Miami Zoning Board Rejects Simkin's Billboard Tower Project

The Miami zoning board rebuked developer Michael Simkins‘ plan for a 58-story LED billboard tower, voting 7-1 to recommend dropping a code section allowing such a project.
The board simultaneously rejected language that would have provided an alternate route for approving the giant media tower.
 

“We’re not Tokyo. We’re not New York City,” zoning board vice chair and former Miami-Dade Circuit Judge David Young said following pointed questions directed at city planning director Francisco Garcia.

When the board asked about the wisdom of allowing media towers in the city, Garcia said, “There are places in the world in other cities where they have had a positive effect.”
The board’s recommendation goes to the City Commission, which will consider the two items Thursday along with another proposal for a temporary moratorium on media towers. Should commissioners follow the board recommendations, that could close the door on Simkins’ plan.
But Tony Recio, a Simkins land-use attorney at Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman in Miami, cited the “seminal” Town of Largo v. Imperial Homes case to argue the city’s action could not apply to his client’s proposal since it was already in progress. Recio all but promised litigation against the city if the board’s recommendation were enacted by city lawmakers.
 

“We’re in the process now and this is an attempt … to sweep the rug out from under us,” Recio said. “Any person can see the unjustness in that. And if it smacks of unfairness to you, the courts will see that too.”

Before the meeting, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado was asked what he would expect from a rule change.
 

“I don’t know. Probably getting sued,” he said.

 
Source:  DBR
 
How will this decision affect Simkins’ Miami Innovation District concept?
Find out tomorrow, Thursday, June 25.  Simkins, along with Venture Hive founder Susan Amat, Pipeline founder Todd Oretsky and Peter Crovo, senior vice president of Prologis,  will be taking part in a panel discussion, led by Michael Rodriguez, CEO of eMerge Americas.  The event, titled “What is Miami’s Tech Footprint?” is being hosted by the Commercial Industrial Association of South Florida (CIASF), at

Venture Hive
1010 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL  33132

(Parking Available In Lot Adjacent To Building)  

Click here for more information about the event and click here to see who’s scheduled to attend.  Advance registrations are no longer being accepted, but you may be able to attend as a Walk-In.  It’ll cost you a little bit more, but it will, most certainly, be worth it!
 

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