This Saturday, August 20, 2022, the Village of Palmetto Bay will hold an interactive workshop to discuss the proposed zoning changes to the commercial area at Old Cutler Road and SW 168th Street, and to receive feedback from the community.
The character of the Old Cutler neighborhood has a unique sense of place for many reasons: its proximity to the former Town of Cutler, its relationship to the Charles Deering Estate, the surrounding neighborhood commercial atmosphere at the intersection of Old Cutler Road and SW 168th Street (Richmond Drive), the scenic Old Cutler Trail for bicyclists, and its location at the northwestern edge of Biscayne National Park. The area’s rich legacy and its vibrant balance of neighborhood commercial uses both factor in to the present needs of the adjacent residential neighborhoods and the visitors of the Charles Deering Estate.
Therefore, the goal of the proposed Old Cutler Neighborhood Commercial District is to guide and shape development that contributes to the creation of a unique sense of place and vitality. The proposed ordinance is intended to:
- Promote a balance of compact, pedestrian-scaled, low and medium intensity uses with limited retail, service, office, and food and beverage establishment uses that serve the daily needs of the adjacent residential neighborhoods and the visitors of the Charles Deering Estate.
- Alleviate development pressures on adjacent residential neighborhoods by creating site development standards, implementing design guidelines, building standards with green building and green site requirements and incentives, increased landscape requirements, and specific sign standards that are more compatible with a pedestrian and neighborhood scale and that enhance the visual character of the district.
- Facilitate safe, attractive, and convenient pedestrian and bicycle circulation that minimizes conflict between pedestrians, bicycles, vehicles, and parking areas and establishes requirements for pedestrian and bicycle continuity and accessibility.
- Minimize the use of adjacent residential neighborhood streets for commercial area parking by establishing adequate parking requirements and encouraging shared parking arrangements.
- Preserve and enhance the unique ambiance and character of the area by establishing specific design guidelines within the district that are compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhoods and the Charles Deering Estate.
Your feedback matters! Join us to brainstorm, ask questions, give your input, and watch our presentation.
