| Date |
Comment |
From |
| 08/05/09 |
Dear Sir or Madam: I am a social worker in Dade County. I specialize in the field of substance abuse counseling. As a counselor and advocate for the underserved inmate population, I would like to see a re-entry program started. Would you please contact me about the possibility of this program? Thank you |
Amanda K. Treadwell, BSW |
| DP&Z Response: The Department of Planning and Zoning is the County agency responsible for the planning and growth management in Miami-Dade County and is not involved in inmate rehabilitative services. Miami-Dade County’s Correction Agency does have a prisoner re-entry program, and your comment was sent to Mr. Coffey, Chief of the Program Services Division. Regarding your experience in social work, DP&Z is also sending your comment to our Office of Community and Economic Development and to our Homeless Trust Agency for their review. |
| 08/03/09 |
I would like to request for trees to be planted alongside a roadway for canopy and noise control? I would love for trees to be planted along the roadside on the South side of S.W. 56 St. between 142 Ave and 147 Ave. Thank you! |
Nelson Fernandez |
| DP& Z Response: Thank you for your suggestion. Policy CON-8M in the Conservation, Aquifer Recharge and Drainage Element in the Comprehensive Development Master Plan requires the County to increase the percentage of tree canopy coverage to the national average of 30%. Your comment about the tree canopy coverage will be taken into consideration under our EAR process, and is being forwarded to the Department of Environmental Resources Management. Your request to have trees planted in the right-of-way is also being forwarded to the Public Works Department for their review. |
| 08/03/09 |
Plan for more Park & ride locations in populated areas. It has been very sucessful becasue it allows people to make a short trip to drop off children or a spouse and then use public transportation. West Kendall is in desperate need of a centralized Park & ride Location in various areas from SW 127th Ave. west to SW 167th Ave. |
William Velez |
| DP&Z Response: This aspect is addressed in the Mass Transit sublelement of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan, which calls for mass transit facilities to incorporate provisions to increase ease of transfer with other modes of transportation, such as park-ride garages and lots, as well as other measures such as bicycle lockers and pedestrian walkways. The County also works with other regional agencies, such as the South Florida Regional Transportation Agency, which governs Tri-Rail, to promote park-and-ride facilities. DP&Z will forward your comment to other County and regional agencies that are also involved in transportation issues, namely the County’s Transit, Public Works, and Metropolitan Planning Organization agencies, and Florida Department of Transportation, so that they will be made aware of your concerns. |
| 08/02/09 |
I would love to see bike-friendly streets. Imagine running to the post office or to school or church or to the bay or park on a bike. I have two kids (8 & 10 yrs old) who I am trying to convince to bike more but the anxiety we feel on the streets makes this simple form of getting around stressful. I find it a joke that I have to load our bikes onto a rack and then drive to a park to be able to feel safe riding our bikes. I applaud the bike lanes I've seen in the residential area near the Roads and Coconut Grove leading to Key Biscayne. But let's be honest, we are not all professional bikers and it seems that those kind of designated bike lanes in more neighborhoods would see an explosion of use by those of us who would simply like to leave our car behind and get out and run some errands or get to our nearby park on our bikes. Thank you for taking the time to consider my comments. |
Janis Koch |
| DP&Z Response: The County’s Comprehensive Development Master Plan does promote the use of mulitimodal transportation and encourage pedestrianism and non-motorized vehicles, as outlined in the Transportation Element. Your comment is also being forwarded to the other agencies which are involved in transportation issues – the County’s Transit, Public Works, and Metropolitan Planning Organization agencies, and Florida Department of Transportation, so that they will be made aware of your concerns. |
| 08/02/09 |
I think there ought to be better bus stop waiting areas. Something that protects people from the sun and/or rain. I don't use public transportation so am not sure how riders feel about this but I won't even consider taking a bus if I have no shelter to under which to wait. My heart goes out to all those riders I see, especially along North Miami Avenue and Biscayne Blvd. |
Janis Koch |
| DP&Z Response: The Mass Transit subelement of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan calls for planning and design considerations of safe and comfortable environment for riders, including weather protection. Your comment is also being forwarded to the County’s Transit agency, which is also involved in transportation issues, so that they will be made aware of your concerns. |
| 08/02/09 |
I find the new wheeled recycling bin easier to manage versus the old ones where we separated our recycling but I do find the every other week pick up not sufficient to handle the recycling my household ends up with. Personally I'd like to see a weekly pick up but in the economic times we are all facing, I realize I may be asking for too much. |
Janis Koch |
| DP&Z Response: We appreciate your efforts at recycling, and will forward your comments to the Department of Solid Waste, so that your interest in having more frequent pickup of recycling is made aware to them. |
| 07/28/09 |
The county should emphasize that city comp plans should be consistent with the county comp plan. |
Andrew Frey |
| DP&Z Response: DP&Z does review municipalities’ comprehensive plans, and our comments are sent as part of the review process to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for consideration. The statement of Legislative Intent in the CDMP outlines the relationship between municipal plans and the CDMP. According to our CDMP, the Intergovernmental Coordination Element requires the County to review intergovernmental coordination efforts, not only between the County and municipalities but also between the County and regional, State and federal agencies. During the EAR process, DP&Z will be looking at the intergovernmental process and how the cities and counties coordinate on various planning-related issues. |
| 07/28/09 |
The county should, as part of its strategies for promoting transit and reducing greenhouse gasses, prohibit county-wide any minimum required parking ratios. The county should actually specify maximum parking along designated transit corridors. San Francisco requires all parking spaces to be sold or rented separately from the main use, so no one is forced to consume a parking space. |
Andrew Frey |
| DP&Z Response: Thank you for your suggestion regarding parking. The Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) has an existing policy, TC-1I, that promotes moderation of parking requirements where transit service exists. The County has reduced parking requirements in Urban Center zoning districts. The CDMP does promote the use of mulitimodal transportation and encourages pedestrianism and non-motorized vehicles, as outlined in the Transportation Element. During the EAR process, DP&Z will also be analyzing transportation-related issues in more depth and will take your concerns into consideration. |
| 07/28/09 |
First of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity add my suggestions. We love the Metro Zoo very much, but are always frustrated about the heat. We would love to visit the zoo earlier or later in the day to avoid the heat. Further, I think the zoo should have more overhang walks to protect the zoo visitors from harmful sun exposure. The little water showers throughout the zoo are fun and cooling, but not enough. Recycling is a very big commitment in our family. Even my 5 year old takes water bottles from his friends at park home, to put them in the recycle bin. When I found out that the batteries are no longer accepted in the recycle bin I was very sad, but when the Dade Hotline I called to find out what to do with the old batteries told me just dump them in the trash, I was shocked! When I found out that Home-Depot takes used batteries I felt better for the private industry, but what about my pride and commitment to my city. Would it not be great if Miami Dade was the leader in being Green and not Europe or any other state/city? California is a plastic free state. Switzerland has been for many years. Switzerland has 99% recycle success. I grew up there and I understand the frustration to convert citizens, but we all just need to do it. My last suggestion is to finally convert to the metric system. 25 years ago when I came to the states, everybody told me it will happen. Canada finished the conversion, what happened about the US? Thanks! |
Beatrice Koubi |
| DP&Z Response: Thank you for your feedback. DP&Z will forward your comments regarding heat and sun exposure to Metrozoo, so that they will be made aware of your concerns. We are also forwarding your comment on recycling and batteries to the Department of Solid Waste. The issue of the metric system is handled at a federal, rather than County level. For more information on the metric system, please contact the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at (301) 975-3690 or online at http://www.nist.gov/metric. |
| 7/22/09 |
Thank you for the opportunity to work proactively with Miami-Dade County to help in its long-range strategic planning efforts! I am notifying our staff that has worked with other counties as they develop their plans so they will be aware of this effort and can plan accordingly. In keeping with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s mission, our input will pertain to issues dealing with the conservation of fish and wildlife. |
MaryAnn Poole, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
| 7/16/09 |
Why weren’t there any meetings scheduled in the northeast? |
Gregory Izak |
Department of Planning & Zoning (DP&Z) Response:
We considered numerous facilities for the EAR public participation meetings, and looked at various locations to give as many citizens as possible the chance to participate. However, due to budget constraints, we were limited to hosting five meetings across the County, at the locations posted on our website.
If these meetings are not convenient for you to attend, there are other ways you can participate. Through our online website, you may submit your comments or email us with your suggestions. You may also submit your comments in writing, click here for our address. We are also available to meet with interested parties you may contact us at 305-375-2835 to arrange a meeting. |
| 7/14/09 |
The Science and Technology Committee of the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Task Force issued a Statement on "Sea Level In the Coming Century" January 17, 2008. The Projection is at least 1.5' of sea level rise in the coming 50 years and at least 3-5' by the end of the century, possibly significantly more. Precision LIDAR based maps have been produced with 1' increments above the existing sea level by Mr. Peter Harlem of FIU (305)348-3992. These map may be used to identify low lying portions of Miami-Dade which are most at risk of inundation by rising sea level in the near future. In addition ...... Read complete comment here |
John C. Van Leer Sc.D. |
Department of Planning & Zoning (DP&Z) Response:
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. During the EAR process, we will be analyzing this issue in more depth and will take your concerns into consideration. |
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7/13/09
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Compact development in Miami-Dade County needs to continue to be a priority, in order to prevent senseless sprawl that leads to more fragmentation of the county's communities. Otherwise, Good Luck!!! |
Rodion Iwanczuk |
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7/13/09
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Why August? That is the worst month to be doing these public meetings. Also Hold the Urban Development boundary. With this economic downturn there are plenty of projects out there that haven't been built because of financing. I will have more comments later. |
Nancy Lee |
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Department of Planning & Zoning (DP&Z) Response:
Thank you for your response and concern related to the EAR public hearings scheduled.
Please know that DP&Z did consider holding the meetings in September, but there would be scheduling conflicts with the County budget hearings and Community Council zoning and non-zoning hearings. Furthermore, there is a set timeline and process that must be followed, according to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and Florida Statues, Chapter 163. As listed on our EAR Timeline, DP&Z needs to send a Letter of Understanding (which identifies the County’s proposed major issues to address in the EAR) to DCA in November 2009. If the EAR public participation meetings are delayed or scheduled later, there may not be enough time for public input and review of major EAR issues. For these reasons, the meetings were scheduled the last week in August, when public schools are back in session.
If these meetings are not convenient for you to attend, there are other ways you can participate. Through our online website, you may submit your comments or email us with your suggestions. You may also submit your comments in writing, click here for our address. We are also available to meet with interested parties, you may contact us at 305-375-2835 to arrange a meeting.
Regarding the Urban Development Boundary, that is a concern that will be reviewed in the EAR process. Thank you again for your comments..
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