Guest Column

 A Message to the Town Council of Bay Harbor Islands

The community demanded that a “community visioning process” take place so that we could create a responsible plan for how our town will be redeveloped. 

By Susan Luck and Taryn Copeland
Bay Harbor Islands Citizens Coalition

The Town of Bay Harbor Islands is a unique coastal community set between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It was built with the vision to create a small town atmosphere by mixing low-rise multifamily dwellings with private homes. The community attracts families, retirees, and a younger people looking for the tranquil quality of life that this community offers.

Bay Harbor Islands is in the process of planning for growth and change. The Town needs new planned development and rehabilitation that is in line with the character of the community. The majority of residents, along with architects and city planners that we have spoken with, believe that this town can be revitalized by building townhouses, loft style apartments and buildings no higher than 75 feet along with the existing density of 34 units per acre. To this end, we voted by referendum in September of 2002, to limit the height of all new buildings to 75 feet.

In spite of this height restriction, the developers that have bought property here are still hoping to make their profits by constructing yet another community of high rises that will encroach on our safety, impact on the environment, and diminish the quality of life for all of the residents who have chosen to invest in making Bay Harbor their home. These same developers are in violation of the town’s Comprehensive Plan because their planned buildings far exceed the maximum of 34 units per acre allowable by law. Last year, the Town Council through a proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment attempted to increase the density of the town up to 120 units per acre. After the Bay Harbor Islands Citizens Coalition objected to and vigorously fought this drastic proposal, the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Florida State Department of Community Affairs rejected this increase.

The community demanded that a “community visioning process” take place so that we could create a responsible plan for how our town will be redeveloped. The Town Council agreed and hired a planning firm to assist it in this process. The visioning process occurred in November of 2002, the community participated, the visioning plan was submitted to our town officials, and then it was placed in a drawer and for all intents and purposes, forgotten.

Now the Town Council, ignoring the visioning plan and the wishes of the people who live on the East Island, wants to try again to increase the density on the East Island. To that end it has directed its Town Planner Michael Miller and Special Attorney Stanley Price to lobby the Department of Community Affairs to reverse its position and allow an increase in density. 

The Citizens Coalition asked the Town Council not to resubmit the rejected Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the State. Our goal is for the Town to submit an amendment that follows the visioning plan. But the Town Council as it has so many times before ignored its citizens.

We urge the Council to adopt a resolution to adopt the Visioning Plan so real, planned development can move forward. Only then should the Town draft an amendment to the comprehensive plan; an amendment that is in accordance with the community’s vision of how we want our town to develop. The process is simple: The Town Council should adopt the visioning plan. The density on the East Island should remain at 34 units per acre. The Town should submit a comprehensive plan amendment to the state that implements the visioning plan and once it is accepted, create and revise the zoning codes so that there is zero need to grant variances. The Town Council must make crystal clear to developers what can and cannot be built in Bay Harbor Islands.

Bay Harbor Islands can be a model for creative and innovative low rise development proving that we can increase our tax base, revitalize our community, and be an oasis amidst the condo canyons engulfing our coastal neighbors.

Susan Luck is the president of the Bay Harbor Islands Citizen Coalition.  Taryn Copeland is the Citizen Coalition’s vice president.