Public Meetings - January 2007
6:00 p.m., Wednesday, 1/31/07, Legion Park Community Center, 6447 NE 7th Avenue
Elected Officials In Attendance
Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (District 2)
Florida State Representative Ronald Brise (District 108)
Both appeared concerned with the lack of public input for the landscape project. State Rep. Brise stated that he had requested all information
and communication between FDOT and the public on this issue. Commissioner Sarnoff has requested the public’s input on their vision of
Biscayne Boulevard through the Upper Eastside, including the MiMo Historic District.
Boulevard Landscape Issue Receives Attention from City and State
In attendance at the last of two planned Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) public input meetings, on 1/31/07, was City of Miami
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and Florida State Representative Ronald Brise. Both expressed concern with the lack of public input leading up to
the controversial re-landscaping project of Biscayne Boulevard. The presence of these elected officials significantly altered the direction of the
plan. This new direction, a prompt for public input, may help restore the boulevard’s historic landscape.
Commissioner Sarnoff Calls For A "Blank Slate" - Wants Public Input
After listening to opinions from all sides, Commissioner Sarnoff called for the FDOT landscape plan to be considered "a blank slate". He wants
to hear from the public on the re-landscaping of Biscayne Boulevard. Block-by-block, he would like to restore as many trees as possible.
E-mail Claudia Miro to provide your input to Commissioner Sarnoff
State Representative Brise To Review History Of Project
Having heard of the controversy surrounding the re-landscaping issue, Representative Brise requested from FDOT an opportunity to review all
information which has passed between that state agency and the public pertaining to the removal of the boulevard’s historic palm-lined
landscape.
E-mail State Representative Brise with any unsatisfactory communication you have experienced with FDOT through this issue.
New Landscape Plan Offers 75 Less Trees
Through Commissioner Sarnoff’s review of the new landscape plan, it became apparent that, in total, there are 75 less trees planned than
were removed. In addition, 9 blocks are to be left without any trees whatsoever. In some locations three or less sapling oaks are planned where
many full-grown royal palms once stood. It is important to note that the lack of a study on the historic significance of Biscayne Boulevard and its
landscape (by FDOT) has resulted in the boulevard renovation project being handled as a "new roadway"; thus, involving current planting
regulations.
As a matter of reference, historic, banyan tree-covered Coral Way could not be built today. Prior to an FDOT roadway renovation, the street was
declared a Scenic Transportation Corridor in order to protect its landscape for future generations of Miamians. Similar to Biscayne Boulevard,
its landscape was also designed and planted in the 1920s.
Click the following link for a detailed map of where the royals were removed from Biscayne Boulevard (between NE 38th and NE 67th Streets).
Two-Thirds of Royal Palms Did Not Survive Transplanting
More than 130 full-grown royal palms have been removed from Biscayne Boulevard since the project began in January 2006. As disclosed at
the 1/31 landscape meeting, two-thirds did not survive the relocation process. You may remember that many were stacked in a city staging yard
for weeks, through the Winter of 2006: http://www.savepalms.com/ditchedpalms.html
The 1/31 FDOT public input meeting (the last of two planned meetings) involved input from nine public speakers and two elected officials in
attendance and changed the direction of the re-landscaping plan; which, as a result, may potentially bring back the royal palms to Biscayne
Boulevard through the Upper Eastside of Miami.
7 out of 9 Speakers Favored Return of Royal Palms
>Sean-Paul Melito, representing a petition for landscape preservation (including 16 boulevard businesses) and citing Miami’s City Ordinance
requiring royal palms on Biscayne Boulevard;
>Henry Patel, Owner King Motel;
>Elvis Cruz, Upper Eastside Activist;
>Eric Silverman, Owner Vagabond Motel;
>Bob Powers, President Palm Grove Neighborhood Association
>Steve Hagen, Co-Chair, Parks & Public Space Ctte. of Miami Neighborhoods United
>A Belle Meade Resident (name not currently available)
2 out of 9 Speakers Favored the New Landscape Plan
> David Treece, Co-Founder, UEMC (FDOT Design Partner)
> Alice Robertson, Miami-Dade Community Image Officer
Who Does County Community Image Officer Represent?
As a sideline issue, out of approximately 50 people in attendance, only one expressed their support of the Victorian Street Lighting being
installed through the MiMo Historic District. That was Ms. Robertson, the County Community Image Officer.
Elected Officials In Attendance
Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (District 2)
Florida State Representative Ronald Brise (District 108)
Both appeared concerned with the lack of public input for the landscape project. State Rep. Brise stated that he had requested all information
and communication between FDOT and the public on this issue. Commissioner Sarnoff has requested the public’s input on their vision of
Biscayne Boulevard through the Upper Eastside, including the MiMo Historic District.
Boulevard Landscape Issue Receives Attention from City and State
In attendance at the last of two planned Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) public input meetings, on 1/31/07, was City of Miami
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and Florida State Representative Ronald Brise. Both expressed concern with the lack of public input leading up to
the controversial re-landscaping project of Biscayne Boulevard. The presence of these elected officials significantly altered the direction of the
plan. This new direction, a prompt for public input, may help restore the boulevard’s historic landscape.
Commissioner Sarnoff Calls For A "Blank Slate" - Wants Public Input
After listening to opinions from all sides, Commissioner Sarnoff called for the FDOT landscape plan to be considered "a blank slate". He wants
to hear from the public on the re-landscaping of Biscayne Boulevard. Block-by-block, he would like to restore as many trees as possible.
E-mail Claudia Miro to provide your input to Commissioner Sarnoff
State Representative Brise To Review History Of Project
Having heard of the controversy surrounding the re-landscaping issue, Representative Brise requested from FDOT an opportunity to review all
information which has passed between that state agency and the public pertaining to the removal of the boulevard’s historic palm-lined
landscape.
E-mail State Representative Brise with any unsatisfactory communication you have experienced with FDOT through this issue.
New Landscape Plan Offers 75 Less Trees
Through Commissioner Sarnoff’s review of the new landscape plan, it became apparent that, in total, there are 75 less trees planned than
were removed. In addition, 9 blocks are to be left without any trees whatsoever. In some locations three or less sapling oaks are planned where
many full-grown royal palms once stood. It is important to note that the lack of a study on the historic significance of Biscayne Boulevard and its
landscape (by FDOT) has resulted in the boulevard renovation project being handled as a "new roadway"; thus, involving current planting
regulations.
As a matter of reference, historic, banyan tree-covered Coral Way could not be built today. Prior to an FDOT roadway renovation, the street was
declared a Scenic Transportation Corridor in order to protect its landscape for future generations of Miamians. Similar to Biscayne Boulevard,
its landscape was also designed and planted in the 1920s.
Click the following link for a detailed map of where the royals were removed from Biscayne Boulevard (between NE 38th and NE 67th Streets).
Two-Thirds of Royal Palms Did Not Survive Transplanting
More than 130 full-grown royal palms have been removed from Biscayne Boulevard since the project began in January 2006. As disclosed at
the 1/31 landscape meeting, two-thirds did not survive the relocation process. You may remember that many were stacked in a city staging yard
for weeks, through the Winter of 2006: http://www.savepalms.com/ditchedpalms.html
The 1/31 FDOT public input meeting (the last of two planned meetings) involved input from nine public speakers and two elected officials in
attendance and changed the direction of the re-landscaping plan; which, as a result, may potentially bring back the royal palms to Biscayne
Boulevard through the Upper Eastside of Miami.
7 out of 9 Speakers Favored Return of Royal Palms
>Sean-Paul Melito, representing a petition for landscape preservation (including 16 boulevard businesses) and citing Miami’s City Ordinance
requiring royal palms on Biscayne Boulevard;
>Henry Patel, Owner King Motel;
>Elvis Cruz, Upper Eastside Activist;
>Eric Silverman, Owner Vagabond Motel;
>Bob Powers, President Palm Grove Neighborhood Association
>Steve Hagen, Co-Chair, Parks & Public Space Ctte. of Miami Neighborhoods United
>A Belle Meade Resident (name not currently available)
2 out of 9 Speakers Favored the New Landscape Plan
> David Treece, Co-Founder, UEMC (FDOT Design Partner)
> Alice Robertson, Miami-Dade Community Image Officer
Who Does County Community Image Officer Represent?
As a sideline issue, out of approximately 50 people in attendance, only one expressed their support of the Victorian Street Lighting being
installed through the MiMo Historic District. That was Ms. Robertson, the County Community Image Officer.
Recap of Final FDOT Public Hearing re Boulevard Landscape official transcript
"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