Whatever happened with the concept of the traffic circle and the replica lighthouse at the entrance to Key Biscayne?
That’s what Village Council member Fernando Vazquez asked during last week’s monthly Village Council meeting.
Vazquez was checking the status of the implementation of the Key Biscayne Strategic Vision Plan and matrix (adopted on May 9, 2023) and also asked if the alignment between the Administration’s direction and the Council’s policy direction is parallel.
“This plan was a highly debated plan,” he said, recalling the packed crowds who attended those Vision Plan charetes and were shown conceptual graphics on how a resilient community could actually be set up, even comparing it to European build-outs.
Vision Plan Board
Who were the Key Biscayne residents who served on the Vision Plan Board?
The resident-led board helped shape the Village’s Strategic Vision Plan through community discussions, workshops and public input sessions focused on the future of Key Biscayne.
Board members included:
Matt Bramson
Luis “Lucho” de la Cruz
Robert Duzoglou
Mario Garcia-Serra
Lucia Marin
Tom McCormick
“My question is, do we have a compass (and) are we moving forward on this?” he asked, referring to the tree-lined streetscape plan, for example, that was shown with a resilient impact. “Maybe (the plan) has gone stale … maybe we lost that compass.”
Council member Nancy Stoner believed that plan, which was finalized before she joined the dais, was aspirational in general terms and believed such a plan would direct the Village Manager to follow through on what was appropriate. She agreed that it was a beautiful plan with a wonderful entry.
Councilman Michael Bracken believed it to be a long-term plan.
“This is not an aspirational plan,” Vazquez said. “This is a policy to move what the people want.”
Before the plan was finally approved, the community had been invited to take a lengthy survey, which led to the impetus of the updated Vision Plan, one that was sorely needed with eye-opening “what-ifs” concepts.
“This has grown stale,” Vazquez said, having not heard the words “Vision Plan” associated with any recent projects that have been committed. “A lot of people are wondering, what are we doing? … I think we are a little off.”
Mayor Joe Rasco said he has, personally, aligned himself all along with the Vision Plan with the proposals and decisions made.
Councilman Frank Caplan believes that the big goals, although they may be aspirational in nature, actually “drives decisions.”
Vazquez proposed a workshop to discuss the Vision Plan “and what the community wants. I would like us to get back on track; is it the Council’s vision or is it the Administration’s vision? I want to see how close or how far we have (come or gone) from the Vision Plan.
“And I really would like to discuss the entrance with a traffic circle.”