MIZOD? Say What?

Little Havana is planning for the future! To that end the ownership secured the Egan Marine property at 1000 E. Key Highway (VERY CLOSE to our existing location) a few years ago. The plan was to build a new Little Havana that would be convenient for our customers, when the warehouse property we are currently in is eventually sold.

What we didn't know is that while we were negotiating on the property - a MIZOD was placed (erroneously) over our property. "What is a MIZOD?" you ask.....from the official documents:

'The Maritime Industrial Zoning Overlay District (MIZOD) was enacted in 2004 in an effort to reduce increasing conflicts between mixed-use development and maritime shipping by demarcating deep water areas in industrial precincts and reserving them for industrial use. The zoning overlay disallows planned unit developments (PUDs) and mixed uses such as office and hotel/motel, except when accessory. Included in the overlay district are existing industrial properties with deep water access and zoned “Heavy Industrial” (M-3) in portions of Canton, Fairfield, Curtis Bay, Hawkins Point, and Locust Point.'

Wow. What a mouthful! When we asked to be removed from the MIZOD so that we could move our restaurant, we were informed that there could be no change made to the MIZOD for 10 years (when it expired). We have been negotiating for it's release ever since.

Now (2008) the Port and the City want to extend the MIZOD another 10 years!? We say NO THANK YOU! If they want to MAKE A CHANGE to the MIZOD - then they should REMOVE the EGAN PROPERTY from it and return it to the people!

PLEASE let your Councilman know that this is important to you. FREE EGAN MARINE!'