That the Miami-Dade county commission exists in a cocoon formed from the silk threads of campaign contributors from the Growth Machine, is indisputable. From cost-overruns at Miami International, to the Miami-Dade Housing Agency, to Transit and transportation, to hair-brained schemes to rock mine the Everglades or put ORV's on the former Everglades Jetport site, the county commission is immune: even from court decisions that reject its votes to move the Urban Development Boundary.
I've likened repeated developer applications to move the UDB, to an owner who hits the dog just to remind the dog who is boss. The developers and the engineering cartel take their turn; a DRI by Lennar, a new store in wetlands by Lowe's: big corporations push from behind, while a whole host of consultants, lawyers, lobbyists, and planners push from upfront. Even in the absence of demand and the largest excess of housing and commercial space in Miami history. Sometimes the commissioners seem motivated by pure spite. The vitriol by commissioners against citizen objectors helps fill campaign war chests and secure a permanent incumbency.
The following message was sent out by Sierra Club, yesterday:
"Will Miami-Dade Commissioners deliver another growth management nightmare and approve the Ferro Development proposal outside the Urban Development Boundary(UDB)?
Despite the empty lots, numerous vacant storefronts, and foreclosed homes, Mario Ferro is once again seeking to move Miami-Dade's UDB On Monday the Planning Advisory Board recommended that County Commissioners once again ignore public sentiment and advance an application for unwarranted new development on Nov. 4th. In this economy, this idea is so ludicrous!
This is Ferro's third attempt to move the UDB. Just last April, Commissioners approved Lowe's application over public opposition. The Mayor vetoed it - not once but twice! Florida's growth agency, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) also rejected it. Governor Crist and his Cabinet agreed with the Judge finding the initial approval unlawful. Yet, Miami-Dade residents are still footing the bill -- now over $400,000.00 -- in the ongoing legal battle to allow Lowe's to pave wetlands on the outskirts of the UDB.
Will the same County Commissioners who tout fiscal responsibility transmit the new application with little regard to the additional financial burden to taxpayers? Will we once again pay County lawyers to defend a private development we don't need and didn't want? Is this how we should spend county funds while cutting important services to the community?
The county's planning experts show there is no need to move the UDB. Instead of hiding behind the DCA, Miami-Dade County Commissioners and the Planning Advisory Board should Deny and Not Transmit the Ferro development application.
Please come and speak out at the meeting tomorrow. We need you. If you can't make it to the meeting, please email or call Rebecca Sosa and let her know that you want this application rejected!
Rebecca Sosa: District6@miamidade.gov
(305) 375-5696
Hold the Line 2009 UDB Application Talking Points
Ferro Application (Formerly called"Kendall Commons")
This proposed project located at the southeast corner of SW167th St. & SW104th St is back for it's 3rd attempt to move the UDB and seeks to changes land use designation from: "Agriculture" to "Business and Office" (9.9 acres) and inclusion within the UDB.
Support County Planning and Zoning recommendation to DENY and DO NOT TRANSMIT
This application creates a "Hole in the Donut," an area of development surrounded on three sides by agricultural land.
There is no need for commercial or residential land in this area.
Existing vacant industrial, office space & residential housing are bad for the economy.
Specs: Business and office allows for some residential development. Application could include up to 59 single-family detached housing units. No covenant restricting residential has been proffered.
Project will increase traffic congestion. Adjacent roads including SW 137th St, SW 147th Street, SW 157th SR 821, SW 107th Ave, SW 117 Ave, SR 874, Bird Road, Sunset Drive, Kendal Drive, Killian, Drive, SW 127th Ave and others will deteriorate to "D", "E" and "F" Levels of Service (LOS).
Project would impacts to fire and rescue services where average travel time to vicinity is already 6.28 minutes.
Approval of this application will create a pocket of land designated as "agricultural" between two already designated for residential. This leapfrogging of agricultural land is not conducive to good urban services planning.
Commercially zoned land within this study area will not be depleted until beyond 2025; therefore another retail center is not necessary.
Residential capacity of vacant land within the current UDB is not projected to be depleted until 2018.
This project is not contiguous as it abuts UDB to the north only not the east and creates a hole in the donut, and may invite moving the UDB even more in the future.
Approval of residential or educational uses will make agricultural use on surrounding properties not viable.
Commercial centers should be located in the center of their market areas, not on the outskirts.
Sufficient centers exist within a mile of the Ferro site.
This application only represents a small portion of the 95 acres owned by Ferro. Approval sets the stage for subsequent proposals for residential or commercial development of entire site.
Property is located within the West Wellfield Protection area.
Project would drastically increase water demand from the Biscayne Aquifer.
Annual operations and maintenance costs for water and sewer could increase by $1,770,000.00 per month ($27,00 for water and $32,000 for sewer daily).
Thanks to our Friends at Clean Water Action for sharing this information with us! For more info, go to www.udbline.com
2 comments:
Message dumbed down - send it to all your neighbors who might not follow this stuff and who might not get it.
"Bad Decisions Affect you Directly!
1. We need permanent jobs to fill the existing homes with people who can afford to live in them. We don't have them.
2. Further saturation of the housing market is stealing money from you. The more houses we have, the less your's is worth.
3. If you build them, they will come. People will go for the new, bright and shiny house, leaving older home sales to grow stale. Older neighborhoods will tend to continue to degrade if new building goes on right now.
4. Increasing the footprint of the county means increasing county capital and operating budgets. Either we are going to have to start paying more or receiving less.
5. Loss of agricultural lands means loss of permanent jobs (see 1.)
GIMLETEYE;
CHECK THE NEED TO CORRECT THE AVENUES ON THE ABOVE PROJECT (NOT 167 ST BUT 167 AVE AND TRAFFIC WILL INCREASE CONGESTION ON 137 AVE, 147 AVE & 157 AVE
TO SUMMARIZE THE WHOLE MESS:
PROVERBS 15:27 STATES: "HE THAT IS GREEDY OF GAIN TROUBLETH HIS OWN HOUSE."
RILEY
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