They needed 5 votes, a "super majority" to gain approval, but they didn't get it. By a vote of 4-3, the West Kendall Community Council 11 turned down a proposal made by Krome Gold Ranches to turn 464 acres of former agricultural land into an upscale residential development with 19 multimillion dollar homes and a 171 acre lake. The vote was exactly the same as the one that occurred a few months before, and it was followed by a formality – a vote of 5-1 rejecting the proposal so the council would not have to take the issue up again. The practical result is that nothing changes. Now, the issue will be decided by the County Commissioners, probably sometime in October.
Between now and then, the developers in the room last night – like Sergio Pino and Rodney Barreto – and many others that were not present, will direct their lobbying and campaign donations accordingly. There is much at stake for them, as this proposed development is valuable not just because of the houses that would be sold there, but because the rock fill dug to make the lake could be used to lay the foundation for another, bigger development they are reportedly planning further south, Parkland.
But what was clear last night, in a stuffy, non air-conditioned band room at Arvida Middle School, is that this is one case where the developers have encountered a stubborn and organized resistance, and they may, not, as usually, get what they want.
It all came down, as it so often does, to a question of semantics. What is a farm residence? Is it a home where a farmer lives, or a home on a plot of land that could, someday, be used to grow crops?
The lawyer hired to represent the developers, the extremely competent and one would assume well-paid Juan Mayol of the firm Holland and Knight, had to convince the board that a house on 10-acres was indeed a farm residence independent of any actual farming, because the county's comprehensive plan classifies the area as agricultural, where only "farm residences" are permitted to be built.
He said that the development's millionaire residents might decide to become small farmers, so the homes would be "farm residences", which is undeniably true, but by the same logic, my apartment is a high tech research facility, because I could, theoretically, build a lab in my living room and decide to become a scientist.
This did not stop a majority of the board from supporting the development. Chairman Domingo Castillo and member Patricia Davis argued that the board should approve the project because a denser and more poorly planned development could someday be approved for the area, and it was better to approve this one while they still could.
It was a point that the lawyer who spoke against the project, Tucker Gibbs, hired by the Redland Citizen's Association, addressed during his presentation.
"You could say it's better to have these 50 units or these 48 unites than to have 90 some units," he said". "That's not the issue. You all are charged with enforcing the laws. The law is the comprehensive plan. Until that plan is changed – until they change the land use and say that's not agricultural – you all have an obligation and a duty to protect the agricultural land in this county."
A line of activists, took the microphone to oppose the development. There were also several audience members who supported it, like a lawyer with an expensive suit jacket and black shades on his head who described himself as a "horse breeder". And there were people like Yamil Jamid, an avocado farmer who has a 5-acre lot in the area, and supports the project because he sees it as a way of bolstering falling property values.
They will all likely be present in several months when the issue comes before the county commissioners. By then, the commissioners should be very familiar with the choice before them – between more far-flung, ex-urban residential development, or preserving agriculture, and between following the comprehensive plan, or permitting such a large exception to it that the goal of " preserving agriculture" and the plan's reference to it, will essentially become meaningless. The choice will be clear, and the public, one hopes, will be watching.
- Jared Goyette jaredmgo@gmail.com
14 comments:
I thought it was Community Council 11? The similar application in Redlands a week or so ago was shot down unanimously if I remember correctly. These are just attempts to build out agriculture and become one big concrete jungle paying $4.00 a piece for tomatoes!
That farmer is hoping development will up his property values so he can get out of the avocado business. I hope someone challenges folks like that who say they want to stay farmers to ender the county's Purchase of Developmental Rights (PDR) program. Those committed to a legacy of farming should be more than happy to take cash for rights they're not speculating on
It was the West Kendall Community Council 11 and not Redland - apologies for the error. I preped by reading everything I could in a short period of time, and I switched the name while writing. I've sent a correction.
It was CC11 that heard this. The people from the Redland who are fighting this application are fighting it for the sam reason as the other application in their district. Non compatable zoning is like a cancer that can kill the ag district. It threatens people's livelihoods because they can be bullied or sued out of their farmsteads if their ag practices encroach on neighboring residences.
I believe, however, that the new faction in Miami (I am being tactful) has decided that it's time for the older farmers to go get another life. After all, screw agriculture, "they" have arrived.
So, I think we need to start a new initiative. I think we need to rename Krome Avenue Sergio Pino Avenue. How do we get this started? I mean, we named a building after Clark, why can't we name this road after Pino. Pino can be the new father of southwestern Dade. We should all just shut up and face facts.
Way to go Tucker!
No fair calling people crooks on this blog. If they have been indicted and found guilty, that is one thing...but I will have to remove any unfounded accusations of crookdom...no matter how sure we are that they MIGHT be crooks, that is not sure enough.
Why was State Rep. Juan C. Zapata at this meeting?
I wouldn't give a hoot about this permit for ranchettes except I see two problems:
We have to maintain agriculture as a viable industry and this giant parcel is in an area with agricultural land use designation. It is 5 acre zoning -- farm residence. The clubhouse and the lake is inconsistent with the zoning. The question being are they creating a country club community or a farming community? Farms need to be in their own zone to survive.
I don't think I like the lake evacuation either. It smells of rock mining. Really, here is the core question which makes me think rock mining:
Who would buy a million dollar ranchette in the far reaches of traffic hell? Have you ever tried to go west in this area of Miami Dade County? Rich people don't cotton to traffic. Look at where they live: By water...along the Biscayne Corridor where the best restaurants are. What do you think they are going to do move West and go to Chili’s?
Something is up here and I don’t know what it is. I smell a camel's nose under the tent.
Good One Sunshine:
"He said that the development's millionaire residents might decide to become small farmers, so the homes would be "farm residences", which is undeniably true, but by the same logic, my apartment is a high tech research facility, because I could, theoretically, build a lab in my living room and decide to become a scientist."
Genius, I think we are smelling the camels ass, but his nose is definitely under the tent.
This application is going to the BCC, not Circuit Court. When CC11 denied it, Mayol gained the opportunity to appeal it in it's entirety (items 1 through 6), and because the language contains a request for a zoning designation change and not just the variances, it is going to be heard by our commissioners.
Newsflash: bus passes and free chicken dinners are being lined up. HTL people - you're probably going to have to ride metro rail. There's no room on the bus.
I want some Chicken..I will wear a t shirt for chicken. Actually, if i wear their shirt, the commissioners will never approve it.
I want a T-shirt. So I can say "They went to Krome and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" on it.
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How about mining helmets with lights on them. Would they let us wear those? I bet you can get them in the party stores. WOuld that be considered disruptive?
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