Dear Mayor Rasco, and members of the Village Council and Sustainability Advisory Board:
The purpose of this letter is to share my concerns with the proposed ordinances, proposed Comprehensive Plan and Section 30-105 amendments. I own and live in the property located at the Galen Breakers. I ask that you take these concerns seriously for the reasons stated below.
My family and I have lived in Key Biscayne since 1972. I am very grateful for your dedication and service to our community. You have made a positive impact in our community. As stewards of our community, which calls for responsible social and environmental development and the preservation of our quality of life on the island, I request that you deny the proposed ordinances, plan and amendments.
The proposed changes, taken together, act in contravention of your duties and establish a new development practice which negatively impacts density, safety, land use, water capacity and stability, sewer capacity, the structural integrity of surrounding buildings and privacy of their residents, stormwater and hurricane evacuation. Moreover, the surrounding neighborhood and residents’ quality of life will be severely affected, in the short term, by substantial construction and related truck traffic, and in the long term by over-development.
It is unclear whether the proposed changes, together with the discretionary development bonuses, permit dwelling units, hotel rooms or temporary accommodations as have been permitted on Sunrise. It is important to note that the new dwelling units and temporary accommodations on Sunrise conform to proportionality and permissible land-use regulation without the issues presented in the paragraph above. The same also applies to 101 Sunrise, a profitable, elegant and conforming project.
What is clear is that the proposed changes have far reaching impact beyond the development in question and establish a precedent for the Galen and Sunrise that must be evaluated, not from the vantage point of one development, but rather from an island wide study. The tail is wagging the dog.
I ask whether we need more dwelling units or temporary accommodations in the Garden District, and for that matter in all of Key Biscayne. We already have several towering and massive buildings that dwarf Casa Del Mar in terms of density, land use, water capacity and stability, and sewer capacity. Soon, we will also have a new development on the property replacing the Silver Sands. Why do we need more? Why do we need to stress our infrastructure, capacity, and quality of life more? Our beaches are already in far worse condition than the past. Crandon Beach is full of fecal bacteria and is unsafe.
How can you proceed to evaluate the proposed changes without a comprehensive impact assessment and an island-wide study? The proposed changes place the cart before the horse. They also call into question your fiduciary duties to the community.
I have to conclude my letter by stating that I just recently learned of this issue. None of the residents of Galen Breakers received notice of the proposed changes and I suspect that the remaining Key Biscayne residents, particularly those on Galen and Sunrise, have not been notified. Please make sure that there is an appropriate process in place for notices.
Thank you for your attention to this letter. I cannot attend the hearing tomorrow because I teach at the University of Miami Business School every day, except Friday, from 5-8pm. I can make myself available any other time as this matter is very important to me.
Kind regards
Silvia M. Garrigo