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>> Good morning and welcome to the November 18th, 2025 meeting of the Historic Preservation Board. Um our chair John is out today, so I am the lucky one who gets to sit in his seat. I'm going to turn it over to our lovely staff members
and city attorney uh to talk about how things are going to progress today. >> Thank you so much. Good morning, members of the board. Today's meeting of the historic preservation board will be conducted in a hybrid format with the board physically present in the commission chambers at Miami Beach City
Hall and applicants, staff, and members of the public appearing either in person or virtually via Zoom. To participate virtually in today's meeting, the public may dial 1888-475-4499 and enter the webinar ID, which is 817-48347488
pound, or log into the Zoom app and enter the webinar ID, which again is 817-48347488. If you wish to speak on an item, click the raise hand icon if you're using the Zoom app or dial star9 if you are participating by phone. If you're appearing on behalf of a business, a
corporation, or another person, you need to register as a lobbyist with city clerk's office. If you haven't registered yet, you should register before you speak to the board. You don't have to register as a lobbyist if you're speaking only on behalf of yourself and not any other party or if you're testifying as an expert witness providing only scientific, technical, or
other specialized information or testimony in this public meeting or if you're appearing as a representative of a neighborhood association without any compensation or reimbursement for your appearance to express support of or opposition to any item. Expert witnesses and representatives of neighborhood associations shall prior to appearing
disclose in writing to the city clerk their name, address, and the principal on whose behalf they are communicating. If you're an architect, attorney, or employee representing an applicant or an objector, you must register as a lobbyist. These rules apply whether you're appearing in favor of or against an item or encouraging or arguing against its passage, defeat,
modification, or continuence. Lastly, I'd like to swear in any members of the public or staff who will be testifying today. Please raise your right hands. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Thank you.
>> Before we begin, can I ask PJ Communications to promote me as a panelist on Zoom? Great. So, um, before we begin, we're going to go to the approval of the minutes from the October 21st meeting. Can I get a motion to approve those minutes? Mr. President, a second. Mr.
Novik. All in favor? >> I. >> Now, we do have only um six members present today. So, that would require um five affirmative votes for any application that includes um demolition as well as five affirmative votes for any application that has variances. Um I do believe we have one request for
continuance and that is for um HPV file 25-0670 for 1835 Michigan Avenue. Will the applicant please come up? >> If you can please state your um name on the record. >> Sandra Werta. >> And um you're asking for continuence to
the December or January meeting, >> please. I >> would you like December? I would say I would suggest January. >> Perfect. >> That'd be um January. Let me see. Just a second. >> 23rd. >> That' be the January 13th meeting.
>> Perfect. >> So with that, do we have any public comment on the request for continuence only? Again, this is for um 1835 Michigan Avenue. This is an application requesting a variance for a seaw wall height. Is there any public comment on the request for continuance?
Seeing nobody in chambers, anybody online. There's nobody online with a comment on the request for continuence. Will that any comments from the board or a motion on the um request for continuence? >> I'll move to continue to the January
meeting. >> Second, Mr. President. Second. >> I second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion that applications continue to the January 13th meeting. Thank you, sir. Have a good day. Thank you, sir.
>> Well, that will begin with the first regular item on the agenda. This is for um HPB25 0674 um 1210 Michigan Avenue. Just a second here. So, the board may remember that on um
April 22nd of this year, the board approved the demolition of the um single family home that was constructed in 1940, originally designed by Albert Annis and the construction of a new twotory single family home with an understory. That applicant is now seeking modifications of those of those
plans in order to incorporate a roof deck, which is not previously approved. Now, the applicant is requesting a variance to eliminate the required 10-ft side facing a street setback for roof decks, allowing the deck to align with the setback of the floor below. Um, the roof deck setback requirement was adopted um several years ago to maintain
privacy for neighboring properties. Now, this particular lot is unusual in that it's only 50 ft in width. Typically, um, corner lots are um, 60 ft in width and that's take in consideration the extra setback that's required required for corner properties. For example, a corner
property requires a 15 foot setback on a side facing a street versus a 7 and a half foot interior setback which is typically allowed um because this lot is is undersized in terms of the lot width as well as the um complying with the
setbacks would only allow a um a deck of 10 ft in width that would be up with a 10 foot setback on the side facing the street interior side. Um this only applies to the side facing the street setback. So, we believe it does not impact the privacy of the neighboring properties. And the applicant's also
requesting a a waiver of the of the twotory um side setback standards which um require an open courtyard along a a side elevation. Now, the prior application did include did meet that requirement because it has a a courtyard
or this this application includes a a circular staircase that's located within that area to access the roof deck. that does reduce the overall um square footage to what's what's um less than what the code is required. However, this is a design waiver that the board um can grant. So, for the reasons I've
indicated as well as reasons at the port, we are supportive of the variance for the for the setback for the roof deck as well as the the waiver for the twotory um house standards. With that, turn it over to Mr. Choiff on behalf of the applicant. >> Thank you, Ralph Cho. Uh Jo Levy
Fishman, Miami, Florida architects. So yeah, we we had this uh residence approved by the historic board u while back and uh the owner uh would like to have a roof deck. So across the street is Flamingo Park. So I'd like to see
Flamingo Park from the roof. um thing with this lot is it's 50 feet wide and I'm required a 15 foot set back along the street and I'm required seven and a half interior setback and I'm also required to have uh any roof deck set
back 10 ft from the exterior not the overhang but the exterior of any uh any structure there. So that only leaves me with 7 1/2 ft of uh of roof deck to work with. So, we we we'd like to have a roof
deck installed or or put uh on this residence. And um everything sets back 10 ft with the exception of the uh 12 I'm sorry, the um yeah, the 12th Street uh setback which is right to the edge.
Um in order to have a workable roof deck, uh again, there's a street there. There's a 15- ft setback from the street and there's a park across the street. So we don't find there's any incumbrance uh in that area. So and the next thing is to get to the roof we need a spiral
stair. Um we have to have uh no more than 60 ft and run uh according to the code. And then we have to provide an open courtyard equaling two or more than 1% of the lot size. In order to get to the roof deck uh we had to put a spiral
stair in there. Uh, one of the provisions that we got the approval on for the um for the roof deck is that we set back from Michigan Avenue um uh we had to set back 42 1/2 ft. I believe the
normal setback is 20 ft. Uh the reason we did this was to keep with the historic uh neighborhood the setbacks of the existing homes and we were asked by staff to do that and we did and we got we got that approved. So now it really compresses the site area where you can
build. So um that open area is still open but it has a spiral staircase in it and it reduces the 1% to 0.85%. So we are uh deficient by.1%. 0.15%. Um, so that's uh basically we
have if you'd like to take a look at a diagram uh of of the actual um variance. It's right there. There's what we can have on top and this is what we we're proposing on the bottom. So uh
it's not an egregious uh ask. I believe uh the front elevation will basically look the same as before. won't won't really change except for a railing that's glass on top. Uh
can that's where the stair is right now and that's the front elevation. So you see the added uh rail that's all glass uh frame frameless. And now I wait uh comments from the board. Any questions I can answer?
>> Do we have any comments from the board? >> Questions for the applicant? >> You want to take public comment? >> We can take public comment. Yes. >> And before we open to the public, do any board members have any exparte communications to disclose?
>> Okay. We have one caller on line with her hand raised. Uh Johan Moore. >> Morning. Johan. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, all truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes, I do. Good morning, uh, board
members. Um, while a rooftop in a residential neighborhood would normally raise concerns, um, I wanted to point out that the specific location, as indicated by the the presenter, uh, I
think alleviates those those those concerns. Um, I think that the neighbors would be much more concerned were this located uh not adjacent to a park and a few single family homes uh who will
presumably have a word with their neighbor uh should there be excess noise from the rooftop. That's obviously the concern with a rooftop uh arrangement uh is that the noise will carry. Uh thank you very much. >> That concludes our public comment
online. And I see nobody in chambers. >> I'll make a motion to uh approve the uh variance uh and modifications. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Yes.
>> One oppose. That motion passes 5 to one. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. get the certificate appropriate. >> Yes, we did the CVA for the uh the design. >> Okay. >> Would anyone like to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion to
>> I'll I'll second it. >> All in favor of that? >> Any opposed? >> Yes. I'm opposed. Thank you. That motion passes again 5 to one. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Our next application is HPB25-0663
for 336 Marine Avenue. Just a second. The board may remember this was last before you um last month in October and it was continued to a date certain of date to to address to address the concerns expressed by the board and staff. Um
since the last month's meeting um the applicant has revised the plan significantly to we believe address the board's comments. This includes removing the projecting front balcony, adding a partial third floor balcony and additional windows for improved residential character, reducing the
reflectivity of the third floor can lever, enhancing security with quart steel entry elements, preserving the existing Christmas palms, and increasing the rear setback from 4T to 5T as recommended um by staff. For the these reasons, we are supportive of the
overall design changes have been made as well as the um the modified variance request and are recommending approval of the CFA which includes a CFA for demolition the rear structure as well as the variance for the rear setback to allow a setback of 5 ft at the rear. I'll turn it over to the applicant for
the presentation. >> Actually, do we have any board questions for staff? >> Do we have any board questions for staff? >> Okay, go ahead. Good morning. Matt Amster with the law firm of Burkowell Fernandez Larkin and
Tapeness. Offices at 200 South Biscane Boulevard in Miami. Here today representing Kindred Properties LLC. Uh the applicant and owner of the subject property. Uh with me uh Renee Gonzalez and Kevin uh
uh from Rene's Architecture Studios. Um we do appreciate uh all of the feedback we received uh last month not only from all of you uh but neighbors who came and subsequently um our team did meet with the neighbors to go over uh the changes
that are before you and uh again we appreciate everyone's uh input. It's been uh very helpful to uh improve the project, make it more residential character. Uh and so we do feel that um this design we're about to present to
you um is complimentary for the neighbors uh and uh is great for the neighborhood and for this owner. As a reminder, this is a singleuse uh residence uh even though it could be multif family. And with that, I'm going to turn it over to Renee.
>> Thank you, Renee Gonzalez. Renee Gonzalez, Architects at a Thousand Venetian Way number 110. Um, thank you for your comments. Uh, we're in front of you today to present a revised uh, design. Uh, we also, as Matt just said,
met with the neighbors and, uh, addressed their concerns as well. I think we have, uh, their support and, um, one of them is, uh, meant to speak on Zoom, I think. Um, so, let me take
you through, uh, the changes we've made since the last meeting. Um this is the original design that was presented last last time and this is the um revised design. What we did is we
addressed uh your comments in um various ways. One and and most importantly I think is we moved uh pushed the facade back to align with the existing uh historic facade. We eliminated the
balcony alto together so that it's it becomes an internal balcony in internally uh located to the volume. Uh we also created a transparent or as transparent
as can be uh fenced so that the original uh historic facade can be appreciated. Um, I think those are the major moves. We've also addressed and I'll show you in a moment uh the variance uh issue and
that's something we worked uh uh quite a bit on uh to uh with the neighbors and we met on site and so forth. This is the revised uh design. You can see uh the
the now uh facade of the new addition that has a more symmetrical uh quality as I think had been mentioned by by the board. This is something that was requested by you uh at the last meeting which is an
actual photograph of how much vegetation there is. We obviously um you know show you this because it was requested but we understand that we we want the building to be right regardless of the of the vegetation. So
this is the elevation showing uh the proposed uh fence which uh would be a picket fence similar to what exists now. And these are existing um photographs.
I'm sorry I'm moving. If I'm moving uh too quickly through this, please let me know. Uh so here you see uh the revised uh situation uh with the new facade not protruding nor having a balcony. Uh so
we've we've also revised uh the variance request to represent uh staff's uh recommendation and also as I said it's something that we've um addressed with the neighbors and I think they're very
pleased uh to to have the new conditions because we've also in the landscape drawings which are these are all uh similar but uh revised as you can see here uh the front elevation is now in
line with the so the landscape drawings what we did is there's a number of palms that exist on the property line um to the north and we have uh working with the neighbors
agreed to leave all of those palms we had originally intended to have new vegetation there that we thought would still do the same thing and grow quickly, but they really love um what exists. So, we've so that's what you see
here in these revised drawings where we've agreed to leave uh those palms so that they can have the comfort that they will have uh the kind of uh green lush vegetation that they currently have.
And that's all that I have for you today. I think uh I'm open to any questions. uh that you may have. >> Do we have questions from the board for the applicant? >> It's not really your question. I just
want to really thank you for taking what we've requested and and done it. I was thrilled when I looked at the package and said, "Oh my goodness, it's, you know, usually there's, you know, there's this little give and take and and whatever, but you really took everything to heart. You did it, and I think you've done a great job." Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. Yes, thank you. Could you please just go over what uh the waiverss variances you're requesting just a summary since the I don't know if the changes in the design have affected at all >> uh on the variance? >> Yes.
>> Uh well uh what we did is we revised the drawings showing uh how much were going back on the front. uh in the in the past uh here if you can see the cursor this this used to protrude out to the front
setback line. So that's that's been revised and then this has been revised to agree with uh staff's recommendation. It used to be um uh 4 foot and now it's 5 foot. That's correct.
>> And that's our only variance. There's no waiver. >> That's correct. Sorry. Yeah, I did make that clear. Thank you, Matt. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah, just to be clear on the rear setback, you're encroaching 9 ft is what you're
asking for. >> Corre. That's correct. Yes. >> And thank you. Yeah, if you recall, uh that's um consistent with the majority of the
other uh buildings on on that block. And also uh after looking at it on site with the neighbors, I think they were very comfortable with that as well. Um I don't know if if um one of them is on Zoom finally, but he was he said he was
going to be on Zoom to speak up himself. Anyone else have questions for the applicant before we go to public comment? >> Okay, public comment. >> Let's take on public comment from the audience first. It's in chambers. >> And Madam Chair, do any board members
have any disclosures to make before we hear from the public? No. Okay. >> Hi, Roger Goldblad, MDPL, uh, 1000 Ocean Drive. Um, we appreciate we appreciate the applicants tweaking the design to
address some of the concerns we had as well as those of the historic preservation board the last presentation. However, we still do not support the proposed design. We continue to have significant concerns. The massing, the scale, the angler form
remain out of context with both the original structure and the Ocean Beach Historic District. The overall design lacks contextual sensitivity to the predominantly art deco and Mediterranean revival character of interior portion of
the south of fifth neighborhood. We no longer oppose the rare setback variance understanding the significant voluntary setbacks design has to respect the facades of historic contributing structure that are being retained. We excuse me. We appreciate the applicant's
desire to build a forever home in Miami Beach and their love of the new home. We all love Miami. With that, we encourage the applicant to reconsider the design with one that is more contextually appropriate and it respects the historic nature of their property surroundings.
Thank you. >> Anybody else in chambers on Zoom? Last call for anybody on Zoom with their hand raised to comment on this application. There's nobody online with their hand raised.
>> Okay. So, we'll go to board comment. >> I have a question. Can I ask a question? Did you add a door to the front? Because I thought it was open. it. We we we correctly showed uh the door that would exist within the keyhole opening,
>> right? So that's new >> or that because I thought I asked the question, are you leaving it open? So is there a gate and now >> No, I'm I'm sorry. I may have been confused. Yes. Let's just say it's new, but because it wasn't properly shown. >> Oh, previously.
>> Yeah. One other question. Sorry. The balcony on the second floor is actually has no roof on it. Correct. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. But everything else is that's the only place it's open right there is over the balcony. >> That's correct. And if I may add, uh,
one of the reasons that balcony is there is because the neighbor that lives in the unit very close to that corner requested that there be more light that come through into his unit or that we
maximize that condition as much as possible. So that's the reason why that balcony is is placed in that location. We're sorry. just to be clear, we addressed his concern, but we're also very pleased with
the the result and and want to thank you really because I think that um often times uh you know these um scenarios lead to a better place and I think this is uh a more sensitive design uh hands
down. >> Does anyone else have any board comment? I I know you asked to ask questions, but if I mean if we've got questions, we want to make sure we ask them, but you know, this idea is for board commentary at this point. >> Yeah. Um Renee, can you explain the uh >> So that question?
>> Yes, it's a question. >> Okay. >> Can you explain explain the uh glazing or the skin of the uh of the new structure? Well, the idea is that it it be a a
glass block uh sort of uh volume and that it have uh windows inserted and the windows you can see here on the elevation for example have a relationship to um the original uh
building. Uh but that for the most part it' be all glass block. >> That's the entire system on all elevations. >> Yeah. Yes. of the front volume. >> Yeah. I didn't know if it was sectional. Uh yeah, you know. >> Yeah. The lines the lines the seams you
see are are >> molants. Yes. And >> and that's aluminum I would imagine. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Question or comment? >> Question. >> Okay. >> Further to that, is the railing on the
roof deck also all glass block? It looks different in the rendering and I can't tell. There's a railing around the entire >> the railing is glass block as well. >> Glass block. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> The fence um on the street um what is that material? I mean it looks very
orange. >> It's it it would be cortan steel. So it's essentially steel that uh sort of feels very natural in a way because >> so it can rust. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> And that's the same material being used on the door. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. So it it's steel that that'll need protective coating, I would imagine.
It's a a steel that um as it wears it develops its own protective coating. So >> patina or >> patina, correct? That's a nicer word. >> Yeah, it's it's it just feels very organic. We've used it before and it
tends to disappear into the landscape because >> it just is it feels very natural and organic as it tends to patina. So would you describe it as a copper or brass or is it
>> no co? Well, in the sense that it would have a bit of a color to it. Yes. But not it wouldn't be copper or or brass. It would be quart steel >> and it's certainly not going to rust and detail. >> No. No. It's not. It's not. Um it's it's
it's a material that protects itself. uh as it uh patas. >> Gotcha. >> Kind of like copper does on a on a roof when it turns green. Yeah. >> All right. >> It might help you brought a sample
>> and and we can provide that to staff if course. Yes. >> Elizabeth, I believe, has comments and questions. >> Okay. It's a mixture of both. Uh so I know you just explained the skin, the glass skin, but would you mind bringing up a floor plan and going over that
again? Of course. >> So, >> so I'm sorry. Go to the next floor because I think it's easier to see. >> Yeah. Here you show. And that's Yeah, cuz here you show only >> one layer of finished material there. At
least on my package, I don't see two. It's It's uh the light blue here is the glass block. >> Okay. And you don't have an exterior wall. Your exterior wall is glass. >> It's all glass block. >> Okay.
>> The exterior wall is glass block. Yes. >> Okay. That's what I wasn't 100% sure. Okay. Thank you. >> We have that sample, by the way. We can bring it back up if you'd like to see it. >> Sure. >> Any other questions or comments?
comments. Thank you. Go ahead. >> Um, while I uh applaud your design, I think the building size, you know, you got a 7,000 foot lot. You're building close to a 9,000 square ft house.
You're coming in here asking for a variance for 9 ft. You're building a 50 some odd foot tall building in this neighborhood. And uh this design may work elsewhere, but not on a 7,000 square foot lot that
you're building a 9,000 ft house and you're asking for a 14T an additional 14t setback. I cannot support you. Thank you. >> Go ahead. Um, thank you for hearing our comments. I My one concern with this and
it's from the perspective rendering is the the roof on the overhang looks to me very commercial being reflective steel. Is that what the intent is or the underhang the ceiling on the overhang? >> Uh, the intent Yeah, we'll show you that
exact material. The intent is for that to disappear and have it be reflective. So, it's really uh a material that is that won't be read as what it is. And we've used it before on on other buildings in the area. Um glass
in particular, we've used a lucabond. What happens is it tends to uh it it it tends to it would be something uh like this but sorry but it would tend
to reflect the environment. So while uh I think that at um that you would tend to think of this material as an industrial material the whole intent is that it just disappear. And as you can see
here in this elevation that the landscape is what really reads as the dominant feature. Uh if we had uh let's say stucco which would be the more sort of normal material to use u I think uh
you would read it as a material while this is going to dissipate into the landscape. That's our intention. Thank you. >> All right. Have we you have a question, Mitch?
>> Sure. On on to the same uh discussion. So, is this like an Epha system designed with a metal cladding? Is there a dens glass behind it? Is that how >> Yeah, something like that. Or there's
there's Exactly. It's a panel system. >> Okay. A panel system. Yes. >> And the size of the uh sheets, I would imagine, was a 4 by8 or >> they they could be larger where we would
use the largest uh possible. At this point, it's what like you know up to 12 feet. So let's say 4 by 12. >> How do you hide the joints so you're just not concerned? >> You will. Well, the joints will be
visible, but they will be a a line, a very minimal line that uh would be visible. It's a a minimal joint, much much less than what you see, for example, here because this is a reveal. >> And how do you envision this being
fastened to the uh to the >> It's a system that clips, >> right? So, there's there's >> glued. >> No, no, no, no. there. It's a You want to go ahead >> mechanically fastened, >> right? Well, it's it's mechanically
fastened is what Kevin is saying, but but it's a a system that's pre-manufactured for this purpose and it has a structure behind it that sort of allows you to mechanically fasten it. >> So, you won't see the Okay.
>> No, no, no. >> And and this would meet hurricane standard, >> of course. Yeah. Yeah. We've we've I mean four blocks uh from here we've we've used it as well >> which >> on glass. >> Okay.
And >> glass is sorry 120 Ocean Drive >> which is glass right glass building. >> It's a glass building. >> Uh where where on that project is it being used under the balconies? I don't I don't know.
>> It's being used on the elevator cores. Okay. >> Uh the entire height of the building. >> And that's on the interior. You're not going to see that from >> on the what? >> Uh you're not going to see that from the uh from the street.
>> Oh, you you do. Yeah. It's highly visible from the causeway, actually. >> From the causeway. Yeah. And we the rear of the structure. >> Correct. Facing facing Miami. >> Can you see it from the alley? What is that? Ocean Court. >> You can see it from the alley. You can
see it from the distance. As a matter of fact, we use two uh slightly different uh tonalities of the silver there just like this. Uh in order to differentiate um a pattern uh and it's quite effective
I think in the sense that you do really uh it it tends to dissipate uh into the landscape. It reflects this. In this case in this case we wanted to reflect the landscape. In that case, it reflects the sky and the atmosphere really, which
was the intention for that building in general. >> Al although because we're discussing it, how has that building weathered in terms of its uh glazing systems?
>> Are there any issues? >> No. >> Okay. >> No. No. We're actually uh uh working on the project now to uh have a new gym on the ground floor and there's nothing uh on the building that
um needs to be addressed because it's not weathered properly or so so it's it's >> okay. That's good to hear. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Well, >> okay. I'll I'll make a motion uh to
approve it. >> Question before you make Sorry, I'm back. Um so you have have you start working on the permit set on the working drawings for >> No, of course not. We >> No, no. Okay. You know, I was just curious to understand from a structure
standpoint because we don't see any structure on the facades and also the energy. How do you meet energy calculations with an entire glass facade and if it's a see-through you cannot hide anything behind it? >> Well, we have we have done that. We have been working with the structural
engineer and the MEP engineer to make sure that uh that um they feel comfortable with us proceeding uh with this design. erh the the the structure
uh we've that's what those seams these uh sorry these uh seams are implying is that we would have Oops, I'm going the wrong way. I'm so sorry. The seams are implying that uh we would have
structure, right? You can see it uh here. Uh and and there's also um structure on the historic facade on the interior of the historic facade, a steel structure. Can you pull out that uh the
board of the interior of that courtyard so Elizabeth can see that? Okay. So, we've we have worked with the engineers to feel confident that um you know that what we're doing is is consistent with um
with uh calculations that they would have to make. >> So, what's the thermal insulation capacity of glass? >> Um I I don't know the answer to that to be honest. No, I was just curious wondering right cuz I mean when you
talking about a more solid wall I mean it's just like more common you understand a little bit better how much it can actually stop the heat from coming in but when you have >> three sides or four sides of your facade being all glass and you cannot put any kind of insulation because then it's not
seized through anymore. Right. >> Right. We we've we ran some preliminary uh calculations with the engineer and they're confident that we can do this. >> Happy to hear. >> Yeah. >> So you can see I don't know if
>> right >> so yeah. So in the historic facade since it's a solid wall that's something that yeah you can hide behind the when you have the glasses that you cannot anymore. So everything becomes visible from the screen.
>> So I have a question for you Michael. So if let's say as they develop the construction documents and structure needs to become thicker more visible is that something that they will bring back to us? >> Yeah. Yes.
If we look at it and the designs changes significantly from what the board is looking at today, we would require them to come back to the board to approve that change. >> Thank you. >> I didn't get a chance to ask any questions or make comments um sitting in
John's chair today. Um I just wanted to ask they brought up the discussion about the door earlier and you said it was incorrectly represented last time and so I just I want to get do you have another image that actually shows the door? something else that we can look at because even in my papers that I have in
front of me, there are places where looks like there might be a door. There are places where clearly it's showing the staircase behind it. The uh board that you just showed with the interior shows the door like there's nothing in that keyhole. So, do you have something that can a visual representation that we
could look at? >> Uh yeah. Yes. Do we have it here? >> Visual representation of the door. That's the best What's the best way to see it? It's here. >> Can we zoom in or
>> Yes. So, just so you guys know, our A5 doesn't show that door. It shows the staircase. >> We we realize that that's I think what uh Mr. Hollingworth's question was. Uh I think that we were so focused on the
design in the past uh that um we didn't clearly show that. But after last meeting when we discussed the fence and the door and what you see and you don't see, uh, we wanted to make that very clear. Honestly, I had thought originally that that was something that
we would continue to work with staff on, which we're happy to do on any on anything that you would uh um want us to sort of look at closer with them. But we realized it was important to show. So here you here you see it's it's
a simple panel and it would have two seams as you see here. >> But it's a glass door. >> No, no, it's a quart and steel. >> Oh, okay. >> To match the fence. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Um, do we have anybody who wants to make a motion for >> Was there nobody online? >> Nobody Nobody on line with their hand raised. But before we make a motion, I just want to um add the applicant profer to keep the p the landscaping the palms along the north side. Like to include
that as a condition for any recommendation of approval for the um the CFA. And I know Mr. um Meyer has re has indicated he's he will not support the variance. Is there anybody else who is who would not support the variance for setback? Just want to make sure because if if there was not the support
then I'd ask the applicant if you wanted to continue the application but it sounds like only only my Mr. Meyer is not supportive of the variance. So with that I'll entertain a motion for the the variance as well as for the the CFA for the design. >> I'll make such a motion.
>> Do I do the design first? uh for the C of A first. >> Have a second. Mr. Brling. All in favor of the design. >> I >> I >> Any opposed? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Meer opposed. >> And on the variance, >> I'll make a motion for the variance. >> Second on the variance. Mr. Reslin. >> All in favor of the variance. >> Any opposed? >> Yes.
>> Mr. from my post. Motion passes a 5 to one. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you again. We appreciate your comments from the last time. It really um we feel has improved the design. So, thank you. >> Anything else? >> Oh, yes. Yes. Yeah, that's right. I forgot.
>> If you'd let me. >> Thank you. >> The next application is HPB24-0640 1440 Michigan Avenue. An application has been filed requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the construction of a new three-story multif family building
with an understory, including a waiver to exceed the maximum allowable coverage lot coverage to replace an existing lot to be demolished. Just to give you a brief history on this property, on January 26, 1999, the planning board approved a conditional use permit allowing the construction of a small
storage facility within the existing parking lot. On February 24th, 2015, the board approved that lot split for the subject property 1440 Michigan Avenue and 10:3015th Street uh with two developable lots. Uh the southern lot, which is the subject of this
application, has remained as an existing parking lot. Um, the applicant is proposing to construct a three-story 23 unit multif family residential structure on the southern parcel to replace the existing parking lot inclusive of the demolition of the existing storage
facility. Since the existing building was constructed in 1999 and retains no original architectural elements, SAS has no objection to the applicant's request for total demolition of the structure. Staff is supportive of the G of this application. Uh the design is compatible
with the neighboring threestory structure on the northern parcel that was subject to the lot split. Um however staff would note that the overall massing on the third floor is topheavy as it projects approximately 7 ft from the second level um on the east and west
ends. This would face Lennox A and Michigan Avenue. Staff recommends that the floor plans be adjusted so that the third level does not project beyond the second level except for the projecting balconies. Uh something to know is that the applicant is requesting a waiver from section 7243A of the resiliency
code which states that for lots equal to or greater than 65 ft in width, the maximum lot coverage is 45%. The code does allow for um areas such as driveways that would lead into this understory as part of their lot coverage. So as a result, the applicant
is proposing a lot coverage of 64% where 45% is permitted. Um, in order to achieve the parking below the residential units, additional lot coverage is proposed to achieve the understory design and allow adequate floor plate dimensions on the residential units above given that the
site's long and narrow configuration. Um, the proposed parking area will utilize a hydro PA permeable PA system to improve on-site water management. Um we also want to note that the multif family development that is located on the north lot which was part of the lot
split was approved with the lot coverage of 62.8% um providing a relevant contextual president that supports the reasonable uh waiver. Overall staff finds that the proposed waiver supports an integral architectural design and um recommends
that the board affirms the recommendations provided by staff which would include the reduction of the larger plates at the third level. Um and it be uh approve subject to the following conditions which uh addresses
inconsistencies in the COA criteria. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good morning once again. Matt Amster uh at Burke Del Fernandez Larkin and Tapinus office at 200 South Miscane Boulevard. Uh here today representing Crar Rental Michigan LLC which is the applicant and owner of the subject
property. um with me and we do have a presentation if we could please call that up. Thank you. Go to the next. Thank you. Um so with our team um I have uh Louisa Gapon from Skywork our architect. Um I
believe we have um Mr. Varela from all landscape data on either in present or Yep. terrific. >> Thank you. And um we have um I believe uh someone uh Langan is our traffic engineer in case
we have any questions there on Zoom. Um and uh here from ownership is Bento Kerose. And I do have a a little housekeeping item um for the um we just heard from our uh owner that uh they had
made a a slight change in the ownership structure. Uh, and I wanted to let you all know, um, we're getting a revised application to staff. Uh, apologies for the last minute notice and also a delay. Our entire firm has undergone the
wonderful um, IT transition over the weekend and we're still experiencing uh, difficulties. Um, it's the same. CR Rental Michigan is still the same uh, ownership entity. Um, it goes down to the same as we had presented. Batista
Sylvea Limited and then which owns cre 100% and then sticking to future uh is 100% owner of Batista and then at the end the ultimate person owner um through a trust situation is Pedro Paulo Leamos
Decast Castro. So that's our revised uh ownership structure. Again that name is Pedro Paulo Leamos Decast Castro. This is a uh Brazilian um owner uh coming here and uh has
actually done a project uh nearby. Um it went through the design review board and it's already under construct about it's already broken ground for an office building in south side of Sunset Harbor. It's uh 1333 Dade Boulevard. And so here today they're starting their next
project um a multif family uh on Michigan. Um, and here you can see uh on the left that previously there this property uh and the one to the north which fronts on 15th Street uh were for many many years
I believe since 1973 a surface parking lot that eventually uh was taken over by uh Southern Bell South used uh for their um service vehicles. There's a small storage building there, but basically this has just been a private parking lot
um for decades. Uh and in uh 2015, the planning board uh approved a lot split um to allow for uh both of these properties uh to be, you know, separated and allow for multif family. Uh they're both in the RM1 district. That's the
zoning districts over there on the right side. And you can see that the north property, which is uh larger than ours in this in the split that was made, um has already been built out. I believe it finished uh in 2022 uh with a three-story apartment building. Uh it's
under condo ownership. Um so here you can also get a context and our our ownership our team and the owner have worked very closely together. This is a hands-on owner uh looking to bring a very high quality uh rental building to this community and we've
definitely taken into account from the beginning, you know, the context and to provide a sensitive uh development on this sort of long narrow compact lot. Uh and we believe we've achieved that. And in doing so, we've met numerous times
with planning staff and appreciate all of their uh helpful comments and guidance. Um we originally actually had a number of variances that with their help and um nice redesigns including adding an understory for more resiliency we've been able to avoid all variances.
Uh so we are uh basically a compliant uh project from that regard. Uh and the you know uh nature of our uh project is again always to be sensitive to
basically have fronts on both sides uh and to be sensitive to both our north and south neighbor. Uh here's the layout uh of the that existing condition to the north. Uh notably they have an 8-ft setback on their south side. We are respecting our required 10-ft setbacks
both in the north and in the south with zero projections into either of those setbacks. As you can see, and Louisa will also explain, we have lots of green both at ground level on all levels and including the rooftop. Louisa,
>> good morning members of the board. Um, we're proud to present this multifamily residential project that represents the next generation of contextual and resilient design in Miami Beach. This is a carefully crafted architectural statement as you guys can
see in this image developed through close collaboration with the staff which we thank very much again to ensure a sensitivity to scale, rhythm and character to this neighborhood. Our intent is to provide unique living experience to multiple families while
maintaining a single family residential approach to create a seamless transition from the multif family development that we have in the north to single family residence area that we have in the south. This nature integrated design features a green roof, vertical landscape, and green balconies. It was
designed to feel timeless and enhance the Miami Beach architectural fabric. The understory floor plan clearly shows how narrow and challenging our site was is. Um, but in collaboration with the staff, we were able to design with full compliance to setbacks with no
encroachments a concealed parking area with enough parking spaces to all units area for 39 bicycle wrecks which promotes active and sustainable mobility. Only one 12- ft curb cut on the Michigan Avenue to access the
property. pedestrian approach with shaded seat seating and lush vegetation. We are requesting for lot coverage waiver. Um on the second diagram, the yellow area shows the roof projection exceeding the 45%
um minimum requirement. However, in the first diagram, the red areas show how small the understory footprint is. So to support the city staff's um the city's resiliency and storm water goals, we're committed to fully landscape around the
setbacks um parking with 100% pvious pavers and uh green roof. So in the landscape plans for the understory and roof you can see how we are committed to uh native species to guarantee an evergreen vegetation contributing to the
storm water management urban heat island reduction green buffer and equipment screening. The FER plan drawings portray our commitment to the adjacent properties by not only respecting the required setbacks but also recessing the volumes of the livable spaces where in
the north side um that we have the multifamily residence. Uh we um focus on mostly circulation spaces and on the south side we have the long recess balconies. layer to that we have green
planters acting as buffers, natural shading and passive cooling and privacy to um both sides on the levels where the livable areas are on the north setback. So in for instance these areas we
provide louvers for privacy and to also reduce the building mass in a facade standpoint and act as natural shading. And these plans also show how open the building ends are by the corners. As you can see, we recess structure for a
lighter mess, especially on the south side, allowing natural light, air flow, and visibility to the single family properties. The facades are actually better portrayed with the beautiful renderings um that you guys can also see in the front. Um, and you can see how
the volumes are pushing pools for for human scale at the street level creating this seamless transition from the multifamily to the single family area. Um the light corners on the south side um shows with no obstruction and on both
fronts we have pedestrian approach with lush vegetation from ground up pedestrian opportunities, landscape shading areas, lighting to for a safe area and active um green walls, wood
like sleds, glass and vertical greenery. The multifamily side which is in the north um and single family side elevations have different treatments responding to its different context. While in the multif family side we seek
for more privacy on the elements and structure due to the verticality of the adjacent structure. In the single family side we play with a lighter structure recessed balconies allowing privacy light and ventilation. The staff did include a condition
regarding the overhangs and we would like to briefly explain why they are essential to the design. Uh to create a contextual resilient building, we intentionally worked with push and pull volumes on the second and third level. Need one more minute. >> How much? One more minute.
>> One more minute. >> Can we can you make it three, please? >> Three. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Um so we create this push and pull to accommodate the first level um of the human scale and this um
single family approach. Um, and the overhang on the top floor is actually a byproduct of the recess volumes, which also introduces a unique structure to the Miami Beach fabric. On the Lennox Avenue side, which is this call out
here, we have the overhang um sitting 25 ft back from the property line. So, exceeding the 25 20 ft minimum um setback. And on the Michigan side, um, we have the sack back even greater with
more than 30 feet of separation from the street. And the top floor being having this larger footprint allows for a larger green roof, which enhances buffering for rooftop amenities and supports the project's aim for sustainable and resilient goals. For
these reasons, we respectfully request the design feature to be maintained so it can properly fulfill its intended purpose. Um, and to wrap up this presentation, here are some interior views portraying the
privacy um, and buffer that the louvers recessed balconies and greenery offers along all levels. Thank you very much for your time and let us know if you have any questions. >> Thank you. I hope you uh can see the sensitivity that we've um produced here.
Definitely working very well with staff to um make sure that this has zero variances um and is contextual. Um to further clarify the um the point that uh
Louisa was making about the overhangs, there is a condition um it's IC1A uh that staff has provided um that request that that overhang be um reduced and we would respectfully request that
that condition be eliminated so that the uh careful and uh thoughtful design that we brought before you is is what we would hope that you would be able to approve. And with that, our entire team is available to answer any questions and I wish to reserve some time for rebuttal if necessary. Thank you.
>> Does anyone on the board have questions >> either for the applicant or for staff because we actually skipped that? So, I'll start with Elizabeth because she's >> Yeah. No, I Yes. So, could you please show where the overhang that the city is asking you to cut back and you'd like to maintain so we all understand exactly
where we stand? Sure. If you can call up the presentation again, it might be the easiest. >> So, it's both on the Lennox Avenue and on Michigan Avenue. So, on the U last floor. And
>> maybe you can show that on the renderings. >> So, if you would cut back those two overhangs, your waiver for lot coverage will go away. I don't think we've uh well there is some building below at the
at the ground level that may actually count. So I'm not sure that that and that's not the purpose of staff I believe bringing that up. >> Right. I don't that I don't believe that that does not affect the lot coverage and that's not the reason why we had that recommendation. >> Thank you.
It's just a design the design intent. Um it has further setbacks than required. Um and as you can see from a you know from a definitely from a design um you know to create a a unique building that is still um respects and has openings
too. As you can see here on the the south side, all those corners are very much open and airy and it pushes the building the actual building wall on the south side is further set back because of those
balconies. So that um you know create it's a it's a unique characteristic of this building and it is part of the design. So that's why we would hope that you would consider um approving it as designed. So, Michael, could you go over why? I'm
sorry. It's not >> Let's finish this. >> This is this is not a hard red line for us. Um, we are recommending approval with the condition. I do understand, you know, Matt's argument now that that um they are recessing the other floors beyond what the required setbacks are and it's only the um the upper level
that that comp that um they're asking um to have the the the the top closer to the street and that also does comply with the setback requirements and they're not projecting further into that. So, I do understand argument and I thank that the architect for bringing that that section to the board's
attention. Um like I said, this is not a hard red line for us. if the board likes the design. It's just we felt that it does appear sort of topheavy um when when view from the street. So, we thought there'd be a recommend recommendation we could provide. But if the board, you know, likes the design, we're not opposed, you know, um
generally to this concept. I also would point out that, you know, this this Flamingo Park district does have one of the strictest requirements in terms of height, limited to 35 ft in height. And while other areas of the code were modified to allow increase in height, especially in consideration of um
resiliency requirements and pushing everything higher, this area was never looked at again in terms of additional height. So um it wouldn't be unreasonable in the future for the code to to be modified to allow higher height here in order to accommodate these resiliency efforts. So with that, if the board likes a design, we wouldn't be
opposed to this, you know, this overall um design as presented today. >> Thank you, Michael. Any other questions? Go ahead, Ray. >> Um, you keep referring to this as apartments. So, it is apartments and not condominiums, correct?
>> Yeah, that's intended. >> My question is since there's three different stairwells to get up to the apartments, what is the purpose of a lobby? Why do you have a lobby there? >> Um, >> I would think you'd want to have a gym or something like that for the
residents, not a lobby. >> Yeah. So, we have an exterior lobby to um accommodate and have a nicer transition as you approach the building. But, um that's >> but since you can't get from that lobby
to each, you have to go someplace else to a stairwell. So, you're not staying inside a building. You have you have to sort of like go the understudy where the or under where the parking is or whatever. I I just don't see the purpose of having a lobby. Um unless there's something you're not telling us. It's
just a threshold to welcome um the user, but it's it's a good point that we could consider to give it a different purpose. >> Um >> Randy, you had a question. >> Um I'm looking at the south elevation on page A401.
It appears the entire south elevation are planters that extend from one end of the building to the other in front of all the balconies. Is that am I reading that correctly? And the planter is only a foot and a half wide. the dirt 1 foot 11 in. I
>> mean, the whole facade is planters. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay, >> Mitch. >> Yeah. Uh alluding to what Ry was uh mentioned, where where will the mail be delivered? >> That's what I was thinking.
>> Um so we have mail room at the lobby. Um so this is one of the purposes too. >> Gotcha. Thanks, >> Haskell. >> I have a question. Uh, on A403, you show the east elevation with the
line of sight. Is there a reason why you're not showing the line of sight to the south where all the homes are abuing this property, the single family homes? >> A43
Um yeah, no, there's no specific reason we can include that in the set. Um I believe we would have to go a little bit further south to and we also have an alley right
adjacent to the property on the south and then um we continue >> but the alley doesn't run all the way west. It stops short between the two build between the two rows of homes on Michigan and I don't know I think it's Lennox.
>> Yeah, Lennox side. >> Right. So the alley turns southward. So all those homes on Lennox will still be affected sorry by uh >> the height of this building. Correct. >> Yes.
Um, one more thing. The rendering shows this structure to be at the same elevation as the building to the north, but it is in fact another story taller, is it not? >> No, it's not not a full story taller at
all. The understory has a lower minimum allowed on our project and it offsets. I'm not saying it's identical, but it uh I I don't know the actual number, but >> but it's >> comparable in height. We are a little
bit higher, but definitely nowhere near a full story taller. The understory for resiliency, right, it's an area that's non-habitable. Water can flow through and so that is allowed to be lower than the floor that is built um in the building to the north.
But getting back to the original question, is there a reason why this wasn't shown as to the line of sight on >> um no specific reason u we could include that in um >> because if you were to draw that up sorry if you were to draw that up it
would affect a number of homes on the um on the south side of the property right they'd be looking straight at this building looming over them. >> So Mr. Mayor, I I understand the concern. We have a number of other um both rendered views uh close up as well
as the contextual neighbor ones for you to see the impact. Line of sites are typically for things like rooftop ex uh additions, which we're not doing here. So, we put this in here voluntarily. It wasn't an actual requirement. So, um
>> I appreciate that, but it's still it's it's still conveying information that I'm asking about. >> Sure. But that's what I'm saying. I think that there are other uh many other drawings including our contextual renderings that can can let you know about that. It is an RM1 district. We
are allowed to have a three-story building. Uh and I at the same time I understand the concern. It's there's no requirement that the building not be visible. Uh what we have done is push we've we've maintained that 10ft set back 100% no projections and then uh
except for those uh planters the uh interior walls are further 7 ft I believe set back. >> Yes. >> Uh so we're set our interior walls on the south are 17 ft further set back from our south neighbors to be respectful to provide that buffer that transition. And of course there's
landscaping within that 10-ft. Uh there's no openings whatsoever on the south, both to the alley that's to the south on the uh eastern side and uh to the home that's also on the on the western side. Again, to be to be as respectful. So, Grace, you're trying to create a green wall, you know, that uh
would be what these neighbors are are viewing uh as well as the openness and cutouts um at the corners uh to again again push our volume uh further centralized on the property. If you will refresh my memory, how much of an
increase in F are you asking for? >> No, no, no. There's no >> Is it lot coverage that we're talking about? >> Lot coverage. How much of an increase of lot coverage? >> Uh 45% required. We're at 64. Um however, we have well the building to
the north was approved for approximately 63. So we're commensurate to the waiver that was approved for that project. However, we have extensive and I believe we have a sample of pvious pavers that will be all throughout the ground level,
this understory level. Um, the city code doesn't while those are resilient aspects of uh appropriate storm water and resiliency management, the code doesn't technically count them as
pvious. So even though we do have that um element which we plan to actually install the to come to our aid you know we would have a lower lot coverage uh andor that is helping to offset the
concern of having a lot coverage right that's supposed to uh help with our storm water management and in addition we have extensive uh plantings on all levels and uh quite substantial on the roof itself uh which will all be true green planting. This is not meant to be
anything artificial. Uh and so that will again help us to offset um and be more storm water resilient. >> But nonetheless, it's about a 20% increase in lot coverage that you're requesting. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Can I add a comment on the lot coverage? Um so that comes from the general section of the RM1 district. So generally RM districts allow a height of of 50 ft. So typically within 50 ft you can do four or five stories. In this case in Flamingo Park um they're
restricted to 35 ft. So you cannot get more than three stories in that in that 30 three stories of living area. So I believe that's part of the reason why they're asking for the waiver. If they were allowed to go to the typical RM1 of 50 ft, they could do uh one one more floor and consolidate their um their
structure limited footprint and probably not have to or not require or not ask for the um lot coverage waiver. In terms of the um the line of sight requirements, the code does have a requirement for light for complying or um line of sight for elevator bulkheads
located above the main roof line when visible from the street. So that's why they have their line of sight taken from the street because that's a requirement that they show that their elevator bulkheads are not visible from from the from the sidewalk. There's no requirement for um a line of sight from adjacent properties to the north or the
south. So just wanted to put that information on the record. Thank you. >> Anyone else have questions for the applicant? >> Just going back to the lobby. Is the possibility the reason you have the lobby is because you intend to do transient rental, short-term rental.
>> I think I think Ray um we always encourage um um properties to have communal spaces actually in um some areas of the city. We do require having you know a lobby and sort of those communal aspects. So I do think it is nice to have that for somebody to meet
guests. So we we are supportive of having a you know a lobby as part of this development. Typically for a traditional town home development where you enter into each town home you wouldn't have that situation but in this case you do have a front-facing you know street element. So I do think it is nice to have that lobby as a as an entrance
to the to the project. >> I I would agree with you normally but the way this building is set up and the fact you have basically three different buildings. Well, they also they could not they could not have short-term rental. This is RM1. The minimum rental is six months in a day. So, they could not have short-term rental. >> Okay. All right.
>> And just to that point, Ray, I believe I've not been inside of it, but I've driven by and parked in front of the building to the north the that are like the town homes also has a lobby. >> Yeah. So, not not unheard of. >> Go ahead, Mitch. Questions? >> Sure.
Uh can you explain the water features? >> Yes. So we have water features by the entrance approach in both um Lennox and Michigan Avenue site is to create um connection with the green environment
and also um act as a as a welcoming approach to um to the site. And we like to play with uh these natural elements together. >> And what what is it? Is it a fountain? >> It's like a a front basin like shallow
area. Um but we we need to de develop further this. >> Okay. And just to be clear, there's only one means of uh ingress and igress from the garage or the understory or two
access points >> just just the one from Michigan. In fact, we uh our original design had a through from Lennox to Michigan. um that was contributing to some variance requests that we had in order to orient
it that way and staff again working well with them suggested if we could figure out how to make an and they preferred only the one entrance on Michigan. So um it actually uh that was why we had some traffic engineers get us uh some assistance to make sure that we could
make all the parking fit under the building uh cuz that that's not allowed to project into the side uh setbacks. Um and so that's where um it actually helped and we can confirm that uh the uh vehicular circulation works with the
oneway in and out. >> That's a good point, Matt. So um until probably 5 or 10 years ago, the code actually allowed parking to stick out from underneath these buildings, which had more impact on neighboring properties. We modified the code to require that parking be contained within the building footprint. So we no longer
have that that situation especially for lots larger than um 50 or 60 ft in width. >> So uh on that matter is uh what type of cladding or ventilation uh will there be
in that understory along the uh uh interior of the uh lot? Um, so you're referring to the um >> woodlike slats that we have on the facades. So this is a se
>> Hello. Hello. Well, this is a sample. If you can bring it to them. >> Um, this would Oh, thank you. Um, >> it's aluminum um with
>> wood grain >> treatment. Yeah. So wood grain finish and color for this warmth material and also to complement the um vegetation. >> Okay. And this will be fastened to a steel vertical.
>> Yes. So it's a horizontal and vertical um attachment. So we should have horizontal >> um elements that the vertical attaches to it. And in some instances we need to develop further. Um we could have operable
um for the facade for the windows and and sliding doors. >> Okay. And those pieces what what are they 24t long or and they'll be the the sample you showed us has two uh
holes in there. Yeah, that's not that's not >> this is just to see the material the the um aluminum with the the color treatment. Um but it would be as you can see in the ren in the renderings
here um it would be the story level. So the story heights of approximately 10 ft for the >> So what will we be what will we be seeing from the street? the uh the top
side where the holes appear or or will they be stacked with a uh opening between them? I'm trying to understand. >> So it would are you referring to the solid volume itself? It would be a solid this is not necessarily the shape at any
means. it would be a solid um piece and if we're mounting it um on on the B like I said we're still developing uh but if it's mounted from the bottom then the track it would be sitting on the floor
slab but if it's mounted um behind with the the um horizontal elements we actually have a detail drawing in the presentation um if we can bring that up.
Yeah. Here. So, this is one example. In this case, we have the horizontal members um behind the the vertical members. But like I said, we need to develop further for specific scenarios. But if you're
from the street and this is with the horizontal member behind it application then you would see the bottom of this which would be solid the same color and finish. You don't have these void this voids or or this it's just for
representation of material. >> And how is that finish that wood grain type finish going to weather over the decades? Um it's it's um it's powdercoated in a sense that it it
wouldn't necess it doesn't get affected by it. It's very >> if that were to get scratched you you'd see the lumin the aluminum obviously uh how do you correct that or is will
that be has that been considered? Um, yeah, we can always uh have maintenance to the pieces with >> All right. >> powder coating. >> Is this a product used all over Miami? >> Yeah. Is it powdercoated uh materials
used quite frequently? >> I'm referring to the wood grain type of finish >> if if it's used in Miami. >> Yeah. Do you know of other >> Yeah, we actually have a single family residence that we we installed it um and
it looks beautiful. >> Right. >> Is this building designed to have 24-hour security? Because with that exterior lobby and and no fence, no gate or anything, I mean, you're just inviting people to come up
and maybe sleep there at night or whatever. I mean, we do live in Miami Beach. >> I don't know if they've uh thought that through to your degree of concern, but they certainly want to make sure that this is a a safe for the residents of
the building and for the neighborhood. So, they'll do what they need to. >> That's right. I'm just surprised just because we're not showing a front or something there. I'm sure we could have a security gate on the property as well as access gate for the garage. Yes. just doesn't show it on.
>> Yeah, understood. We have to make sure that the gate is done in a way so it doesn't impact queuing on the rightway and you know um for traffic. >> Elizabeth, you had questions? >> Yes. You if you could bring up to the
screen drawing a 1004. You have four renderings on that. >> Oh, four renderings. Thank you. So, we don't have we're not presenting specifically the the set that you're seeing, but is it exterior renderings, >> right? Yeah. >> Okay.
>> So, yes. So, that one could be a good one. Uh I mean, you show like each floor like floating on top of the floor below. How do you what's the detail that you develop to create that kind of effect?
>> So um we have on the structural beams um some sort this detail you can actually see better. Um so the structural beam is actually recessed and then we would have uh treatment to give this impression of
floating levels. >> Okay. So that detail goes around every Thank you. And then the other just comment I have is that there is a very large setback on the ground floor and I believe that would be facing
Michigan Avenue and Oh, you just passed. If you keep going slow, I can stop you on the image I was looking for. Keep going. >> Yes. So that's a good one. See that floor just above the the garage the car entrance? It's really set back in
relation to the floors above which means very little light would be getting to those space and there is also a balcony and then you get to the livable space. So I was just wondering if it the quality of light or you have inside
those spaces and that's the living room I believe of that unit. >> Yes. So this unit it's uh specifically it has a corner balcony. So, yes, that balcony is actually a thinner um balcony on the front uh in the on the east side,
Michigan. Um but the actual area that we um that the um resident would uh be using as a balcony exterior area is on the south side. So, because it's a corner unit, I we believe this uh
wouldn't necessarily fully impact because you also have the southside balcony and uh glazing facade with natural lighting coming in, >> right? Yeah, I I I understand that. So what I would think is that if you look at your rendering there, there is a lot
of vegetation there which will be blocking the sun because the the south elevation you get mainly like the late morning early afternoon sun, right? And if you are on the ground floor and you have the tall vegetation hopefully to mature to the way your rendering is
showing, then your source of lighting will be blocked again. So it's just something for you to think about. I mean, other than that, I think the design is really pretty. >> Thank you. >> Do you have another question? >> Yep. >> Go ahead.
>> Um, can you go to this uh rendered elevation 104, which is the south face? I'm struggling with the fact that your facade is No, the rendered elevation. Yeah. Uh, you know, it's predicated the fact there's going to be
all these landscape planters. How do you maintain landscape planters on a rental unit? So we are going to have a irrigation system um that will so in that detail that I showed of the structure um all
the the planters are going to be um maintained by this irrigation system >> but you have no access for removing dead plants, trimming plants. Uh it's only 2 ft deep and and um 2 ft wide. It's a
very small planter on a south face. And anybody who's tried to grow plants facing South Florida would realize it's probably the hardest place to grow anything. I would argue this will look like this for about a week and it'll be half dead. Irrigation will not keep this
surviving. Uh that at the magnitude of landscaping that you have, which is admirable. I just don't know how in a rental unit you can't go into every unit and maintain their balcony. If it were a hotel or something else, you could, but there's no access between the balconies.
It's a a divider wall. So, every one of these balconies is strictly accessed by the person who's renting the unit. Correct. You can't get to the balcony other than going through the unit. >> Yes. I I think you know with our
landscape architects uh consultation uh they would have us have a service that you know makes appointments as needed to go in through the units to uh to manage those uh >> every unit. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's
>> okay. >> Go ahead Mitch. >> Yeah. Just a question on the same page. A10 04 the east elevation looks like you're showing or depicting sunny day
flooding. Is that what that is? >> That's true. >> Realistic representations. >> And the water is not >> the water at the driveway. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Uh truth and renderings, you know.
It it does rain in South Florida a little, so I'm told. >> Okay. >> But your design is doing its job because it's not getting to the driveway. >> It's retaining the water in the property and that's what public works wants to see.
>> Right. >> If there's no other uh further questions from the board, we'll do board disclosures. Any disclosures? Do you have a question? >> No. No. Okay.
Uh, we can open a public hearing. >> We have some callers on Zoom with their hand raised. Um, let's first go to Lori Monaco. >> Hi, Lori. Do you swear that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. Hi, my name is Lori Monaco. I live
at 10:3015th Street and I'm not against development. Um, I'm asking the board to maintain the historic pattern of Flamingo Park where density belongs on 15th Street and not on interior streets like Michigan Avenue. I have four key points. One is density. 15th Street has
always carried the multif family buildings. Michigan is a lowercale residential street. A threetory midblock building breaks that pattern. Number two, waiver. This project needs a lot coverage waiver and it's not allowed by
right. More coverage means more intensity, less light, less air, less local parking and privacy for neighbors. Number three, scale. The proposed massing is out of scale with the historic block and would visually dominate the surrounding homes. Um, from
what I understand, 1030 was approved as a higher density because the original project was supposed to be on both of these lots and once Shoma scaled back and only uh developed the 15th Street lot, it was given the approval to have a 62%
density. Um, their original plan was to build on bulk lots and it was considered that the project would be too big for the surrounding homes. And my last point is that precedent. Approving this would set a precedent for incremental upzoning on interior streets, changing the
character of Flamingo Park. So I respectively request that the historic board deny or significantly reduce HB uh HPB 240640 so it matches the historical scale and development pattern of the neighborhood.
Thank you very much. Our next caller is Verun Hamrage. >> Good morning. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, full truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes, I do. >> Thank you. You have 3 minutes. >> Hi, and this is Von Hamraj. I'm a
resident at 10:32. I have a similar concerns what Lori mentioned regarding especially changing the whole Flamingo Park, which is primarily a neighborhood with single family homes. So, I consider I hope the board considers that, right? that I think that's the biggest key.
That's my biggest objection. >> Thank you. Our next caller um just has the name Zoom user. >> Hi. Could you state your name for the record and then I'll swear you in? >> Hi, it's Jane Crop, 1390 Ocean Drive.
>> Hi. Hi, Jane. Do you swear that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes, I do. >> Thank you. So, I just like to I'd like to make just a general comment and it pertains to this and other of these new modern buildings that are going up in Flamingo Park and Venetian Islands,
these kind of box concrete boxes and glass and um besides the fact that the whole Flamingo Park is being, you know, just the character it really is jarring because Flamingo Park is so charming with so many architectural details and these are the details on this building
are so generic and one in particular that I'd like to comment on not just this building but in general is the use of powder coating in Miami Beach. I'm a designer. I've worked for 45 years on coastal properties. And powder coating near the ocean is just a disaster. Maybe
it has a 5 to 10 year lifespan. It chips, it flakes, it chalks, it fades within 5 to 10 years. And so powder coating is not repairable. So, how I'd like to maybe these uh architects can answer the question. How in 5 to 10
years when it looks terrible, you know, you can't paint over it. So, what are you going to do? Um I suggest doing some other natural material, even wood, let it fade naturally so it looks, you know, more environmental. But powder coating in general, I would highly not recommend
on any building in this area. Thanks. Our next caller is Johan Moore. >> Yes. Good morning again uh board members. Um uh one practical uh comment
to echo a concern about uh vegetation on a southacing facade. Uh, I would remind us that the uh, Good Time committed to
uh, climbing vining vegetation to hide uh, the wall that they agreed to build in order to shield the neighborhood from the noise from the rooftop. And the last I looked, that vegetation was seriously
baked uh, and and not doing well. Uh I think that is a real concern. Uh which brings me to uh a a sustainability and resilience point uh which is have the
architects considered an onsite rainwater runoff uh reuse uh possibility uh uh retaining that in in a presumably a a subterranean uh basin uh that could
then be pumped uh back up possibly through uh uh irrigation tubes into these south facing planters so that you don't need to go through uh making arrangements with tenants uh in order to get access through their apartments to
water. Uh my final point uh concerns about this project were raised by one of the neighbors at least uh at the last neighborhood association meeting. FBNA has not taken a position uh and despite
um I think great efforts by the architects uh uh on this building and its design uh it might be appropriate for this board to continue this item until after the neighborhood association
uh has had an opportunity to possibly weigh in either in support of or requesting further modification of or in opposition to uh this proposal in particular based on the one concern
stated by a couple of the the speakers uh that it will presumably incentivize a creeping uh uh of additional uh requests for more height, more F within our
neighborhood and historic district. Thank you. >> We go to comments in chamber and then we'll go back to um online. So go to chamber comments. >> Hi, it's Roger Loblad in MDPL 1000 Ocean Drive. We we support this project
subject to the staff recommendations. We appreciate the design, the scale, the context of the project. It's an appropriate transition project from multifamily to single family homes to the south. We note that the design relies heavily
on landscaping as has been mentioned and the long-term success of the design relies on the ongoing maintenance of these landscaping elements. Very important. This infill project will add a significant amount of market rate apartments which is really important to
Miami Beach's continued uh vitality. Thank you. We'll go back to the Zoom Zoom callers. Uh next is Daniel Seraldo. Hi, Daniel. Do you swear that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. Thank you. And thank you, members
of the historic preservation board. I think this is my first time calling as a private citizen. Daniel Sorado, 7:30 10th Street, uh, number 102 in the Flamingo Park District. Many of you know I recently ran for city commission, and this was one of, uh, the 12 of 21
precincts where I had the most votes, although unfortunately I missed a run up by 309 votes. Anyway, so what I'd like to say about this precinct that's important to me as a resident and a former uh potentially a future candidate is we do need housing and this building
is within the required zoning. Um, you know, I remember back when Shoma was being proposed right next door and we had concerns about the landscaping and they said they would handle it, but if you go by there now, it's about a 40ft wall of artificial uh fake vines, which
I think really is not good for that. So, with this rendering, what I would suggest is remove the plants because they're not going to grow. But, we have so many examples of catwalks in Flamingo Park that don't have landscape. That's just part of urban living. And so I
think this is an exciting project within the scale. It's not asking for any height increases and I urge your full support. Thank you. >> Thank you, Daniel. Our next and last caller with her hand raised on Zoom is Henner. >> Good morning. Do you swear that the
testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, whole truth, nothing but the truth? >> I do. Um, I'm an owner at 10:3015th Street and I would like to underline what Verun and Lori said. I guess this project is going to change the whole character um of Flamingo Park. Um, my
unit faces to the south and um, we love this view into those single family homes. Um, knowing that there won't be any uh, buildings like this is planned uh, on the side street right now. Um, and I guess it's if we start like allowing those projects, this is going
to change the whole character of um the neighborhood. And Miami Beach is well known for those neighborhoods. Um, so I kindly ask you to either going to to have a nicer like facade looking to the to the north um or even limiting the
size of this building. >> We have another caller on Zoom. Um, CB, I uh could you state your name for the record and then I'll swear you in lower they lowered their hand. >> Okay, that concludes our callers on Zoom.
Anybody else in chambers wishes to comment on the application? Well, I would I would suggest we close the public comment. >> Yeah, we'll close the public comment. Did you have any comments? uh rebuttal towards the >> Yes, if I may, I'll be brief.
Um, as we made clear with our zoning, right, we are definitely within the RM1 zoning district and complying not just with RM1, but the lower, more restrictive uh Flamingo Park uh requirements for that zoning district. Um, this is infill development. This has
been a uh a parking lot for since 1973. uh the building to the north of us had took advantage of the not only the lots split but the RM1 zoning uh you know district and allowed to build their building and that became part of the context and uh we're here to we think
improve the neighborhood by removing this underutilized uh essentially blighted type of parking uh lot with an appropriate and very green narrow compact building. We're very far pushing back from our south neighbors. Uh we'll
have landscaping at ground level that um for sure will be easy to manage and uh will be maintained. Um on the north we have uh in fact um more of the privacy screening on our units as well as landscaping within that 10-ft setback uh
to uh be sensitive to our neighbors there. Uh and there's established case law uh that unfortunately there's no right to a view across private property. Uh while that's the case, we've done our best to again keep our building
centrally uh located within the lot. Uh provide a beautiful exterior as well as landscaping green on all levels. Um and we're happy to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Well, we will have
board member comment. Randy, any comment? Right. Haskell >> Mitch >> staff have your thoughts changed >> in terms of the um No, I just say in
terms of the landscaping, I agree that the building could be developed without the landscaping on the south side, but I think that they've indicated that they are going to maintain that landscaping. I do think it's important to add a condition that we not be allowed to have any fake plants on the property. So, we can we can definitely add that
condition. Um and we can add a condition especially requires the ongoing maintenance of those landscape planters or that could be a violation of their um approval. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. I I think that it would be very important is there some way to stimulate
that they can't replace you know 100 foot long planters with fake plants cuz they all die. I I think that would be the worst look of that building you could have. It would be better not to have any plants and simply have the bu their balconies read as balconies rather
than this green wall which it won't be green. I I I just don't see how they're going to maintain this physically impossible probably. >> Elizabeth, any comment? Yes. So my comment will be to Michael if we have like a as um condition to that
the landscape needs to be maintained and who will be enforcing that because that's one thing that I noticed that a lot of times there are conditions added but if there is no code enforcement then >> yeah so it's meaningless right >> so it' be either um a member of the
public could advise code compliance that this is a condition that um is not being maintained in the final order they would get a citation and they would have to either correct that violation by by having the landscaping um maintained or um um refurbished or else they'd have to
come back to the board and ask for that that condition to be modified or removed. >> And we would agree agree to such condition as well as for you know real plantings not to be artificial. >> If there's no further comment, do we
have a motion? >> Just that I I agree. I mean, if I was renting an apartment, I would not want somebody coming into my apartment every single week at whatever time to water the plants. Um, and and to me, um, those plants will look lovely when you first
put them in. But, um, knowing a lot of gardeners, it takes a lot more than just water. >> And, and some plants in the summer require water twice a day because the roots burn. >> Just so we're clear, I believe there's irrigation and the issue is removal. I I
understand the issue that has been brought is is the removal of dead plants or trimming or whatnot, but there is irrigation in the design, >> but there is but the south facing is a huge issue. The planter is not very large. You could technically almost
require watering every day and the irrigation system would have to be monitored very very closely and if they don't have access to it, they don't even know if the irrigation is working. It's underground irrigation. So, it's a drip system. I think um it's just very difficult on this concept of having a
rental unit and someone going through your unit once a week to maintain the planters. It's just highly unusual and would be difficult to manage to say the least to allow that access. >> If I may, we I'd like to have the landscape architect provide a little bit
more uh details on the plantings there. Uh go ahead. Uh good morning. My name is Horgeela from or landscape data. For this kind of project, we have a design irrigation
where with drip irrigation with a controller. We can the the the owner of the the maintenance guy can controller the days and time that is going to be regated the the plants according with the with the season. All the plant that
we are using is appropriate to the like a beach areas like uh grasses native grasses uses like a beach areas then is is a water is a drought tolerant this kind of
plants is not going to be a a dead soon and of course as Mr. says the plants is going to die sometimes and need to be replaced. That is going to part of the maintenance, the regular maintenance. >> Okay. If we have no further comment, you
do have comment. Go ahead. >> Um, I appreciate the amount of time you've taken to develop this design. Looks like a lot of hard thinking went into it. I pass by this site often, probably four or five times a day as I ride my bike to Flamingo Park.
Yes, it's an unsightly site. You know, you've got a empty lot right now. Empty empty asphalt parking lot. And this, you know, this building would sure be an enhancement, but I'm not sure that it belongs on this lot. You know, we're taking the five pounds of feathers.
We're trying to stuff it into a one pound bag is what it seems to me. and and the um fact that you're asking to for almost 20% increase in in in lot coverage. I'm not sure how it votes for that area. And I've heard the people's comments
before where uh most of the buildings are along 15th Street and we're encroaching onto Michigan Avenue. I think we're setting up a the wrong precedent for future projects. We've seen another project earlier today that's doing the same
thing, building an oversized project on a small lot. And I think we have to ask ourselves, what are we looking at? What kind of quality of life are we looking at on the beach? Again, I I like the design. I'm not sure that it belongs on this particular lot.
I think it overwhelms a lot. Uh for that reason, I'll save my boat till the end. Thanks, Okay, I believe that concludes our board comment. Do we have a motion? >> Should we take a straw poll first?
>> I think I think we there's no variance involved here. So, I think we can make a motion. Whatever you want to do, we can vote on it. There's no variance part of this application. It's just it is a design. It's a waiver in terms of law coverage. It's not a variance. So that that any sort of motion can include either a recommendation for or against
that design waiver. >> So up to what percentage it's a waiver for the lot coverage? >> Sorry again. >> So when it's a waiver, it's a limited right to how much you are asking >> and um a modification of the lot coverage is a is a design waiver not a
variance in this case. Let's see. So, it could be whatever, >> right? For example, for single family homes, the code is written that would be a a variance request versus a design request, >> but currently under the current conditions, it's 45%.
>> Right? That's the maximum. >> We're jumping up to 64%. >> Correct. That's what they're asking for as a design waiver. >> Just to be clear, Is anybody interested in putting forth a motion >> for approval?
>> It was also mentioned that um we don't want them to later on come and put up fake plants. >> Yes. I mean, if you want to make a motion to approve it with a condition that there's feed no artificial plants and that they have a maintenance um that the landscaping that's shown at least
land the planters shown or required to be landscaped and maintained. We can add those conditions if you want to make a motion to >> I I would make that motion >> and with the as designed remember the overhang we were hoping to have the
condition that staff requested to reduce the third floor to be eliminated. >> I see. >> Yeah, that's a condition of staff. >> Yes. IC1A. So if you want to if you if you're want to recommend in favor of the applicant's proposal which includes the
design presented here then you would remove that condition that Matt just mentioned. So the so staff had recommended >> um ICA ICA >> ICA IC1 >> I mean one Roman numeral one ICA um
where they didn't have the overhang on the third floor and they have asked for that condition to not be applied. Staff has said that based on the explanation it's not a hard line for them and they would be okay with that. So the question is in your motion are you
>> take that condition out? >> Yes. Are you or are you not? >> Okay. Um, yes. >> Yeah. >> So, my motion would be to take that condition out uh to ma maintain the other conditions and to make sure that
no artificial plants are ever used on this building. I'd rather see an empty planter. >> And just to be clear, the condition being removed is IC1A. >> IC1A. Yes. Thank you.
Is there a second to that motion? >> Okay, the motion fails for lack of a second. >> Hold on, Nick. >> I was about to second >> Elizabeth. Okay, >> do you want to second that motion? Okay.
All in favor of that motion. Should we take a roll call vote on this one? >> We can. We can do a roll call. Um, Mr. Brereslin, >> yes. >> Mr. Kmago, >> Mr. Meyer, >> no.
>> Mr. Hollensworth, >> yes. >> Mr. Novik, >> yes. >> And Miss Levelvel, >> yes. >> Passes. >> Thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you all very much. >> Thank you so much.
Congratulations. Exactly. Okay. Our next application is HPB25-070672 1701 James Avenue the Cadet Hotel. Just a second. So, the Cadet Hotel is a two-story
streamlined modern building constructed in 1941 and classified as contributing in the city's historic properties um index. It retains its original lobby and entrance configuration. The applicant is seeking after the factor pool for a wood deck, a glass roof canopy, and a gazebo located in the front yard. Because the
40 the 34 room hotel has limited interior amenity space and no ability to expand within the existing footprint. The outdoor improvements provide needed guest amenities without altering the historic lobby or primary architecture of the building. Staff believes that the improvements do not significantly impact
the historic structure and um the views of the west side of the yard are um completely screened by landscaping. The applicant is requesting of two variances. One is a front setback variance to reduce from 20 ft. the required setback along the front yard and allow construction that ranges from
zero feet to 3.5 ft to accommodate the deck, canopy, and gazebo and a side setback variance on the north side from required 10 ft to follow the 5-ft setback that exists for the building to allow for the construction of the gazebo on the north side. Staff supports both variances due to the retention of the
contributing structure as well as the fact that any sort of addition onto the structure would be more imposing even though maybe co-compliant. So, for that reason, we are recommending in favor of the applicant's proposal, including the two variance requests. Without turn over to the applicant for their um presentation, >> if you will, let me just make sure. Do
we have any questions for staff? Board questions for staff. Anybody? >> Okay, go ahead. >> Thank you. Ben Stigler, Concord Crest, 1450 Bickl Avenue. Thank you for your time this morning. As you are aware, we are seeking an after the-act COA and
variance for a wood deck, trellis, and improvements made at the property which are made to replace an old gazebo and provide cover from the elements. This property has an incredible history to which the improvements are preserving and progressing. And I would like to introduce the owner for over 40 years and Miami Beach resident Dr. Baji to
give a little brief history about the hotel. >> I'd like to present the hotel as my twin. we were born together. So that we are going to be 84 very quickly.
Um I purchased it when I first came to Miami Beach uh as a physician. First I came as a nurse and then I came back in 1982 as a physician and I met Molly
Stein, the owner of who built the hotel and also the Albian Hotel. Um, I was completely broke out of medical school and but I wanted to be part of Miami Beach for several reasons
and she financed me and she was an incredible helper. Uh, needless to say, the place was boarded up. I thought it was interesting because we see so many modern buildings and there is not nothing modern about the story. Um, I it
was boarded up. It was abandoned. So the only thing we could do is take the boards out of the windows and just keep it going in the most in inexpensive way. So elderly people from Chicago spend the winters there
and it became the time of the mariel's it was rather dangerous. So we were trying to protect them as much as we could because we were stealing everything that moved or didn't move. So I lived all these periods. I was very
fortunate to survive many episodes of Miami Beach. As a matter of fact, I made a video of all these stories that we had through time that I'd like to share someday and a historical because it seems like there's so many other new buildings coming. I mean, the historical
is passing to a side. And I'm very honored to say Mr. Mooney helped us a lot and we are part of the tour of the art deco because we try to keep it as much as we can. For whoever doesn't know this was the home of the cadets. That's
why the name of the cadets in 1941 when the war started it was built to be the deluxe hotel and suddenly the the the war breaks. So the air force and their cadetses and their cadets stayed
there until 1949. This is kind of the side story. Um, I was the most the longer holder of this property and needless to say the property needed a lot of help and we got the help that the building needed with
the help of the city in different periods at different times because in in uh after 911 we decided to do a a serious restructural we which was fully permitted for everything and uh uh
Yousef helped us a lot. So we we came to we uh we are today structurally inside in the outside um we were very invaded by street dwellers and progressively we
closed and we saw the opportunity to use extra space and we closed it. um mostly was during the pandemia and now respect respectfully and retrospectively we're asking for
permission, forgiveness, acceptance, an invitation because we do have jazz on Friday nights and Ben will describe the nature of the structure because he's an engineer. Um,
and that's my story. >> Uh, so the existing the gazebo that is there now was built to replace an existing gazebo um that started as an ice cream parlor many many years ago. And uh, as I stated earlier, the trellis was built to pro cover from the
elements. Um, I mean, you all have seen the photos, you've seen the historic nature of it, you've seen how uh, the original floors in the hotel are still there. Um, the hotel's kept just about everything intact other than this particular outside section of the property. Um, but was done with the
intent to preserve the historical nature um and cover the elements. >> Does that conclude your presentation? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay, perfect. Do we have any board questions for the applicant?
>> Okay. >> So, how long ago was the gazebo rebuilt? The current gazebo was rebuilt in 2021. >> And why now you're asking for the forgiveness and the approval? >> This stems from a violation.
>> Okay. So, I just I was just trying to understand what brought you to us at this point in time since it's been there for a while. Thank you. >> Yeah. Um, it's part of the Collins Park neighborhood and I've been to this lovely little area and you go you go in
there, you almost feel like you're in a foreign country. Absolutely. And and and and uh um I didn't realize it wasn't permitted, but you know, it it certainly um is well used by um the hotel guests and other people that might want to have
a little trip to the past. and and with all the vegetation and the landscaping, it's really beautiful there. Thank you. >> I just want to add something that becames the home of the Miami, thanks to the city of Miami Beach, it came to the
home of the International Piano Festival. Every year from the 5th of January to the 12th, the hotel becomes a music academy for young people. and it's beautiful and you're invited to come
this concerts every night. I just sincerely say that um Miami Beach has offered me the best years of my life. Um
because this is where my career began. uh is the doctor which I still work uh at 8 almost 84 and but I need to recognize Ben that helped me essentially my manager who is the left side of my
brain. Um and we have a very happy existence like and appreciate your words because we try to be very bring the past to life with certain amount of etiquette and respect.
Any other questions for the applicant from the board? >> Mitch, >> no questions. >> Okay. Um any board disclosures? Randy? Ray, no board disclosures.
I met with the applicant. Okay. Uh, public comment. >> There's nobody online with their hand raised. >> And Chambers, >> that's your phone, right? Not mine. Okay. Almost. Uh, Roger Goldlad.
actually 1750 James Avenue. I'm just talking as as Roger. Uh the Cadet Hotel is such a perfect example of small hotels keeping exactly their heritage. They've been a wonderful neighbor. They're outside area.
Yes, there's music sometimes. And I'm like the biggest complainer on the street probably and I it's it's it's well done. It really is. And uh I just want to say uh thank you for all you've done. >> Thank you.
It's been very gratifying. It was supposed to be threatening. Thank you all. Thank you so much. >> Okay. And no one on Zoom. >> There's nobody on Zoom with their hand raised. Correct. >> Okay. Um any board comment
comment. Um, so I >> I' I'd make a motion to >> We should do two >> my comment. >> We should do two motions. One for the design and one for the variances. >> I was gonna make a comment, but >> Okay, go ahead. Go ahead. >> Did you have comments, Mitch? >> No. >> Okay. I I just want to say I I did go to
visit this hotel because I had not been there. Um, and and I I I will echo the sentiments. I mean, just the way that it's been maintained, the building, the interior, the original Terzo. Um and and this space outside is lovely. Um I wish
that it would have come before us initially to get the proper approvals in advance. Um but setting that aside, um it is a really lovely place. Uh yeah. So I've been introduced to Decade a long time ago when I for the
first time I went to the restaurant, the French restaurant. I'm not sure if it's still French, but at that point it was. And I was so positively impressed with the ability that you as the owner had to keep the property at into original
um splendor shall I say and I was so um I understand that probably this gazebo does not meet cold current but maybe at one time in the past it did and I don't think it's causing any damage to the neighboring and what it brings to the city is invaluable. So you have my
support. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Okay, Ray. >> I make a motion to approve the certificate appropriateness and approval of the appearance. >> Oh, it has to be separate. >> Separate. I'll second >> separate. We just leave.
>> We're starting with should we start with certificate appropriateness? >> Yeah, we can we can do the CFA. So, >> we'll start with CFA >> the appropriateness >> and Mr. Novik um second the motion. So, all in favor of the CFA >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes six to zero. Now we'll make a motion to approve the
variances. >> I'll second that as well. >> All in favor of the variances. >> I any any opposed? The motion passes six to zero. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Before we continue with the fountain bill, I suggest we take a a fivem minute
break and then we'll continue with the fountain blue application. Please stand by. We are going on air in 5 4 3 2 1. Okay, for everyone in chambers, we're going to get started again. So, if you
can please take your seats. >> We are back online, I believe. >> Do you want to call up the next item? >> Yes. Our next application and final application for the date is um HPB25-0669. This is 4441 Collins Avenue, the
Fountain Blue Hotel. An application has been filed requesting a certificate of appropriateness for the partial demolition of existing improvements in the rear yard and the construction of new rear yard amenities for the hotel including water slides, pools, restrooms, and cabanas. The applicant is also requesting variances from the
maximum allowable height for shade structures, a variance from the minimum setback requirements from the erosion control line, variances from the walkway material and maximum walkway width requirements, variances from the minimum open space requirements in both the dune preservation and oceanfront overlay
districts, a variance from the side setback requirements in the oceanfront overlay, a variance from the minimum setback requirements from the bulkhead line, a variance from the view quarter requirements in the oceanfront overlay, a variance from the rear pedestal setback requirements and variances from the side seck requirements and some of
the sideyard setback requirements. Now, staff has indicated support for some of the variances, recommended modifications for others, denial of one variance, and additional review of some of the more extreme variances. At this point, we are recommending that the board hear the
applicant's presentation, listen to public comment, provide their own comments, and at this point recommend a continuence of the application to the January 13, 2006 2026 meeting. With that, is the applicant here for the presentation?
And madam chair, before the applicant uh begins, I'd like to swear in anyone who has not swear in this morning. I see we have a lot of um uh new individuals who have joined us for today's meeting. Could you raise your right hands if you intend to testify today? Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Thank you. >> Before we get started, do we have any questions for staff? >> Okay, go ahead. >> Morning, madame vice chair but chair today and members of the board. Mickey Morero here from the law firm Burkow
Fernandez Larkin and Tapinis at 200 South PK Boulevard. With me today are my colleagues Jeff Burkow and Ben Sherry. Uh our architects Shmim Amazadega and Stephanie Montanas from Kensler Architects as well as several folks from the Found Blueue uh team. We're here
today to present to you as as Michael provided the uh reimagining of the Fountain Blues rear yard including a host of new amenities and changes. If we can get our presentation up on the screen. Thank you. So, this is obviously the rendering of
the proposal and we'll get into that more detail in a second. Before I'd like to go into if we can move to the next slide. I'd like to if you could help me with this. >> I'd like to go into just some of the history of what got us here as I think all of you know more than well. Uh the Found Blue is is one of the if not the
most important historical property in Miami Beach. Certainly one of the largest, not the largest. Um, and if you can see, here's kind of an overall plan of what the resort looks like today. It started off, you know, with with one main building and hasn't grown over the
years with two condominium towers, two hotel buildings, and a host of other amenities, restaurants, and components that we'll just kind of go through quickly here. So, here's kind of an overall very very big, you know, high level breakup of the property. You have the the rear yard. You have the bo bow
tie pool and associated components. That's the main center. Lot is very popular restaurant in the rear that exists today. Our kids zone which is primarily the area you're going to see the focal point of of what's going to be discussed today the slides but there are all sorts of other amenities and the Arcadia area which is sort of a little
entertainment zone. Going quickly and and I'll ask you to go through these quickly. You can see this the hotel is a lot of things. It's it's a hotel with over a thousand rooms but it's also all sorts of interior. There's a spa. There's multiple very popular restaurants. There's all sorts of ballrooms and and we continue over the
years to reimagine what goes on in the property to keep it vibrant, to keep it strong and really continue to be a successful and you know important property in Miami Beach. There are other properties that are of similar stature that have not been reimagined, have not been updated and have failed in some
ways and we don't want that to happen here. So that if we can go through um some of the and again just here's briefly some of our and where we get to where we're going to get to our request some of our competitors and because the Found Blue is really so unique in that it is a large resort. It attracts people
from all over the world. Our competitors are not small hotels in Miami Beach there's a place for those as well. Our competitors are really regional uh destinations for families for tourists. That includes very popular Atlantis in in the Bahamas, Bahamar in the Bahamas.
And these type of hotels and even cruises now that are attracting families in a very competitive way are bringing amenities beyond what we have traditionally seen in in in the past. And we need to keep in line with that and it's critical to the success and the future success of the hotel to continue
to bring in new elements, exciting elements to bring families and to bring guests back and keep them coming to the hotel. I'd like to briefly go through a history of our rear yard because you'll see it's certainly not been static. Um here's the
1960s and 70s when uh after the hotel was built, we had a line of cabanas along the beach. Those are twotory cabanas similar to what we're reintroducing with our application today. Just another view of that. um pools. Again, the multi-level cabana
is another pool that looked very different, but but there's the history for what for a lot of what we're asking for. Just going to go through these quickly. You there was an ice skating rink at one point. I mean, really an iconic property as everyone knows in in movies and media uh and it's it's in its heyday back in
the 60s and the 80s. Uh there was a you know, another reimagining. We had uh thematic and theatrical pool elements. There was, you know, brought in some stuff for the slide slide for children. A lazy river. You can see a, you know, scarf face. There was our purple octopus
kids zone. There was, you know, splash pad slides. The 2000s. Here we This is the one that I most recall the reimagining when our when the Sofur family purchased the property. Uh, reimagined the food and beverage components, brought the rear to
a more modern sense, and really made it popular again. and people started coming to the Fountain Blue and it became a feature place. We now have Fountain Blue Live which has you know events for for folks and of course live which is an incredibly popular nightlife destination. So as you can see over the
years the Fondlue has evolved and it's when it's been when as as properties in the tourism industry become dated less popular you have to inject some new excitement to them to bring people back. We've been talking as a team about what that would look like in this iteration
for since the beginning of this year. And I I I'll be frank with you, the first meeting we had with staff was for something that would have been more of a nightlife venue in this same location where the slides are proposed today. Uh we talked about maybe a day club, something that would attract that type of of of customer. In retrospect and
looking speaking to our team, we wanted to go in a more familyoriented direction and attract that kind of clientele and that's where we got to where we are today. So we asked our team to go and design something that would respect the architecture and style of the existing property but also bring in an exciting
new element to to bring families here. So with that I'd like Shim to come up and kind of go through his inspiration and his design for the uh for the rear including the slides and I'd like to conclude with some discussion on the variances. Thank you.
>> Uh good morning board members. uh Shamim from Gentler Architects. So uh as was discussed the idea was to create a family focused transformation of the rear yard and uh before looking at the elements that we were designing
we understood the significance of the property of Morris Lapidus design project obviously historically significant. So really trying to to get inspiration from some of the moves uh that Morris Lapidus was known for. Um, typically it's a lot of sweeping
horizontals, soft curves, patterns and arches, and a lot of playfulness in terms of the design. We really tried to pick up on some of those ideas. And then looking even into the interiors, how the interior is actually integrating art and
architecture. And if you look at some of the chandeliers, uh the individual elements, how they're cascading down as these tubes, uh looking at the color palettes of the blue and white, really trying to to get inspiration for all of the different elements in the rear yard.
Um this is talking about the elevated materials that are used and the finishes throughout uh the property as of the moment. You know, one of the things that uh Fountain Blue takes great care in is making sure that everything down to the fabrics are picked correctly and speced
appropriately so that they don't get faded in the sun and uh torn when people are dancing on top of the chairs and and elements. So again, the elevated finishes are part of the design process and what we were looking at and really the idea is that we were inspired by the
past uh to reinvent the future. So this is one of the views that shows this family focused uh transformation of that rear yard. Uh you can notice the elements of the double height cabanas that are reintroduced uh picking up on
the arcs that used to exist in the first iteration of the 60s and 70s and that transformation that you saw earlier on. Uh in this uh image you can also see the stair access to the slides. Again, the main idea behind that was the kind of
whimsical, playful approach that Morris Napodus took. It could have just been a boxy staircase. You know, we we made sure that it became an iconic element within the property. Uh picking up on the cues of the softness of the curves. You can see that the design element is
actually picking up on the idea of the movement of the waves as well. This is more focused on the uh 1960s cabanas reinterpretation. So again, another double height uh cabana that's being introduced uh into the property.
And you can see we're also picking up on the color palette that's prevalent at Fountain Blue historically. Again, the blue and the white. This again is showing the bow tie pool. You can see how that's becoming activated now by this double height
cabana. Uh what you're going to see coming up is that again focusing on this familyoriented transformation. Underneath some of these cabanas are FNB, gelato, retail, and even a nursing
station for what might happen. This is actually an image of what that could look like underneath. So again, just diverse guest experiences. It's integrated throughout the property. It's not just the cabana. is looking underneath the cabanas as well uh for some of that activation. You can also
see that there's a lot of great care uh in terms of landscaping and lushness. So that as you're at that ground floor level, you're truly uh within a landscaped environment and also because of the double height cabanas, a lot of these places are going to be shaded,
which is a good thing in the sun. Again, the integration of art uh within the entire rear yard was something we took great care of. So, you can see the idea of adding elements of art uh throughout the project uh integrating it
underneath some of the cabanas where we have the gelato and FNB offerings. This is another view of that access stair that I was talking about. Again, it's actually reminiscent of the chandeliers that you saw on the interior.
How much more time? >> About five minutes for our presentation. >> Okay. >> Again, another view that's uh highlighting some of the art elements and uh some of the memorial memorable experiences that are going to be had at
the property. And again, just uh focusing on the lushness that is going to be uh in the landscape design. So, you're surrounded by a lot of tropical foliage that we're adding in that rear yard. Uh, again, you can see some of the FNB offerings. And
this one shows a little bit more of the detail uh that we've taken into account to design the stair access. Again, the idea of the white and the blue is interpreted in there as well. And again, just a final image that shows
the ice cream stands, the hot dog stands, gelato, and all the friendly uh family-friendly activations that are going to occur here. And you can also see a lot of the soft curves uh that we found on the original Morris Lapidus design reinterpreted here.
Again, some of the activated moments for kids. This is supposed to be family oriented. And so, this is the approach that we took. Again, the lushness is going to be around uh it's going to hide a lot of the things that are happening around it. You're going to feel like you're
surrounded by a lush landscape. Uh what this slide really shows is also the location of the stair access is really in the most underutilized portion of the project. If you walk that area right now, there's mechanical equipment and restrooms there. It's also moved to a
location where you're not blocking any of the views uh from the hotel itself. So again you can see the green is showing the viewshed unobstructed views towards the water. The blue oval which is the shape of that stair access is located and tucked away in the most
hidden spot on the site. Location of the stairs that shows the setbacks and the visual impact from the boardwalk. The guest poolcape around the boot the bow tie pool which is kind of reinterpreted here. And again, the
best-in-class finishes throughout the project. And I'll hand it over. >> Thank you, Shim. So, as you can see, it's a lot going on, and it really is a wellthoughtout attempt to reimagine this rear yard with many different ways,
elements, art, installations, and of course, the slides. I'd like to get into briefly the variances uh which as as I'm sure you've all seen over the years when you have projects on this part of the eastern part of Miami Beach uh and we deal with the dune overlay and the oceanfront overlay there's often
variances and and I'm familiar with projects for example the addition where there I think twice as many variances to activate that rear yard um so here the ones that deal with the overlay districts on the f furthest east frankly there's nothing about these new
proposals that are directly related to at while we're improving some of the places. These are there's decking. There's materials there that are already beyond the allowed the allowed amount, the allowed percentages, but we're putting those in and legalizing them now. They've been there for many years. By improving them, we're required to now
comply with code. The ones that relate to the location of the slides and the setback, uh I think it's variance number five that staff has recommended against. We took a second look at that after we reviewed the staff report and we've actually we're going to propose to remove that variance. I mentioned it to Michael yesterday. We were able to speak
to our designer and bring the slides in further from the south side and eliminate that variance and then that has the impact of eliminating possibly eliminating but at least significantly reducing a couple of the other variances take into account some of side yards and and those types of things. Um we are
going to work with staff uh on the uh the variances that they recommended continuence on the ones on the furthest east to be able to further show all of the open space provided on the property. We've done that analysis, but it's just to provide that this is not a typical property. Massive size and there's open
space and lush lush landscaping throughout. So, in this small little area, because we do have cabanas there, we've done it in a way that complies with the materials and the uses permitted by the code. Just a little bit more in that area than in other areas, but overall there's an incredible amount
of open space, you know, close to 90% on on the site. Uh, want to make highlight a couple points. I've heard in the last few days uh some some of the objections and we've seen that it's aund 100 plus feet concrete structure. The only concrete elements are the slabs. The
tubing that you see is clear aluminum tubings which are meant to, you know, allow the ability for folks to see through and provide more of an openness to that structure as much as possible. Obviously, it has to meet the engineering requirements to hold the weight, but it's it's doing it in a way that's, you know, as least as airy and
open as possible. Um, and we tried to place this at the location of the site. Currently, the kids zone, there's a little kids pool there with a slide and and really underutilized. That's where it's going. So, it minimizes the impact on any of the contributing or the historic elements of the property and
that was obviously intentional. So, with that, I would like to, you know, if you all have any questions, we're here to answer them. I know there's a lot of folks that want to speak, so we'll we'll reserve some time for rebuttal if possible. Thank you. >> Okay. So, board questions for the applicant.
Who would like to go first? Rey, >> just uh on the uh the tower for the slides. Um is there only stairs? There's no elevator. >> There's Yeah, there's an elevator. >> There is an elevator. Yes, >> there's no Okay.
>> ADA requ Mickey, in your letter to staff, you indicated this would be for a guests only. Uh, that's correct. >> Yeah, this is the the use is not open to the public. Obviously, this a rec
recreational amenity in the RM3 district can only exist as an accessory, whether it's an apartment or a hotel, to an accessory to a primary use. So, an independent, you know, I've heard that it's an independent water park with separate tickets. Will not be selling separate tickets for this. You still have to be a hotel guest. Like nothing
in the hotel's operation is changing. Just like you can be a guest today and enjoy those amenities, you can continue to do so. This is just a different amenity available to those that are there to experience the hotel. >> It's my understanding the applicant has a water park or leases a water park in
Aventura. >> Yes. Is is this >> I will tell you the differences and frankly it was about a decade ago that I also worked on those approvals. The title Cove Waterpark is abuing the country club hotel there at at JW Marri out there but it is zoned on
recreational land that that was an as of right code project that even if it wasn't associated with the hotel could exist independent because it is on the same zoning as the golf course which explicitly allows water amenities, water parks, water slides. So that was done as
of right. It could be an independent. It just happens to be associated with the hotel, but it's the same zoning as a golf course. Very different situation than this. >> Okay. So, is that the reason a traffic study wasn't provided? >> Yeah. So, if we were to have increased
capacity, increased rooms in like try to make this a separate use where more people coming in changing more further intensifying what's there today. It would have had to go to planning board possibly a code amendment. Here we're just changing the amenities. We're not adding any capacity to the site. We're not adding any rooms. So, a traffic
study would have looked at the hotel has these amenities. We're changing them, but there's no increased capacity. And I think I don't originally think Michael would agree. Had we proposed an increased capacity, yes, the city would have required a traffic study, but here we're not. >> Okay. I got it. And finally, have you
reached out to your neighbors? >> So, yeah, initially we >> Okay. if if we'll have a time for public comment if we can just keep it limited to the applicant's presentation, the questions from the board and then absolutely we want to hear from everybody. So what we have done so again
this is construction happening on our site and it's not increasing capacity it's not increasing traffic we believe as far as you know what we're doing we did have conversations with our immediate neighbors the Soho house the Eden Rock those they're not objecting also there have been a lot of discussions with the condominium
ownership in the on the Fontlau property because they will >> which property >> the fountain blue there's the condominiums that are near the slide uh element and while I will tell you not all of those folks uh in the condominiums are all supportive there is a mix of support and you know not so
much support from the condos that and we have some support letters as well but the greater since since we're not adding capacity and there's no nie we we really didn't go out to the entire area I know there's some concerns here today and and we've tried in the last few days to speak to some of those folks and we'll
continue to do so but but yeah the folks most immediately affected we have reached out to and had conversation about thank >> you may >> you keep saying you're not adding capacity today. Didn't you build a whole Aren't you building a whole bunch of cabanas that go along with this that
you'll be selling day passes to? >> H how many how many are there and how many day passes would you be able to add to the thousand rooms that you already have? So that's something that fluctuates on capacity. The hotel does not with you resortpass.com is a website
where you could rent a cabana even if you're not staying as an overnight guest. As you know, every hotel on Miami Beach Yeah. Every hotel in Miami Beach has that whether it's Fina, Eden Rock, the addition you can, >> right? But you're adding how many? >> Well, we're just bringing it back to was always there. How many were there
originally? >> There's a set occupancy. So, we can't >> Yeah, we're So, the way that that works and it's and I've spoken to our operations team. It's not a set number every day. It fluctuates on capacity. So, if it's a weekend that the hotel is close to booked, they wouldn't they can
turn that off. If it's a summer months where the hotel's at low capacity because it's not in season, they have the option of selling these cabanas and dayb beds through the resortpass.com like other hotels. Nothing is changing for the way we operate. We're not adding
more capacity to those things. We're not increasing the amount that we that we provide like every other hotel, not just in Miami Beach, but throughout South Florida and the country. Resortpass.com is a website that allows guests that aren't overnight guests to still be valid hotel guests. But I'll tell you,
you know, to rent a cabana here is is not is not cheap when it's busy. So, if someone just wants to use a slide, there's other options throughout the region that are much more affordable. This really is for our guests, guests that are guests of the hotel to have an elevated experience and really attract
families. >> And I do understand that because the cruise industry has really taken over um you know, family vacations. And I first went to the Fountain Blue in 1967 when I was there for college spring
break. I didn't stay there cuz I couldn't afford to. But we did take a tour and how beautiful it was and I said, "Oh, I'd love to stay at the Fountain Blue." And luckily 5 years later, Xerox let me stay there because I was here on a convention. But you know, it's always been a a resort where you
want people to just come and never leave. Check in. You You've got all the amenities. You got all the restaurants, you know, spend your entire time here just like if you went on a cruise and then when you're ready to go home, go home. So, I do understand why you want
to do this. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, Elizabeth, you have questions? >> Could you please just tell me how many cabons you have currently and how many you have by the time you finish the project? >> 38 currently.
>> So, currently 38 operational today. There'll be about a hundred when complete. And again, if you saw from the beginning, that's not a new idea. Historically, there were close to that many cabanas in the 60s and 70s along the eastern of the property. So the cabana is something that over the last
decade has become something our guests are very, you know, very much interested in and the demand is very high for those. Uh so they're always booked and the idea was to bring some more, make some more available. So, >> and if >> right >> I guess events like have a daily pass
for a cabana, they have access full access to all the amenities in the hotel, >> everything in the rear yard. Yes. >> Thanks, >> Mandy. >> I'm I'm still unclear on the purchasing of dayb beds, which is not a cabana, and a lounge chair or a um cabana. What is
the What is that volume? And you say in the on weekends when there's not a lot of hotel guests, you open the hotel up to whoever wants to come and pay for it. What is that number? Is there a cap or no? I >> you know I'm not on the operations team. The number fluctuates with demand. So
it's obviously if our hotel guests the primary focus here is the hotel guest and when the hotels as I've been explained by our operations team when the hotel is clear you know it's very close to being booked we want our guests to have access to those cabanas those day beds. we don't want is hotel guests
that want those amenities to not be able to use them. However, at times when occupancy is lower than than than desired, we offer that to residents of Miami Beach or the greater South Florida area that want to experience the resort but don't necessarily want or need to stay overnight. But it's at a it's at a
premium that that cost and we hope that, you know, folks take advantage of that. But really, this is the the goal of this is to bring people in to increase hotel capacity. That's that's the goal. We we we did that about a decade ago with the banquet uh ballroom facilities were
having an issue. A lot of the large uh convention groups were turning away from the found blue because other uh establishments had more capacity and we have so many rooms and not enough ballroom space. We addressed that and that's been successful. Here we're hearing from a lot of our guests and a
lot of our uh industry folks that there really is a push to get family oriented recreational amenities. Slides are just a big thing now. You see it on the cruises. You see in a lot of these hotels I've taken my kids to there was a Bonita Springs. There's a hotel there with very similar uh slide amenities. My
kids want to go there. They want to go somewhere they can have fun. Not just mommy and daddy having a drink. They want to do fun stuff. And I think this is what what we're trying to do here. >> Thank that wasn't the question. I understand what you're trying to do. I also am trying to understand what is the you say that you didn't need to do a
traffic study because you didn't change capacity yet. You say that when the season's low, you'll open it up to as many people that want to come. That will support paying for a water park, which are very expensive, maintain everything. I I still don't hear any capacity limit on what you offer. Are you not going to
ever have more visitors than would be allowed in the rooms and therefore if there's an empty room, you would allow an empty vi you would allow a visitor. I I there seems to be no cap on what you could do. >> It's I don't think there's a cap there's a cap number, but but that's essentially the way it works as you described it.
when capacity in the hotel rooms is low, when uh the the bookings are low, they'll open up the resort pass for folks to, you know, >> so you would never have more people on site than would be uh accommodated in your rooms. >> You'll commit to that. >> You will not have more visitors on that
site than would be committed to the rooms that you could rent. If you don't rent one, you open it to the public because that's a that's a fair compromise, >> right? It's it's occupation by code. So, I think I think the answer to that is yes. how how I can put that under condition. I have to work with my team.
But essentially, yes, that that's that's the idea. >> So, you won't have more visitors to the site than what could be accommodated in the hotel. >> I mean, that's again, that's it's it's a formula we have to work through if that's something we need to commit to, but that's the idea to fluctuate the ability to use those amenities for non
for non-oververnor overnight guests when when there's a lower number of of hotel guests. >> Yeah. Um, also I didn't see you have a lot of renderings of the cabanas which actually look quite amazing and the pool very little of the actual water slide
which I think is what the biggest opposition is. There's I think two pictures. Do you have any views of what this looks like from the beach which is really the most spectacular view of this building? >> I mean it is it is sitting right on the Baywalk beachwalk. So is it not having a
huge visual impact from the beach that we don't see any views? Well, again, the it's put to the southern end of the property so that everything all the historic buildings there's a there's essentially a clear view and that was the attempt, but we can provide an additional rendering from the beach. We don't have that now.
>> Okay. I mean, it's to the south end, but it's sitting right on the beachwalk. >> It's virtually overhanging the beachwalk. >> Not quite overhanging, but it is very close. Absolutely. Yes. >> We just we can't touch any of the other contributing elements. We had to put it in the place where really the only place
that it would fit comfortably. >> That's a deep close. >> Can you Can we put that uh the screen back up for a second to show you the closest view that we have? I think for what you're looking for. >> So that's from the beachwalk. I mean, there are trees there. So I But but
that's that's a look from the beachwalk. >> But you're quite a ways north of where the actual water park is. >> You're substantially far north on the beachwalk >> from that view. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's the only one I saw. And I you can hardly see the uh 15 slides that are sitting right there on the beach
beachwalk. So I don't it's not very representative what it will look like when you're walking down the well if you look at the aerial view that you have of the pool plan. It's an extensive number of slides. >> There are there are six independent slides but there's because there's for
example one of them is two slides but it's one thing. It's one one experience but that the the slides you see that at most there are six. I'm sorry. >> They're at most six slides on the in the slide. >> Six slides. Okay. >> Three structures and six slides because they have the experience has two people
can ride at the same time. >> Can I ask what what is the variance for height requirement on the tower? Why is there a variance request for the height? >> There's no variance required for the height of that um um stair tower. >> Okay. I thought there was a variance for height. >> No, not for the stair tower. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Are you Is that your final question for now? >> Okay. questions, Mitch? >> No. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> I have a question for staff. Um would
this require the fire department to determine the number of people that could be on this property? >> Yes. >> So that they're going to give a number and if they have more than that um then they can be shut down. >> They they can't have more than that number, right?
Do we have any board disclosures? >> Uh uh I was just contacted um um by um Steve Buché and asked me if I had any questions and I said I'll take care of them here. Thank you. >> Okay. I met with the applicant. >> Public comment.
>> I would suggest we start with public comment in chambers and then go to the public comment online. Okay. >> Hello. Uh, my name is Mark Weiss. I'm an attorney and I'm a resident. I want to thank you all for allowing me to speak. This is so outrageous and frankly a very
dishonest presentation. You guys are the last line of defense for historic architecture in Miami Beach. And Lord, we need some saving here today. If you allow this 12story concrete monstrosity
130 ft into the sky, you are going to change the entire skyline and the entire city of Miami Beach. Miami Beach is the fountain blue. It's the largest oceanfront property. What you do here reverberates across the entire beach. And you know what happens next? Edrock
comes. I want a water slide. Lowe's comes. I want a theme park. I want a casino. It is going to set a terrible, terrible president. I'm here today because the Fountain Blue is a landmark, not a theme park. And I think that this application fails miserably for three
reasons. Number one, com compatibility with the local architecture. They say it very well themselves. This is one of the largest slides in America. On its face, how many slides are in Miami? Zero. Zero slides in Miami. On its face, it doesn't
fit. And for that reason alone, they should be denied. Number two, traffic. This is outrageous. It's not going to increase loads because in the 60s you didn't you had cabanas. After the Sarrento Tresur, you've built a tremendous load. Go to Collins. Go to
Miami Beach at 430. It's bumper to bumper. Every valet is overwhelmed. There is nowhere to go. And you asked a great question about Tidal Cove. Tidal Cove sits on 300 acres and has public surface level parking. The Fountain Blue 22 acres, no public parking, and an
overwhelmed valet. Where's everyone going to park? This is a traffic disaster and for that reason alone they should be denied. And lastly, the Morris Lapidus Legacy of Miami. He brought in Myo Design that you guys work every day to preserve and they're going to come
and bring a carnival cruise into our backyard. The elegance, the dramatic entrances that he's known for. And now you're going to have snotty wet kids running around, rowdy crowds, drunk people. This is Morris Lapidis. It is so out. I feel like I'm in a bad nightmare.
But I'll tell you what they accomplished here today. They brought Miami Beach together like never before. The Mid Beach Association, 12,000 members opposed. The Miami Preservation League opposed. North Beach Resistance opposed. Six Flags at FB got over 150,000 views
on their video opposing. Even though there's no vote today, and I know the Found Blue will try to lull us to sleep like they did last time, not reaching out to a single owner in the area. I really hope and I trust that you guys will send a strong message that Miami Beach is known for its elegance,
for its architecture, and for its history. And we're not ready to throw that all away for a water park. So, I thank you. And I want to add one more comment about the variances which I read and I want to make my law school professors proud for just one second. These are an absolute joke. Very just
vice chair, just 20 more seconds. Thank you so much. Variances are meant for minor exceptions, not overhauls of the zoning law. They're asking for up to 16 times reduction in open space. And then they say, "Well, our property is peculiar in shape, so we need this
variance." Everyone knows that a property owner cannot change the conditions. And then ask for a relief. Simply put, you can't build the Sarrento, the Tresor, the spa, the coat, Arcadia, pools, and say, "Hey guys, we need some help over here. Our property is shaped in such a hard way. This is
very hard." and they say that there's mixed reviews from the condo owners. That is outrageous. I will sell you a bridge if you can find me one condo owner. So, I I don't want to cut you off. That's it. No, thank you so much everybody. So, please >> Thank you, Vice Chair. Thank you.
>> Hi. >> Uh Roger Glette, MDPL. Uh we also do not support the proposed water structure project to the found in blue. While we understand the desire to add familyfriendly amenities, we believe
this proposal is incomp incompatible with the character of this individually designed landmark designated I'm sorry designated landmark and the surrounding neighborhood. The 130 foot tall water slide structure would dramatically alter the character
of one of Miami Beach's most iconic properties and set a concerning president. The scale of the water slides are inconsistent with the historical beach resort character that has made Miami Beach internationally recognized.
Miami Beach has reputation of of allure, elegance. Uh we're not Orlando. We're not anything else but uniquely Miami Beach. We believe there are alternative approaches to adding familyfriendly
amenities that would not compromise the character and make the Fountain Blue the historical landmark it always was and always should be. Thank you. >> Good afternoon. Uh my name is Caesar Cortez. I am the president of CPS. We're
the only company out here in Miami Beach on 16th and 15th. Uh my reason of coming out here is one of my fondest memories is when I first arrived to Miami Beach was staying at the Fountain Blue. It was uh my grandma was a housekeeper there
and uh she cleaned rooms and we had the privilege to stay there and one of the best memories was going on the slides uh and being able to attend and have water features. I don't have any uh promises from the fountain blue. I have no association for this project coming
over, but I do have my staff that once a year we have a retreat and we have to go all the way to Orlando for a water park. I think it's fantastic that we could have this in our backyard. Uh so I am forward in support of the Fountain Blue opening up a water park for a more
friendly and family oriented hotel. Thank you. >> Good morning, good afternoon almost. I'm Anna Marie Ferra de Melo. I am the president of the Mid Beach Neighborhood Association and I wish Mr. Weiss had an opportunity to speak more because he
echoes the voices of so many property uh and residents and members that are here today that wanted to speak. I wanted to share a little bit about where we are as an organization. Mid Beach Neighborhood Association represents condominiums and hotels from 24th to 63rd Street along
Collins Avenue and Indian Creek Drive. We uh that includes the Fountain Blue and the properties neighboring. We were not contacted. This whole project has been very confusing. We first learned about it through the Miami Herald article in August where we heard the
president of development for the Fountain Blue be interviewed and share specifically that day passes would be allowed, that this would increase the opportunity for individuals to come. And the difference is not only the cabanas or how many cabanas you build, but if
those cabanas are individuals that are staying there coming from the airport, if they truly are going to stay at the Fountain Blue, they're not going to be driving in and leaving the same day. If you live on Collins Avenue, you know what it's like to get in and out of Collins Avenue. For Department of Transportation is trying to redo all of
Collins Avenue because we just don't have the capacity to be able to handle more in that area. I think it's intentional not to communicate. I think it's intentional not to show you pictures that from the south end. I think it's intentional not to show you how we're encroaching on the coastal
construction control line. I think it's intentional not to show you what the true impacts on the environment on our community and how little they've been evaluated. All of that is intentional. And if folks can come or go, if the operations allow it, if the numbers I I don't know,
yesterday at 7 p.m. I had my first conversation. Hi, nice to meet you in person. uh with um with the lawyer and in sharing a little bit about the project we were learning about really the ma how massive this is because today was the first time we've even seen the
presentation. We hold meetings monthly. We have pulled our members in small groups and large groups and the vast majority are very very opposed to this project. When I say vast majority I will say the small majority that did not vote against. It's because we don't want to
get in the business of telling private properties how to run their business. We want private properties to develop in a way that is aligned with our character, that respects our history and respects our environment. We live in Miami Beach because we don't want to live in Orlando. We operate here because we don't want to live anywhere else. And
people need to be respectful of that as they develop and as they propose projects to you today. It's not about if they can come and go. It's about the variances. Please, please, please. We oppose this project in its entirety and we hope you do, too. Thank you.
>> Good afternoon. I'm Hinda Sultanic. I live at 475 Collins Avenue. Just simply, I I just wanted to know what the needs assessment explained about the proposal for a water park on Collins Avenue. What is the compelling need for a water park?
Is it the need? Is that need greater than the crippling traffic and congestion that would result undermining the current attempt to solve the current problem on Collins Avenue? Is it greater than the upheaval of the quality of life for owners in the vicinity of the
project? Will the next request be an additional bridge across the bay? Greater than the landmark status? Is it greater than the landmark status and property culture of Miami Beach uh going from art deco to becoming Disneyland? Other than to satisi satisfy the needs
of the fountain blue owners, there is no apparent compelling need for this water park. The needs of the residents of Miami Beach to maintain our culture and design should supersede this frivolous project. And I hope that we understand that those people who are here and
didn't know anything about it are now being shocked and surprised about uh a project that would change everything about our area, our neighborhood. I hope that you can understand that we feel that we want to continue the culture of
Miami Beach for the beauty that it's had all these years. Thank you. And I think we're going to hear from everyone in the room that wants to speak. I just want to know, Michael, do we have anybody on Zoom? >> Yes, we have. We have um several calls on >> Okay. Just wanted to know. Thank you. Go ahead.
>> Yeah. Um my name is Vincent Me. I'm a condo owner at the Sarrento. I had a a PowerPoint presentation that I submitted. Is that available or >> sorry what was the question? >> He said he had a PowerPoint presentation
that he had submitted. >> Is that available to show or >> I What's your name? Does >> Vincent Mph >> does communications have that presentation? >> If not, I'll I'll proceed. >> I would suggest just proceeding. I don't
see a presentation. >> Yeah. Anyway, um my wife and I uh own a condo uh at the Sarrento which is directly uh in in the firing line of this development. First of all, I'd like to say that we are not
against uh improvements and I I respect uh the hotel for what they're doing and the money that they're they're they have um to to improve and I think it should be a partnership.
I'm not opposed to the entire project. I'm mainly opposed to the water slide. I think the water slide is um out of place. We all know that sequels don't always live up to the original. Cattyshack one
versus Catty Shack 2. Top Gun one versus Top Gun 2. This looks like a sequel to the Turnberry property. This is not an original blue and whatever colors uh improvement.
This is they had some success in Turnberry. The difference is Turnberry is a 300 acre spot and they placed their twisted uh group of water slides where it doesn't obstruct any views. It's in an
appropriate location. The um Fountain Blue uh property is 22 acres. Uh I I phrase it as if you cram it in there, they will come. This this
water slide is direct almost looks like I could reach out from my condo balcony and touch it. And it wraps around and then they got this area where the kids pools are now and they're going to put
that in there. And it's I I I think it's I think it's an atrocity. It's going to permanently destroy our view. Instead of seeing the beautiful sunset in the morning and the and the uh palm trees, I'm going to see some twisted blue
plastic and supposedly I can see through the um the elevator shaft. I don't know too many people can see through an elevator shaft. Uh but anyway, I like I said, I I respect what the Fountain Blue
Hotel is doing and and they specifically said it's not going to obstruct our view. And he showed a green u line of sight that didn't obstruct the hotel, but it's it's going to affect my
property permanently. And I I would just hope that there could be some some better compromise on this. And I thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> My name is Isaiah Sheps. Thank you for
letting me speak. I'm a condo owner at 4301 Collins Avenue, the Van Dome. And I understand that the fountain blue is running a business and they want to make money and there's nothing wrong with reimagining one's property and having grandiose dreams, but that should only
be when it's restricted. The effect is restricted to your own property and not when it's going to affect so many other people uh beyond um I a previous speaker mentioned the fact that yes, they had water slides before
when he was a child. he remembers it so fondly, but maybe it looked big to him at that time because he was so much shorter, but it does not compare to what's being put up right now. So, I think the comparison and and and the emotions of it are are totally
different. Um the the amount the amount of both noise and light pollution which is going to affect not just the STO the immediate building but buildings even three four buildings away is going to be something that's going to diminish the
value of any condo within the area. Um, it's going to affect also what we're always hearing about the turtles, the sea turtles, and we had to have special lights on the whole on the whole uh uh boardwalk because the turtles get confused. I can only imagine what's going to happen to these turtles that
are nesting on the beach. when this monstrosity goes up and the lights are on till who who knows when. >> Um I don't want to repeat a lot of the things that were mentioned before though and I agree with them but there are also other I would assume environmental
impacts of you the water usage of of all these slides that are going to be used in an area where there's always water shortage. uh you may have drainage into the the chlorinated water draining into the storm to the storm systems and going out into Biscane Bay and I'm always
reading about the coral reefs and the manatees and the seaggrass and how that's going to negatively affect that. I haven't heard anyone mention that at all and this is the environmental board. Um, so I I I'm speaking on behalf of I would think everybody in my building. I
don't think any of us have been approached about it at all. And uh I am very much against this project. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Miriam Weiss and I want to speak today from two perspectives. One is I own units in the
surround in the Sarrento building at the Fountain Blue and I also live and own in the Blue Diamond. He presented a slide showing unobstructed views from the hotel. This is a 12tory 130 ft high tower that you will not be
able to see through. This is not a Marll. Then there are hundreds of slides that wrap around the whole building like an anaconda and come up in front of the building. There are hundreds of people that own units facing north and facing
to the ocean. These people have saved up to buy a 500 ft unit. They wake up in the morning, they look at the pool and they look at the ocean. They're going to plop this down right in front. As Mr. Hollyward said, they did not show one honest slide here. All we saw was
there's going to serve a lot of gelato. He mentioned gelato four times. That doesn't make it familyfriendly. Anyone can come in there. This man said he likes to do he likes to have um retreats with his corp with his
corporation. Adults will come here. Rowdy juveniles will come here. I know how the fountain blue works. People rent a room. They come there. They bring 10 friends. They all hang out at the pool. They do not monitor capacity. They do
not monitor who comes there. And they do not look I go down there. I own units. I cannot find one seat at the pool. The cabanas are rented. Everything is for rent. Everything is for sale there. Okay. There are a lot of owners here. We
have We barely get to use the amenities. They will not monitor it. As a resident, there's going to be noise, traffic. You're going to walk just like you said on the beachwalk. They did not show one picture. You're going to walk during your walk. You're going to look up. You're going to see 100 ft in the air of
slides. There's not one rendering. What kind of renderings are this? I have to see the gelato stand five times. I have to see the trees. The trees magically block everything. They're asking for 11 variances. Not dimminimous variances,
major deviations from the code. They're asking for certificate of appropriateness. Your ordinance states you have to look at pedestrian, you have to look at view carters, dune preservation overlays. They're going from 50% to 4.7%. How many different things can they ask
for here? They did not discuss it. And you know why they didn't discuss it? Because nobody would ever want this. Only the person selling tickets. Believe me, they just admitted, they didn't tell you in their presentation they're selling day passes. People come there to eat at L coat. They come there to drink.
That's all they care about. They want to drive traffic and people to sell more drinks, more amenities at the expense of the owners. All these people that own these units, they won't be the property values are going to plummet 2 to 300,000
overnight and the rental income will totally diminish. Would you want I'm finishing. Would you want to rent a unit? Wake up in the morning and look at that. Would you want would you like that in front of your wherever you live? You all say I bike through here. I live over there. Do you want to wake up in the
morning and look at this monstrosity of a 120 tower, metal tubing, plastic tubing, mechanical pumps, noise, splashing everything. It's an abomination and you should deny it and
you should tell them to take it out. Hi, my name is Blake Karoli. Uh, my family owns a place within the Tracer condo. There there's a few concerns that came up. There's one I think even Mr. Hollingsworth brought up and I think maybe it was one of the other ones mentioning about traffic studies not being completed. That one is actually
quite disturbing and very deceiving on behalf of the developers who want to do this. Now, keep in mind when you look at the the dayb bed rentals, I just looked up a piece of resortpass.com. On average, it's about four persons per bed. I can rent a bed today for the equivalent of $50 a person. Now, let's
say you bring in you're now adding 100 cabana spaces times four. That's another that's about 2,000 people. You can now No, sorry, my math is way off on that one. It's 400 people. 400 people, but still, that's still 400 people more. And then, as Mrs. Wise recently said also, people come in, they'll rent a day bed for four. They'll shove about six or
seven on there. Now, what's going to happen is is that yes, while a lot of the guests come to the resort, we want to bring families. We want to bring all these people in. By opening it up, the day passes, what you're going to do is people come to the hotel. Most people don't come with a car. They'll take a taxi from the airport, they'll stay in the hotel, they know they're not going
to leave. They want to go to restaurants out, they'll take taxis. There's very few people to do that. Now, if you're bringing day people who are going to be coming and driving non-stop, the traffic around the area is going to be obscene, especially during the rush hours when they're leaving the water park. It's going to add to that chaos. Now, on top of that, there's also liability issues
that may have not been considered. I have actually worked at one of their competitors that they use, Baja Mar. I do know their water park is actually offset from the hotel because it creates a lot of noise. The pumps themselves are obscene. What they do all day, it sounds like you have to wear earplugs in the
area where the pumps are. Where are they going to put the pumps? Who knows? Because they haven't thought of that. Or maybe they have, but they just don't want to say show because they don't want to show any part of the water park. But that being said, you're going to bring in a lot of those people. Now, with all these people and all this traffic coming in now, what happens? Like I know from Bajamar, I actually knew executives.
They told me at least once a day they get an email saying a child got injured in the water park. Now, if ambulances have to show up and we have to compete with that traffic, how you going to compete with how you going to get them access to even help someone on the beach? There's other issues also, but even going back to the other things, the
historical site concept of it like this other gentleman said he's been coming here for years. His first image was the water fountain blue. I've been coming down to Florida for the past 30 years. I'm Canadian, trust me. We love the heat. We hate the cold. But the end result is that when we I came down as a kid, I do remember the fountain blue. I do remember the grotto pool. I remember
all those things. Yes, they did they did bring it up to newer standards, newer levels of basically not taking out of the 80s and putting into the modern day. However, that being said, there's only so much that we think about the fountain blue being historic and now you're going to add it being a family family thing.
I'm sorry, I'm just trying to beat the clock here, but going back to the Baja Mar kind kind of concept that the reality is not everyone goes there just for the water park. Majority of people go there for the gambling, the restaurants, and everything else in between. You have tennis courts, you you have pickle ball course, you have mini golf, you have all these other amenities. They don't go there just solely for the water park. That water
park sits empty 90% of the day. You can go in there. It's like you can hear a pin drop more often than not. So, I can tell you that this does not bring as many people as they think it does. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Jac Glass and I was on your board for six years and
was chairman for two and a half. And um I've heard every story there is to hear from lawyers and I know that that they can make black seem white and white seem black. And that's exactly what's being done here today. They're pulling the wool attempting to pull the wool over
your eyes. Every project, every project that that came before us when I was on the board, people tried to fudge the drawings to make their project look like the best thing on earth. That's exactly what's happening here, showing you a bunch of trees that hide the water park
and everything else and saying this is going to be beautiful greenery. It's not going to be beautiful greenery. And these people, you know, they raised their hand and swore to tell the truth. I beg to differ. I I mean you can see from the picture that's not telling the truth. So I am fully opposed to this
project. And one one last thing to say um if you were on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and that's an iconic ship just like the Fountain Blue is an iconic building. Can you imagine putting a 30story this water slide on top of the QE2? I can't. And
that's exactly what these people are trying to do to one of our major landmarks of the United States. And I think it's a shondaanda which in Jewish means a shame. Thank you. >> Good afternoon. Thank you for your time. My name is Philip Feman. I live in 4775
Collins Avenue which is a couple blocks from here. And I've been uh I've been we've been coming here for having that apartment since uh 2005 2006. And now I have four or five years ago we came we became permanent residents of Miami Beach. And one of the reasons we came
here is for the beach. Take and I'm glad someone mentioned about walking from the boardwalk. What is the view going to be? You're going to see this this ridiculous uh 12 sto 120 foot uh structure. Take away uh take away from the view of the the uh Fountain Blue which is iconic
hotel as everyone said. Uh I'm not going to repeat every uh what everyone said because I strongly support everything. The gentleman who the one person who spoke in favor of it probably is not a resident in that area and uh my suggestion although I certainly respect
his opinion for that. If he wants a water park that uh he could go up to JW Marriott and uh benefit from that water park which Fountain Blue apparently has some sort of uh u uh ownership uh thing. But regardless of that, I I'm not, as I
said, I'm not going to repeat everything that's here because I do support it. I just want to bring up a point that has been brought up here that was discussed here about 15 to 20 years ago. Everyone's asking, you know, how many more people are going to come, you haven't heard, you haven't heard them send a solid number because they're not
going to say it. That's a lawyer. They they just bob and weave and they don't tell you. Uh I don't care what their room what their room capacity is because you could bet it's going to be three or four times that. Uh my my kid my sons have come down here. They've rented ke cabanas and they're always telling me,
"Oh, we we rented, you know, 10 people rented, 20 people are there." And these aren't the families getting off the cruises and staying for a day or two. They don't have little Jimmy and Betsy. Come on, sit down. We'll get you a little ice cream. These are the these are the party people who know how to party. And and that's what the Fountain
Blue is there. They don't care. I mean, they want to sell gelato, but they want to sell sell uh um all the top shelf top shelf liquor that they can sell and all the champagne. I don't know what the cabanas are. Few when they first opened up, I think was 600 or 700 bucks and that's that's years and years ago. So,
as the uh gentleman said, they're here to improve their business. I respect that 100%. I'm speaking as a resident who ca as I said, I moved from New York to come down here to benefit from Miami Beach, the iconic man Miami Beach. And as an aside, when I came down here, I
remember was it was Jul July 4th weekend of 2005. I was with one of my sons who was I don't know, I think it was in college. At any rate, we stayed at the Fountain Blue. He said, "Oh, Dad, you should buy one of these play." There was I think it was the first or second weekend it was opening up. There was such chaos. They had to call the police
because the garage was overwhelmed. They couldn't get so the police were there trying to sort out all the cars and so forth and so on. But the thing that the point I want to make is we've heard num we haven't heard numbers we really have a lot of fudge stuff and all that stuff about 50 if you remember the first I
guess it it opened up the first condo building at Fountain Blue opened up about 2005 it was right on Collins Avenue the people who were facing east was sold to bill of goods you're going to have an ocean view blah blah blah and all that stuff well within a couple
months of selling out guess what came up now they put um a fountain of came forth with building plans for I guess the treasor whichever one blocks their view. So those people who are sold a bill of goods we're going to have you're going to have a fountain. You're going to have the ocean view. Guess what view they
don't have? They have a view of someone's bedroom or bathroom looking in there and they did some fancy footwork and they you made some agreements with them of a little variance here. But the and but one of the things if I recall correctly was they were going to have more green space right where they're
going to put this this uh park now this water park which out is outlandish and uh uh my prediction is if if once this gets approved in a couple weeks they'll be back you know we want to sell to the public we
>> Okay. Thank you very much for your time. >> Hi, my name is Rifka Freriedman. I'm a resident in the Blue Diamond. So, first, thank you for this opportunity. I've never ever spoken at one of these things. I'm a little bit nervous, so please bear with me. It's a little intimidating.
Um, I'm sitting here observing this board and I'm observing the proceedings even before this and I want to say that you've all asked very insightful and and reasoned questions of other people before this was brought um to the board
and um it it's I want to thank you because you've you've actually given real thought to other projects. I want you to give real thought to this project. The found holds something very dear to
me because that's where I met my husband 48 years ago. So, we loved it so much that we bought a an apartment in a building four four buildings away from the Fountain Blue cuz this was something for us. This was an ideal for us. Um
there we've seen many changes over the years and some of them have been really good. Some of them beautify the area and a lot of them you're responsible for because the boardwalk the walk is magnificent because you guys paid so much attention to the flora and the
fauna that goes goes around there. So it became a beautiful project. One thing that's not good is the traffic. So as I said we're on 47th Street and to get to 41st Street is six blocks. Six blocks maybe with the lights
should take five minutes. No more. At 3:00, I invite any of you to please come with me. I will drive come from my apartment to 41st Street to make that turn. Could take 45 minutes to an hour. So, a traffic
report and study must be done. I have a personal issue where my husband's disabled. If I have to go to the hospital or I have to go to the doctor and have to make that round, it's impossible.
It's It's frightening now. At 3:00, it's impossible. You're sitting there forever. The traffic is an issue obviously, but there's another issue. I have happen to have personally have um with fish and wildlife license
and so I know what goes into the environmental preservation. What happens to the turtles right now? We have all these people in our in our building and our community. We're so respectful of that. We're respectful of our beach. You're going to have people coming in as
they said people said before us how many people are going to come in. I've myself I've gotten day beds with friends coming into the Fountain Blue. So there's hundreds of people coming in there with kids, with rowdiness, with drinking, with god knows what what else goes on.
So there's that. But sorry, one more thing. As far as the um the designer saying that he was respecting the original design of of the building, I think he's really missed the
mark on that one. So I just want to remind everyone that's speaking you you can come on up that you know the timer is set for three minutes to try I' I've allowed everyone to go over you know approximately a minute but if we can try to keep them I understand everybody wants to get their point across but let us know your opinions so
that we can you know get this moving >> can adjust it lower too. >> Huh? >> You could adjust the time lower too if you wanted. >> Yes. I I mean I I can't adjust it lower, but for right now we're okay. I just But if we can stick to the time, otherwise I will have to lower it. Okay. Thanks.
Hello, my name is Sarah Weiss and I live around that neighborhood 3535 Indian Creek. And um this project, while they're trying to paint it as a beautiful project with greenery, we have beautiful greenery right now, so we're
not missing that. Um, it's going to destroy destroy Miami Beach. Um, and the quality of life. It will destroy the quality of our life. We come here. It's resort. It's beautiful. It's it's it's
it's it's it's vacation. Um, if I wanted to, I would go to Orlando or anybody who wants parks and slides and things, go to go go go to Orlando or you can go to Turnberry right here where everything is so um
preserved and and residential and this just does not fit. I walk the boardwalk every single morning and it's going to destroy everything around the whole entire neighborhood. We've heard so much from other people, but this is
definitely um the lease the the the quality of life and the value of our homes will will will plummet down and gelato you can get anywhere. We don't have to go to the Fountain Blue to get
gelato. So, let's all remember that. But this project is a disaster in happening. Thank you. Hi, my name is Ruven Mashkavski. I'm an owner in Trasor. Uh I've never spoken or
been to anything like this before. So, it's it's great to uh to see the board and and how much you know work and how look into everything. It's great to see everyone on both sides, those in favor, those against. It's um it's great to be here. Uh I've lived in Miami Beach in several different places. I originally
lived on 14th in Collins and then I lived in the Green Diamond and then I lived in Chasur. I now live in southeast Hollywood with my family right above H right above Hollandale Beach. I take uh Collins to come down here. Um this drive
when I turn the drive to get without a water park to get from my house down Collins Avenue to here on my on my Google maps last night said it would take 31 minutes. My Uber took an hour and 20 minutes. Now, the problem with the water park is that it's it's going
to attract people during the day. And we all know Collins Avenue is busiest in the morning and in the late afternoon going into the early evening. And if we're going to have even if the capacity limits of the hotel stay the same, the PE even if the capacity is the same,
and they're not hotel guests, but people coming during the day, they're going to be coming exactly at at 9:00 when the water park opens to get their money's worth. And then the water park closes when it when it becomes night, right? Five o'clock, six o'clock, and they're going to leave. These are the times that are the peak traffic for Collins Avenue.
And I don't think Collins Avenue can ha can handle that traffic. Um, for someone who's lived in Miami Beach for many years and is certainly considering it may move back to Miami Beach. I really love the city. I don't think the water park is the answer. I admire the hotel
and their commitment to moving the property forward and trying to improve things. I don't think the water park is is the answer uh to this. Um the the Fanable also since I got a minute to talk anyways the Fountain Blue is a his
is a piece of history, right? It's a historic resort. People travel the world to come to the Fountain Blue. People tr people fly to Paris to go see the Eiffel Tower. People fly, you know, to to uh to Rome to see the Colosseum. They fly to
Buffalo to see uh to see um uh you know, Niagara Falls. They come here to see the fountain blue. It's it's it's not they're not coming because they want a water park. If they want a water park, you know, you can go to Turnberry, which is great, and they should go to
Turnberry. You can go to Orlando and you could have water parks for the whole week. There's there's water parks all over Orlando. So, I don't think the water park's the answer. Again, I thank everyone uh for coming on both sides, the for and against, and I thank the
board also for listening to to everyone. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good afternoon. Started early this morning. So, we're having fun yet? That's what I want to know. Uh, my name is Robert Weiss. I'm a resident at the Blue Diamond and I also own a property
in the Sarrento. I'd like to thank the vice chair and the members. Especially like to thank the board member, uh, Mr. Hollingsworth. He seems to be the only one who's peeling back the layers of this stinking onion.
Um, so which is which is what we expected to see here today. You guys are the preservation board. You're the protectors of Miami Beach historic buildings and architecture.
I watched some of your meetings and I was so impressed with this board's concern to the smallest minutia detail over and over and over again.
That's how you protect Miami Beach. Now, while many of us don't follow your meetings, I don't. You can't miss driving or walking down Collins Avenue and you see these big steel skeletons
holding up the facades of these buildings where the property is being redeveloped. For people who don't know that, that's tens of millions of dollars to do that. And I think you guys had something to do
with it, right? I mean, nobody would do that voluntarily. So, I know the time that you guys spend. I know you're passionate. It's takes a lot of time.
And it's even it's inconceivable to me that you would even entertain this water slide in in in the backyard. First of all, it's not a backyard. It's not the back of the property. If you're on the boardwalk, it's the front of the
property. That's what you're looking at. I'm sure there's more people that look at the Fountain Blue from the ocean side than they do from the Collins side because that's not where people are walking. I can really not even understand the
Fountain Blue for proposing this like nightmare. It's it's really just a nightmare. I mean, there's making money and then there's nightmare. And I don't even think this is even good for them, but they have their own situation, but you know, to bring Carnival Cruise Line to the back of the found blue, I think
is just pathetic. This is the same board. Well, maybe not the same people, but it's the board that preserved the bow tie tiles in the lobby and the fan blue and preserved the staircase to nowhere
and preserve the cheese wall during the last that me. Holy cow. All right. I'm sorry. Can I have one more minute? I want to talk about something really important. I'm going to talk fast. I'm not going to talk about everything else. Everybody's talking
about traffic. So, traffic, inconvenience, I'm going to miss my appointment, delay. What nobody's talking about and what I think about when I see this traffic is death. Because when you're going to have so many people
crossing four lanes of traffic, unloading, and of course, you know who you're competing with, the idiots who rent the Lamborghinis and drive a 100 miles an hour in front of the fountain blue to per to impress their friends. You're going to end up with fatal
accidents. It's going to be a tragedy and that's a tragedy that you can avert and you should be thinking about that. I know we love to save buildings and we want to protect buildings but we have to protect people. We have to protect lives
too. Thank you very much. Good afternoon. My name is Marie Glaciius. I live on 2555 Collins Avenue. That's the uh Club Atlantis. I've been uh resident and owner for many years here. And I have something very in
common with uh the Font Blue. We were born on the same on the same year 1954. So for me is I have it in my heart and I've been coming to the font and blue many years before I lived here in Miami Beach and uh
for me I think that Mr. The lapidus is revolving in his grave with this idea. Also the red pack. Also everyone that really love the font blue for what it was for this beautiful um uh
architecture and what this means to Miami Beach. So one of the things that um I really want to ask the people from you know Jeff Sulur and his uh uh his
investors is if they have done some kind of uh focus test investigation research to bring this monster of an idea into in the middle of a city. You know when Walt Disney built Disneyland,
he purchased tons of acres in the boondocks, no one was around there. So he be he built this beautiful park for children to come in. Here they're talking about the families are coming to with children to the middle of Miami
Beach. Did they do a research that really how many families are going to come to uh the Fontanlau? spend a lot of money because Fontanlau is not inexpensive with the children. So I don't how much the research they have done and we've been talking about
Collins Avenue but we have to mention 41st which is our main way causeway to go to the city. So what would that means not only to the people that come to the Fontan Blue but we that live around
there's no way I'm I'm a realtor and every time I have to go and show any apartments passing through that right now it's really hot. So for the rest of the residents of this area and for the visitors too it's going to be harder
too. So first of all, I really um they have to do more research and you have been I took all my time listening to the previous presentations. You are very zealous about keeping our Miami Beach at the uh historic and also the uh the
architecture of Miami Beach. I hope that you also think about this one too because this is a landmark that should not be changed with a kind of like a plastic slides and uh totally destroying what
Maurice Lapidos intended for it. Thank you. >> Hello, I'm Eileen Miller. We we own Intrasur, one of the condominiums on the Fountain Blue property. First of all, thank you so much for listening to us and taking your valuable time and your
expertise and we really do hope that you take all of this as you we noticed that the other the other applications there were a lot more questions that were asked with our applica with the application from the Fountain Blue. So, we really do hope it's not all been
predetermined by big players. And I really do have the um the faith that y'all have the integrity and you really do care about Miami Beach or you wouldn't be spending this much time. That being said, my husband and I came, we're senior citizens in our twilight
years and we looked around. We went to Naples. We went on the on the west coast and although albe it the beach is magnificent there, we looked around different areas for several years before we decided to come to Miami Beach and looking around Miami Beach. We
looked at several oh I'm sorry several different properties and we decided on this property at the Fountain Blue because there was a lot of activity there. The condos were perfect for us and most important we loved our view of
the beach. We love the boardwalk and we love the serenity and the quiet atmosphere that we were afforded here to be able to spend our entire year working. I'm a I'm a medical professional. My husband's a financial adviser and we did. We spent a lot of
time deciding where we would go our senior years. And this is where we decided to come. And we pray that it is not totally ruined by this. I don't want to say monstrosity because it's a water park for children. We understand that,
but this isn't the place for it. It's just not the place for it. We love the atmosphere around Miami Beach, around South Beach, around the area. Our daughter settled in Venetian Causeway. We first came here, it took us 10 minutes to get to her apartment from
ours. Now, it's at least, no matter what time of day we go, it seems like it's at least a half an hour. So, please, please consider the alternative long-term potential, not potential, long-term problems that this water park,
this playground, this amusement park will bring to all aspects of our area in Miami Beach. Not just us at the Fountain Blue, but the entire area of people walking on the boardwalk, the environmental factor. very good, you know, um, ideas that were brought up
that I know it's not in your purview, but the maintaining the integrity of Miami Beach being the beautiful, beautiful historic area that it is from when our grandparents came here and when our parents came here. Thank you so much
for your time >> with that. >> We can we can we can move to the online comments. >> Okay, go ahead. Please hurry. >> Good afternoon. My name is Lisa, last name Dousart, and I want to thank you all for your
stewardship of representing the city. I addressed you all by email recently. We only learned of this development in our community maybe last Friday. Within 24 hours, we have probably 200 signatures opposing this initiative. And I have to
say, I have been in the hospitality business 30 years. I'm currently an executive for a major development company. I lived in New York for 20 years and yes, this may not be the right word to call this development atrocious
because it's a water park. It is for families, but I have to reiterate what I've heard the previous two speakers say. This is not the place for it. When it's compar compared to the JW Marriott on Aventura, there's no comparison.
That development is way off the A1A. As a matter of fact, we're late today because from where we reside at SE Coast 5151 callings, it took us 45 minutes on a Tuesday at 12:00 to get here today. So that just speaks of what's happening,
the high density, the environmental issues we have in our community. 11 swimming pools, a 12story tower, facing this beloved boardwalk that the city spend billions of dollars developing that now their residents can
enjoy riding their bicycles, walking with their dogs, their families. This is all going to be threatened by this development, which is a selfish aim of developers trying to save probably a 1500 room luxury hotel. That is a
dinosaur. We have so much luxury product on coming to the beach today. The Aman Hotel, the number one chain in the world is opening in the next two years. Rosewood, all these big brands that are coming to the neighborhood that are uplifting for
high-end consumers, our community, and they're really contributing to the landscape of what we have today in Miami Beach. I moved uh to Miami three years ago. So did my partner from New York City. He was in real estate development. I work for a main hotel chain and we
opened probably seven properties in the course of my career in New York. I got to say that I saw things that went by even in New York that you would would not be even of consideration of the residents at the community. First and foremost, I think that you have to safeguard the quality of life that we
have in Miami Beach today. to the former speakers. The fact that you can walk this beautiful walk walk uh excuse me, boardwalk all the way to the beach all the way to Bal Harbor and ride a bicycle to Bal Harbor and have dinner there. That doesn't exist and we have it and we
have to preserve it. The fountain blue I actually live in a lapidos building too. I have tremendous admiration for the architecture of that time and this is what people come here for. To take this 15 acres of this compound of what this property means to the community, this
beautiful landmark and turn it into an attraction park is a crime. So I truly encourage one thing if I'm going to ask you my community didn't know about this. For the first time, I take an activist firm stand on behalf of
my building to try to get signatures, to try to orient them, to understand what's going to happen to our real estate values, having a water park down the street. This is not going to be enough with 1500 rooms that are going to be occupied at probably lower rates because
they have to pay their debt service and they haven't even disclosed with transparency. What is going to be the cost of this new infrastructure? What is going to be the impact to our turtles that do cross over at night on the boardwalk? What's going to be the impact of 11 swimming pools if we have a
hurricane and we have to take all this water with all those this chlorine and how it's going to affect the environment and the parrots. >> Thank you very much. >> I I appreciate your time. I really encourage you to reconsider this to give it the opportunity for the Miami
community to truly come forward because they don't even know about it. So, thank you very much for looking after our community. I appreciate it. >> Ma'am, ma'am, >> ma'am, were you were you sworn in earlier today? I just want to make sure everyone who's who spoken is sworn in.
Did were you sworn in earlier? >> Okay. Could you raise your right hand? And then anyone else who has not yet been sworn in, please raise your right hands. Do you swear the testimony you'll give or have given in this proceeding is the truth, all truth, nothing but truth? >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Now we're going to move to the Zoom comments and then if we have
anybody left we can go back to the chambers but we're going to limit this now to two minutes going forward. >> Our next caller is Alicia Kasanova. >> Hi Alicia that the testimonial you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. >> I do. >> Thank you. You you have two minutes.
>> My name's Alicia Kasanova. I have served as board president of the Green Diamond Condominium Association and the Blue Diamond and Green Diamond Master Association for the past 25 years. I've been listening intently to all the speakers here and fully agree with all their positions. Our Blue and Green
Diamond Towers with 630 units are just two properties north of the Fontlau. Yet at no time were we contacted or included in any discussion regarding this massive proposed project that will certainly impact all of us. The complete lack of
community outreach is extremely disturbing. While we don't object to the Font Blue's desire to renovate or enhance the recreational facilities, we strongly oppose the current plans which include a ridiculously high 120 ft tent
slide and its large accompanying plastic or iron structure. something they proudly describe as one of the tallest slides in the country and one will most likely inter attract a huge number of day visitors, especially since the
tallest water slide in the US today is only 25 ft taller and is located in none other than freezing Wisconsin. After thoroughly reviewing the 11 variances being requested today, we find no justifiable reason for the HPB to
grant these significant waiverss. We also question why a proposal of this scale and impact to our city is not being presented to the city commission where a broader public evaluation would be appropriate and where requirements such as public outreach and traffic
studies would normally be expected. Our concerns are substantial. They include, but are not limited to, traffic impacts and additional unbearable congestion that will result from this attraction being located on an FDOT controlled
major roadway which is already under construction and which will be under construction for several more years. Of course, inadequate vehicle access given the length of the Fontabloo's driveway areas, lack of stacking spaces, and lack of self-parking. Of course,
environmental impacts, especially given our direct proximity to the dunes. We urge you to respect to reject this proposal in its current form and we look forward to working with you in revised plans. Thank you.
>> Okay. So, just before we do that, so so as we're moving on to our remaining Zoom comments, we have adjusted the time uh based on the advice from staff and city attorney we've looked into this 2 minutes. Please keep your comments to two minutes. If it's something that's already been stated, say, "I support my
my neighbor's statements." Don't repeat the statements that we've already heard if if if you can avoid it. Thank you. >> Next caller is Daniel Saldo. >> Yes. >> Yes. Do I need to be sworn in again? >> No. >> No. Daniel, you were sworn in this morning.
>> Okay. Thank you. Daniel Seraldo, 7:30 10th Street. I was also the curator of the Morris Lapidus exhibit in 2022. So, I'm imagining what he would think watching this hearing and seeing the proposal. He did love drama, so I think he would have been delighted at the
controversy. The residents of the adjacent condo must have some sort of an agreement with the Fountain Blue, which governs a relationship. And if it's all joined together, one would expect they would need a thumbs up to move forward. So I would urge them to work directly
with the Fountain Blue. Instead of using the HPB and our government to moderate that relationship. I don't personally see this as a historic preservation issue. It is a slide. Legally, this could go either way given the variances
being requested. However, I am leaning towards saying yes to a fun familyfriendly activity. I remember going to the Fountain Blue as a kid growing up here in Miami Beach and swimming at the grotto. Then it was destroyed when the Tresor Tower was
developed and now the Tresor owners don't want a slide to block their view. That is the definition of a real Miami Beach story. Same with the Green and Blue Diamond. Two of the largest towers in Miami Beach. After they were built,
that whole area was downzoned. But these owners seem to be the source of most of today's opposition. For years, Tallahassee has been watching these meetings and hearing how Miami Beach residents are against everything. These sort of disputes do not help our case to
maintain local control. So, I want to say for the record, Miami Beach is a welcoming place. We welcome people of all ages, including families. We should all work together on a better design to mitigate the impacts and ensure a discount for local residents who want to
enjoy the historic property. Thank you. >> Our next caller is Howard Balivan. >> Howard, do you swear that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth? How are you on mute? >> We'll go to our next caller and I'll
come back if you're still available. Um the next caller just has the um iPhone on the screen. >> If you could um state your name and then I'll swear you in, please. >> Yes. Helen Manuel. >> Hi. Do you do you swear that the
testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> I do. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. >> So, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to talk. I'm an owner. I have um units on Sorrento north side and
this is this project is going to be a disaster. I used to come to Fountain Blue since um like 15 years ago when I didn't have a unit myself. I used to rent it and I
enjoyed it so much staying in the balcony looking at the beach looking at this walking on the boardwalk. Now, I wouldn't even want to come there because I'm going to go to the balcony and I I
see these like these um slides and noise and all of these traffic. This this is not Phantom is not kids friendly. It's not it's not for kids. It's not designed for kids. It's an adult and and it's not
appropriate for kids. And I don't think this is going to be this is going to be good for Miami Beach. And um my uh the the the value of the property of units our units um falling down.
I mean a lot. I don't want to think about buying anymore. I don't want to even think about staying there if this project goes through. This is I think it's a nightmare. I think you should reconsider even um um even considering
it. It's this project is at the expense of owners loss of equity equity and peace of mind which we worked hard for it. We worked very hard to make uh to to to to buy
this and enjoy it and have a little income. and this is ruining everything. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Our next caller is Karen Mafay. >> Hi, Karen. Do you swear that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding
is the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth? >> Yes, I do. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. Well, I just want to say I agree with all the other po points opposing this water park, but my other point is is that I'm afraid the other hotels will start doing
the same thing and it could become something like a amusement park all up and down um South Beach and then you're going to have a lot of crime like Coney Island. So, I just wanted to make that that statement. >> Thank you. Our next caller has a
designation um screen as Samsung SM X800. Hello. >> Hello. >> Hi. Could you say your name for the record? >> Yeah. Okay. My name is DDA V. I'm >> Hi, DDA. Do you swear that the testimonial you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole
truth, nothing but the truth? >> Yes, I do. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. I am I am a owner and resident at Green Diamond. Basically, I I agree with most of the
criticism of the of the of the project, particularly the the the character of Miami, the water management, the the problem of traffic, etc. And I think that if we accept this project, it means that we have no
respect for our history. And and I think our history is very important is is is a large part of the quality of life in Miami. And I I think it's very important. Another point I would like to make is
that the font blow uh like they present the the the fact today are very imprecise and dishonest in my opinion and there is no professional analysis of
the water usage the the the noise of pumps the traffic the capacity management I I take the example of the capacity management It was very imprecise. Maybe we will have more people this day,
less people this day. It's it's a it's a joke and and obviously they don't have what they want to do is to make more money. They don't care about us and they and they consider that they they can do whatever they want. And I think this
project is a monstrosity. It's bringing Disney World in the middle of a very nice area, historic area, and it's it would be a disaster to accept it. That's it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Our next caller is Malia
Reichman. >> Good afternoon, Malia. Do you swear that the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, all truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes, I do. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. >> Okay. Thank you for hearing my testimony today. My name is Malia Rekman. I live
on Collins Avenue by the Fountain Blue and I am urging the Stark Preservation Board to say no to this water park proposal. 12story 130 ft water slide. To be frank, when I show this to people, they think it's a joke, like a prank. They can't even imagine that there a
proposal like this would be pushed through here today or put even up to vote today. Putting something that looks like a floating carnival cruise ship in the heart of Miami Beach will have serious irreversible consequences. Let's start with the obvious. This does not fit the brand or character of the
Fountain Blue or of Miami Beach. The Fountain Blue wants to be a mix of oldworld glam glamour and modern nightife. And to be frank, the Fountain Blue picked their brand already. They are the nightlife party, adult drinking,
and and that's great and it's beautiful. And when you mix that with a 12story water park, you don't think people are going to be going to the bars, drinking, and then trying to stumble up 12 stories up in the air and go down a rushing water slide. Someone is going to get
hurt. And it's not a matter of if, when. And then obviously the traffic has been a major concern. How are those ambulances going to be getting to the Fountain Blue when there's slip and falls or, you know, something much worse? And then there's hurricane season. I've actually stayed at the
Found Blue during hurricanes with the Fountain Blue top rated hurricane windows. And even then, the glass is shaken. And now we're expected to believe that giant plastic slides right on the ocean, screwed in by a couple of bolts, how it will be able to withstand
hurricane season. We're talking about debris that could tear through buildings and that really is a public safety nightmare. The building is already maxed out. If you go there, you'll see it go in December time. It's bursting at the seams. The found could say whatever they
want to try to alleviate your concerns. But it's done. They have three hotel buildings, two convention centers, multiple restaurants, one of the top nightclubs in Miami. At some point, enough is enough. This proposal is unsafe, out of character, and completely incompatible with the reality of this
neighborhood and this hotel, and it must be rejected. >> Thank you. >> Our next caller is Vivian. >> Hi, Vivian. Could you state your full name for the record first? >> Vivian Chavez. >> Thank you. Do you swear the testimony you'll give in this proceeding is the truth, whole truth, nothing but the
truth? >> I do. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. I'm a resident of the Green Diamond and one thing I agree with everything that's been said um against this thing right now. I don't want to repeat it like you said, but one thing that I have noticed
that nobody has said is that this is going to be the steepest drop of a water park of a slide in the world or New York or or in Miami. Do you imagine what the screams are going to be of those kids every minute
when they go down that slide and the residents what they're going to hear every minute of the day with these kids? That's all I wanted to bring up and um you have to think about that. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Vivian. >> Next caller is Chris Kernney. >> Hi, Chris. Do you swear the testimonial gave us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Chris, >> I do. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. >> Thank you. I own six condominiums at the
Fountain Blue Hotel in both Traur and Sarrento Towers and I love the Fountain Blue. I've been going there all my life and I applaud management for attempting to continue to make the Fountain Blue relevant. What I do not applaud, however, is this project that they're trying to uh force through. And I don't
want to repeat all of the comments that have been raised already, so I won't. Uh there are two comments though that I don't think have been raised with much clarity. The condos in the STO Tower, virtually all will be negatively impacted by the additional noise both from the crowd and
from the pumps as was mentioned earlier. And at least a hundred of those condos are going to be negatively impacted by the loss of views, ocean views. Both of those are going to result in millions of dollars, if not a hund00 million in property devaluation, which is going to
lead to millions of dollars in reduced property taxes payable to the city of Miami and sales taxes from rentals payable to the city of Miami and Florida. U the second item that I wanted to mention and it may be a little bit of a solution here, right? We have two sides
that certainly think that that their sides are uh are viable. Uh but there's a property on the Fountain Blue uh area in the north that if the water park was scaled down, it would have to be scaled down
tremendously, but if the water park was moved to that north piece of property, it would impact much of the issues around views and noise to both the hotel and to the condominium owners. and the Fountain Blue would still be able to have a water park hopefully to a smaller
extent and have their cabanas and all the other amenities that they want to uh that they want to provide. Why they're sticking this water park next to the residential condos or the rental condos, I I just don't understand it because it's really going to alienate a lot of
the owners and it's going to impact, as I mentioned, property values and taxes tremendously. put the water park in the north part of that property and u I think a lot of the opposition will go away. >> Our next caller is Dove Klein.
>> Hi Dove. Do you swear the testimony you'll give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, >> I guess so. >> Do you swear? >> I do. Yes. So >> my name is Doug Klein. I live at 4747
Collins Avenue, which is the Mimulsa. I'm also a member of the board. One of the first things that I'd like to say is that I object to the process carried out by the founders. never reached out to us as a board or to uh any from what I understand other building boards uh to
discuss this project ahead of time and try to see if we can uh come to some common uh common ground where we can all be appreciative of some of the amenities and developments that they're putting forth. That never happened and I think that that's a process that was faulty.
Uh having said all that, I'm not going to reiterate all the things that I've heard and with I concur. Um I I speak particularly to the passion that Mark Weiss brought uh in his uh comments to the board. Um and I echo those who
commented to the board as far as with respect to what the work that they have done in other projects. And I wish that the board look very very closely at all the supposed variances uh that this project uh is looking to
achieve. At the end of the day, I think that I speak on behalf of of all the residents of our building. We we object viferously to this project as it stands. Perhaps it could be modified in some fashion, but clearly the way it sits
right now, it it's going to be an eyesore. People who are uh have been in the habit of enjoying walking along the beachfront um and having pristine views are going to be hampered to have those
views, especially with this entire project the way it's envisioned. In addition to some of the other things that were said, I don't even have a clear view as to what it's going to look like from the beach side. And and this whole uh idea of trying to ram this through without people on either side of
the project being able to understand exactly what it's going to look and how they're going to be impacted by it is is uh is not the right way to go. And lastly, I concur with just about everything everybody else has said, particularly with respect to the traffic
situation, which has got to be Nate Ultimately, it's going to be far far worse than it does. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next caller is Jacob. Jacob Ravenport. >> Hi, Jacob. Do you swear to the testimony? You'll give us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
>> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Do Do you so swear? >> Yes. >> Thank you. You have two minutes. >> Hi, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. Um, I just wanted to raise a few points. We are as a
family, we have a few units in the Sarrento towers and we always look forward to coming down from New York all the time, whether it be the summer, winter, any brick that we can get our hands on. Um, a few things that were
that they had never contacted, as we've heard multiple times by the other owners, uh, this was a project that had just been brought up by themselves and never contacted or were in agreement with any of the other owners. And uh by putting this forth, they kind of decided
to put it on the owner's side where the condo buildings are located and nothing on the hotel's own property. Meaning if they wanted to actually enhance their own property, they have plenty of grass to do it on the other side of the hotel
grounds and it would completely block out 10 floors of the ocean side of the of the hotel. And when you wake up, Miami has been known for its awesome sun and
everything. You come there just to bask in the sun. No one's coming there to go for the Six Flags. when we come there from New York or whatever, we just want to go and just relax and just s in the sun. By just coming there to like a water park, it's completely not the idea of what Miami has been known for. And if
we wanted to go to like a real water park, we can always go to other water parks. It's just not the place for it. being that Miami has been known for its awesome sun and would by putting this forth it would be completely obstructing that and damaging what it's been always
historically uh famous for. And I just want to say that we are completely opposed to this if the board can completely reconsider uh these variances and objecting to putting them forth. Thank you very much
for the opportunity. Next caller is Howard Balaban. >> Hi Howard. Do you swear the testimony you'll give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. >> Howard, please unmute yourself. Howard, go ahead.
Howard Balaban. I own uh my family owns five units in both the Treor and the Sarrento buildings. I'll be very quick. Uh my concern is that the water park is going to change the character of the hotel and it become less of a hotel and
more of an amusement park. And number two, and my last point, is I think the same impact we will have on the boardwalk and all of Mid Beach, which will turn into a more honky tonk area than we have now. Thank
you. That's the end of >> Did we have anybody else in chambers that wanted to speak? Not really, but >> No one's going to make you. I just saw you stand up, so I wanted to make sure that you had your opportunity if you wanted it.
>> Hi, my name is Mary Savage. My husband, Scott, and I own a condo at the Tresor, and we drove eight hours to be here. We live in South Carolina full-time and purchased our unit as a a part-time vacation
home for us. And this is so distressing. Um, I grew up in a historic home built in 1806. My father was the founding member the various historic preservation board in Befort, South Carolina. And
I've continued his legacy. And have been a champion of historic preservation. And this is just such a shame. I mean, weren't we supposed to preserve history for a future generations? What is this? This is I don't know if
you're familiar with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, but is the tackiest, trashiest place. And and we don't want that here. I mean, you know, continue the legacy of the people ahead of you. Preserve the
history and the beauty of of Miami Beach. And I know a lot of people are here to show their support um for our voices, but and they're afraid to stand up just like I was. It's scary standing up here
and speaking, but please take in consideration all of our these are some people's homes and I don't know what else to say. Scott, >> well, you just don't want to open up Pandora's box. Be careful, you know.
But we thank you for your time and I know it's been a long day. But >> we have one last caller on Zoom. Norton Norton Ness. >> Hi Norton. Do you swear that the testimonial you'll give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Uh yes, I do.
>> Thank you. You have two minutes. >> Hi. Uh I my wife and I own a number of units in the uh in the fountain and when I saw the proposal I could not believe it. It was shocking. First of all the
area as it is is packed with buildings, people, pools, children playing outside in that kid zone area. There's no unused part of that area. And then to take this enormous, I could not believe it, a
12story project and put it in the middle of that crowded area and have all those slides wrapping around the building, children screaming and yelling. It was just inconceivable. I could not believe
that anyone would even think of doing such a thing. And so I am totally against it and even shocked that it should come up. Can my wife say a couple of words? >> Sure. Go ahead.
>> Nobody considered the small owners. There's hundreds of them. They worked their whole life. They put dollar to dollar and they bought this apartment and they felt like a million dollars. Then to plop this in front of their window, it makes the apartment
completely unusable. I mean, Mr. Sofa, you're a billionaire. Isn't it enough? Do you have to ruin people's investments if it won't be worth anything? I don't think so. When they say for guests only, that's a
bunch of bull. What happens is, and I've seen it, one person rents an apartment, a studio, and he brings 10 friends, and they all sleep on the floor in the studios. This happens over and over again. They drink, they drug all night,
they make noise, they keep everybody awake. You call, security comes up, they do nothing. It's not going to be for guests only. It's be it's going to be for the guest of the guests and it'll Six Flags I read about all the different
crime that's there and shooting that's there. >> I don't know. I I I I think Mr. Sofa, you should be happy you're a billionaire and let the people who put their little investment and let them live. >> Thank you. Um I would suggest we close
the public hearing. That closes public comment. >> Uh applicants rebuttal. >> Yeah. Well, look, I think it's clear we got some work to do here and uh we've heard from a lot of folks. So, we'd like to follow staff's recommendation and continue it to the January meeting, but
if possible, I know you've all had a long day. If there's some comment, so we'd ask you to to take that continuence and give us time to speak to meet with some of these folks, work with staff and and and take a look at some of these items. But in the meantime, if there are some thoughts or comments the board would like to share with us, we'd be
happy to have those in the meantime. >> Thank you. All right. So, we'll start with Randy. If you've got Oh, Ray's got it. Ray's got his mic on. Go ahead, Ray. Do you have comment for that? >> Uh, my concern was in the very beginning you said you had a support from all of
the um buildings around the Fountain Blue. Um, and it clearly doesn't seem that way here. Um so I don't know why you would have made that statement to start with and and just to clarify because I want to be
clear Soho House we our team met with Soho House Eden Rock and the condo owners some condo owners were supportive clearly some are not but that's where our outreach >> maybe you don't have any of those who were supporting you here today so that's I'm wondering if you did have any that's my question and number two it seems to
me that when you request variances varian variances, you have to show, you know, a a real need for that variance. Um, and that that it it affects your your business. This is an added business, not affecting, you know,
something you're trying to to build. So, I I I'm a little concerned about the variances that you're are asking for. >> Thank you, Ray, Randy. >> Yeah. Um, a couple things. Um it's hard to measure anything cuz nothing's to or it's a to scale but it's the only
elevation of the project on the beachwalk from the beach is this one. Um it's a 250 ft long water structure on the beachwalk. The tower is almost insignificant compared to the the rest of the fivetory structure which is just
massive. Um, and I read I this is the other elevation that you have which nothing in color, no description, just outline drawings. Uh, it is a huge structure and irregardless of traffic, whether kids have snotty noses or not,
the compatibility of this building with this property to me is just I I can't get over it. I I can't understand how this is compatible. um irregardless of who's using it or how often they're using it just structurally and that's our job is to look at compatibility and
context. There is no context for the structure on this site. There just isn't. So that's my stand >> hasll comments. >> I think enough has been said about it. I'll let everybody else speak. Thanks.
No, I I uh largely agree with Randy. This is uh out of context. Uh and quite frankly, uh I don't find uh any way to make this compatible UH
the neighborhood. Uh someone referenced moving it to the north. I'm just wondering why you didn't uh uh what was your reasoning for putting it right uh where where it's proposed
>> be right next to the historic structure. >> So if you're going to respond if you could be on mic if you're going to respond. This is supposed to be comments though Mitch >> comments. I I think to echo Anony's points, it it would be closer to the historic structures that we're trying to
protect and also further the kids play area is kind of that's where it is now. So, it was a natural place where there's less activity on the site. But, you know, we'll look at we'll look at options. >> If you could scale it down and put it where the or bring back the purple octopus
would be great. any comments? >> Yeah. No, I think there is a lot being said and I think 11 variances is a lot to ask. So um I think we're continuing this for a future meeting. So I think um
a lot needs to be changed in order to get more people agreeing with the proposed project. So, my comments, we'll echo some of those that were up here. Um, one of the things that I thought was missing that would be helpful for me, um, is seeing what this looks like from the beachwalk
and not just the one at the angle. um you know, you you've got some work to do based on the comments we've heard today, but whatever your ultimate proposal is, um being able to show that as well, um I think will demonstrate to um both the
public and the board what this really is going to look like. So that's that's nice. But uh generally we have an opportunity. We've been doing this for a long time. We understand our concerns, but we we would like an opportunity to work with staff and work with the neighborhood. I did reach out. >> Appreciate it. Um, I did reach out uh
towards the end of last week after we heard these confirmed uh concerns mounting. And while we didn't have an opportunity to meet with the Mid Beach Neighborhood Association the short time, there will be time available after Thanksgiving and we'd like that opportunity. And again, we we we know that there's some things we want to work on with staff, we've already addressed a
few of the variances. So, there's actually less based on the staff report that we reviewed. So, we really we've put a lot of time and effort and funding into this and we'd like an opportunity to to to make to make some adjustments to make it work. So we really would like to be back and there's and again there's a lot to this that's not just the slides
and it's an important it's an important uh request. So we really would like a continuence. Thank you. >> Understood. >> So with that >> I would move to continue it. >> Do we have do we have I'm going to ask you very politely if we can please be quiet in the in the chamber so that we can proceed with our procedure. Thank
you. >> So we have a motion to continue. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. The motion is the applications continued to the January 13th meeting. >> Date certain. Okay. Thank you. Welcome.
>> A question for staff. How many have to approve this project? Five or four? >> Five? >> With that, that concludes our meeting. Thank you. >> We request transparency and ask what's going to be the impact to traffic. How many employees do they have to add to
this? I need to know how it's really going to impact the community. None of that. and that every building and every ty that should be an absolute requirement >> and an independent traffic study.
>> So my recommendation would for you to reach out to the applicant, try to coordinate that that is that's the advice we can we can give you. You guys can you guys even all set? >> You know the traffic is bad.