‘Green Acres’
City Commission focused on acquiring land for parks
By Bari Auerbach

Green acres is the place to be; Trees & flowers - pretty sights to see Bird are chirpin’ - such a peaceful view; City’s sure becomin’ “Park Avenue!”

First there was Samson Oceanfront Park; then came Sen. Gwen Margolis Park; most recently the Town Center Park was built; an active park with a little league baseball field is coming soon; and now, yet another new park is planned for the northern end of Sunny Isles Beach - furthering the Commission’s goal to enhance the city with even more green, open space.

Green acres…3.82 to be exact – located at 19200 Collins Avenue are now slated for a public park following City Commission approval of a resolution authorizing an option agreement for the purchase of the property owned by Crescent Heights XLIV, Inc. in the amount of $19.6 million. According to the property owner, the city is purchasing the land for “fifty cents on the dollar” following failure to launch development concepts including a proposed adult living facility

After paying a non-refundable $200,000 deposit applied towards the purchase price, the city will take about four months to assess the feasibility of building on the site while researching methods of payment such as applying for state grants and utilizing proceeds from the sale of the property’s development rights.

City Attorney Hans Ottinot reported, “On March 13, the city held a workshop to discuss development of a strategic plan for the acquisition of property for open space/park purposes. At the workshop, the Commission decided to create a plan that would provide the framework for acquiring additional property for open space and to continue to pursue open space opportunities that are available in the interim time period.

“Crescent Heights XLIV, Inc., owners of the property located at 19200 Collins Avenue, presented the city with the opportunity to purchase that property for open space/park purposes. The property is a 3.8 acre site located [on the west side of Collins] east of OceanView Apartments.”

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup and members of the Commission concurred purchasing the property was “a wonderful opportunity” and pointed out the city will now have another park in lieu of a development that potentially could have been built on the site; another desirable amenity for neighbors to enjoy; and another place for families and children to congregate. There are now more than 1,500 children living in Sunny Isles Beach, up from about 300 when the city incorporated in 1997.

City staff members are also currently looking for available land for park purposes on the west side of Collins south of 163rd Street and along Sunny Isles Beach Boulevard.

‘Paving the Way for More Parks’
Always “keeping their eyes on the road” when it comes to devising innovative ways to alleviate traffic congestion and create more open green space, the City Commission recently passed an ordinance amending the TDR {transfer of development rights) ordinance.

Mayor Edelcup explained, “The city was able to create the Town Center Park by designating the land on which the park is built as a ‘sender site’ under our TDR ordinance…Therefore, I’m proposing an amendment to our TDR ordinance in order for us to be able to perhaps acquire more land for parks.

“The ordinance will provide incentives to owners with properties abutting Collins Avenue to convert these properties to parks…Simply put, properties abutting Collins will be eligible for the public land enhancement bonus which is provided to properties within the Town Center district. The proposed amendment [would also let] the city provide property owners a maximum density of 80 units per acre; and a maximum floor area ratio of 3.75 if the property is offered to the city for park purposes.

“We’re basically encouraging property owners [to recognize] the best utilization for that land is to donate it to the city for parks and [in return] receive the TDR provisions included in this ordinance.”

More Parks – More Value
“The more parks and beach accesses there are - the more valuable our units.” This observation by environmental land use attorney Cliff Schulman supports the fact that parks can create “added value and re-sale value” for communities.

Schulman, representing developers of the Paramount Beach, recently addressed the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission regarding a variance request for the 45-story, 236-unit oceanfront condominium planned for 16901 Collins Avenue.

Paramount Beach is proffering contributions of “paramount importance” to the city including $300,000 to support park enhancements; installation of a water fountain, bench, shower and foot shower at the beach per request of Commissioner Gerry Goodman; and an additional beach access point on the south side of the property (next to Sands Pointe).

Regarding the beach access contribution, Mayor Norman Edelcup noted, “The city has always had a policy of wanting to have as many beach access points as possible…What this developer is really doing is taking care of an error that may have been made by the previous Commission when Sands Pointe was approved without a beach access. We commend [the Paramount Beach] developer for putting one on the south side [of the property] to at least mitigate the problem that we don’t have a beach access in a wide stretch of distance there.

“As to the character of the developer, offering [the city funds for] park enhancements is a very virtuous thing…I want to thank the developer for realizing [Sunny Isles Beach] is a partnership between the city, residents and developers…Everyone gains by these enhancements.

“What I don’t want people to think is that this is an ‘auction’ that goes on…We have to keep in mind that this an offer by a developer, in good conscious, making what I think is a very fair and reasonable offer…I encourage developers in the future to keep in mind that we are a partnership and when we can work together to our mutual benefit, it helps everybody in the long range. I don’t want to send the wrong message that money will buy things that do not make good sense for the city.”

Although the original site plan was approved in 2004, the Paramount Beach variance request became necessary when the active 2005 hurricane season prompted the Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) to ask that the building be moved westward 18 feet closer to Collins Avenue to provide additional setback from the beachfront erosion control line (creating the need a variance for the building as well as a covered entryway).

Ultimately, the Commission voted 4-1 to grant Paramount Beach’s variance request. Commissioner Danny Iglesias, a Sands Pointe condo owner, dissented noting he felt the site plan could be revised in order to eliminate the need for a variance.

After some residents expressed concern that granting the variance could “set a precedent,” Mayor Edelcup expressed his viewpoint as follows:

“I believe this project is unique because DERM is requiring a change and also, we’re in a situation with the economy that’s it’s better to get buildings started today then to have to start all over again and redesign.

“Some people have expressed the fear we’d be setting a precedent [by granting the variance] - but I really don’t think we are…Each request that comes before [the Commission] is on a one-on-one basis…Developers know this Commission doesn’t generally favor variances being granted. But there are certain instances and times such as this where a variance of this type is very minor…A twelve-foot encroachment on the front setback on just a partial part of the building certainly doesn’t justify having to go back and start from scratch all over again.”

Community Unity
From Sunny Serenade concerts, picnics and holiday festivities – to soccer matches, playground time and fun in the sun, Sunny Isles Beach parks are an integral facet of promoting unity and a greater sense of community.

The city’s Cultural and Human Services Department would certainly have a hard time planning all the numerous monthly events and activities residents are invited to enjoy if there weren’t any parks to hold them at…So the next time you’re dancing at one of the outdoor concerts, watching your child playing safely, cheering on the city’s championship soccer team or just relaxing with friends on beautiful day beneath shady trees – feel great knowing anyone who doesn’t live in Sunny Isles Beach is probably “green with envy!”

‘Beyond Fun and Games’

According to a university study, while fun, happiness, and play are vital to growth and development, the expanded role of public parks and recreation is more critical than ever. Programs, services, events, and opportunities offered by local park and recreation agencies positively impact our lives and the society as a whole.

Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space: How Land
Conservation Helps Communities Grow Smart and Protect the Bottom Line

• Growing Smart
  • Open space preservation helps communities grow smart, preventing the higher costs of unplanned development.
• Attracting Investment
  • Parks and open space create a high quality of life that attracts tax-paying businesses and residents to communities.
  • Corporate CEOs say that employee quality of life is the third most important factor in locating a new business.
  • Small company owners say recreation, parks, and open space are the highest priority in choosing a new location for their business.
  • Across the U.S., access to parks and open spaces has become a measure of community wealth - a tool for attracting businesses and residents by guaranteeing quality of life and economic health.
• Boosting Tourism
  • Open space boosts local economies by attracting tourists and supporting outdoor recreation.
  • Across the U.S., parks, rivers, scenic lands, wildlife areas, and open space help to support the $502 billion tourism industry.
  • Because tourists cite natural beauty and quality of view to be the most important criteria in selecting a destination, many communities, including Sunny Isles Beach, are now striving to protect scenic views and vistas by moving utility wires underground and protecting trees and historic buildings.

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