New Ocean Terrace

As a longtime Miami Beach resident and preservationist, I’m devoted to ensuring the rich character of our beautiful city remains for generations to come.

Last November, I opposed a proposal to increase FAR in Ocean Terrace, because it failed to respect and maintain the richness of the area.

Fast forward to today — developer Sandor Scher and his new team, which includes well-respected urban planner Cesar Garcia-Pons and historic architect Richard Heisenbottle, have listened to the public’s concerns and developed a revised plan that is a true preservation project and gift to the entire community.

The plan will safeguard the historic Broadmoor and Ocean Surf hotels and maintain the scale and significant historic facades of the buildings along Collins Avenue and Ocean Terrace. Furthermore, it doesn’t include a FAR increase, which voters had opposed.

I encourage those with concerns about height to consider how the planned project will enhance historic structures and will not adversely impact the street-level experience, with a 55-foot setback for the residential building. I also hope residents who opposed the original FAR increase proposal understand that this is a completely new plan that addresses community concerns and incorporates resident feedback.

I commend the Miami Beach Commission for its first-reading approval of the Ocean Terrace Overlay and urge them to give it final approval on June 8, so that the new Ocean Terrace plan can become a reality.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 6:29 PM with the headline "New Ocean Terrace."