Great irony that in the same meeting that they override the mayors veto, they cut 12 million dollars from transit, which affects the african american commissioners more tahn anyone else on the dais...well, if they dont think there is a correlation between cuts and sprawl, they are as stupid as they are corrupt...
Commission OK's West Dade project By MATTHEW I. PINZUR Developers and a handful of suburban neighborhoods took the upper hand Tuesday in the long-running fight over construction in West Miami-Dade, as the County Commission overrode a mayoral veto and approved a new office complex and home improvement store near the Everglades.
But the fight is not over -- in one form or another, the applications will almost certainly end up before a judge.
Mayor Carlos Alvarez vetoed the projects last week, but it was largely symbolic: the original 9-4 vote was enough for a two-thirds majority needed to override the veto, and it was practically duplicated Tuesday morning in an 8-4 tally.
It was the second time Alvarez's veto of those projects has been countermanded, dealing him a political blow on an issue he has championed.
There was no debate on the override, which was approved within minutes of the meeting being called to order.
''For me, it wasn't difficult,'' said Commissioner José ''Pepe'' Diaz, whose district is home to one of the projects. ``I see the good that comes in this area.''
The opponents were Commissioners Carlos Gimenez, Dennis Moss, Katy Sorenson and Sally Heyman. Commissioner Javier Souto was absent but has supported the projects in the past.
State managers now have a chance to review the projects: a Lowe's home improvement store at Southwest Eighth Street and 137th Avenue and a commercial and retail center at Southwest 167th Avenue and Kendall Drive.
If they find the changes violate state growth laws or conflict with the county's own broader plans, they could challenge the projects in an administrative hearing.
If they do not, private groups have promised to make similar challenges in civil court. In a letter to state regulators, Michael Pizzi, a Miami Lakes town councilman and leader of the Hold the Line activist group, said the approval ''was short-sighted, defied common sense and was inconsistent with the county's own master plan.'' He formally asked the Department of Community Affairs to review the changes.
''Once again this county has a black eye on the national stage,'' Pizzi said. ``As the whole nation goes green, our Dade County Commission puts on blinders and votes to continue sprawling into the Everglades with no regard for the environment or quality of life.''
Over the last year, the projects have triggered the newest battle in South Florida's long-running growth war.
Environmentalists and anti-sprawl activists said westward expansion would worsen traffic and dilute county services such as police and fire. Moreover, they said it encroached on ecologically sensitive land and created unnecessary new demand for scarce water.
''I'm sure you could come up with reasons, but, quite frankly, I don't understand them,'' Alvarez said.
But nearby residents were eager for the store, as well as a new road and charter high school that the developers promised to build. By having those amenities closer to home, they argued, they would drive less and therefore protect the environment in a different way.
''It's a major victory and a step forward,'' said Juan Mayol, the lawyer who led lobbying efforts for Lowe's. ``We're a lot closer to the reality.''
Diaz emphasized that he helped kill a third application, which would have moved the line to allow a new residential development.
''I said no way,'' Diaz said. ``I didn't see a public purpose.''
The conflict also pits citizen boards against professional land planners. The elected community councils, like the commission itself, repeatedly supported the projects. But experts in the county's Planning and Zoning Department, the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies opposed them.
The override could have political consequences for Alvarez, as well, calling into question his sway over hot-button issues.
When he vetoed the projects' preliminary approval last year, he appeared to have a slim but sufficient bloc of support. Opponents of the expansion cheered, and Alvarez seemed to have struck a strong and decisive blow.
But some commissioners said they wanted input from state regulators; they voted for the earlier approval and overcame the veto.
Last week's veto had less impact. Commissioners had a veto-proof two-thirds majority from the outset. Alvarez met with some commissioners but was unable to sway any votes.
''It's not a defeat for Carlos Alvarez,'' he insisted Tuesday. ``It's a defeat for Dade County
David W. Bernauer Leonard L. Berry Peter C. Browning Dawn E. Hudson Robert A. Ingram Robert L. Johnson Marshall O. Larsen Richard K. Lochridge Robert A. Niblock Stephen F. Page O. Temple Sloan, Jr.
Congratulations in participating in the obliteration 16 acres of viable wetlands perched on the edge of a NATIONAL PARK (That would be THE EVERGLADES for those of you who weren't paying attention.) You've made the national news on this one guys, and you are definitely not getting points for putting "Energy Star" appliances in this store. The only thing green about this is the money you are looking to make at the expense of a NATIONAL PARK.
We are embarrassed for you. You'd better get the public relations people right on that.
6 comments:
There is no link...
in the article below: Hit on the words THE SUNPOST that is the link.
Great irony that in the same meeting that they override the mayors veto, they cut 12 million dollars from transit, which affects the african american commissioners more tahn anyone else on the dais...well, if they dont think there is a correlation between cuts and sprawl, they are as stupid as they are corrupt...
MIAMI HERALD
Posted on Tue, May. 06, 2008
Commission OK's West Dade project
By MATTHEW I. PINZUR
Developers and a handful of suburban neighborhoods took the upper hand Tuesday in the long-running fight over construction in West Miami-Dade, as the County Commission overrode a mayoral veto and approved a new office complex and home improvement store near the Everglades.
But the fight is not over -- in one form or another, the applications will almost certainly end up before a judge.
Mayor Carlos Alvarez vetoed the projects last week, but it was largely symbolic: the original 9-4 vote was enough for a two-thirds majority needed to override the veto, and it was practically duplicated Tuesday morning in an 8-4 tally.
It was the second time Alvarez's veto of those projects has been countermanded, dealing him a political blow on an issue he has championed.
There was no debate on the override, which was approved within minutes of the meeting being called to order.
''For me, it wasn't difficult,'' said Commissioner José ''Pepe'' Diaz, whose district is home to one of the projects. ``I see the good that comes in this area.''
The opponents were Commissioners Carlos Gimenez, Dennis Moss, Katy Sorenson and Sally Heyman. Commissioner Javier Souto was absent but has supported the projects in the past.
State managers now have a chance to review the projects: a Lowe's home improvement store at Southwest Eighth Street and 137th Avenue and a commercial and retail center at Southwest 167th Avenue and Kendall Drive.
If they find the changes violate state growth laws or conflict with the county's own broader plans, they could challenge the projects in an administrative hearing.
If they do not, private groups have promised to make similar challenges in civil court.
In a letter to state regulators, Michael Pizzi, a Miami Lakes town councilman and leader of the Hold the Line activist group, said the approval ''was short-sighted, defied common sense and was inconsistent with the county's own master plan.'' He formally asked the Department of Community Affairs to review the changes.
''Once again this county has a black eye on the national stage,'' Pizzi said. ``As the whole nation goes green, our Dade County Commission puts on blinders and votes to continue sprawling into the Everglades with no regard for the environment or quality of life.''
Over the last year, the projects have triggered the newest battle in South Florida's long-running growth war.
Environmentalists and anti-sprawl activists said westward expansion would worsen traffic and dilute county services such as police and fire. Moreover, they said it encroached on ecologically sensitive land and created unnecessary new demand for scarce water.
''I'm sure you could come up with reasons, but, quite frankly, I don't understand them,'' Alvarez said.
But nearby residents were eager for the store, as well as a new road and charter high school that the developers promised to build. By having those amenities closer to home, they argued, they would drive less and therefore protect the environment in a different way.
''It's a major victory and a step forward,'' said Juan Mayol, the lawyer who led lobbying efforts for Lowe's. ``We're a lot closer to the reality.''
Diaz emphasized that he helped kill a third application, which would have moved the line to allow a new residential development.
''I said no way,'' Diaz said. ``I didn't see a public purpose.''
The conflict also pits citizen boards against professional land planners. The elected community councils, like the commission itself, repeatedly supported the projects. But experts in the county's Planning and Zoning Department, the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies opposed them.
The override could have political consequences for Alvarez, as well, calling into question his sway over hot-button issues.
When he vetoed the projects' preliminary approval last year, he appeared to have a slim but sufficient bloc of support. Opponents of the expansion cheered, and Alvarez seemed to have struck a strong and decisive blow.
But some commissioners said they wanted input from state regulators; they voted for the earlier approval and overcame the veto.
Last week's veto had less impact. Commissioners had a veto-proof two-thirds majority from the outset. Alvarez met with some commissioners but was unable to sway any votes.
''It's not a defeat for Carlos Alvarez,'' he insisted Tuesday. ``It's a defeat for Dade County
Pizzi is not the "leader" of hold the line. He is "a" leader, but certainly not THE leader.
I think the Herald gets that wrong on purpose to add some sort of fake drama to the whole tit-for-tat between him and Sejas.
To the Directors of Lowes
David W. Bernauer
Leonard L. Berry
Peter C. Browning
Dawn E. Hudson
Robert A. Ingram
Robert L. Johnson
Marshall O. Larsen
Richard K. Lochridge
Robert A. Niblock
Stephen F. Page
O. Temple Sloan, Jr.
Congratulations in participating in the obliteration 16 acres of viable wetlands perched on the edge of a NATIONAL PARK (That would be THE EVERGLADES for those of you who weren't paying attention.) You've made the national news on this one guys, and you are definitely not getting points for putting "Energy Star" appliances in this store. The only thing green about this is the money you are looking to make at the expense of a NATIONAL PARK.
We are embarrassed for you. You'd better get the public relations people right on that.
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