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Work in progress at Kaskades March 21, 2014, after DERM permit was denied February 3
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Fetid water being pumped from under building and removed April 11, 2014
David Weston thanked Espinoza for his prompt action on the matter. We have some 34 cities in Miami Dade County, and I find that they sometimes think they can act as they wish. I would like to believe that Miami Beach will assure you in writing that they will honor our environmental regulations in the future as well as correcting the other issues that have been previously brought to their attention. It is my understanding that when Mr. Walters brought this matter to the attention of the City of Miami Beach he received an email accusing him of being obsessed. Citizens should be encouraged to report environmental issues to your department. If this obsessed comment is true, then I think that Mr. Walters is owed an apology from the City of Miami Beach as well as a thank you from your department. I believe Miami-Dade County would freeze over before that would happen more than once in lifetime if ever. Constructive criticism from outsiders has never been welcomed by the ruling clique of the City of Miami Beach. My constructive suggestion for the future is to provide for severe mandatory penalties for all construction begun without a DERM permit. Too bad I still dont work for Miami Beach, said Weston in an aside. I certainly would have been fired for this obsession.
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From: Espinoza, Luis (RER) <EspinL@miamidade.gov<mailto:EspinL@miamidade.gov>> Date: Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 11:30 AM Subject: RE: RESPONSE Phased permitting DERM Permit Fees Miami Beach To: David Arthur Walters <miamimirror@gmail.com<mailto:miamimirror@gmail.com>> Dear David, We have reviewed all the phased permits listed in the table you provided and added 5 columns to show the DERM status, DERM approval date, DERM process number, WASD approval and DERM notes. Of the 23 phase permits listed 17 (sic) were approved by DERM. Both the projects at 1 Collins Avenue and 321 Ocean Drive received DERM approval. The City of Miami Beach procedures should be revised to specify that DERM approval is required prior to the phase permit being issued. DERM will be contacting the City of Miami Beach to assure that the required DERM approval is listed as part of the Phased Permit process, and that the DERM approval is consistently obtained prior to City approval of all Phased Permits. Thank you, Luis Espinoza
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From: David Arthur Walters [mailto:miamimirror@gmail.com<mailto:miamimirror@gmail.com>] Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2014 10:20 AM To: Espinoza, Luis (RER) Subject: RESPONSE Phased permitting DERM Permit Fees Miami Beach Dear Luis, Thank you for the information. Is there any way that your department can check to see if DERM permits were issued on the large ones, especially on the groundbreaking, foundation, and erection of buildings at 1 Collins Avenue (B1305453), 321 Ocean Drive (B1306734) (photo of unlicensed architect signage on project attached)? Also you will see below two pages on phased permitted from the latest MB Policies and Procedures Manual. I have already noticed that the requirements there listed do not include signing off by FIRE, which is necessary according to an Opinion by the State Fire Marshall. MB Building and the City Manager has not responded to my inquiry regarding that issue. The procedure also does not mention DERM but mentions NPDES. Can you address that? Thank you again for your assistance. I stand by for your response. Very truly yours, David Arthur Walters Independent Journalist Attachment: Miami Beach Policies and Procedures Building Department Operations Division Revised July 2013 Phased Permit Approval POLICY
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Espinoza, Luis (RER) <EspinL@miamidade.gov<mailto:EspinL@miamidade.gov>> Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 4:04 PM To: "miamimirror@gmail.com<mailto:miamimirror@gmail.com>" <miamimirror@gmail.com<mailto:miamimirror@gmail.com>> Dear David, Cristian Guerrero forwarded your question to me. Please note that a DERM review and approval is required for all municipal and unincorporated building permits issued by the corresponding building official. This includes phased permits. DERM reviews these plans for compliance with requirements of Chapter 24, Miami-Dade County's environmental protection ordinance. The purpose for the review is to assure that proposed projects will comply with the county's environmental protection code, including certification that the wastewater collection, transmission and treatment systems, (from the point of connection to the wastewater treatment plant) have adequate transmission and treatment capacity in accordance with the Federal Consent Decree (CASE No. 1:12-CV-24400FAM) prior to them beginning construction. Unlike other development reviews, which can be performed post construction initiation, DERM reviews must be completed, and DERM approval granted, prior to initiating construction. For example, certification of adequate transmission and treatment capacity must be obtained prior to initiating construction. The DERM fees are simply plan review fees collected to pay for the effort involved with performing the review. The actual fees vary depending on the scope of work for the project, but can be found on our website at www.miamidade.gov/permits/library/fees/scheduleenvironmental.pdf<http://www.miamidade.gov/permits/library/fees/scheduleenvironmental.pdf>. The plans reviewed by DERM will have a DERM stamp with an approval sign-off. Note that Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (WASD) and Florida Department of Health (DOH) review and approval may also be required depending on the specifics of the project. WASD reviews all new development projects and collects connection charges in accordance
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From: David Arthur Walters [mailto:miamimirror@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 12:40 PM To: Guerrero, Cristian (RER) Subject: Phased permitting DERM Permit Fees Miami Beach Dear Cristian Guerrero: I am studying the City of Miami Beach's recent introduction of phased permitting for building projects. I understand that a DERM permit is supposed to be required and paid for before a phased permit is issued, and that certain fees must be paid to get the DERM permit. I am also informed that the phased permit should have some sort of paid DERM permit stamp on it. Would you kindly confirm that is the case, and, if possible, send along information about the process, what the fees are for, et cetera? Thank you very much, David Arthur Walters Journalist
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