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7. Key Conclusions and Recommendations <br />Despite significant challenges and limitations (not the least of which was transitioning to conduct public <br />engagement at the beginnin go of the COVID-19 pandemic), this community engagement process met its <br />goals to engage a wide variety of perspectives, to get a balanced picture of preferences and concerns, and <br />to find areas of common ground. Now that the engagement process is complete, the Commission's role is <br />to weigh the community's input, the areas of common ground, and the vision elements to determine which <br />strategy to follow. The following summarizes key factors to consider. <br />Recommended Strategy: Based on the input received and the evaluation performed by the project team, <br />we recommend consideration of the 'A Narrower Focus" strategy, as posed in the Score Card. "A Narrower <br />Focus" is the option that received the highest percent of votes from workshop participants (40%), and was a <br />concept suggested by numerous overall process participants, leading to the development of this option in <br />the first place. <br />This strategy would allow the City to focus its efForts on reimagining the future character of the commercial <br />corridor "subdistrict;' according to the consensus expressed in participant opinions during the process. <br />Choosing this strategy would require the City to (a) amend the Future Land Use Map to redraw the Town <br />Center North Overlay boundary; (b) likely create a new "business" zoning category to reflect the desired <br />character of the commercial corridor, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; (c) amend the Zoning Map to <br />rezone the commercial properties to the appropriate zoning category; and (d) introduce density and intensity <br />measures into the Comprehensive Plan for the redrawn Overlay (as described below). <br />Densityand Intensity Measures: The "A Narrower Focus" option requires incorporating density and intensity <br />metrics (which could be expressed as ranges) into the description of the Overlay, because the Comprehensive <br />Plan today does not include these measures, which are statutorily required (Sec. 163.3177(6)(a)l.). The <br />Commission should provide direction to staff as to whether to adopt the metrics that are currently in the <br />Zoning Code; adopt the same metrics that are part of the underlying land use districts; or introduce new <br />metrics (higher or lower). <br />Development Capacity: Any changes that result in a reduction of development capacity must demonstrate <br />that the changes are based on rational reasons to further a legitimate public interest, and that property <br />owners are still provided with an economically reasonable use of land. <br />Defining Building Height: <br />• Except for the commercial area, the building heights that are currently prescribed in the TCZD are in line <br />with the range that the public deemed acceptable. Many participants favor the current mix of building <br />forms and masses, but would prefer shorter buildings along Collins Avenue, with any taller portions of <br />buildings in the residential area. Mostly, there is consensus that skycrapers of the scale seen in other parts <br />of the City are not desirable here. <br />• The City should consider stipulating building height in terms of number of stories (rather than number <br />of linear feet) and adding a definition of "story" that establishes the maximum ceiling height of a building <br />story. <br />• The City should consider simplifying the concept of the Street Frontage Plan, which controls building <br />parameters including building height in the TCZD. Most of the original street types, which are tied to <br />locations, may not be feasible. <br />Additional Considerations: <br />• Walkability: While most participants enjoy the high level of walkability of the area, they also recognize <br />20 City of Sunny Isles Beach <br />