I got the email below from a reader who tried, with his dad, to create a park around a lake in West Kendall — the cesspool of dirty politics (do you remember arrested Roberto Curbelo Jr., real estate investor, and former head of your Council?). David and his dad trying to do a good got a dose of reality. Look who he was up against (talk about a David and Goliath): The powerful Adrian Builders. David, please keep active and organize your neighbors and the community. The Kendall Federation is NOT enough. You live in nimby land by the way. I have been to meetings out there. Hundred of people showed up to stop an office building but left when the movement of the urban development boundary came up.
My advice to you: Download the Hometown Democracy Petition and get it signed. Developers are afraid of it (the link is on the right). It won’t just help your community, it will help the whole State. Aside from that, keep reading our blog and don’t ever lose hope that you can make a difference! That is what motivates us to blog.
Dear Genius:
My father and I put up a decent fight. In the end a number of people "CHANGED THEIR MINDS" after talking with the developer. Imagine what transpired...
Please put a link up and ask people to check out the comments as they are pretty revealing. Too bad all those people didn't show up. Hidden Lake development approved
Thanks, David
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WEST KENDALL COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Hidden Lake development approved
Posted on Wed, Oct. 03, 2007 By YUDY PINEIRO
ypineiro@MiamiHerald.com
After months of controversy, a developer's zoning request to allow warehouses, offices and shops on land at Hidden Lake in West Kendall was approved Tuesday after some of the parcel's neighbors turned out to support the development.
It was a surprise twist to a months long saga, because many of those neighbors had previously opposed the request. New faces at the West Kendall Community Council meeting Tuesday also gave the thumbs up to the project at Southwest 128th Street and 127th Avenue. (Hit read more)
Hearing the newfound support, the council approved developer Adrian Builders' request by a 6-1 margin. Lone dissenter Beatriz Suarez sided with staff's recommendation, which recommended denial of the 270,000 square-foot project's 31,000 square-foot retail component. The land had been zoned for industrial and office use.
In an attempt to appease neighbors, the developer agreed to enhancements, including planting native trees, constructing a lighted pathway for public use around the lake and adding gazebos for picnickers.
Adrian Builders also agreed not to fill the lake for at least five years -- about the time the project will take to build -- or until such plans are discussed with neighbors.
Those concessions appeased all but one staunch opponent of the proposed development, who for months fought alongside a few others to preserve the land as a park but was faced with several hurdles, the biggest of which was the lack of money to buy it from the developer.
Richard Freer felt the land, which is surrounded by a water-filled rock pit, was better fit for a park because for decades it been used as one -- albeit illegally.
West Kendall families and teenage friends picnicked, boated and hung out at the site, which in later years attracted illegal dumpers, criminals and drug-users
Hit on the link above to read the comments David spoke about (If the Herald link is working, they are messing with the links).
5 comments:
Genius,
A couple of things:
1. Your description of the controversy is a little lacking. The County clearly has no interest in using that land for park purposes. If it does, it can take it via eminent domain. I wouldn't blame them for not being interested given the condition of the property.
2. Hometown Democracy would have had absolutely no impact on a zoning issue.
3. The comments on the Herald site are revealing largely for their ignorance and racism.
4. It is interesting that you reference the crooked Board 11 from the late 1990s. Don't forget that Rep. Zapata, who has supported the Hidden Lake folks, was on that board during the same period. I'm not saying he was involved in any nonsense, but you are painting the volunteer members of the board as if they are all crooks, which is deeply unfair. You attend these meetings and know how thankless these positions can be.
I didn't say Hometown democracy had any impact on a zoning issue, don't you think I know what Hometown Democracy does? You annoy me a lot Lee Allen. It is a way to empower a citizen because we are powerless as far as the county is concerned. We are held hostage by district voting. HTD won't help on everything, but it will give citizens power and take some away from the commission and that would be heaven. Until you get rid of martinez...West Miami is the cesspool of dirty politics.
David, Keep on Keeping on.
Any of us who are actvists, win some and sometimes, we lose. But we also know that sometimes someone has to speak up when the little guy gets left in the development dust! It isn't easy and it takes alot of energy out of you... but it does matter. honest.
Just think what this place would be like if we weren't always poking and prodding for common sense government?
David and Dad...
you have already made a great contribution to your community. This project, if not stopped, is a heck of a lot better than it use to be, and I don't think you are done fighting yet.
Genius...
I saw some good stuff on the CC11 board the other day. That ship might be turning around.
By the way, am I the only one who has trouble hearing CC members when they speak. A few of them need to spit out the popcorn and speak into the mic more.
Community Council 11 has had problems since it began. They have had some good members but a bunch of crooks too. As long as Joe Marinez has appointing power it won't get better. His newest appointee, Jeff Wander, has a terrible record for supporting the people and his council record so far is more of the same. Glad he was not elected for State Rep.
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