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RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ERECTION, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE JOSEPH CALEB CENTER NEW BRANCH COURTHOUSE AND PARKING GARAGE LOCATED AT 5400 NW 22 AVENUE, USING FUNDS FROM THE BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM LISTED AS PROJECT NUMBERS 180, 186 AND 231, IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 33-303 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandums by requiring adherence to the conditions of approval, copies of which are incorporated herein by reference, and has conducted a public hearing in compliance with the provisions of Section 33-303 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby finds and declares that the Government Facilities Plan for the erection, construction and operation of the Joseph Caleb Center new Branch Courthouse and Parking Garage located at 5400 NW 22 Avenue, more specifically described in the attached �Exhibit A�, is necessary to provide government services for and protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of Miami-Dade County, Florida, and in so finding has considered, among other factors, the type of function involved, the public need therefore, the land use pattern in the area, and the nature of the impact on the surrounding property.

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Date:

To:
Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From:
Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor


Subject: Governmental Facilities Hearing Application
GF09-05 Joseph Caleb Center � New Branch Courthouse and Parking Garage

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve the attached resolution that would approve the erection, construction and operation of a new branch courthouse and 4-level public parking garage at the Joseph Caleb Center located at 5400 NW 22 Avenue, in compliance with Section 33-303 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. This item was prepared by the Sustainability, Planning and Economic Enhancement Department at the request of the Internal Services Department (ISD) and is recommended for approval.

LOCATION: 5400 NW 22 Avenue, unincorporated Miami-Dade County

COMMISSION DISTRICT: 3

COMMISSION DISTRICT
IMPACTED: Countywide

FOLIO NUMBER: 30-3115-000-0330 and 30-3115-000-0310

SIZE: Approximately 8 acres

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND: In 1974, an application for a district boundary change from GU, Interim District and BU-3, Liberal Business District, to BU-2, Special Business District, was approved pursuant to Resolution No. Z-134-74 on the subject parcel. In conjunction with the district boundary change to BU-2, a variance of building height was granted along with a variance of setback requirements and parking requirements to allow a total of 337 parking spaces where 528 parking spaces where required.

The Model City/Brownsville Charrette Report accepted in 2004 identified the Caleb Center as the �center� of a town center. This town center is ��designed to provide the residents of the entire study area with most of the services a town would need including an expanded library, post office, and meeting spaces� (Model City/Brownsville Charrette Report; p. II.1). A court facility was one of the services identified by the residents as being needed in the area. The report specifically proposed a four-story parking garage on the Caleb Center site to alleviate parking congestion on the site.

A courthouse and parking garage use meets the intent of the town center recommended in the Charrette Report. Land development regulations to implement the Model City Charrette Report were adopted in 2010 (Ordinance 10-13) and the subsequent rezoning of the properties within the boundary was completed in 2011 (Resolution Z-12-11). The proposed Government Facilities application was filed and reviewed in 2009, prior to the adoption of the Model City Urban Center District regulations. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, as designed, the Caleb Center development expansion meets the intent of the Model City Urban Center regulations by providing a building that frames the street edge and is designed with architectural elements and proportions that enhance its civic nature.
ZONING: Model City Urban Center District [(MC, Mixed Use Corridor in accordance with Section 33-284.99.43(A)]
JUSTIFICATION: This project will provide a new Branch Courthouse Building at the Caleb Center. It will restore court proceedings to this site and local community. Judicial services were previously offered at this location but were ultimately and temporarily suspended when the space within the existing Caleb Center was deemed insufficient and inadequate.
FACILITY DESCRIPTION: The Joseph Caleb Center expansion will consist of a new 4-level public parking garage structure with a maximum height of 50.16 feet proposed on the northwest corner of the parcel. Said parking garage structure will provide retail space on the ground floor facing the courthouse and +/- 466 parking spaces. In addition, the site plan depicts an additional +/- 33 surface parking spaces on the north side of the proposed garage, adjacent to NW 56th Street, for a total of +/- 499 parking spaces. The plans also depict a new 37,766 sq. ft, two-story courthouse building with a maximum height of 45.33 feet planned on the southwest portion of the site, directly south of the proposed garage. A pedestrian bridge connecting the 3rd floor of the new parking garage to the Caleb Center�s side entrance plaza is also provided.

DEVELOPMENT: The Joseph Caleb expansion will be developed as follows:

March 2012 � Construction documents final approval
April 2012 � Advertise the project
May 2012 � Bids due back from all interested general contractors
June 2012 � Review and tabulate bids
July 2012 � Recommendation and Award
August 2012: Caleb �ground-breaking�
September 2012 � September 2014: Construction
March 2015 - Occupancy

FUNDING: Name: New Courthouse Annex & Parking Garage Building
Project No.: 180
Site No.: 70684

Funding: Capital Outlay Reserve: $ 2,730,000.00
Future GOB: $15,000,000.00

Subtotal Amount: $17,730,000.00

Name: Parking Garage, Overpass & Atrium Renovations
Project No.: 231 and 186
Site No.: 70306 and 70626

Funding: GOB 2005A: $ 8,445.00 GOB 2008B-1: $ 555,000.00
GOB 2011A: $ 1,993,592.00
Future GOB: $10,345,844.00

Subtotal Amount: $13,000,000.00
Project Total Amount: $30,730,000.00

SITE REVIEW COMMITTEE: The committee�s task is to review projects subject to 33-303 of the Code of Miami-Dade County with regard to the public need for the proposed facility, its impact upon the surrounding community, and other similar considerations. The committee reviewed this project on August 26, 2009 and May 19, 2010. Since that time ISD has been addressing issues raised during the Site Review Committee meetings, ultimately satisfying the requirements of the Committee.
PUBLIC HEARING: Section 33-303 of the Code of Miami-Dade County provides that, prior to the construction, erection or operation of a government facility in the unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County, a favorable public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is required. The BCC may only authorize the use, construction, erection and operation of such facilities after considering, among other factors, the public need for the facility, the type of function involved, existing land use patterns in that area and the nature of the impact of the facility on surrounding properties. The attached report from the Miami-Dade County Site Review Committee addresses these factors.
REVIEWER: Gilberto Blanco, Supervisor
DELEGATED AUTHORITY: The attached resolution would approve the erection, construction and operation of a new courthouse branch and four level public parking garage.
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Jack Osterholt
Deputy Mayor