Posts

Posted on

GGG News Blast: Ponce Homeowner Association

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE PONCE DE LEON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE PONCE DE LEON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

As predicted, developers have returned and are once again trying to change the zoning in our neighborhood. (See attached flyer). Last year, a petition was circulated and signed with over 200 signatures in our neighborhood NOT to allow a zoning change to occur anywhere along Ponce de Leon between Camilo Avenue and Bird Road. If we allow even one developer to change the current zoning, we will open‐the‐door and set a precedent for other developers to follow suit. We cannot allow this to happen.

Some of the reasons for NOT supporting any zoning changes are below:

Traffic: The Agave project, just down the street has already begun construction. The bulldozers are underway and this project is massive (see photo attached). The Agave project alone will change the landscape along Ponce de Leon and the traffic is expected to become much more congested. Traffic will become even more congested if we allow developers to change the zoning on Ponce, between Camilo and Bird Road‐ (just down the street from Agave). Like it or not, our neighborhood is about to be majorly impacted by the Mediterranean Village (Agave) Project.

NO FURTHER ZONING CHANGES SHOULD BE ALLOWED; ‐ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE YET TO SEE THE EFFECTS THAT AGAVE WILL HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Green‐space: Coral Gables is known for its green‐spaces. The duplexes and single‐family homes along this sacred eight‐block stretch of Ponce de Leon Blvd. possess what’s left of the green‐space along Ponce de Leon. WE MUST PRESERVE IT. Town‐homes that are built in Coral Gables extend nearly all the way to the sidewalks in the front, all the way to the sidewalks on the sides, and all the way to the back alleyways. The grass, shrubbery, and so many trees will be lost to concrete block and mortar. Ponce will begin to look more like LeJeune Road.

ALSO, let’s not forget the “concrete canyon” that’s gone up (and continues to escalate) along Bird Road as you turn off of US1. These towering buildings on Bird are horrendous and have only added to the density in our neighborhood. The transition from Bird Road onto Ponce de Leon (headed north) remains elegant and green. Again, green‐ space is the signature of our City Beautiful; we must keep it that way. IF we allow town‐ home construction along Ponce, we will be forfeiting our green spaces and a multitude of trees.

Merrick’s Vision and historical perspective: The duplexes and single family homes along Ponce de Leon don’t resemble any other street in Coral Gables. This entry‐way to downtown Coral Gables reveals lush landscaping, trees and green spaces that will be gone if the town‐homes are allowed. George Merrick envisioned a green environment throughout the scope of our City, ‐ which is slowly but surely disappearing. Merrick’s vision will once again be blurred away if townhomes are built that have little or no set‐back restrictions.

THIS IS OUR FIRST CALL TO ACTION IN A WHILE! PLEASE ATTEND AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AGAINST ANY ZONING CHANGES!

Please join the Developer, Architect,General Contractor and Representatives to discuss:

A change of zoning and land use map designation to allow 4 single family residential townhouses.

Property:             3400 Ponce de Leon Blvd

When:               Wednesday, September 28th, 2016

Time:                 6 pm – 7 pm

Location:              Bulla Restaurant, 2500. Ponce de Leon Blvd .2nd Floor Coral Gables, Florida 33134

GGG-News-Blast_Ponce-Homeowner-Assn.PDFDownload
Posted on

Letter to the Editor: Coral Gables must hire officers

Coral Gables Must Hire Officers

MAY 30, 2016, 4:00 PM

Re the May 20 article City’s critics demand urgency to fill vacant police force positions: The article regarding sworn officer shortages within the Coral Gables Police Department expressed many of the concerns that residents have with the slow and seemingly inadequate process being utilized to recruit and hire the police officers.

The Gables Good Government Committee (GGG), a nonpartisan organization that focuses on quality-of-life issues in Coral Gables, sent a letter to its city manager on April 29 stating: “We urge you to take whatever action is necessary to fill these vacancies as soon as possible so that our city’s residents are provided the superior quality of public safety for which our community has historically been known.”

The negative impact of short-staffing raises red flags: (1) Patrol officers have been asked to work extremely long overtime days, causing fatigue; (2) The department exceeded its yearly overtime budget in May and now must draw overtime pay from new-hire funds; (3) The need to maintain minimum patrol staffing means that motor units, detectives, youth services and marine patrol are understaffed; and (4) Part-time officers may need to be hired for traffic enforcement.

These red flags could be lowered with a one-time, extraordinary effort by the city to recruit, hire and train new police officers.

The police budget has 193 positions, of which 21 officer positions are currently unfilled. Additionally, there are nine open positions due to military service, disability and light duty, as well as seven retiring officers. This means that there will be 37 possible vacant positions, nearly 20 percent of the force, by year’s end. The GGG strongly urges the city administration to listen to its concerned citizens and fill the officer vacancies now.

Deborah Swain,

president,
Gables Good
Government Committee,
Coral Gables

Originally published at The Miami Herald, Copyright Miami Herald Media Company
https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article80921802.html

Posted on

October 20, 2015 News Flash

RSVP Now for a Reception on October 26, 2015, 
for Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez‐Cantera

Join us Oct. 26, 2015, at Bacardi USA, 2701 S. LeJeune Rd.,
5:30‐7:00 pm, for a members’ reception
and program with Lt. Governor Lopez‐Cantera .
RSVPs are required: dswain@milianswain.com.

Special Meeting of the City Commission on Thursday, October 22, 2015, at 9am

First Reading of the Ordinances Pertaining to the Paseo de Riviera Project Coral Gables City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way, 2nd Floor

This is a public hearing and the first reading of the following ordinances:

15‐4358 An Ordinance of the City Commission of Coral Gables, Florida requesting an amendment to the Future Land Use Map of the City of Coral Gables Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Zoning Code Article 3, “Development Review,” Division 15, “Comprehensive Plan Text and Map Amendments,” and Small Scale amendment procedures (ss. 163.3187, Florida Statutes), from “Commercial Low‐Rise Intensity” to “Commercial High‐Rise Intensity” for the property legally described as a Portion of Tract A, Riviera Section Part 8 (1350 South Dixie Highway), Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (PZB made no recommendation; Vote: 3‐3)

15‐4359 An Ordinance of the City Commission of Coral Gables, Florida providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code, by amending Appendix A, “Site Specific Zoning Regulations,” Section A‐83, “Riviera Section Part 8,” by removing provisions restricting FAR, height and setbacks for the property legally described as Tract A, Riviera Section Part 8; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (PZB made no recommendation; Vote: 3‐3)

15‐4360 An Ordinance of the City Commission of Coral Gables, Florida requesting review of a Planned Area Development (PAD) pursuant to Zoning Code Article 3, “Development Review,” Division 5, “Planned Area Development (PAD),” for the proposed project referred to as “Paseo de la Riviera” on the property legally described as a Portion of Tract A, Riviera Section Part 8 (1350 South Dixie Highway), Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (PZB recommended approval with various conditions; Vote: 4‐2).

15‐4361 A Resolution of the City Commission of Coral Gables, Florida requesting Mixed‐Use Site Plan Review pursuant to Zoning Code Article 4, “Zoning Districts,” Division 2, “Overlay and Special Purpose Districts,” Section 4‐201, “Mixed Use District (MXD),” for the proposed project referred to as the “Paseo de la Riviera” on the property legally described as a Portion of Tract A, Riviera Section Part 8 (1350 South Dixie Highway), Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (PZB recommended approval with various conditions; Vote: 4‐2).

GGG-News-Flash-10-20-15_-1.PDFDownload
Posted on

Please Attend Meeting on “Paseo de la Riviera” Project for Coral Gables

Coral Gables Residents and Friends:

On August 12 at the City of Coral Gables Planning and Zoning meeting there was a significant turnout of people who came to listen and to speak about the “Paseo de la Riviera” project (where the Holiday Inn is located on US#1).

Most residents never had an opportunity to speak, so the item was continued to September 16, 6 – 9 pm, at City Hall. We urge you to attend this public hearing to provide input on this project which could increase the allowed height from 77 feet up to 190.5 feet on a site just across from low-rise apartments and only one block from single-family residential homes.

The “Paseo de la Riviera” is proposed on the site of the Holiday Inn on US1 across from the University of Miami. It includes two 14-story towers, a 250 room hotel and a massive 234 unit rental apartment building with 860 plus garage spaces. There is understandable concern by the surrounding neighbors about the inevitability of traffic overflow into the residential neighborhood, particularly since there is no traffic light on US 1 and Caballero Blvd.

Please attend this September 16 meeting, from 6-9 pm, at Coral Gables City Hall. Your input is valuable
– Debbie Durrell Swain, president, 

Gables Good Government Committee

Posted on

Pedro Garcia Membership Reception, 02/22/2010

The Board of the
GABLES GOOD GOVERNMENT
Committee

Cordially invites you to a membership Reception to meet our
Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Pedro Garcia
Monday, March 22, 2010
6:00p.m.–8:00p.m.

at the home of Manny and Annie Kadre
5345 Hammock Drive Coral Gables, Florida
This reception is free for members. A $50 membership fee will be collected from non- member guests. We encourage you to bring new members to join the GGG Committee.

RSVP: Evelyn at 305-448-5672
or email slesnickj@hotmail.com

Gables-Good-Govt-Recp-at-Kadres.PDFDownload
Posted on

GGG Founding Board of Directors

Gables Good Government Committee Logo
  • JORGE ALVAREZ, president
  • EVELYN BUDDE, first vice-president
  • ENRIQUE LOPEZ, second vice-president
  • DEBBIE SWAIN, corporate secretary
  • RICHARD DEWITT, treasurer
  • DON SLESNICK, founding chairman

Filed with State of Florida on 02/25/2009
EIN 26-4339894