‘Wedding crashers’
Commission endorses beachfront weddings and special events
By Bari Auerbach

Reasons to “love, honor and cherish” Sunny Isles Beach keep getting bigger and better – and now beachfront weddings and special events will create even more cause to celebrate life in the city heralded as “Florida’s Riviera”.

“I do!” was the consensus of hoteliers when asked if they wanted to use public beach areas for weddings and parties regulated by guidelines recently approved by the City Commission.

City Manager John Szerlag explained the types of weddings permissible on the beach will be “simple ceremonies” and receptions with tents, tables, chairs, food, alcoholic beverages and “soft music” not exceeding 60 decibels from the property line.

“We met with the Resort Association and various hoteliers from Trump Sonesta, the Newport, Acqualina and Le Meridien on two occasions,” Szerlag said. “[We agreed that] since this is essentially a new privilege – we’d like to start out with [permits for] six hours - from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. So peak travel hours of pedestrians along the public beach would not be adversely impacted by use of the beach for weddings [or special events].

“The privilege will be extended for nine months - and after that time, we’ll come back again to find out what the ‘pros and cons’ are and if there is any way we want to tweak the ordinance.”

Szerlag also noted the 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. time frame will be inclusive of setup time, the actual event, breakdown and cleanup; and that events will be limited to no more than one per week per hotel with advance notice provided to neighboring properties. .

After Commissioner Gerry Goodman expressed concerns about utilizing public beach areas for private events, Vice Mayor Lewis J. Thaler pointed out, “From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. there are a minimal amount of people on the beach…by 4 p.m. there is very little sun and I think having everything cleaned up and put away by 10 p.m. is a good time…I also think this will help hotels and bring [more] recognition to Sunny Isles Beach.”

Commissioner Roslyn Brezin added, “This is something the community will enjoy in addition to having the beach for swimming and sunning…The hours we’re addressing are really not for those people that are going swimming - by that time there are very few people on the beach - so why not have a place where people could have that type of affair?”
Mayor Norman S. Edelcup reiterated, “We’re going to have a nine month test period - there may be a need for some adjustments…This is a great way to promote Sunny Isles Beach and since we’re now a younger community, it will give residents the [option] to get married on their own beach.”

After appreciation was expressed to members of city staff including Susan Simpson and Robert Solera for working on the project to establish guidelines, the Commission approved the ordinance with only Goodman dissenting. Approval was contingent on Solera making final determinations as to what areas of the public beach can be used by each hotel based on the width of each property.

Turnberry ‘proposes’ new park

A parking lot will soon become another park by the Golden Shores neighborhood in Sunny Isles Beach thanks to Turnberry Associates – partnering with Prudential to develop an exclusive condo, Fairmont operated hotel and private club on the ocean at 18501 Collins Avenue.

Turnberry Associates’ intent to redevelop the Turnberry Isle Ocean Club at 185th Street was first discussed at an August 16 Commission meeting. The focus of debate was a parcel of land across from the property behind the Navarro Pharmacy being used as an off-site parking lot. Turnberry originally wanted to use the parcel to fulfill city parking requirements, but Commission members maintained the proposed use for the parking lot could jeopardize pedestrian safety and create traffic problems.

After site plan approval was tabled until a parking solution could be reached, the matter was brought back before the Commission on Sept. 20. Attorney Cliff Schulman, representing developers, explained, “We’ve spent another five million dollars to bring all of the required parking - and more - onto our site - so the [parking lot behind Navarro] won’t be necessary.

“We figured out a ‘win-win’ situation for everyone… reducing the condos from 60 to 55; increasing the amount of [required] on-site parking by elevens spaces; and increasing handicapped spaces from eight to ten. Then [city] staff had an idea that the area utilized for 20 years around [the Golden Shores] area for parking could be turned into a park or open space in the future.

“To be a good corporate citizen, [Turnberry] thought we would voluntarily proffer an agreement saying when we pull a building permit for the site, we agree to deed to the city the lot behind Navarro - at no cost or expense to the city - to be used for park or open space purposes.
“Right now [according to tax rolls] the property has a value of $900,000…generally this is an ‘undervalue.’ We estimate it’s worth $1.5 million. [We’re requesting] TDR’s (transfers of development rights) [in the amount of] eight units or 20,000 square feet. We would take the TDR’s for a period of six years and not use them for this project. The city would agree to designate [the parking lot behind Navarro] as a sender site - and in the event the beach club use terminates prior to the issuance of a building permit, we would not use that lot for parking purposes. [We also] agree to maintain the property in good condition prior to issuance of a building permit and then transfer it to the city.

“We think we’ve tried to address [the Commission’s] concerns. Turnberry has been here for 20 years and wants to make [the community] better by making [the parking lot] a park.

“The only real change to the building is two additional floors of parking…Thank you and staff for working with us to get this done – we appreciate your consideration and patience.”

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup noted, “You’ve done an excellent job of solving a lot of the problems we saw when we last met in August…It’s always a pleasure for the city to acquire parkland.”

Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler added, “Thank you for listening to both the Commission and the people of Sunny Isles Beach.”

City ‘unites’ with School Board

From students – to seniors, the new public school and adjacent Pelican Park coming to Sunny Isles Beach will be beneficial for the whole community thanks to a joint use agreement between the City of Sunny Isles Beach and the Miami-Dade School Board.

At the Sept. 20 Commission meeting, City Attorney Hans Ottinot explained during school hours, the school will have full use of Pelican Park with the exception of the community center element. The school will be able to use the ball field, the gym and playground area; however the city will have full use of the community center during school hours for city activities. During non-school hours, the city will control the park and be able to use school facilities including the parking garage and cafeteria/auditorium.

Mike Levine of Miami-Dade County Public Schools noted, “It has been a joy working with city staff…This is a true joint effort to [view] with great admiration for years to come.”

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