With the recent recall of Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas, there will be some significant changes regarding Miami-Dade County’s leadership. While some of the key players will change, one thing one thing might remain the same: in Miami-Dade, developers rule. This is something we as concerned residents and activists have to change.
Within the next week, the Board of County Commissioners will consider two large-scale development applications outside the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) that will threaten the safety of Miami-Dade’s water supply and the health of America’s Everglades. Both application hearings will take place BEFORE adoption of the County’s long-term planning document. Hello - this is putting the cart before the horse! One application will be heard today!
Coming out of the woodworks is a new application by Santa Fe Haciendas, LLC to build a rock mine just 700 feet from Everglades National Park. (hit read more)
The developer is requesting permission for a new lake excavation and ancillary rock crushing equipment for a property west of Krome Avenue and south of theoretical SW 91 Street. County staff is recommending denial of the application, noting threats to the nearby agricultural area. We have been flagging for years that rock mining will also jeopardize our water quality.
Oh, and let’s not forget the Homestead Speedway application. The hearing for its proposed expansion was scheduled for late January 2011, but was postponed due to lack of adequate notice and necessary materials being provided to Commissioners within the legal timeline. The proposed expansion is on 120 acres of land along the northern perimeter of existing facilities, and will be used to build 12,000 additional spectator seats, a concession kitchen, a “fan experience” area, and overflow parking.
Staff’s recommendations for the long-term plan echo what we in the environmental community have been saying for years - there is no need for further development outside the UDB at this time. In fact, long-term plan has determined that there is not need to consider expansion until 2023!
Timing is everything. In the midst of the media flurry over the Alvarez and Seijas ousting by a disgruntled public, the County is planning to ram through two major developments that will threaten our water supply, the safety of its residents and our precious natural resources.
Let your voice be heard! The Santa Fe Haciendas hearing will take place Thursday, March 17 at 9:30 a.m. The Speedway hearing will take place on Tuesday, March 22 at 9:30 a.m. Both will be held in the Stephen P. Clark Commission Chambers at 111 NW 1st Street in Miami. If you can’t either meeting, please send a message to the County Commission. WISE UP – DON’T FAST TRACK UNNECESSARY DEVELOPMENT!
Cara Capp, Clean Water Action
7 comments:
Just fyi, heard that today's PZ Meeting was cancelled yesterday. You may want to call before you head down there.
I believe the BCC is finally going to have a public hearing on the EAR on March 23rd.
In regard to the Hudstead Speedway - Planning Staff approved that application, which was odd, but they may re evaluate now that Burgess is gone.
Too bad Subrata Basu left Planning, he is so sharp/ethical with this stuff, of course, he probably couldn't stand it anymore.
Bell will approve anything having to do with rock mining/paving over Ag land, wherever the application may be. That's her bread & butter.
Heyman is has also been known to "transmit" on the 1st round to see the DCA comments. Though, I hoped she's learned a lesson after the Lowes fiasco. By the way, how much did that cost US?
Bell will also approve anything the speedway shoves the BCC way.
We still have the unreformable majority to deal with. Souto could go either way. Sosa may all of the sudden become a friend to the environment too, so that will be interesting.
Today's mining hearing was postponed yesterday afternoon and is now scheduled for April 28. Another last minute date change... what's new in Miami-Dade?
Where were you all when the Krome Gold hearings were going on? We had heard of camels sticking their noses under the tent. I know some of you attend hearings. It's not enough to just comment on the blog. I understand that many of you work. But consider going or sending someone in your place with a scripted comment. Perhaps that comment could also include a promise to recall at the tail end. Sure, they might escort you out. Who cares. You will have had your say.
Miami-Dade County: "where putting the cart before the horse is a condition of serving in public office"
Wish Alvarez was 'round to "hold the line"
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