We need as many residents who care about the Midtown #Miami neighborhood and our city’s future to arrive at 6pm tomorrow night (Wed. Jun. 20th) at 3500 Pan American Drive - Miami City Hall - to demand that the Planning and Zoning Board reject the proposed changes detailed below.

City of Miami Should Keep Midtown Loading Zone Restrictions in Place

The City of Miami’s Planning and Zoning Board has been scheduled to debate new changes to the Midtown Miami master plan this Wednesday night. Amongst the proposed changes are allowing loading zones along North Miami Avenue south of the 34th Street Intersection.

Midtown Miami’s goal is to avoid Downtown Miami’s gridlock where small and medium loading zones dominate the urban landscape. These loading zones restrict daytime parking, and discourage or sometimes outright ban evening parking.

Recently, Walmart proposed shredding this very same set of smart growth rules - in favor of making a quick buck - and later withdrew with a promise to return. It is unclear who initiated the request, from the meeting’s docket, though it is listed as the City Manager and signed off by the administration.

The Midtown Miami master plan specifically reserves specific areas for pedestrians and retail space versus off street parking, loading zones, parking garage entrances. The ease of parking is a major draw to Midtown, including plentiful - revenue generating for the city - off street parking spaces. Midtown’s loading zones exist under parking garages following Disney’s concepts of invisible service areas.

I strongly urge the Miami Planning and Zoning Board members to reject the Midtown Miami loading zone amendments. If it ain’t broke, don’t re-zone it.

Link to Proposed Amendment:

http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/Legistarweb/Attachments/67485.pdf

Link to Agenda:

http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/meetings/2012/6/2368_A_Planning,_Zoning_and_Appeals_Board_12-06-20_Agenda_Short.pdf