City of Miami Planning Department – Land Development TO ALL MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICANTS The following is an excerpt of Sec. 1703 of the Zoning Ordinance that highlights documentation needed for MUSP applications. Please note that this excerpt is not intended to replace what is stated in the Zoning Ordinance, and the lack of any document or study required under the Ordinance will result in an incomplete application. For additional information, the Zoning Ordinance of City of Miami may be accessed via the following link: http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=11251&sid=9 Sec. 1703. Commission disposition of application; criteria; consideration of recommendations; findings required. 1703.1. Criteria. The applicable criteria and standards enumerated in Sections 1305.2 and 1305.3 of this zoning ordinance shall apply to review of all Major Use Special Permits. In reaching a decision on the application as submitted, the commission shall make a determination as to whether: (a) The development will be in conformity with, or necessitate a change in, the adopted Miami Comprehensive Plan; and (b) The development is in accord with, or will necessitate a change of, the district zoning classification. In arriving at such determinations, the City Commission shall consider, where applicable, the standards and criteria set forth in Section 1305 of this ordinance, and the standards set by this ordinance applicable to the particular actions or changes proposed, as well as the following standards: (1) Whether the development will have a favorable impact on the economy of the City based on an economic impact analysis provided by the applicant; (2) Whether the development will efficiently use public transportation facilities and roadways based on a traffic study which, when possible promotes use of public transportation; (3) Whether the development will favorably affect the need for people to find adequate housing reasonably accessible to their places of employment based on a housing impact analysis to be provided by the applicant; (4) Whether the development will efficiently use necessary public facilities based on a site utility study to be provided by the applicant; (5) Whether the development will have a favorable impact on the environment and natural resources of the City based on an environmental impact analysis to be provided by the applicant; and; 1/4 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com City of Miami Planning Department – Land Development TO ALL MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICANTS (6) Whether the development complies with the applicable criteria set forth in Section 1305 of this ordinance. (7) For Major Public facilities, whether the development will adversely affect public safety based on a public safety plan to be provided by the applicant. Before approving the application, the commission shall state that, based on its determinations, the public welfare will be served by the proposed development; and shall clearly list its findings on the proposed development derived from Section 1305 and (1) through (7) above. Major Use Special Permits shall be issued for a period of two (2) years, subject to renewal for subsequent two-year periods. 1305.2. Design review criteria. As appropriate to the nature of the special permit involved and the particular circumstances of the case, the following considerations and design criteria as specified on the following table shall apply to issues related to design, character and compatibility of the proposed application in addition to any other specific consideration(s) set forth elsewhere in this zoning ordinance, the City Code, or any other applicable regulation(s)…. DESIGN REVIEW CRITERIA I. Site & Urban Planning: (1) Respond to the physical contextual environment taking into consideration urban form and natural features. (2) Siting should minimize the impact of automobile parking and driveways on the pedestrian environment and adjacent properties. (3) Buildings on corner lots should be oriented to the corner and public street fronts. II. Architecture and Landscape Architecture: (1) A project shall be designed to comply with all applicable landscape ordinances. (2) Respond to the neighborhood context. (3) Create a transition in bulk and scale. (4) Use architectural styles and details (such as roof lines and fenestration), colors and materials derivative from surrounding area. (5) Articulate the building facade vertically and horizontally in intervals that conform to the existing structures in the vicinity. III. Pedestrian Oriented Development: (1) Promote pedestrian interaction. (2) Design facades that respond primarily to the human scale. 2/4 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com City of Miami Planning Department – Land Development TO ALL MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICANTS (3) Provide active, not blank facades. Where blank walls are unavoidable, they should receive design treatment. IV. Streetscape and Open Space: (1) Provide usable open space that allows for convenient and visible pedestrian access from the public sidewalk. (2) Landscaping, including plant material, trellises, special pavements, screen walls, planters and similar features should be appropriately incorporated to enhance the project. V. Vehicular Access and Parking: (1) Design for pedestrian and vehicular safety to minimize conflict points. (2) Minimize the number and width of driveways and curb cuts. (3) Parking adjacent to a street front should be minimized and where possible should be located behind the building. (4) Use surface parking areas as district buffer. VI. Screening: (1) Provide landscaping that screen undesirable elements, such as surface parking lots, and that enhances space and architecture. (2) Building sites should locate service elements like trash dumpster, loading docks, and mechanical equipment away from street front where possible. When elements such as dumpsters, utility meters, mechanical units and service areas cannot be located away from the street front they should be situated and screened from view to street and adjacent properties. (3) Screen parking garage structures with program uses. Where program uses are not feasible soften the garage structure with trellises, landscaping, and/or other suitable design element. VII. Signage and Lighting: (1) Design signage appropriate for the scale and character of the project and immediate neighborhood. (2) Provide lighting as a design feature to the building facade, on and around landscape areas, special building or site features, and/or signage. (3) Orient outside lighting to minimize glare to adjacent properties. (4) Provide visible signage identifying building addresses at the entrance(s) as a functional and aesthetic consideration. VIII. Preservation of Natural Features: (1) Preserve existing vegetation and/or geological features whenever possible. IX. Modification of Nonconformities: See sec. 1105 of this zoning ordinance for specific regulations. In addition to the applicable criteria as set forth by the Director of the Planning and Zoning 3/4 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com City of Miami Planning Department – Land Development TO ALL MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICANTS Department per sec. 1105, the following criteria shall apply in making determinations for Class II Special Permits: (1) For modifications of nonconforming structures, no increase in the degree of nonconformity shall be allowed. (2) Modifications that conform to current regulations shall be designed to conform to the scale and context of the nonconforming structure. Sec. 1306. Conditions and safeguards. The agent, agency, or body of the City designated by this zoning ordinance as having responsibility for issuance or denial of each of the classes of special permits set out in this Article 13 shall have authority to attach to the grant of any such special permit such conditions and safeguards as may be necessary for the purposes of this zoning ordinance in the particular case. Such conditions and safeguards, if attached to grant of special permit, shall be based upon and consistent with considerations and standards applicable to the class or kind of special permit involved as set out in the applicable Section of this ordinance, and in other provisions relating to the particular class or kind of permit. The requirement for any such conditions or safeguards shall be supported by stated reasons, based upon such considerations and standards, and no such condition or safeguard shall establish special limitations and/or requirements beyond those reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of the purpose for which the condition or safeguard is attached. Failure to comply with conditions and safeguards, when attached to grant of special permit, shall be deemed a violation of this zoning ordinance. See Section 2108, Action on violations; remedies for violations on Class I or Class II special permits; and Section 2109, Penalties for violations on Special Exceptions and Major Use Special Permits. Please contact the Office of Zoning for questions regarding zoning matters. They can be reached at 305-416-1499. 4/4 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com