Compromise reached between Quayside, area residents

By Marilisa Jimenez
   Miami-Dade County commissioners have allowed Quayside Development Group to continue using Northeast 108th Street on the south side of North Bayshore Drive as an entrance to townhouses that the group is developing.
   Residents on Northeast 108th Street asked the commission last week to honor a 1979 covenant between Quayside and the commission protecting them from disturbances from construction work.
   "The covenant was made to protect our streets from the hungry mouths of condo developers," Northeast 108th Street resident Eduardo Bertot told commissioners.
   Commission Chair Gwen Margolis moved to grant Quayside's request — with restrictions. The original covenant would be modified for one year from the time a construction permit is granted.
   A portion of a wall damaged by Quayside in order to create an entrance to the property along the southside of North Bayshore Drive and facing the backyards of Northeast 108th Street residents must be repaired and replaced, while the entire length of the wall must be painted, Ms. Margolis said.
   Quayside workers must also replace damaged foliage, she said, and landscaping must be added along the wall to give the area a better appearance.
   Construction trucks cannot be backed up or parked in streets and won't be allowed to go through the neighborhood on weekends, Ms. Margolis said. Development staff are to be appointed to direct truck traffic during hours when children in the neighborhood would be traveling to and from school, she said.
   Tibor Hollo, president of Quayside Development Group and owner of the property, said his company had not violated the covenant because it was using the area of North Bayshore Drive that crosses Northeast 108th — a public right-of-way — as an entrance for construction equipment and vehicles to build the 21-townhouse community. He said the only access to his property is through the public right-of-way.
   "Concrete trucks," Mr. Hollo said, "cannot go through the private roads of Quayside because they only have an 18-foot right-of-way."
   Mr. Hollo said doing so would damage the environment in Quayside.
   Commissioner Natacha Seijas Millan referred to Mr. Hollo's concern for his property and residents' concern for children in the vicinity of concrete trucks and machinery making trips through their neighborhood.
   "Some limbs will have to be cut off. Limbs will grow back; children won't," Ms. Millan said.
   Mr. Hollo's attorney said Mr. Hollo would be responsible and cautious concerning the safety of children in the neighborhood.