Public Meetings - December 2006
FDOT Landscape Planning Meeting
6:30 p.m., Thursday, 12/14/06, Legion Park Community Center, 6447 NE 7th Avenue
All supporters of SavePalms are encouraged to attend this public meeting! This is the meeting which should have taken
place prior to the palms' removal. Those in support of palm removal will be in attendance.
If you support restoration of Biscayne Boulevard's palm-lined landscape this is the place to have your say by showing your
presence.
Here's a recap: 130+ Royals Removed, 29 Planned
Known for decades as Miami's famous palm-lined thoroughfare, Biscayne Boulevard is technically US-1, a federal highway. As such, FDOT
presented their new landscape plan for Biscayne Boulevard (from NE 37th to NE67th Streets). Prior to the road project, 80+ royal palms once
flanked the boulevard in this area; the plan, however, shows only 29 royals to be planted (mostly at a few key crossroads).
The area is to be planted with baby oaks. Some blocks are completely without any trees whatsoever due to current "sight line" requirements
from this state-run road agency. The "proposed" landscape includes many non-native palms (an apparent continuation of the area near the
Miami Shores Country Club). I say "proposed" because it is not yet final.
The names of 16 boulevard businesses on the SavePalms petition to Commissioner Sarnoff (in favor of historic landscape preservation) were
recited into the record (as well as the names of a handful of community leaders). Our current city ordinance requiring the boulevard to be
maintained and improved with royal palms was also brought to FDOT's attention.
On behalf of SavePalms supporters, my final comment was that I was concerned with the UEMC acting as design partner, reading a few quotes
from Mr. Flanders including: his reference to 75-pound palm fronds falling into traffic (possible only in hurricane-force winds, by the way), the
neighborhood not wanting "huge out-of-scale royal palms", and the royal palms looking like cement light poles.
It is SavePalms' opinion that the "design partner" is not looking out for the well being of our city's history. Instead they are determined to
continue bashing the historic royals to be nothing more than tourist envisioned, motorist killing, non-shade producing eyesores, which should
go.
A Sarnoff representative was in attendance, but did not comment.
SavePalms was not permitted to present a short presentation on the history of Biscayne Boulevard which is a shame. We need shade,
absolutely. But we are also responsible for mainiting our city's history for generations to come.
Someone did ask how long it would take the live oaks to grow to maturity. I said 15-20 years, but that was not accepted as I was not an arborist.
A biologist did confirm that indeed the timeline was correct... saying that she hoped all of those in attendance would be around to enjoy the
shade.
Elvis Cruz spoke regarding the dedication of Biscyane Boulvard in 1926 in which Mayor Romfh planted the last of the royals and deciated the
boulevard to veterans of all wars, the success of Ocean Drive, and questioned who, out of everyone in attendance walked to the meeting. The
cronies laughed all of that off as nonesense (true to form for anyone not agreeing to their opinion).
Dave McMaster from the Grove was in attendance... I really appreciated that. He asked why royals could not be mixed in with the shade trees to
save the gateway look of the boulevard. That was also dismissed as impossible. The message there? No compromise.
David Treece, Steven Craig James (FDOT Landscape Architect) and Bob Flanders all refereced the public input which was given nearly 10
years ago. They were all very proud of the plan as presented.
Biscayne Boulevard has stood, flanked with royal palms for decades. 16 Upper Eastside business, located directly on the bouelvard support
preservation of its historic landscape. It is our Camps d'Elysees, our Fifth Avenue, our Michigan Avenue, our Market Street, our history. I have
faith that the leaders of Miami will see the importance of this preservation issue and act quick to designate Biscayne Boulevard a Scenic
Transportation Cooridor. I am also hopeful that they will choose to enforce the current city zoning ordinance requiring the use of royal palms on
the boulevard.
As exhausting as this process has been, I remain comitted to this hometown preservation issue. Indeed we can expect the hundreds of royals,
south of NE36th to be removed.
In Los Angeles, palms are also coming down; the key difference there is the (quite logical) desire to preserve their famous, palm-lined
boulevards (namely Hollywood and Sunset).
6:30 p.m., Thursday, 12/14/06, Legion Park Community Center, 6447 NE 7th Avenue
All supporters of SavePalms are encouraged to attend this public meeting! This is the meeting which should have taken
place prior to the palms' removal. Those in support of palm removal will be in attendance.
If you support restoration of Biscayne Boulevard's palm-lined landscape this is the place to have your say by showing your
presence.
Here's a recap: 130+ Royals Removed, 29 Planned
Known for decades as Miami's famous palm-lined thoroughfare, Biscayne Boulevard is technically US-1, a federal highway. As such, FDOT
presented their new landscape plan for Biscayne Boulevard (from NE 37th to NE67th Streets). Prior to the road project, 80+ royal palms once
flanked the boulevard in this area; the plan, however, shows only 29 royals to be planted (mostly at a few key crossroads).
The area is to be planted with baby oaks. Some blocks are completely without any trees whatsoever due to current "sight line" requirements
from this state-run road agency. The "proposed" landscape includes many non-native palms (an apparent continuation of the area near the
Miami Shores Country Club). I say "proposed" because it is not yet final.
The names of 16 boulevard businesses on the SavePalms petition to Commissioner Sarnoff (in favor of historic landscape preservation) were
recited into the record (as well as the names of a handful of community leaders). Our current city ordinance requiring the boulevard to be
maintained and improved with royal palms was also brought to FDOT's attention.
On behalf of SavePalms supporters, my final comment was that I was concerned with the UEMC acting as design partner, reading a few quotes
from Mr. Flanders including: his reference to 75-pound palm fronds falling into traffic (possible only in hurricane-force winds, by the way), the
neighborhood not wanting "huge out-of-scale royal palms", and the royal palms looking like cement light poles.
It is SavePalms' opinion that the "design partner" is not looking out for the well being of our city's history. Instead they are determined to
continue bashing the historic royals to be nothing more than tourist envisioned, motorist killing, non-shade producing eyesores, which should
go.
A Sarnoff representative was in attendance, but did not comment.
SavePalms was not permitted to present a short presentation on the history of Biscayne Boulevard which is a shame. We need shade,
absolutely. But we are also responsible for mainiting our city's history for generations to come.
Someone did ask how long it would take the live oaks to grow to maturity. I said 15-20 years, but that was not accepted as I was not an arborist.
A biologist did confirm that indeed the timeline was correct... saying that she hoped all of those in attendance would be around to enjoy the
shade.
Elvis Cruz spoke regarding the dedication of Biscyane Boulvard in 1926 in which Mayor Romfh planted the last of the royals and deciated the
boulevard to veterans of all wars, the success of Ocean Drive, and questioned who, out of everyone in attendance walked to the meeting. The
cronies laughed all of that off as nonesense (true to form for anyone not agreeing to their opinion).
Dave McMaster from the Grove was in attendance... I really appreciated that. He asked why royals could not be mixed in with the shade trees to
save the gateway look of the boulevard. That was also dismissed as impossible. The message there? No compromise.
David Treece, Steven Craig James (FDOT Landscape Architect) and Bob Flanders all refereced the public input which was given nearly 10
years ago. They were all very proud of the plan as presented.
Biscayne Boulevard has stood, flanked with royal palms for decades. 16 Upper Eastside business, located directly on the bouelvard support
preservation of its historic landscape. It is our Camps d'Elysees, our Fifth Avenue, our Michigan Avenue, our Market Street, our history. I have
faith that the leaders of Miami will see the importance of this preservation issue and act quick to designate Biscayne Boulevard a Scenic
Transportation Cooridor. I am also hopeful that they will choose to enforce the current city zoning ordinance requiring the use of royal palms on
the boulevard.
As exhausting as this process has been, I remain comitted to this hometown preservation issue. Indeed we can expect the hundreds of royals,
south of NE36th to be removed.
In Los Angeles, palms are also coming down; the key difference there is the (quite logical) desire to preserve their famous, palm-lined
boulevards (namely Hollywood and Sunset).
 |  |  |  |
"It's not about palms versus shade, it's about preserving
South Florida's rich history and sub-tropical landscape"
South Florida's rich history and sub-tropical landscape"
SavePalms
working to save the boulevard palms
working to save the boulevard palms