Rezoning affecting Croissant Park

Whether you agree or disagree, here is the information that has been sent to the Association - use it as you please:

original email from Elizabeth Fulford:

Here is the short version:

The property called Pina del Rio, running parallel to Davie Blvd from SW 9th Ave to the New River is slated for rezoning to multiple family occupancy. It will be called River's Edge.

The proposal is to build 7 (seven) 5 story rental buildings which will hold 280 units.

This will mean about 300 more cars in our area plus all the ensuing traffic difficulties.

What you can do:

Thursday, January 15 there will be a meeting open to the public at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 15th at the River Reach Community Center. The letter sent by the City says Angelyn Widdon, et al / River's Edge will be holding the meeting.  The Widdons own the largest pieces of the property. The proposal is to rezone the property to R25 (multiple dwellings) and construct seven 5 story buildings which will hold 280 rental units. Please try to attend this meeting.

Thursday, January 20, 6:30 PM at City Hall 100 N Andrews Ave there will be  meeting to discuss the rezoning. Please see attachment. If you need a ride, let me know.

On Tuesday, January 22 the rezoning item will be on the City Commission's agenda at City Hall. Please attend to protest this issue.

If you cannot attend, PLEASE email all of the following to protest this development: One email will do. Just include all of them in the address.

Brad Cohen        lawronin@aol.com

James G. McCulla    jim@jmiconsulting.org

Leo Hansen        lchaia@gate.net

Michael Ferber        mferber@bellsouth.net

Patrick McTigue    pmctigue@aol.com

Pete Witschen        witschen@nova.edu

Richard Heidelberger    RCHeidelberger@gmail.com

Stephanie Desir-Jean    mrs.jean@comcast.net

City Commission / Mayor / City Manager:

City Manager: Lee R. Feldman   mailto: lfeldman@fortlauderdale.gov

Mayor: John P. "Jack" Seiler     mailto: jack.seiler@fortlauderdale.gov

District 1 Commissioner: Bruce G. Roberts    mailto: BRoberts@fortlauderdale.gov

District 2 Commissioner: Dean Trantalis   mailto: dtrantalis@fortlauderdale.gov

District 3 Commissioner: Robert L. McKinzie   mailto: rmckinzie@fortlauderdale.gov

District 4 Vice Mayor: Romney Rogers   mailto: RRogers@fortlauderdale.gov

Please carbon copy (cc:) your emails to Eric Engmann, Planner II, at mailto:eengmann@fortlauderdale.gov

Sample email: Feel free to copy & paste this.

Sample email:

I am writing to protest the rezoning of the property called Pina del Rio, located on the NW corner of Davie Blvd and SW 9th Ave. west to the New River.

   The addition of 280 living units to this area does not seem to fall within the City’s plan for Sustainable Development. The City states that it “provides programs and administers plans and policies to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors and visitors by guiding quality development, promoting economic prosperity and environmental and social equity, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the community.”

   How can the addition of approximately 300 vehicles to this area support the city’s guidelines which are meant to encourage orderly growth and promote well-designed development and redevelopment through sound planning principles?

If this development is allowed to proceed here is what will happen to the traffic on Davie and SW 9^th:

   At this time, there is no intent to put a traffic light on Davie Boulevard where the planned east and west exit from River's Edge is being considered. How can motorists go east on Davie Boulevard from River's Edge without using the traffic light at SW 9th Avenue? 

That means that SW 9th Avenue is going to have additional traffic from all those residents exiting River's Edge wanting to go east.

   There will be no "right turn lanes" on Davie Boulevard into any of the 4 entrances to River's Edge.

This means that every time a resident wants to pull into River's Edge from Davie Boulevard, traffic on Davie Boulevard will have to slow down to approximately 5-10 mph, which is a reasonable speed to negotiate a right hand turn.

   There was discussion by the developers to provide a right-of-way for a right turn lane at SW 9th Avenue and Davie Boulevard; however, no right turn lane is currently being planned because it would cost $400,000 (four hundred thousand dollars) to move the big black traffic pole.

   That means motorists wanting to go south on SW 9th Avenue would completely tie up traffic for all those wanting to go west on Davie Boulevard.

The above traffic issues will not enhance the quality of life for anyone living in or travelling through this area.

The rezoning of this property to high density occupancy will contradict the Urban Planning Mission statement for the city of Fort Lauderdale which begins, “Welcome to the Urban Design and Planning Division! Our mission is to shape urban development outcomes through creative thinking, sound civic planning and urban design solutions that result in a sustainable, high-quality of life for our residents, incomparable experience for our visitors and an exceptional sense of place for all.”