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Front Page » Top Stories » Miami adds Virginia Key Park to parks billboards plan

Miami adds Virginia Key Park to parks billboards plan

Written by on September 27, 2022
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Miami adds Virginia Key Park to parks billboards plan

Miami commissioners have approved the first step toward allowing advertising billboards in three of the city’s larger waterfront parks.

On Sept. 22 the commission unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance that allows outdoor advertising signs at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., and Maurice A. Ferré Park, 1075 Biscayne Blvd., and Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive.

The original proposed language listed only Bayfront and Ferré Park.

The proposal was amended to add Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, along with wording to clarify they are not free-standing signs but they are monument signs pursuant to the Miami 21 zoning code, according to City Attorney Victoria Méndez.

Commission Chair Christine King asked that Virginia Key Beach Park Trust be added.

The code limits the size of monument signs to 20 by 20 feet, or 400 square feet.

Sponsor of the legislation is Commissioner Joe Carollo, who is chairman of the Bayfront Park Management Trust. The trust manages both Bayfront and Ferré Park.

The legislation would amend an existing ordinance entitled Administration/City-Owned Property/Outdoor Advertising Signs On City-Owned Property.

The proposal says in part, “Bayfront Park and Maurice Ferré Park have begun to attract large numbers of residents and visitors; and … Bayfront Park Management Trust manages Bayfront Park and Maurice Ferré Park to offset costs of maintenance on the City of Miami; and … the Trust has begun to host major events to amplify the enjoyment and use of the two parks for the community; and … the Trust can now attract more revenue to ensure funds necessary to improve and maintain the parks.”

A portion of Maurice A. Ferré Park faces I-395 and the MacArthur Causeway to Watson Island and Miami Beach.

The original ordinance allows outdoor advertising signs at three city-owned sites: James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Ave.; the Olympia Theater and Building/Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, 174 E Flagler St.; and Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway.

Along with the size of the signs being limited to 20 by 20 feet, Mr. Carollo said the signs can only be placed every 1,000 feet, which will also limit the number of signs.

“Putting something that’s reasonable in size, 1,000 feet apart, it’s not like … a sign every few hundred feet,” said Mr. Carollo.

Commissioner Manolo Reyes voiced concern about the brightness of the new signs.

“I don’t want us to become another Vegas … food for thought, let’s picture how it (the sign) can be and how it would impact the environment and city residents,” said Mr. Reyes.

During public comment, resident Nathan Kurland voiced opposition to the proposed ordinance, referred to as FR.10.

He said, “As a board member of Scenic Miami, as a board member of Scenic Florida, 11-year member … of Bayfront Park (Trust), I have to speak in opposition to FR.10.

“Over the past several years the city commission has opened the barn door to an industry that has little regard for our natural beauty and quality of life.

“Advertising on barges, planes, buildings – everywhere you look, advertising. Ferré and Bayfront Park are signature parks for the City of Miami. If you allow FR.10 to pass, what would be the eventual result will be parks full of advertising. Please, commissioners, vote in opposition to FR.10,” said Mr. Kurland.

Second and final reading of the ordinance may occur next month.

17 Responses to Miami adds Virginia Key Park to parks billboards plan

  1. Richard R-P

    September 28, 2022 at 10:05 am

    This is sickening. With all the additional tax revenue the city is getting from new construction, there is no reason (other than self-serving reasons) to have advertisements in our parks. Really, it’s just another reason this city is so far from being the “world-class city” it claims to be.

  2. Criminals

    September 28, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    All five Miami commissioners are criminals. LED BILLBOARDS? Really? LED Billboards are the worst form of visual pollution. AND to unanimously vote to put them in three public parks? Payoffs…these commissioners are taking money from the outdoor advertising industry, probably Outfront Media. Mayor Suarez should veto this crap, unless he is getting paid off too.

  3. Get attorneys

    September 28, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    We hope elected officials from Key Biscayne including its Mayor see this news and that they oppose any LED billboards on Virginia Key. In fact, we hope they hire attorneys because billboards are not supposed to go in parks or anywhere near residential areas.

  4. Gerwyn Flax

    September 28, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    The city commission is hell bent on making Miami a third world city, despite the well meaning citizens who voice their legitimate objections. Shameful!!!.

  5. Recall King

    September 29, 2022 at 12:04 am

    Christine King is such am embarrassment. She recommended putting an LED billboard in Virginia Key Park? She also voted to demolish Melreese Park. She voted against blacks in the West Grove…

  6. Hello Feds

    September 29, 2022 at 9:51 am

    Billboards? Are these elected officials totally corrupt?

  7. Creeps

    September 29, 2022 at 12:28 pm

    The City of Miami has plenty of tax revenue coming in. Ruining views of residents and of tourists is only so elected officials can line their own pockets.

  8. Jacqueline

    September 29, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    This is another affront to our beautiful waterfront parks. Bayfront Park becomes a noisy circus during the numerous special events. Now we shall have advertising signage. Our lovely green spot used to be so serene.

  9. No!

    September 29, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Really bad idea.

  10. Crackhead for crazy.

    September 30, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    Outdoor advertising and the cab industry have long been reliable, staples of dependable cash for pols. Now with the yellow cabs ending their run, the pols need to supplement their payola revenue stream.

  11. Investigate Pols

    October 4, 2022 at 11:25 am

    One of the worst ideas in the history of Miami’s elected officials proposing bad ideas. So much corruption, so little time. Putting LED billboards in public waterfront parks along very busy roads is SICK.

  12. Donatella

    October 5, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    You have got to be kidding!!! This is horrendous, there has to be something to stop this desecration!

  13. Raf T

    October 6, 2022 at 4:03 pm

    How can the put LED lights in a Sea Turtle NESTING place? Isnt’t that ILLEGAL? This is a LANDGRAB to develop these Parks. Absolutely DISGUSTING

  14. Paul Novak

    October 6, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    Wonder how much is being paid to the Commissioners…UNDER THE TABLE!! This is absolutely ridiculous!!

  15. Cindy

    October 7, 2022 at 3:01 am

    Parks are meant as a respite for individuals and families wanting to escape technology, work and other distractions of life. A time to enjoy the few green spaces remaining in our urban sprawl. Have they even considered the effect to the wildlife? This idea is ridiculous. With the horrible traffic now where ever u go in Miami at least give us a chance to catch our breath and enjoy our natural spaces.

  16. Kill Birds

    October 10, 2022 at 9:56 pm

    Animals and birds die from the excessive light from LED billboards. 24/7 light kills. Tourists and residents hate billboards. Only billboard companies and corrupt commissioners like billboards.

  17. Recall

    October 20, 2022 at 6:28 am

    Blacks want to recall the black commissioner Christine King. She should register as Cuban?

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