Quick! YES, YES, YES!!!!

On Aug 28 Vote YES on #240 

1. Democracy relies on the trust the people place on their elected leaders: the opinions of the majority or in this case, supermajority, is a more democratic alternative to the unanimous vote. Democracy does not work on the basis of 100% agreement.

2. Our downtown needs help. The Shops at Sunset Place, is the unique and one of a kind large parcel in our downtown by the South Miami Metrorail Station. The taller portions of the revitalized Sunset Place are along US1, our urban boulevard. New residents and inhabitants will bring much needed people to support our downtown businesses, and would help with the momentum boosting our city merchants and restaurants., This change, if implemented, will not effect residential areas; South Miami must not pass up on this opportunity

3. But it is not just up to the Shops to carry 100% of the burden for re-energizing our struggling downtown. Here are other ways the City can demonstrate it supports our downtown:

•  Allow portions of our downtown streets to open to pedestrian only traffic at certain times of the week (during the weekend, etc.), allowing businesses to spill onto the sidewalks and streets in a convivial way.

• Our current shuttle has a limited route, and there is no predicting its whereabouts. An expanded route and an app to determine its location will help. Open electric vehicles like the Downtowner with its on-demand free shuttle for South Miami residents will also assist residents to visit our downtown. We can encourage walking and biking to downtown; it’s easy to walk to destinations 15 mins or less away ("Walk 10,000 steps a day for wellness"). It’s easy to bike to destinations 1-2 miles away. Sometimes we forget that South Miami is only 3 square miles!

• Make it easy for small properties to add much needed urban, transit-served apartments, studio apartments, and additional office space. Relax parking requirements in the smaller parcels, or even allow the market to determine how much parking, if at all, to provide. That way, the City can reward property owners, future residents, and future office workers that desire to live a car-optional lifestyle.

4. Let’s ignite the spark and give the love and support for our city’s healthy downtown on August 28th! Voting YES on #240 is the path forward!

--The South Miami Neighbors board

Help shape the Parks and Recreation Master Plan!

The South Miami Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled two public workshops to get input on the city's parks and recreation master plan. At the workshops, Miller Legg (the consultant hired by the city) will conduct a discussion of goals and objectives so that residents can discuss the community's needs.

Both workshops will be held at South Miami City Hall (6130 Sunset Drive). The first will be held Thursday, June 25, at 7p.m., and the second will be on Saturday, June 27, at 5p.m.

Residents are strongly encouraged to fill out the Parks and Recreation Residents’ Survey, which is available online at www.southmiamifl.gov. This quick (15 minute) survey allows you to give input about the future of our parks and programs.

Ludlam Trail Charrette Follow-up Presentations April 23 and 29

This Thursday and next Wednesday, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Sosa and Suarez are convening follow-up meetings to discuss the Ludlam Trail Charrette with their constituents. Both meetings begin at 6pm.

Ludlam Trail Town Hall Meeting November 12 at South Miami High School

Friends of the Ludlam Trail is hosting a town hall meeting at South Miami High School next Wednesday, November 12, at 7p.m. Come participate in the discussion about how best to balance Flagler-FECI's desire to develop the property with building the world's next great urban linear park.

South Miami High School is at 6856 SW 53 Street.

two more opportunities to speak in support of the Ludlam Trail

South Miami neighbors are invited to come speak out in favor of the Ludlam Trail at two upcoming meetings. On Monday, October 20, the county Planning Advisory Board will discuss the value of transforming the old railway right of way into a six-mile linear park. That meeting begins at 2 p.m.

On November 19, the Board of County Commissioners will take up the subject at their meeting. Both events will be held in the County Commission Chamber at 111 NW 1 Street, Miami.

Come speak up in favor of the Ludlam Trail

Friends of the Ludlam Trail, the grass roots organization working toward turning the old FEC right of way into a beautiful linear park stretching from Dadeland to Miami International Airport, has let us know about an attempt by the railroad's parent company to change the zoning on the right of way to allow for residential development. This would all but eliminate the possibility of creating a new park.

Friends of the Ludlam Trail encourages South Miami residents to attend the three upcoming Community Council hearings to learn more about FECI’s proposal for mixed-use development with a trail component within the Ludlam Trail corridor:

·         Kendall Community Council: (12): Tuesday, September 23, 2014; 6 p.m.Kendall Village Center Civic Pavilion8625 SW 124 Ave.Miami, FL 33183

·         North Central Community Council (8): Monday, September 29, 2014; 6 p.m.MLK Plaza,2525 NW 62 St.Miami, FL 33147

·         Westchester Community Council (10): Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 6 p.m.Ruben Dario Middle School350 NW 97 Ave.Miami, FL 33172

MDC Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) Planning department advertises in the Miami-Herald Neighbors section and also sends out postcards or notice cards in the mail ½ mile from the subject corridor. While the meeting public hearing locations are not close to the Ludlam corridor it is still within Community Council boundaries.   Those residents who would be affected the most near the Ludlam Trail corridor are especially encouraged to attend these hearings.

Comment on the South Miami Intermodal Transportation plan tonight!

George Puig and Stewart Robinson of Kimley-Horn will present an update for the South Miami Intermodal Transportation Plan (encompasses bicycle and pedestrian route plans)  this evening for the Green Taskforce Meeting. Please come by to give your comments if you can. This will likely be one of the last chances for public comment. The meeting is at 6pm at City Hall.

Friends of the Ludlam Trail

The Friends of the Ludlam Trail is reaching out to South Miami residents who are interested in environmental conservation and expanding our bicycle and pedestrian networks. A number of South Miami residents serve on the board of the Friends of the Ludlam Trail, and they invite your participation in their efforts. They have a number of ways of getting involved.

As their web site explains, "The Friends of the Ludlam Trail is a non-profit coalition dedicated to the implementation of the Ludlam Trail, a 6.2-mile linear park through the heart of Miami-Dade County within the partially abandoned Florida East Coast railway right-of-way. The park will contain community gardens and a trail that will provide a safe dedicated and direct route for cyclists and pedestrians to schools, parks, work and shopping. The trail will connect more than 34,000 people within a half-mile, walkable service area to five greenways, five schools, four parks and two transit hubs.

"The Friends of the Ludlam Trail represents the thousands of Miami-Dade County residents who want to see the Ludlam trail become an asset for the community as a running, biking, and walking trail. We see the Ludlam Trail project as a way of spurring job creation in our community, realizing immediate value increases for adjacent properties, and achieving a major transportation and recreation connection across the heart of the county. Please join us!"

City aims to build "great streets," invites comments on new plan

The city invites residents to comment on the draft intermodal transportation plan, prepared by planning consultants Kimley-Horn. The plan includes improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the city, with links to all of our parks and public spaces.

Please take some time to look over the plan and send your thoughts in an email to info@southmiamineighbors.com.

After the jump, the complete text of Kimley-Horn's Vision, Goals and Objectives document, along with drawings of proposed street configurations...

Bike-B-Que in Palmer Park this Saturday

Cycle with your family and friends to Palmer Park for a free barbeque, on Saturday, March 22 from 11:00am to 1:00pm!

Green South Miami

Take a look at the Green South Miami web site for information on sustainability initiatives in the City of Pleasant Living. It is the official blog of the city's Green Task Force.

Work continues on safe routes to schools

The South Miami Neighbors, Bike SoMi, and Green Mobility, and our City leadership have started working with our local schools to encourage our kids to bike and walk to school. This year, we have started working with South Miami K-8 and South Miami Middle School.  We have dstributed Safe Routes to School Parent Surveys, and are currently evaluating the data on the surveys returned.  

We have also coordinated the installation of a bike rack, donated by South Miami bike shop, Mack Cycle, to South Miami K-8.  From the looks of the bike commuters on the bike rack's inauguration, South Miami K-8 will soon be ready for additional bike racks!

Next steps would include performing an analysis on the area immediately surrounding the schools and identify what obstacles exist to biking and walking, and subsequently remedying the physical barriers that exist.  

It is our hope to work with all of our local schools so that we get a steady increase in families walking and biking to school in SoMi.