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Committee moves Fisher Island-backed proposal to allow taller parking garages on Terminal Island to Planning Board
Summary
A proposal to allow main-use parking garages on Terminal Island to increase from 40 feet to 75 feet (matching CD 3 allowance) was recommended for Planning Board review after proponents said it would reduce ferry backups and the applicant expressed willingness to discuss city parking needs.
The Land Use and Sustainability Committee on June 6 recommended sending to the Planning Board a narrow zoning amendment that would permit main-use parking garages on Terminal Island to reach 75 feet in height (instead of the current 40-foot cap), matching height rules already allowed for parking garages elsewhere in the CD 3 district.
Tom (city staff) said the change would allow Fisher Island Community Association to increase parking capacity within its existing garage footprint to reduce the number of cars queuing for the ferry and cut ferry trips. Neeson Kasten of Ackerman LLP, representing the Fisher Island Community Association, told the committee the expanded garage would "accommodate cars that would otherwise have to go to Fisher Island and use the ferry terminal" and could reduce backups on the MacArthur Causeway.
A resident caller raised traffic concerns and urged more study; Matthew Galtanoff (South Beach resident) said recent ferry capacity increases and a reconfigured intersection create pinch points and argued the committee should not act until more analysis is done. Kasten and Tom replied that Transportation Department review of the applicant's materials concluded the proposal did not indicate negative roadway network impacts and could yield operational benefits by dispersing traffic rather than forcing cars onto the ferry.
Commissioners discussed linking support for the amendment with conversations about providing some parking relief to the city; Kasten said Fisher Island's association was "more than willing" to discuss temporary or longer-term allocation of spaces for the city. A committee member moved and seconded the item; the committee recommended transmittal to the Planning Board for its June 21 meeting and noted the item would appear for first reading at the full commission on June 22 if transmitted.
No final zoning change was adopted by the committee; the measure will proceed to the Planning Board for public hearing and transmittal consideration.
