Construction getting on nerves in Miami Beach: poll

Miami Beach residents who signed up for sunshine and sandy beaches are instead dealing with construction-related noise and traffic issues, according to a survey released by Mayor Philip Levine’s office.

The biannual citizen satisfaction survey, which interviewed more than 2 percent of the city’s 92,000-resident population, found that 11 percent of respondents said decreasing the amount of construction or requiring quicker completion would improve traffic congestion and noise pollution. Survey takers regarded alleviating construction concerns as important as fixing persistent flooding issues.

Of those surveyed, 5 percent reported they were aggravated by construction in 2012.

“The days of unbridled growth where a lobbyist [for a large development] would give money to an elected official and the elected official would look the other way and disregard the quality of life — as long as I’m mayor, those days are over,” Levine told the Daily Business Review.

To curb what he called “irresponsible” development, Levine recommended builders begin to set their sights on North Beach, which has a smaller population but similar appeal as its southern counterpart.

“North Beach is already and will continue to become more like South Beach,” Levine said. “North Beach is hot. It’s becoming the real growth of Miami Beach.” [Daily Business Review] -Kerry Barger