Thursday, October 4, 2007

we will prevail!


the Consortium To Save Hidden Lake Park

12590 SW 128 Street

mia, fl 33186

786 201 1415

To: Miami Dade County Board of County Commissioners:

Barbara J. JordanDistrict 1,Dorrin D. Rolle, District 2, Audrey Edmonson,

District 3, Sally A. Heyman, District 4, Bruno A. Barreiro, District 5,

Rebeca Sosa, District 6,Carlos A. Gimenez, District 7, Katy Sorenson,

District 8, Dennis C. Moss, District 9 Javier D. Souto, District 10, Joe A. Martinez, District 11, José "Pepe" Diaz, District 12 Natacha Seijas, District

13

From: The Consortium to Save Hidden Lake

Re: AB at Hidden Lake Ltd, LLLP, Modification of Condition #2 of Resolution CZAB11-9-98, lying west of S.W. 127 Avenue between S.W. 128 Street and S.W. 132 Street, Miami, Dade, Florida

Dear Fellow Citizens,

In that the CC11 vote was affirmative, we herreby submit this our preliminary draft of a request for appeal.
Hear our humble supplication and plea. THIS IS FOREVER! LET'S GET IT RIGHT!
Why can't the CC require Adrian Builders to set aside a couple of acres for foundations to purchase at the price he paid (or the appraised county valuation rate)... for a vita course, doggie park, and jogging path around the lake? This scenario would enhance his campus. Why can't the county provide liability insurance for this purpose?
* As Rep Zapata wrote so conscientiously (see blog link below), CC11 had the discretion of reversing the earlier zoning decision, based upon changes that have occured in the immediate area. Now the Miami Dade Commission MUST SEE FIT TO SHOW AND TELL THE WORLD THAT IT DOES NOT PANDER TO GREEDY DEVELOPERS AD INFINITUM!
* In view of the AWFUL and DREADFUL traffic on two lane 128 St and two lane 127 Av, the office buildings should be scaled down to two story instead of three story edifices.
The Consortium to Save Hidden Lake, a citizen’s action committee, wishes to address concerns regarding the above named property with respects to Request #2 on Parcels “A” and “C” as follows:

-- The property is located across from the Nixon Smiley High Pine (Global Releaf) Preserve (rock pine preserve)

-- The property contains a large rock lime pit that has acted as a catch basin for water run-off in the area.

-- This is a modification to a plan made several years ago and we are concerned that recent developments to the area, in combination with potentially environmentally sensitive issues, may indicate that further study.

Background:

-- Since the time that the original application for this property was approved, there are several changes in the area. In specific, there have been no less than twelve shopping centers and office buildings. We will submit a complete list of centers along with their acreage at the hearing (Publix, ABC Liquor, and the one West of Publix, plus some of the newer strip centers and drive through fast food restaurants) with the full and proper names and addresses of these.

-- A new, significant shopping center is being built this year, e.g. WMD London Square, located at S.W. 120 Street and S.W. 137 Avenue, Miami, Dade, Florida (40.68 acres)

-- To support development in the area, roads have been or will be widened-- these will be delineated at our hearing.

In light of the request for modification by the applicant, and the significant changes made to the original application, we are requesting the following:

A. That an environmental study be completed to ensure that the Nixon Smiley Preserve will not be compromised by further development and the resulting interruption of the watershed of the immediate area.

B. That any studies or approvals from D.E.R.M. be revisited based upon current conditions and in consideration of present requirements to ensure proper drainage of the subject property and affected areas.

C. and, in the event “A” or “B” have been completed to the satisfaction of the board, that a condition in the form of a covenant to restrict future filling of the lake be accepted by the applicant in order to gain approval so that the water-related characteristics of the property and surrounding areas be preserved.

It is so clear that regarding the meaningfulness of Hidden Lake to the residents as a beloved diamond in the rough, the


CC11 should have turned this application down and allowed it to be polished for the enjoyment of future generations. We the people had hoped and prayed that we
would prevail for the "little park that could."
So, technically,we have not lost yet.
To that end, here are some thoughts --
1. Environmental study . The Dade County Comprehensive Master Plan has a published list of protected plants and animals. The inspector will be looking for those to ensure that
a. None of the listed plants or animals are on the property
b. None are present in the surrounding areas where they might be affecting by the building (or filling of the lake)
Woodlawn Cemetery was prevented from building or developing a parcel of land about 10 years back. If the findings support our cause, copies of the actual report are to be presented to the BCC and we will assert that development of the property is in violation of the DCMP. In light of the fact that the public wants a park and Mr. Adrian deserves to receive financial benefit for the land he has purchased but can't develop, we are suggesting that the land be purchased by the county as an extension to the preserve.
Read this one more time!
In light of the fact that the public wants a park and Mr. Adrian deserves to receive financial benefit for the land he has purchased but can't develop, we are suggesting that the land be purchased by the county as an extension to the preserve.
2. DERM - the requirements for site preparation and drainage have changed recently. What is happening is that we are over developing, and the storm drains cannot accommodate all the water. It became evident that we needed to beef up the excavation practices for new development to prevent this. Thus, it is important that projects are built so that water can percolate into the ground and not run off to roads and neighboring properties. This benefits the environment (recharge) and also prevents flooding. Because Adrian Builders is greatly changing from the original plans,it MUST be required to meet current standards with respect to site preparation and drainage. CSHLP would assert that there is a lake and a preserve near by and that has been and will be lots of non-permeable surfaces in the area (i.e., three large shopping centers in the area and the new Costco plaza coming). These constitute a substantial environmental impact to the area. This truly could be a flooding issue. I am far from being a zoning expert - but we should check this out. At the least, let us get added acreage of public park access with landscaping enhancements in the form of berms (which are beautiful). We unequivocally demand a covenant slapped on there to prevent future fill of the lake to protect the surrounding areas from flooding and to promote recharge of water in the vacinity.
Sincerely yours,

Richard & David Freer, CoChairs

CSHLP

PS

WE WISH TO REBUT SOME STATEMENTS PRINTED IN YP'S ARTICLE.

PEEL THE LAYERS OF THE ONION SO TO SPEAK TO LEARN THE REAL STORY UNDERLYING THIS!

WEST KENDALL COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Hidden Lake development approved

Posted on Wed, Oct. 03, 2007

By YUDY PINEIRO

ypineiro@MiamiHerald.com

After months of controversy, a developer's zoning request to allow warehouses, offices and shops on land at Hidden Lake in West Kendall was approved Tuesday after some of the parcel's neighbors turned out to support the development.

It was a surprise twist to a monthslong saga, because many of those neighbors had previously opposed the request. New faces at the West Kendall Community Council meeting Tuesday also gave the thumbs up to the project at Southwest 128th Street and 127th Avenue.

Hearing the newfound support, the council approved developer Adrian Builders' request by a 6-1 margin. Lone dissenter Beatriz Suarez sided with staff's recommendation, which recommended denial of the 270,000 square-foot project's 31,000 square-foot retail component. The land had been zoned for industrial and office use.

In an attempt to appease neighbors, the developer agreed to enhancements, including planting native trees, constructing a lighted pathway for public use around the lake and adding gazebos for picnickers. ("throwing crumbs" which are absurdly inconsequential!)

Adrian Builders also agreed not to fill the lake for at least five years -- about the time the project will take to build -- or until such plans are discussed with neighbors. (it is outrageous for the owner to even utter the words fill the lake --

Those concessions appeased all but one (this is blatantly incorrect!) staunch opponent of the proposed development, who for months fought alongside a few others to preserve the land as a park but was faced with several hurdles, the biggest of which was the lack of money to buy it from the developer.

Richard Freer (speaking on behalf of thousands of local residents)

felt the land, which is surrounded by a water-filled rock pit (is this wording reversed?),

was better fit for a park because for decades it been used as one -- albeit illegally.

West Kendall families and teenage friends picnicked, boated and hung out at the site,

which in later years attracted illegal dumpers, criminals and drug-users.

(Showing how unresponsive MD Parks has been then and now to unmet needs!!!)

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