Miami Beach Requiring Land Use Boards to Consider Cool and Porous Pavements

The city’s land use boards shall consider the following when making decisions within their jurisdiction, as applicable: (a) Criteria for development orders: (1) A recycling or salvage plan for partial or total demolition shall be provided. (2) Windows that are proposed to be replaced shall be hurricane proof impact windows. (3) Where feasible and appropriate, passive cooling systems, such as operable windows, shall be provided. (4) Resilient landscaping (salt tolerant, highly water-absorbent, native, or Florida-friendly plants) shall be provided, in accordance with chapter 126 of the city Code. (5) The project applicant shall consider the adopted sea level rise projections in the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan, as may be revised from time-to-time by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. The applicant shall also specifically study the land elevation of the subject property and the elevation of surrounding properties. (6) The ground floor, driveways, and garage ramping for new construction shall be adaptable to the raising of public rights-of-way and adjacent land, and shall provide sufficient height and space to ensure that the entry ways and exits can be modified to accommodate a higher street height of up to three additional feet in height. (7) As applicable to all new construction, all critical mechanical and electrical systems shall be located above base flood elevation. All redevelopment projects shall, whenever practicable and economically reasonable, include the relocation of all critical mechanical and electrical systems to a location above base flood elevation. (8) Existing buildings shall, wherever reasonably feasible and economically appropriate, be elevated up to base flood elevation, plus City of Miami Beach Freeboard. (9) When habitable space is located below the base flood elevation plus City of Miami Beach Freeboard, wet or dry flood proofing systems will be provided in accordance with chapter 54 of the city Code. (10) As applicable to all new construction, stormwater retention systems shall be provided. (11) Cool pavement materials or porous pavement materials shall be utilized. (12) The design of each project shall minimize the potential for heat island effects on-site. (b) Criteria for ordinances, resolutions, or recommendations: (1) Whether the proposal affects an area that is vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise, pursuant to adopted projections. (2) Whether the proposal will increase the resiliency of the city with respect to sea level rise. (3) Whether the proposal is compatible with the city’s sea level rise mitigation and resiliency efforts.