> Uh two Last very quick questions.
Um, what happens to the property if this doesn't pass? I just want to know what happens to the property and what happens to Crystal Academy. >> So, um, the the way that this deal came about was in 2021. Um, when this property was purchased from the church,
um, this deal has to make a certain amount of financial sense in order to say we are going to give free space for 99 years. that could have been four live work units valued at 6 million bucks. Um there has to be something. So if if this
project does not move forward, unfortunately our agreement with Crystal um is no longer effective and I know Mr. Sanabria mentioned it. This property was owned by Century. Uh it was sold and no
one needs to honor this commitment, but Vifffield has come in and said we are going to honor it. They've been to that school. They know what this school means. And I think anybody that has been in that school understands how important it is. Uh they made the commitment and decided to keep it. But unfortunately,
if this project doesn't move forward, um Crystal's uh future is not bright. >> But but so then who would own the property though, just so I I'm clear. So there um there would probably have to be a change in the plan and that change
would be to not have crystal as part of this project and you know I don't think anybody really wants to see that but what could happen it remains undeveloped you know uh gets sold again new proposal comes in um either way I think we could
all agree whether you're in favor or against this project that if this property property did not have a school or church in 2016 when the sharet was created. At a minimum, bare minimum,
this property would be MF2. What would that allow? 100 units an acre and 100 ft in height. What does this project propose instead? 93 feet in height. that transitions to 83 in ft in height and 125 units an acre
plus the preservation of Crystal Academy for 99 years and in a brand new facility with new classrooms, new art rooms, new therapeutic rooms, um and a brand new uh outdoor recreational area. So, we can't
say, "Oh, we're going from special use to MX2." If the whole area of North Ponds was planned for 100 units an acre, 100 feet in height, that's where we start. >> Okay. And just um last question, why does the uh building have to be 9 ft as
opposed to eight? >> So, well, nine stories. >> Nine stories. >> Stories, >> right? I I heard feet. >> I heard nine feet as well. >> I say feet. >> So, the request for the PAD um and and I know you've had a long night. I'm going to try to say this quickly just to
address it. It is nine stories, but it is within an eight-story building envelope. And I know we have some very, you know, very knowledgeable architects on this board. But what we have done is we have taken nine stories and put it into an eight-story envelope. That is what the P A designation that we're
requesting for this property allows us to do. Uh you're allowed eight stories within 97 feet in height. We are asking for nine stories within um 93 feet in height. And what that allows us to do is the massing. It
allows us to reduce it and it allows us to create these wide sidewalks that we've worked with uh city staff on for quite some time. >> Okay. Well, I want to thank all the residents for being here tonight. Thank you so much. I want to thank the applicant. I mean, amazing presentation. I think this is a tough decision one way or the other. I want to hear the rest of
my colleagues talk about it before I make a decision, but I can see both sides. But thank you all very much. >> And thank you so much. >> Felix, you want to HP4 beauty? You say you were historical. >> Okay.
>> Public com only surviving person. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> It's better distinguished than extinguished. So [laughter] >> So the the point the point is that we're talking we're talking about this a
proposed zoning like if that's what's existing on the site as it's not. And Mr. Sonia made excellent points. Um it it becomes a point of
what becomes realistic for the redevelopment of this property. Um there are points of contention. one of the areas there. It was said that
if it would just be flipped to another corner, uh the this green this this open space which is inside of a building um that would work better.
The four things tonight is that we're taking again now not just zoning but we're taking the master plan and throwing it out the window. The master plan is has limits and the
limits that the master plan has goes back mathematically to what the levels of service allows for those particular uses. When you look at that as a smallcale
amendment, it's because we're in an urban area and that's why it's called a smallcale amendment based on just the area, the size, but it is a huge impact. The second thing is that the zoning
again is going from special use to something other. This is not MX2 right now. It's S and everything you get one foot above S
is more than what you're allowed today. The third point is that the funny part about it is just from a point historical point of reference the reason the pad was created was because of the Douglas Center. The
Douglas Center, which was a historic building, was going to be torn down and a group of architects purchased it and they made it their home for many, many years. And then they developed the rest of it to be able to compensate for the
makeup of what was there. So the planned area development was designed, the pad, as a tool to be able to have a special significant neighborhood public benefit. and in that case was saving a historic
building. There is no special neighborhood public benefit here. Finally, the mixeduse site plan review going beyond the limits where now we
could have an 18-in setback compared to whatever the minimum setbacks are today. I think that we have reached a point in this city that at the end of the day,
we've gone from what I consider urban planning, you know, to hostile development. And I think we've reached that point in many parts of the city. And for me as an
architect that depends depends on development um there are certain limits. I think that this project [snorts] could be reduced in height in volume and size and still keep
a crystal academy there as a tenant. But I think that uh being an economist Mr. Sabria said it right the first time. That particular use is 2% of the total
square footage of this project. And that's not even considering the 300 and some odd square feet or 300 and some odd parking spaces there in an area where none of those riderways are going to grow. And you have incredible
examples when you go down south on Siggoia where new developments are popping up and the streets are becoming not wider, they're becoming narrower. What use are wide sidewalks
when you can't get people in cars? Because that's the way we travel here from point A to point B. That's all I have to say. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, before you go, listen, this is too important. I know we had a I said a hard stop at 9:30. I think we should extend a little bit more because
I think we're getting to the end. I think we want to be part of the vote. So, I'll make another motion to extend >> another 30 minutes. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> So moved. >> All in favor? >> I can we take a two-minute bathroom break? [laughter]
>> Half a minute. >> Half a minute. >> All right. So, off the record. >> Off the record. Recording stopped. I don't think that's recording in progress. >> All right, back on. >> Um, Iggy, Ignashio, sorry.
>> Thank you, [laughter] Mr. Chair. >> Okay, I have a couple questions. First of all, Gonzalo was talking about eight inches. Was in the recommendation of the the Gables that it was that was
going to change. I read that based on the recommendations that you wanted more. >> Yes, we do. So, currently they have an arcade. The arcade, I believe, is 8 in from the sidewalk in certain locations, and that's where the 8 in is coming from. Staff is recommending to remove
the arcade and have a front yard of 10 ft. that's consistent with the um conservation overlay district. So you have a frontage that's consistent with the area around it. Um and that would be increased obviously to a more landscape area as part of the commission approval.
>> So that that would be our recommendation if we do pass this that we incorporate your recommendations as well. >> That's the board. But yes, staff recommending that we do remove those arcades so that we have front yards with stoops or small porches. >> Okay. The this barrier site keeps on
coming up. Is this a cemetery or >> there's no public public comments are closed? Public staff or >> Unfortunately, I know very much of this. Um, no, I just want to answer the um uh the question. No, it uh this site was
alleged to be a cemetery four years ago. The state of Florida came and certified that it is not a cemetery. Ma'am, >> ma'am, please. Thank you. I know Robert said we can't ask this question today, but what's going to happen with these trees and with this
garden? You talk about trees over 100 years old and gardens. What's going to happen with all that? So, um I'd be happy to answer that. So, the city arborist Dina Bell has been out to the property. Uh it is well documented.
There is from 5 years ago uh when the garden of our lord designation process began. There are no historical biblical trees in that garden. Today and 5 years ago there were none. There is a large
specimen oak on the property and we have Michael McCoy here our our tree expert which and I know it may not be part of these proceedings. We have committed to relocate to the uh outdoor plaza that sits right on the intersection of Phoenicia and East Ponds. Uh there is
also another large tree [clears throat] on the north west corner of this property that we have carved the building back in order to preserve. So there are two trees on site that we are preserving. The trees that Miss Bonnie is referring to do not
exist on the property. >> I have proof. Ma'am, ma'am, ple please. >> Okay. A lot of my questions were um asked and answer already by my prior colleagues, but I want to be honest. I'm also torn on this decision for two
reasons. One, my office is on Almeida and Ponds and block from 8 Street. I've been told that Shoma Construction Company is going to build a huge complex between 37 and Ponds on 8 Street.
There's going to be another huge residential complex going up on 747 Ponds, maybe 707 ponds, 716 Ponds, >> but it's not a huge development, >> but it's going to be another development of couple hundred more cars. >> It's I can't get on A Street now.
>> I'm sorry. Okay. I I I can't get on H3 now. So traffic is a major concern for me versus the autistic school Crystal.
There's not enough schools of autisms in Day County. Even though my four-month-old is perfectly healthy, I have a lot of friends with autistic kids and but four, they work 80 hours a week to be able to pay their care. There's no services out
there for a tick to kids. So, I'm torn between Crystal and I can't get on A Street. Now, imagine all these three projects now jumping out and you can't drive on A Street. >> So, those are those are that's where I'm
torn in right now. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, Jennifer, if or can we put up that pro the zoning map again, please? And while you do that, because I want to I want to
make a I want to make a see a correction based on one of Maria's Cruz's comment that only the the the the taller building, the height is west of Hon.
And I think that that was incorrect or is incorrect because you allowed and it was proven that the zoning on both side of Pon Stellion allowed for up to 150 ft
up to 190 ft 6 in with the Mediterranean bonuses. So can you put up that map a second because I think that hype it is definitely permitted on both sides of pumps. >> Robert, do you mean the present zoning or the comp plan?
>> The both. Both. >> Okay. and and and I do the al um and then because once we put that up I want to I want to do the address the
compatibility of of of the area. go to the other the other map that you had you had side by side with was the existing and the comp and the proposed [clears throat] and then also I don't know and I'm going ask the
applicant to show me or somebody where exactly is the location of the [clears throat] garden of the Lord you know in in when it comes to the to the site the specific exact location of that >> over on the northwest
If >> northwest corner north is up. >> Okay. Uh the classes. There was another one that maybe it was the applicant who put it up. Oh, if you could I mean we could use
that because the >> you could z you could zoom that [clears throat] >> because that shows that to the east zoom in there to the east of the site all around the site at a minimum you
have the MF2 zoning which allows 100 feet and 100 units per acre. Is that right or not? Everything around the property to the east is MF2. Is that right?
>> Yes. Everything around there is MF2. So >> that currently allows 100 ft and 100 units per acre >> for large properties that are 20,000 square feet or more. Yes. >> Okay. So it's not like what is there now
is the the zoning that only allows one and twotory. There are one and two story structures, but the zoning currently allows up to 100 feet. >> Correct. >> If you meet the >> criteria of the >> but when you have 1.7 acres, you're
going to meet when you have >> right >> 60s something,000 square feet, you're going to exceed it by three times. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Yep. So comparability is clearly demonstrated that it is comparable and
compatible to the immediate surrounding properties. No question about it. If we go one block to the south, there's already an existing which I was looking on my phone on Google Earth sevenstory building. Is
it not? or eightstory building to the south. to the east immediately adjacent to to the property. You have what appears to be 12 to 14 story buildings >> ponds
[snorts] >> on east ponds east ponds as you go because there is two two buildings already on just immediately to the northeast that are far higher than this property.
>> Mr. Mr. Bart, would you like me to pull up the PowerPoint that I had with >> Yes, please. >> with the um >> Yes. >> Massing. Okay. >> Yes, please. And when you do that, the reason that this property in my opinion was not like
and like Navaro stated, it was not made or reszoned back then in 2015 2016 to the MF2 because it had a school, had a church. But this is one that property
that will be consistent and and on this exhibit as you go north on East Ponds at the end you have a building that is like 12 stories >> I believe. Yes. >> The 911 East Pon. >> Okay. Then in to the to the south of
that one you have another structure >> seven or eight stories. Yes. on when you show that green it to the to the block on Sant Lane and East Ponds there's a building there that's coming which I believe is 10
stories >> yes >> approved ready to start construction >> where at >> the building Jennifer where >> right there you see that green area there there's a building that's starting construction there that is 10tory
>> and and they just closed off east pon on pants that intersect there. If you're going >> south >> then >> you can't cross over. That's right. >> Okay. I mean it's that that's something else. That's a different >> which makes it worse. >> That's a different but those are the
projects that are already so the com to be the compatability on on this is there already. It's not like we're they're introducing something new. the the the you have on this project you have a eight story component at 83 feet
and a ninetory at 93 which is far le you know not far less but it's little less than what you allowed to have if I would have been doing and this is not we this you know against the architect and it's a very good architect
I would have probably started [snorts] [clears throat] placing that green space more or that park more in an area to try to preserve those trees. Maybe the the the planning would have been a little bit different but you
know six of one half dozen of the other. I I I would have also the your part can you go to the site plan or the the ground floor plan? >> Yes. And this is something that maybe could be looked at and and do it as you
go through the process. Maybe that park instead of running north and south, you go east and west. So give the the women's club a little bit more
openness with that. Can we please hold on? Okay. So maybe that's a possibility that just rotate the park doesn't lose any density, any square footage or anything. It's just a matter. It would be good if you could show that ground
floor plan. And I think that could be in my opinion a good compromise >> there. You could see the tree >> if you see there. And if I where you have where you have the uh wish I had a PowerPoint
on the top what is on what is on the north side of that ramp that that's a part that's a ramp to go up to the garage. Correct. What is on that side of the ramp? The FPO vault. >> Final vault. >> Okay. and and what happens because if
you were to change it a little bit and you put the park on the north side going east and west, I think it it it's going to serve the same thing because you're going to have the school that you could open it >> and it could relieve a little, you know,
uh more uh openness to the women's club >> with the mature >> and honestly it's a great idea. We started that way. Exactly that way. Exactly how you're describing. But what happened, Robert, was that the width of the parking rendered us a very thin
sliver between the liner units on the south and the parking itself. >> What can you go up to the upper floors? [clears throat] >> When we turned it around, we wanted to make sure that we had liners on both sides. So, if I kept the liners to the
women's slope, which was really important, when I turned it, we had a very very thin sliver on the south, but that's how I originally wanted to plan it out. >> I >> But it's it's >> I think that, you know, it's again, >> we could review it. We could absolutely
>> you could look at it. I think I would think it would be more appropriate to give that setback to the women's club than the way it is today. Obviously, I want to make sure that the project works
right it functions. >> I appreciate your thoughts. [clears throat] >> I am not one, you know, one bit uh against the project. I I I think it's it's going to be good. There's a lot of
thing. One of the comments that that um that one of the the speaker made about the uh location of the interior courtyard. Is that courtyard really accessible to
the public? >> It is. And we also have it on Covenant accessible to the public. That's what we created that north south >> p to be able to and it's not a a small p. It's a pretty wide >> I think Albert I mean
>> it may be but for me as a public to access that through the p it's not it's not calling to me and says you know welcome and that's you know it could be there for the public but it doesn't
appear to be that's the case. Um, and you know, I think that if you did a couple of those, if you try to implement a couple of these minor, I don't think they're major, you know, solutions, I think it
would be everybody will be happier, particularly when it comes to that green space to the park. And and if the parking were oriented instead of north south, east west and take the 5,000 square foot and then simply make it a
little further or larger on the on the southwest corner. Then all of a sudden you've got your liner. You took the 5,000 square feet. >> Not not the southwest corner because the southwest corner is >> it will be >> you're saying the northwest corner. I I
meant the northwest corner. >> I think the northeast quarter because the south I I like what he's doing on the putting the the on the northeast corner. >> Right. But but he he could >> because I don't want to lose the the the liner units. >> No, no, without a doubt. But what I'm
saying is that the 5,000 square foot of the open space which is really inside accessible only through the PO then would become irrelevant because it would be moved to the the norththeast corner
and it would be much better. It' be much better and you'd preserve I I just want you to look at it, study it, [snorts] >> you know, >> I appreciate the comments and we will absolutely do. We went we've been working almost 5 years on this project
on and off and if there's something that we can do internalized that does not >> that does not huh >> what's another 30 days >> exactly that's what that's where I was going that uh >> we we'd be happy to look at it and study it and if it's there's a possibility why not it's not going to affect the exterior at all
>> and and and before I you know because I'm gonna make I'm prepared to make a motion um can We on the zoning both side of east uh side of Pon Stellion you allowed to
go up to 190 ft right >> on Pon >> on Ponelon. >> Yes. Between each street pretty much and >> because that just want to make sure for the record that because I understood Maria's crew's comment said that it's only on the on the west side of ponds >> but it's in fact it's on both sides.
>> Okay. I I have no more no more questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I just I I have a few comments and questions. Um, one of the speakers made a comment that they they live in the neighborhood and parking is an issue in regards to the staff and and I think this is a question
for the applicant. Um, in regards to the staff and the faculty for Crystal Academy, is there parking within the building? >> Yes, there is. Yeah, we've accommodated uh a dedicated pickup and drop off area and we also have dedicated parking for Crystal within the garage. Got it. for the employees. For the employees, yeah,
and staff. Uh, one thing I'd like to mention, we've also been working with the neighborhood. I know we've talked about parallel parking and all sorts of things. Uh, we've been working with staff to also preserve the spaces on East Ponds that are used by both um the women's club and some of the area residents.
>> I know a couple of the res a couple of the residents and some of my colleagues mentioned compatibility. I think Miss Bravo did an incredible job. I myself work at 99 PONS and right behind my building I guess going east there's a development going in. I I don't know any details of that development but it's a
monster project. I mean the land is just been completely wiped out. So I think it's more than compatible. I think you have buildings that are just as tall if not taller. Um one of the questions I had is someone mentioned that their public space and the green space. Is the
green space that's there now open to the public at all at any point? >> No, it is private. >> It's not accessible, >> but it can be. >> But it easily could be. No, not now. >> No, now. But yes, we're going to look into that. Yes. >> If you reconsider.
>> Yeah. >> And then the only last question I had and because you hear gardener of the Lord and this is something that I guess I've heard when I was campaigning four or five years ago. There's nothing historic about that property. Correct. It has been fully deemed non-historic. That's not something because you heard about the historical neighborhood,
>> so on and so forth. >> And I know that's been a concern and and and it's been a big topic of conversation. Um it has gone through every uh review board that the city has. Um and it has gone to court and has exhausted all the appellet remedies and
and that that issue is is concluded. >> Yeah. And just by way of reference, not that this has to do with what's today. I've had the pleasure of visiting Crystal Academy in 2021 and what they're doing there is absolutely incredible. I mean, it's >> truly is special. >> It really I think someone said it it's
worth visiting because it's it it leaves you floored. >> So, I have no further comments. In the interest of time, um I'm in favor of this and accepting as it as the staff recommends. I I'll make a motion to approve
with staff recommendation conditions and with my suggestion not going to make it a condition but very close. Okay. That you look at turning that
green space along uh east and west versus north and south on the northeast corner. >> Robert, wouldn't it be better to pardon me? Wouldn't it be better to ask for a deferral or rather recommend a
deferral now? Sorry, recommend a deferral to be able to get this because remember there are four conditions. One is the comp plan, one is the zoning. They have the PUD and the PUD carries a site plan
approval. So if they change the site plan, it would be B, >> but it's a minor it's a it's a minor modification. If they do, it's not a substantial modification. Well, I I would just feel more comfortable seeing because it it would be uh >> I I'm sure and the applicant could
could, you know, confirm, but you're in a tight that you need to get a commission. >> Yeah. I mean, this project uh is critical for for the school. Um also, we have been five years uh working on this project. Uh it has been a long time
coming. We, as you could see, have been very open to working to make changes to this project. That's something that we will strongly consider. Um, you know, we will try to make it work if it's feasible. I definitely I think in terms
>> I I'm I'm really I hate to do it, but I think it may become a condition. Okay. that you turn that and if you do if you if you commit to do it and I think you can I've been you know you got
my full support on it. >> We will definitely start studying it ASAP and what I would love to do is share the studies with the planning department so that they can see how it's being developed. It's all interior. I
agree it should be a minor but we need to see it. This is the This is the the the 4,000 square foot >> area green space that you have a portion of it already going to the corner. >> It's really at the end of the day is
moving what I from what I saw moving your vault to one side. I mean relocating >> correct >> you know and put the school which I think the school could front the park completely also >> be more than happy to study that Robert. >> So what is the motion?
>> I would say a deferral to be Mr. without the >> there are four items. So there would be we would need four separate motions and remember the first one is on the land use. So I don't know if you >> I'll make a motion to approve the land use >> because >> to recommend approval
>> approval with staff recommendation. >> I second a motion. >> Well, Jill, >> I I I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. I I just need to understand this because we're going down a slippery slope here. Um,
one is the master plan, then it's a zoning, and then what do you do with the >> Well, but right now it's the zoning. No, no, but I need to understand what the game >> then we put a condition >> which is >> to turn the park
>> to incorporate >> to incorporate the comment >> the the garden of the >> Yeah, I mean I that's where we could put the condition not on not on this >> on what which one >> on number on on the third and fourth items on the on the pad and on the site plan.
>> Correct. But let me ask you a question, Robert. And if it's un if they're unable to do so, is that condition what if if they're unable to do that like >> or I don't I don't know about my area. I'm an attorney, so I don't >> So is it delegated to stop to work with it and maximize that effort
>> and it and it obviously should come back to this board to see >> that's my concern of making a condition. I'd rather make it a a recommendation. >> Okay. >> That's my that's that's my biggest concern of making a condition >> for them to work with us. >> Correct. I I definitely think we should implement it in the in the in the
motion, just not make it a condition. >> We're not there yet. >> We're not there yet. >> Yeah. Zoning, but we have a motion for zoning. I want to add an amendment to it. >> It's it's sorry, it's for the first item, which is the land use change. >> That's correct. We have a first and a second. >> I I'll
friendly amendment. What is it? >> Friendly amendment. I I have a major concern with traffic. I I can't get an A Street now. We have to do some type of traffic study to figure out how to fix that mess on a street. Especially, we're going to have three major projects. Now, a fourth one. I didn't know about the one just north
of it you just mentioned. But that's four projects. If you can't get on a street now, there Gables needs to do a traffic study >> to address that problem. >> And I don't want to speak for South, but they did do a traffic study. >> No, they say they didn't. No, they said that they did required to
>> study. >> No, they talked about a different project and and maybe we could just have you ask and and the [cough] state road. So, there's much more to it than >> there's a traffic site that's completed for this proposed project. >> I think what they were saying is that
there was an update when they changed a unit or two. There was an update that was required. >> No, I heard that they didn't meet the threshold. >> No, that was for a different project. >> That's what they testified. That's a different project >> with this chairman. >> Hello. Um
>> let's just hear from them first. >> So there was a traffic impact study that was conducted in 2022. They recently had submitted a revised trip generation letter when they revised their their site plan and their development plan and it was still found that they were under the the trips they were actually had
less trips than was proposed in the original traffic impact study because they took out an office space. What I would do as a recommendation would be the new developments that come in have to do you know go through the process of which is first they submit a trip generation letter to us and if they have
50 or more um peak hour trips they have to a change in peak hour trips then they have to do the traffic impact study. I don't in my personal or professional opinion I I don't think it's the best um
idea to have them redo their study and then if it gets delayed then they're going to have to redo every time a new development comes in. It probably should be the next development that comes in has to incorporate this one into their >> their background >> study. Yeah. >> Yeah. Let's let's let's try to >> Well, but we only got
>> Let's do five minutes. >> 15 minutes. >> 15 minutes. Can I get a motion? I'll get a motion to go to 10:15. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I, >> Mr. Chairman. >> But but wait, I'm not done yet. These projects have already been approved.
>> The Shoma project has been approved. Seven project >> has been approved. >> Sha project didn't not come through the city. That's a that's a live local project. >> That's a live local project. >> So, we don't even get a bite at that apple. the one that has been approved one in in in um East Ponds that was
approved like five six years ago. Now is when it starts construction. The one on 760 ponds got approved last year. Okay. >> So that concept is not going to work. >> It's just if you keep doing that every time a new development comes up and
they're going to have to redo their study is my thought process. >> Yeah. So, so, >> so they'll never finish because more developments come up. >> So, the norm is for future projects to take this project into account as an existing condition and the background trips. >> Yes.
>> That they're starting with that, >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> So, we haven't heard from opposing council. I would like to have opposing council come up and say some statements
as well since the applicant has basically taken up most if not all of the time. >> I think we have a moton I think we have a motion and >> I don't what's the what's the protocol that need a motion? >> I haven't heard a second. I don't know if there's been a there is a
>> Oh, there is a motion in a second. Yeah. So, we should >> Can I get Alice Bravo? Yes. >> Shane Mlan McClashen. >> Yes. >> Felix Partardo. >> No. >> Gonzalo Sanavria.
>> Yes. >> Ignasio Alvarez. >> No. >> Robert Behar. >> Yes. >> Alex Bello. >> Yes. >> I'll make a motion. Item E2 for approval with staff
recommendations. >> Which one's E2? >> E2 is the zoning change. >> The zoning change. >> What do we just vote on? It wasn't a zoning. >> I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. One moment. >> Okay. Okay, I got >> Mr. Chairman, hold it one moment. >> Yes. >> What do we just vote on? >> E uh land use.
>> Land use. All right. My vote is no. >> I want to retrace my vote to no. >> Thank you. Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> No, >> joke. Oh, I'll give you a second. >> So, E2, there is a motion in a second.
>> A second. >> I'm sorry for E2. >> For E2, >> motion to approve zoning. Yeah. Motion by I'm sorry, by second by Mr. Provin. Can I can I just just do it? >> We should have started with three and
four because that's that's what's in the site plan. We could put a condition. >> I thought we were going to >> Robert, let's just finish this. >> Yeah, let's just go. Let's just go. >> If you can call roll Joe, please. >> What are we calling the role on pres?
>> Which one? >> Number two, zoning. >> So, it's item E2. There is a motion to approve with staff's um recommendations and it's um the zoning change from the special use to mixuse 2 and also to include within the boundaries of the
north ponds mixeduse district overlay. >> Jay Mclashen, >> yes. >> Felix Partardo, >> no. >> Gonzalo Sanabria, >> no. Ignasio Alvarez, >> yes. >> Robert Behar,
>> yes. >> Alice Bravo, >> yes. >> Alex Bello, >> yes. >> Make a motion to approve E3. And this is what we're going to go on a condition, not a recommendation. And a condition that and I want to make sure
the applicant can the applicant come up. If we put a condition, will you accept the condition? And and Robert is basically what Mr. Sanria was asking council to come up. >> Okay. >> For that purpose. >> Do you do you accept condition that you
will rotate that park for lack of a better green space going east and west versus north and south. >> So we do not have an objection to that. We we we commit to it. We >> Okay. You you're going to accept the
condition. make a motion to to to do the site plan to change the orientation of the green space to go north and east and west to so I get a better green space in front of the women's club. >> Yeah.
>> Preserving as as preserving as much as possible of the garden of >> preserving as much as possible but Okay, >> I second that. >> Okay, we have a motion second. >> So I Mr. Chair, my apologies. I just want to so my understanding is that the the condition is that the site plan be
changed in the way you described not studied for the change but changed >> correct >> change it including staff recommendations >> and Mr. Chairman >> yes >> if you if if you will um Mr. Sanriam
asked to see if the opposing council as he described uh >> a party they're not a party right >> Mr. Winkler would come up. The the reason I think it's important is because of the contentious component of this whole application just, you know, to
make sure because I I heard someone say that we would we would love to have that happen. I think it would be a positive thing. I guess let's hear it from the city attorney. >> It's up to the to the chair if if you'd like to hear from >> If they can keep it brief because we've extended this Yeah. If they can keep it
extremely brief, I have no problem. Yes, thank you so much. Thanks for all your hard work on this. I really appreciate everyone trying to get to a solution. I mean, I to me I would prefer a deferral and have it brought back as a as a formed thing. >> Sounds like that we're just going to we're going to do it with the the
condition. I guess legally I struggle with even how that's going to work if they don't if they're not able to get there. >> And how do we find out? >> They will have to get there. >> Yeah, >> they're going to have to get there. They're going to have to rotate that same square footage and go east and west. The question is if they get there,
>> if they get there, you okay with that? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. >> All right. All I wanted to hear. Okay. >> Call the role. >> Call the RO. >> Felix Cardo. >> Yes. >> Gonzalo Sanria. >> What is a motion
>> to have them read to have them redirect? >> Well, can I can I just let me restate the as I understand the motion. It's a motion to recommend to the city commission that that this request for the the pad be approved with the conditions that staff has recommended
and with staff's recommendations including that the site plan be changed as has been described here to change the orientation of the park. >> Correct. But it's a condition to change orientate the orientation. >> Yeah. So it would be to uh basically
rotate the park. >> That's it. That's it. Rotate park. Is that something? >> Annex any green area that you can into that area. >> That's a condition. >> Yes, that's it. >> All right. >> We're okay with that condition. >> We clarify how that will be reviewed.
We'll go to the city architect. The same as a setback in the removal of the arcade. >> Yes, we could add it to if >> all that stays. All that condition recommendation. >> All all we doing is that part going like this. That's it. Um, so to uh the
planning director's point, could we add that to the condition that we already have that staff recommended to remove the arcade along Antilla? >> Yes. Yes. >> Perfect. With the same approval, >> yes, >> process that's provided for that. >> Quick question. >> Okay.
>> How do the kids get to the park? >> The same way the the the school was fronting the park. They're going to front the same way. >> Okay. >> They're just going to expand it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay, we will figure it out. I trust Mr. Behard. So,
>> I have no fear. >> He says we could do it. It can be done. >> You're going to you're going to expand it along the Phoenicia Avenue side where the existing garden is >> instead of norththeast West.
>> Correct. >> I have Mr. Partardo. Yes. Gonzalo Sanabria. Instead of voting on this motion, I would like to have at this point a reconsideration of the previous motions in the terms of a deferment.
So at this time, I'm forced to say that I'm voting against this as well. >> No. >> Ignasio Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Robert Behar. >> Yes. >> Alice Bravo. >> Yes. >> Shane McClashen. >> Yes.
>> Alex Bello. Yes. >> Okay. E4. >> You're on a roll, so keep it going. >> I'm going make a motion [clears throat] to approve with all the condition that we have in place, you know, on E3
>> the staff recommendations. >> Yeah. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Gonzalo Sanabria. >> What is the motion? It's a motion. This is on E4. It's a motion to approve um to
recommend to the city commission approval of the mix site plan and encroachment agreement as well as um um as permitting the current accessory school as a principal use including the staff's staff's recommended conditions and the same condition that we that was
included in the prior motion which is to rotate the park. >> Correct. >> No. Ignasio Alvarez. Yes. >> Robert Behar. >> Yes. >> Alice Bravo. >> Yes. >> Jane McClashen. >> Yes. >> Felix Partardo. >> Yes.
>> Alex Bello. >> Yes. >> 61. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Motion to adjourn. >> Thank you all so much. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. [laughter] Mr. Chairman. >> Yes.
>> I'd like to make a motion to reconsider the approval of previous items. and in a sense of being deferred for the next meeting so we can further fine-tune the language that we have just approved. And I believe some of my
colleagues did feel sympathetic to that. So I'd like to make a motion >> to reconsider and defer. >> I thought we just had a motion to >> to adjurnn and I I second it. >> Okay. Then let's call ro on the motion to or all in favor? I >> I
>> that's >> the motion is all motions are