Miami 21 - City adopts form-based zoning

[Aessotariq]

City of Miami passes Miami 21, the new zoning code for the City of Miami. There is an unveiling ceremony Saturday, April 16, from 8:00am-12:30pm. The code is to be completely rewritten and simplified, with the help of New Urbanist pioneers such as Andr

[Aessotariq]

Some examples of what the new code will attempt to accomplish:

An existing street (looks like somewhere along W Flagler St) (Next three pics):

Now add some buildings with urban design elements under the new code:

Now the public sector contributes its piece, adding trees, landscaping, benches, lighting, etc.:

A bayfront dead-end street (Edgewater neighborhood) (before), Adding a square and other pedestrian-friendly elements that encourage street activity (after):

More urban design elements for dead-end street:

The transect: rethinking traditional zoning... providing smooth transitions from urban to rural

Setback requirements of upper floors, allowing daylight at street level, minimizing "canyon effect":

The City is to be divided into four quadrants, and planning is to be focused within those quadrants:

[Urban_Legend]

Whoa, this seems like it will set a new standard of development for Miami! I love those suggested development pics!

[miamistreets]

Damn thats marvelous.I hope that doesnt take so long.

[Brickell]

It will take at least 10 years to really start seeing a difference; though some eastern, development heavy neighborhoods will see it sooner.. If they stick to their guns it will be marvelous. Just a shame that it's taken them this long to get to it. Most of our new developments are better, but not what they could be in my opinion. This is really something miami needs to survive. we're just too big anymore to have these suburban houses in town.

[Aessotariq]

I'm looking forward to seeing the transformation. With some streetcars implemented for local circulation, these neighborhoods will be astonishing.

Incidentally, Miami 21 happens to be a subject that has shown up on one of UrbanPlanet's news feeds! On April 23, Smart City Radio plans to broadcast an interview featuring Miami Mayor Manny D

[Urban_Legend]

^That's really cool!

[Aessotariq]

Smart City Radio will air on Miami's local NPR station, WLRN FM, 91.3, this Sunday, April 24th, at 7pm ET.

A webcast is also available, 9am ET/8am CT this Saturday, April 23rd. You can listen to it here.

[Aessotariq]

City aims to put lid on zoning anarchy

City leaders will overhaul Miami's zoning code because they say it encourages insensitive development. But the planned reforms may be too late to catch the condo boom.

By ANDRES VIGLUCCI AND MATTHEW HAGGMAN

Why do city leaders plan to scrap Miami's zoning code and start from scratch? What makes it so bad?

For one answer, look no further than the almost finished Baylofts condominium on Northeast 25th Street in Edgewater, an old, low-scale Miami neighborhood on Biscayne Bay north of downtown that has been eviscerated by a troop of impertinent high-rise invaders.

Full article: Miami Herald

[Aessotariq]

Smart City Radio's Miami 21 interview is now available on the website in MP3 format. It's slightly under one hour in length. Please click below to listen:

Smart City Radio - Miami 21

[Urban_Legend]

^Thanks for the link, I was looking for it.

[Aessotariq]

Below is a transcript of the Mayor's speech announcing Miami 21.

Mayor Manny Diaz Miami 21 Launch - Saturday, April 16th, 2005

There are many shining moments in the history of all good cities. Indeed, over our relatively short history we have had many.

The rare moments are the defining ones. They are those exceptional events when men and women stepped back for the sake of their future

[streetscaper]

^ I almost cried....this is exactly what evryone wants so badly....this must....MUST happen in my lifetime!!!

[Aessotariq]

Quite a vision, isn't it.

Some food for thought:

Since 2001, our population has grown by more than 10 percent. By the end of this decade it could grow by another 30 percent. We are on the cusp of fulfilling our long-awaited destiny as a leading urban center.

Wow, this means that the population within the city limits will be approaching 400,000 very soon, if it hasn't already. Census 2000 reported the City at 362,470. At 400,000 the population density would be 11,764 persons per square mile, up from 10,660 in 2000. By the end of the decade, if the 30% holds out: pop. 471,211 (13,859 psm.)

[streetscaper]

^ It's definitely possible

[Aessotariq]

Miami 21 will be the subject of discussion on ISSUES, a local affairs program produced by WPBT, Channel 2 (PBS). Among the featured guests will be Andr

[Aessotariq]

Please see the South Florida mass transit thread for discussion pertaining to the transportation component of Miami 21.

Related UrbanPlanet.org topics: |

[Aessotariq]

The first public workshop on Miami 21, the city's new form-based zoning code, begins this Saturday, July 9th. For planning purposes, the city has been divided into four quadrants. Saturday's workshop will focus on the eastern quadrant, which encompasses primarily the coastal neighborhoods east of I-95 from 15th Road (Brickell) to NE 81st Street (Little Haiti). Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company will be there (master planners of Seaside and other new urban communities).

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12080413.htm

The city has also created a dedicated website to Miami 21. www.miami21.org

If anyone is interested in attending, it's at the Chapman Center at Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami from 8:30am to 3pm. More information here.

[Aessotariq]

The first Miami 21 workshop was apparently very productive. I ended up not going because of the weather, both windy and rainy.. maybe next time. I'm please that the issue of affordable housing (or should we call it "workforce housing"?) was brought up, among many other topics. In the City it's always been the case that one lives there because one is either really really rich, or really really poor. Hopefully we'll see more diversified housing, now that the city is much more solvent and doesn't have to rely on ultra-luxury to fix its tax base.

These are truly extraordinary times for Miami.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12100710.htm