The Issue
The Miami Marine Stadium Basin was under consideration for a proposal for the development of a mooring field consisting of 49 vessels up to 60 feet in an attempt to regulate the anchoring in the basin. The Virginia Key Alliance believes all members of the public should be able to enjoy low-impact and responsible access to Virginia Key and the Marine Stadium Basin. In addition to numerous public safety and environmental concerns, a mooring field in the basin would ultimately prevent the enjoyment of this area for recreational purposes and would effectively limit public access to this beautiful waterway.
MOORING FIELD UPDATE
FEBUARY 1, 2018: The City of Miami challenged attendees at the January Virginia Key Advisory Board meeting to come to a workshop with ideas for alternate solutions for the mooring field. The workshop was held February 1st. A visual presentation was given by Leah Kinnaird, showing how the Marine Stadium Basin is used currently and what the potential use could be. Roger Bernstein introduced three legal solutions and invited the City to meet with Attorney Byron Flagg to discuss these alternatives. The Virginia Key Alliance was officially formed to lead this initiative as well as future ones.
MARCH 8, 2018: The Resolution to proceed with funding for Phase 2, which would start construction on the mooring field, was withdrawn by the City of Miami Commission. A thank you to Commissioner Ken Russell for the withdrawal. While this means that the resolution is not "continued" nor "deferred", we are still not sure how a withdrawal will affect future plans.
MARCH 14, 2018: The VKA meeting with Ken Russell and Daniel Rotenberg, Director of Real Estate Asset Management was cancelled. No date has been rescheduled as of yet. Mr. Rotenberg's department would over-see mooring field development.
MARCH 2018: During this month the Virginia Key Alliance has been working on alternate plans to solve the problem of illegal anchoring in the basin, derelict boats and to ensure continued safe access to the basin by current users. Byron Flagg, VKA's legal representation, presented our findings and solutions. After consultations with the proper officials, organizations and working in collaboration with the City, a plan for a boating restricted areas in the basin will be presented to the Virginia Key Advisory Board on March 27th. We hope to find a solution that can be implemented quickly. More far reaching and holistic solutions are also being discussed.
OUR SUCCESSFUL ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE MOORING FIELD PLAN
NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed construction of a mooring field in this location raises many concerns about the environmental impact of such development activities, long term effects of increased vessel operations in the area, significant implications to the surrounding environment and natural wildlife (dolphins, manatees, stingrays many fish types, nesting and diving birds), in addition directly interferring with numerous non-consumptive uses of the area. Pollution issues are of particular concern.
RESTRICTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS
Virginia Key in downtown Miami has been a natural habitat and haven for over 40 years, for rowers, paddlers, and a variety of non-motorized sports. All members of the public should be able to enjoy low-impact and responsible access to the basin water. Currently over 700 non-motorized water sport enthusiasts and athletes, including approximately 150-200 high school rowers, use the basin on a regular basis. A mooring field will limit, and in some cases restrict, enjoyment of the basin for recreation and training.
SAFETY HAZARD
Moored boats have to eventually enter and leave the basin. This creates a significant safety hazard for the small human powered water craft out on the water. Potential pollution, discharged into the water and air and noise, harms both humans and wildlife.
AGAINST THE VIRGINIA KEY MASTER PLAN
The City of Miami has systematically tried to develop the area as income producing real-estate, not in keeping with the Virginia Key Master Plan. This plan would allow the city to construct a mooring field for 50-60 foot vessels directly in the middle of the basin, which would interfere (and prevent) current activity for youth and adults,
THE VIRGINIA KEY ALLIANCE POSITION
While we recognize that the establishment of a mooring field would allow the City to regulate the anchorage of vessels in the lagoon, potentially reduce seagrass damage from dragging anchors and grounded boats, and potentially regulate and prevent the illegal discharge of sewage by providing a pump-out facility; the VKA is committed to finding better solutions that would not compromise the environmental fragility of the marine stadium park – especially since the development of a mooring field has significant potential to do the opposite; by increasing vessel traffic and increasing pollution from the operations of these vessels and the supporting infrastructure.
MOORING FIELD UPDATE
FEBUARY 1, 2018: The City of Miami challenged attendees at the January Virginia Key Advisory Board meeting to come to a workshop with ideas for alternate solutions for the mooring field. The workshop was held February 1st. A visual presentation was given by Leah Kinnaird, showing how the Marine Stadium Basin is used currently and what the potential use could be. Roger Bernstein introduced three legal solutions and invited the City to meet with Attorney Byron Flagg to discuss these alternatives. The Virginia Key Alliance was officially formed to lead this initiative as well as future ones.
MARCH 8, 2018: The Resolution to proceed with funding for Phase 2, which would start construction on the mooring field, was withdrawn by the City of Miami Commission. A thank you to Commissioner Ken Russell for the withdrawal. While this means that the resolution is not "continued" nor "deferred", we are still not sure how a withdrawal will affect future plans.
MARCH 14, 2018: The VKA meeting with Ken Russell and Daniel Rotenberg, Director of Real Estate Asset Management was cancelled. No date has been rescheduled as of yet. Mr. Rotenberg's department would over-see mooring field development.
MARCH 2018: During this month the Virginia Key Alliance has been working on alternate plans to solve the problem of illegal anchoring in the basin, derelict boats and to ensure continued safe access to the basin by current users. Byron Flagg, VKA's legal representation, presented our findings and solutions. After consultations with the proper officials, organizations and working in collaboration with the City, a plan for a boating restricted areas in the basin will be presented to the Virginia Key Advisory Board on March 27th. We hope to find a solution that can be implemented quickly. More far reaching and holistic solutions are also being discussed.
OUR SUCCESSFUL ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE MOORING FIELD PLAN
NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed construction of a mooring field in this location raises many concerns about the environmental impact of such development activities, long term effects of increased vessel operations in the area, significant implications to the surrounding environment and natural wildlife (dolphins, manatees, stingrays many fish types, nesting and diving birds), in addition directly interferring with numerous non-consumptive uses of the area. Pollution issues are of particular concern.
RESTRICTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS
Virginia Key in downtown Miami has been a natural habitat and haven for over 40 years, for rowers, paddlers, and a variety of non-motorized sports. All members of the public should be able to enjoy low-impact and responsible access to the basin water. Currently over 700 non-motorized water sport enthusiasts and athletes, including approximately 150-200 high school rowers, use the basin on a regular basis. A mooring field will limit, and in some cases restrict, enjoyment of the basin for recreation and training.
SAFETY HAZARD
Moored boats have to eventually enter and leave the basin. This creates a significant safety hazard for the small human powered water craft out on the water. Potential pollution, discharged into the water and air and noise, harms both humans and wildlife.
AGAINST THE VIRGINIA KEY MASTER PLAN
The City of Miami has systematically tried to develop the area as income producing real-estate, not in keeping with the Virginia Key Master Plan. This plan would allow the city to construct a mooring field for 50-60 foot vessels directly in the middle of the basin, which would interfere (and prevent) current activity for youth and adults,
THE VIRGINIA KEY ALLIANCE POSITION
While we recognize that the establishment of a mooring field would allow the City to regulate the anchorage of vessels in the lagoon, potentially reduce seagrass damage from dragging anchors and grounded boats, and potentially regulate and prevent the illegal discharge of sewage by providing a pump-out facility; the VKA is committed to finding better solutions that would not compromise the environmental fragility of the marine stadium park – especially since the development of a mooring field has significant potential to do the opposite; by increasing vessel traffic and increasing pollution from the operations of these vessels and the supporting infrastructure.
This is how the basin currently looks......
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BUT it could look like this! This is the mooring field plan.
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MORE TO WATCH
Other development activities proposed for the marine stadium park such as the installation of motorboat ramps, several docks protruding into the basin and parking spaces for trailers, which would expand the current scope of motorized vessel operations, are also incompatible with the current park use by non-motorized vessels and suggest continued encroachment and restrictions on non-consumptive recreational activities. Your access to the water could depend on it!
get Involved
Attend public meetings of the Miami City Commission and the Virginia Key Advisory Board. You'll learn how you can work side by side with our network of VKA members and volunteers to protect the environment and Virginia Key.
Make your voice heard
Pick up the phone and call, or email, your local representatives. Let them know that your access to this area, environmental welfare, clean water, public health and safety are important to you. Contact information may be found below:
Elected officials - city of miami
Mayor Francis Suarez
fsuarez@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5300 |
Commissioner Wilfredo Gort (District 1)
wgort@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5430 |
Commissioner Ken Russell (District 2)
krussell@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5333 |
Commissioner Joe Carollo (District 3)
jcarollo@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5380 |
Commissioner Manolo Reyes (District 4)
mreyes@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5420 |
Commissioner Keon Hardemon (District5)
khardemon@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5390 |
Appointed Members - Virginia Key Advisory Board (VKAB)
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Esther Alonso-Luft
Board Member (Dist. 2) emluft2@gmail.com Peter Ehrlich Board Member (Urban Environmental League) petersobe@aol.com Guy Forchion Board Member (Virginia Key Beach Park Trust) developamerica1964@gmail.com Lynn Lewis Board Member (Nat'l Trust for Historic Pres.) lynnlewis@lblpa.com Steven Leidner Board Member (Sierra Club) stevenleidner@att.net |
Gary Milano
Board Member (Tropical Audubon) biscayn@gmail.com Joe Rasco Board Member (MDC Commissioner Dist. 7) jrasco@miamidade.gov Vinson Richter Board Member (Dade Heritage Trust) vrichter@trigragc.com Frankie Ruiz Board Member (Citizen, Work or Own Real Property) FRuiz2@lifetimefitness.com Robert Vernon Board Member (Village of Key Biscayne) grandbaymaster@yahoo.com |
