Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Landscape Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Miami reviews Landscape Master Plan and debates sidewalk design, materials and costs
Summary
Consultants presented a Landscape Master Plan with three planting themes, intersection hardscape concepts and conceptual costs for seven focus intersections. Commissioners discussed material samples, whether sidewalks or intersection accents should be prioritized and financing/procurement options; conceptual costs per intersection range from about $81,400 to $354,000.
Consultants from Miller Legg presented the city’s proposed Landscape Master Plan at the April 7 meeting, recommending corridor classifications, three themed planting palettes and hardscape options for gateways and intersections.
Miguel Honkal and Jenny Zukowski with Miller Legg outlined design choices that include a gray concrete with blue glass aggregate and a complementary green concrete as accent, three planting palettes (Florida, Tropical and Pollinator) and conceptual renderings for intersections such as Sunset and Southwest 67th. The consultants said an inventory and community input informed the palette and that overhead utility conflicts limit tree choices in many corridors.
“We categorized all of the corridors — principal arterials down to local streets — and documented existing conditions,” Zukowski said. She presented conceptual cost ranges for the seven proposed focus intersections from about $81,400 to $354,000 per intersection depending on type and conditions.
Commission discussion focused on aesthetics and implementation: some commissioners opposed leaf motifs on sidewalks and favored a simpler gray sidewalk with aggregate; others suggested using accents only at intersections. Commissioners also pressed staff on procurement approaches and whether adjacent property owners should be required to improve the right-of-way when they develop. City staff said an $85,000 allocation is available in a TreeTrust Fund for initial planting work and that staff will explore piggyback contracts or multiple-quote approaches for procurement.
Residents at public comment questioned plant-species choices and maintenance requirements; a landscaper advised the city to consider planting smaller stock to reduce long-term failure rates and cost.
Staff said implementation will be phased and budgeted; the plan includes recommendations for design standards, impact fees, grants and potential comprehensive-plan or land-development-code updates to support future projects.
