The committee devoted considerable attention to the living seawalls initiative, an effort to adapt Miami Beach’s urban infrastructure to environmental challenges. Public Works Director John Norris presented on the benefits of living seawalls, emphasizing their role in enhancing ecological habitats and water quality. Two pilot projects are currently underway, focusing on the convention center along Collins Canal and West 60th Street. These projects serve as models for potential future seawall replacements, with innovative approaches like 3D printed seawalls being explored for cost and time efficiencies.

A committee member expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting a specific project at Bonita Drive in North Beach as a candidate for a living seawall due to its natural conditions and flooding issues. The member urged the committee to consider this location for a pilot project, emphasizing its potential to enhance the area and serve as a practical example of living seawalls’ benefits.

Chief Resilience Officer Amy Nullles noted that the PACE program now includes seawalls, providing a potential funding mechanism. The committee agreed to explore opportunities for funding living seawalls, recognizing their dual benefits of flood prevention and ecological restoration. Public comments were invited, with Jack Khan, a Miami Beach resident, expressing strong support for living seawalls and advocating for collaboration with state authorities and private coalitions to monitor biodiversity associated with these structures.

The meeting also addressed green roofs and living walls, focusing on potential amendments to the Land Development Regulations. Suggestions included incentives like building height and Floor Area Ratio allowances, waiver provisions for city fees, and educational outreach programs. Concerns were raised about incentivizing green roofs through zoning changes, with one individual advocating for partnerships with local organizations to conduct seminars and disseminate materials. The potential for community gardens on rooftops was highlighted as a way to create gathering spaces and amenities.

The committee discussed the urban heat island effect, with a preference for exploring non-zoning incentives such as waiver provisions and educational efforts. The importance of protecting mature trees in public spaces was emphasized, with a call for a review of tree protection ordinances to minimize tree removal during development. The idea of mandating green roofs for new buildings was proposed, with Coral Gables cited as a model for strict building requirements.

Another topic of discussion was the capacity of the city’s sewer system along Alton Road, which was determined to be insufficient for certain proposed developments. Concerns were raised about the implications of the Live Local Act, which limits public input by replacing traditional review processes with administrative reviews. The committee stressed the importance of maintaining local control over development standards and ensuring that projects meet infrastructure needs before gaining approval.

The need for comprehensive inspections to prevent discrepancies between permitted and constructed projects was highlighted. The committee recognized the citywide concern of sewer capacity deficiencies and emphasized the importance of infrastructure analysis for future development proposals.