For 30 years we have had one study after another to “help” agriculture. Twice the respected American Farmland Trust visited Miami-Dade and left in disgust. Then we had several agriculture and rural retention studies always deep sixed by the same players. Finally, the Watershed Study met its demise. The problem was that all these studies came to the same conclusion; that agriculture in this sub-tropical farming paradise was too valuable to lose at both local and national levels. Because this was not what the big boys wanted, these studies are gathering dust in the archives.
The battles always boiled down to 2 sides, the Dade County Farm Bureau Insurance Company with a board of wealthy farmers and local bankers joined by the construction industry on one side and farmers who want to keep farming, residents and environmentalists on the other.
It does not take a genius to know where the power and money fell. It was always a battle for the poor guys to even get representation on these committees. The County Commission, for the most part, went with the money.
The Urban Development Boundary (UDB) is the only reason we still have any agriculture at all. A strong Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and growth management rules gave balance and logic to preserving the UDB. When it was moved, it was after careful consideration. However, over many years, the agriculture area has shrunk so that it is barely sustainable.
Now enter 2 idiot commissioners, Martinez and Diaz, with another plan to “fix” the UDB. These commissioners could care less about agriculture, although they probably like their mamey. But, what the hell, they can get them from Mexico. Martinez has long called for straightening the UDB. He does not want to recognize that every time he approves an application there is another bite out of the line, making it more zig zag. Growth management and the DCA have been neutered by Governor Scott and the legislators so Diaz and Martinez have gone for the jugular. They are proposing to put together yet another unbalanced committee to make recommendations about the UDB. This committee is Dade County Farm Bureau Insurance, construction, and banking heavy. No good can come from it. It will take an army of concerned residents to roar about the inequity.
But I have a solution. Let the agriculture area incorporate into a city along the UDB as was proposed a few years ago (opposed by Diaz and Martinez) and let the locals take care of the UDB. Then we will have real parity.
5 comments:
It is hard to know when we here about agriculture whether it is the good agriculture people or the bad agriculture people. How do you tell them apart?
If the names of non farmers (or gentleman farmers) such as Bill Losner, Alice Pena, James Humble pop up ---they are the ones trying to maximize the value of farmland crowd---you are hearing from the wrong people.
The business of farming requires seasonal bank loans to plant crops. The loans are secured based on the value of the property. Any move to permanently fix the UDB would have a detrimental impact on the value of land outside the boundary, making it financially impossible to farm.
If you support agriculture, you need to support UDB policies that are legislatively sound, but not impermeable.
I realize this is a difficult concept for people who want to simply make it impossible to move the boundary, but the realities of the farming business must be considered.
Anom above, you need to understand that when the line is moved, farming ceases to exist. In fact, Miami-Dade discourages farming iside the UDB. So the intent of the Miami-Dade Farm Bureau Insurance is to do away with farming. Their policy is property rights, no rules. Farming cannot exist under these circumstances. Remember, these farmers have farmed, paid virtually no taxes and had good lives. The Farm Bureau farmers are not starving, they are among the wealthiest people in the county.
Bankers Losner and Epling, millionaire James Humble,Alice Pena, the Algers and anyone else on the Farm Bureau Board, past and present.
People have to make a decision, the UDB or agriculture, subdivisions or food. You can't have both.
Alice Pena is a nut who supports the lawless 8.5 sq mile. She fially has her moment in the sun, hopefully it will not be for long.
Add to the list of groups who would rather agriculture disappeared; Chamber of Commerce, Beacon Council and large scale developers.
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