Documents – Doral Community Coalition

City of Doral, Zoning Workshop Agenda. Thursday, June 29, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Author — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 01:57:51 +0000

2023-06-29-Zoning-Workshop-AGENDA-PACKAGE Download

The City of Doral is NOT telling residents the truth about development.

Author — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:43:48 +0000

By: Doral Community Coalition

Article paid for and approved by Doral Community Coalition

In our last article discussing the subject of development, “More Residential High Rises? Expansions of Mixed Used Projects?

Why is the city not transparent in its communications?”, we expressed our concerns about the lack of transparency in the communications to the residents regarding upcoming zoning changes and high-rise construction on 41^st and 97^th.

The DCC believes in facts and therefore investigated the case of the OASIS at Doral project and made public record requests to verify what was already evident. Once those records where received our concerns where confirmed, the City and the Mayor deceived the residents. In fact, according to emails from the City received by public records requests (PRR) the staff in the city has been guiding the developer of this project since early February 2023, weeks before the meeting with residents in March.

As mentioned in the April article, there is a process prior to an official and legal application being filed with the city. Part of this process is having the support of the Mayor and key staff members (in Planning and Zoning and Legal) supporting the project. Once this support is given the applicant/developer will be guided to ensure their formal application will go smoothly and ultimately approved by council. While this same project was brought to the previous administration, it was not given any support and therefore never moved forward to staff or pre-application. But, as we know, the administration has changed, and several of the same staff who approved the massive developments during the 2014-1016 years in Doral, are now back and supportive of more high-density development in our city.

Let’s review the events of the last few months:

During the months of January through April, many emails and meeting have taken place regarding this project moving forward. For the Mayor to have stated to the residents that there is NO application is disingenuous at best. We want to make this very clear, there is no law that states the City of Doral and its staff must help developers change zoning, or move projects forward. This project is moving because it has the green light from the Mayor’s office and staff has been asked to follow up. One of these staff members is the newly rehired Julian Perez, who is a big supporter of high-density downtown areas.

Residents must continue to be vigilant and inform themselves on what these changes will bring to the entire City. Ask yourselves why the City changed the focus of the Charrette in March to ONLY focus on the area east of 87^th? Why didn’t they want to discuss the entire Boulevard as stated in the first invitation to the residents. Why discuss the beautification of an area that has already been approved and almost complete? Be careful of promises made, such as the promise of a “beautiful project” for our main roads when the massive building on Doral Blvd was built, known us 8800 AMLI. The same staff members recently rehired made many promises during those years of development approvals in Doral. Let’s not repeat the history that took place in 2014-2016!

“If a man deceives me once, shame on him; if he deceives me twice, shame on me.” – Edgar Allan Poe

The DCC believes in facts and has provided copies of all the documentation that was received in the PRR for every resident to read and draw conclusions, visit our website: doralcommunitycoaliton.org and review all documentation.

Covanta Update!

Author — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:37:54 +0000

This past week, the Doral Community Coalition had a productive meeting with our Commissioner JC Bermudez to address the wants and concerns of Doral residents. The discussion centered around both short and long-term plans for the Covanta site, along with an important pending legal action from our Coalition aimed at challenging Covanta’s permits.

We are committed to our role in educating and advancing the best interests of our community and ensuring a sustainable future for Doral. Through open dialogue and a commitment to the cause, we are actively working towards positive change.

Stay tuned for further updates on our progress and how you can get involved in shaping the future of our city!

Response to Resources Recovery Facility Memo Dated April 25 2023

Author — Tue, 09 May 2023 20:27:00 +0000

05.09.23-Response-to-Resources-Recovery-Facility-Memo-Dated-April-25-2023 Download

More Residential High Rises? Expansions of Mixed Used Projects?

Author — Wed, 03 May 2023 18:54:00 +0000

Why is the city not transparent in its communications?

By: Doral Community Coalition

Over the years, we have seen the growth of our City of Doral, including Downtown areas, like Downtown Doral, Midtown Doral, and City Place. We have also seen the growth of commercial areas with the addition of many warehouse complexes. These have all been planned development areas over the decades the city has been here.

The objective of the master plan has always been to maintain large residential and commercial areas west of the Federal Reserve Building on Doral Blvd, in order to better control traffic and access to services like schools.

Progress and growth are part of every new city, and in Miami Dade County it seems to flourish more rapidly. Nevertheless, when making decisions as a City, the quality of life for current and future residents must be the top priority before approving the requests of builders and developers. Currently, the City does not have any of the properties west of 97th Ave on Doral Blvd zoned for large scale residential. In other words, unless the council approves a change, no developer can build a residential tower, or mixed used project (residential + business) on our beloved Doral Blvd from 97th to 107th. Recently questions have been raised regarding a new project being considered by the administration. This project is not new, in fact it was informally discussed in the past. The project, referred to as Oasis Doral by Apollo Companies, seems to be moving forward and considered to be presented officially as an application for Zoning Change to the property located across from the Publix Plaza on 97th and 41st.

The process for a developer will typically include conversations with the Mayor, City Attorney and Zoning Director. Once these individuals give the developer the green light they may ask for the developer to speak and get the backing of the community. After the developer feels they have the majority of the Council backing the project they will then officially hand in the Application for the Zoning changes and approval.

The Apollo Companies has already taken the step of reaching out to part of the community. In fact, a meeting took place on Tuesday, March 28th with the Costa del Sol Executive Committee. We also understand that a City of Doral employee Julian Perez, has been spreading the word that new laws in Tallahassee prevent the City from denying this development from occurring. Knowledgeable sources have informed the Doral Community Coalition that due to the location of the area being considered for this project the law DOES NOT apply and the zoning change can be denied by the City.

We certainly expect our elected officials to represent us, not Tallahassee. The question now becomes, what happens if new changes (Zoning Changes) are approved, and those residential areas are expanded? What happens if the change is made and developers are allowed to build residential buildings on Doral Boulevard from 97 to 107th Av?

Residents and business owners are well aware of the increasing costs of land in our City, and the interest from developers to buy, build and sell projects in Doral. The many large commercial plazas that line Doral Boulevard have become beacons to developers, who see the large parking lots as available building space. It doesn’t take a large area to build a 15-story tower…. If this new project is approved and Zoning is changed in Doral Boulevard, all plazas that sit on 41st street west of 97th Av will also be available for development of mixed used Residential/Commercial projects that include 12-18 story towers. The effect on the Quality of Life for residents could be catastrophic. Allowing for any Zoning changes west of Univision and the Federal Reserve would cause a snowball effect of overdevelopment on Doral Boulevard at the cost of the residents of our City.

The Oasis at Doral project currently includes (currently renderings, may change when application is made to the City):

2 residential towers (14 story)
Restaurants
Commercial buildings to include: Retail, Grocery Story, Gym, Car Dealership
Hotel (14 Story)
Assisted living Facility (14 story)
2 Office towers (currently existing 4 story)

When analyzing the impact of this project and the possibility of the changes that may be applied to the rest of our most important City road, there are many reasons for concern. The current administration seems to be promoting and pushing for these changes, some with misinformation to the public, and suspicious activities like the last meeting reorganized as“41s St charrette” only brought more confusion. The Doral Community Coalition believes in Controlled Development, with focus on the residents’ Quality of Life and will continue to inform the community of important developments in Doral. It is up to each resident to be informed and get involved in the process before votes take place and changes are approved.

The upcoming months are key to the future of our city you are part of that future.

www.doralcommunitycoalition

info@doralcommunitycoalition.org