Two Governments = Unbridled Growth. Guest Blog By Sidney Robinson

The land in question is outside the city of HUDSTEAD. Oh, no!

In one end of town, East Homestead, --- City Fathers, --- last week’s council meeting have given carte blanche to developers allowing 400 apartments/townhouses on 50 acres of pristine agricultural land and in the northwest part of town on the Avocado Krome boundary line, 296 St & 178 Ave, Dade County Gov, -- UMSA -- has an application to change the zoning -- agricultural to EU-M on 27 acres of avocado grove land.

Last week’s Redland Community Council’s hearing had neighbors of that section of town and Redland in an uproar with the county’s recommendation allowing 67 DENSELY PACKED homes on a very small parcel. The angry crowd of approximately 150, standing outside the government center over crowded auditorium, had their voices heard to five members of the CC 14 board. The chairman proceeded the meeting in spite of the large turn out and after three hours of testimony the outcome was for the applicant and the attorney to meet with the neighbors and community. ---Juan Mayol was the attorney and Persea, LLC, the developer. (This meeting should have been done weeks in advance of the hearing.)

It may have set well with all of the opposition had the developer asked for 1-acre--EU-1 zoning. Four laning Krome and a potential traffic bottleneck at Avocado Drive, this northwest part of Homestead, should stay very low density and have the agricultural, historic look it has had since the beginning. What has been stated above, we might ask, “Is the future of Homestead and South Dade following in unbridled growth?”


Sidney Robinson
Redland

HERE IS MY  QUESTION:

Since Juan Mayol is only lobbying for these entities, who really owns the land (Persea did not show up in a sunbiz search) and I don't see them below, could it be Century???:

CENTURY HOMEBUILDERS GROUP, LLC	06/08/2017	NONE	Active
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES	05/30/2017	NONE	Active
ORION-DNK, LLC	05/26/2017	NONE	Active
STILES CORPORATION	05/04/2017	NONE	Active
PAN AMERICAN COMPANIES, INC	04/12/2017	NONE	Active
GROVE BLUFF, LLC	04/07/2017	NONE	Active
WAWA, INC	04/05/2017	NONE	Active
MICHAEL S. NEVEL, TRUSTEE	03/16/2017	NONE	Active
HAMMOCKS LENNAR LLC	11/23/2016	NONE	Active
HOMESTAR OF WEST DADE INC	11/04/2016	NONE	Active

Update on the Fruit Fly Quarantine in South Miami-Dade -- ALSO AG TOUR FEB. 19TH. By Geniusofdespair

Update: Reps. Raschein and Curbello are trying to move legislature through to assist growers who have incurred losses due to the Oriental Fruit Fly quarantine restrictions. (quarantine will end in a few days if no more flies are found). Some big issues remain such as laurel wilt disease that destroys avocado trees and water issues. Apparently, water has been directed south which has impacted farm fields along with the unusually heavy rains here this winter. Fields were flooded due to rains and row crop farmers lost a bunch of squash and beans and some other crops were damaged.

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE:

The annual Agriculture/Farm tour is the 19th of Feb. It is a great way to see what is going on in the farming area. Call PATTY AT 305 248-3311 X 225 NOW!!

Fruit Fly Invasion in Redland Update. By Geniusofdespair

 I reported on a Fruit Fly invasion and subsequent quarantine in the Redland (South Miami-Dade County) on September 12th. Today I asked for an update from farmers on what is going on.

Farmers tell me they have to spray with a special insect bait every week in order to move fruit to market. Also they have to have copies of a compliance agreement, trip tickets and inspection reports. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors are all over checking for folks moving fruit not in compliance. As of now the quarantine will be lifted on 2/15/2016 if no more flies are found.

Another Farmer sent this...

Please find attached the Oriental Fruit Fly update for 12/28/2015:

Please note the adjusted Quarantine end date is now 2/13/2016, based on temperature projections that affects the OFF life cycle and provided there are no additional finds.

Fly Count:
Daily Finds: 0      
Total count to date: 165
Date of first find: Aug. 26, 2015
Date of Last Find: 10/10/15, 79 Days of no Oriental Fruit Flies Found.

Estimated end date of quarantine: 02/13/2016  (based on temperature projections that affect OFF life cycles and provided there are no additional finds).

He said the December rains wiped out plantings for many row crops and ruined the crops of others before they could be harvested (fungal rot).

Citizens of REDLAND vs FDOT. Guest Blog By Fruit Farmer Frank

Dictatorial FDOT. You're not the boss of me!!!

First we have to deal with the Fruit Fly quarantine of our crops. Now it is FDOT wanting to put a wide road through our rural farmland. Doesn't anyone want to help the small farmers?

On September 30th we heard FDOT give the BCC --Commissioners and Mayors of Cities-- their plan for Krome Avenue's widening in the farming area of the Redland. There wasn't a lot of people there to talk about it and the Chair of the Commission seemed as though he had made up his mind and when we spoke he acted like he had somewhere else to go. Chairman Monestine seemed all for the plan and let people talk who wanted it. However, he cut off Farmers and those against the plan. If you needed a little more time to talk, he just cut you off. BAM!! Now mind you, there wasn't too many people there to talk -- maybe 12. Chair Monestime certainly could have let the people say a little more since we travel so far to have our voices heard and we have so much to deal with out here with the quarantine. Have a heart Jean!

Chair Monestime was even a bit arrogant and disrespectful to his own commissioners like Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava. A term, he used, "you can find it in your packet". She can ask anything she wants, even if it is in her packet because we want to know - the public doesn't have a packet. I think that was a bit abrupt to her and us. Even Commissioner Rebeca Sosa seemed disturbed by his reactions on something she was explaining.

THE BIG QUESTION i WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER TO:

WHAT ARE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF FDOT??? HOW DID THEY COME TO BE??

Also the residents of the Keyes are upset with FDOT.

Looking for a house with a moat? No Problem. By Geniusofdespair

This home in the Redland, owned by Charles Siegler can be purchased for $10,900,000. The lot size is almost 27 acres and the home has almost 20,000 square feet.

All I can say is wow, who is the architect (just found out it is Siegler) and do they have a rat problem?  If I lived here I would fortify the main gate and get some of those trebuchets (catapults) to dispense Greek Fire. You want to keep the riff raff out, like the FPL meter reader.

Dump Site in the Redland Update. By Geniusofdespair

Re: Proposed West Southwest Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center - (We previously reported on this topic: "Redland Farmers are Pissed")

Dear Southwest Miami-Dade Resident:

Thank you for offering your thoughts and concerns regarding the potential development of a Neighborhood Recycling Center (TRC) at SW 202nd Avenue and 290th Street.  I want to assure the community that a concerted effort was made by County’s Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) to inform area residents about its plans for the TRC, but I understand that many of you feel the two (2) publicly noticed meetings held on December 12, 2012 and January 16, 2013 at Fruit and Spice Park were inadequate.

Having read your letters and email messages, and in consultation with your district Commissioner Lynda Bell,  I have decided to have the PWWM re-evaluate the location chosen for the proposed TRC and determine if another more suitable site is available that better conforms to County policy.  Therefore, the third and final public outreach meeting scheduled for March 20, 2013, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the South Dade Government Center,  Room 203, 10710 SW 211th Street, has been cancelled. Your County Commissioner, Vice-Chair Lynda Bell, listened closely to the strong objections of the residents of the area, and has worked with my office to satisfy the requests of her constituents and the needs of the Department to find an equitable solution for everyone.  The information gathered at the previous meetings will be kept on file.

Again, thank you for participating in the Government Facilities process and rest assured that any future plans for TRC development in the Southwest area will be fully shared with you at the earliest possible time.

Sincerely,

Carlos A. Gimenez, Mayor

Redland Farmers Pissed: on Channel 10 TV News. By Geniusofdespair

See the latest on 'Redland residents get screwed' with a proposed dump they don't want: Channel 10 Video.

We wrote about this Feb. 6th.

Redland Farmers are Pissed Over Proposed Dump. By Geniusofdespair

Is it any wonder the residents in the Redland are angry? Look at where the proposed dump is -- in the middle of the farming area, many surrounding property owners have been there over 30 years.

When 80 people show up in the Redland to protest a dump that is like 2,000 people in your neighborhood. People are pissed! Here is a letter to the Mayor that Eye on Miami obtained. I don't think that Carlos Gimenez is going to like the tone of the letter - he can be prickly - but hey, these are mad farmers and I don't blame them and I totally agree with nixing the dump:

With all due respect, Mayor Gimenez, and Deputy Mayor Hudak,

I would like county officials to understand that we are not your Feudal Serfs, you are not the Lords of the Kingdom of Redland. We are RURAL CITIZENS, we pay our taxes, and we deserve to be represented, as a community just as judiciously as any urban or suburban community in Miami-Dade County.

Redland FARM Area is NOT a depository for any and all services and headquarters you feel you need to expand (the dump description includes ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS). Redland residents rallied to prevent that 10 ACRES from becoming a police station, and then a fire station. And we certainly don't want a DUMP there, on our "back 40."

The algorithms you've been using to determine "public interest" do not equate out here in Redland FARM Area. When 50 people show up for a meeting, that represents a lot of territory! And I've seen the county spin that number to indicate lack of interest (ie: opposition). I attended a West Kendall Community Council Meeting, during Thanksgiving week! a few years back. MORE than 25 of us managed to find out about it, from word of mouth and e-mailing each other, and showed up to OPPOSE the proposition allowing the infamous Lennar Devourment Corpulation (remember Country Walk?) to build behind the UDB! 

After the meeting, the county announced that such a low number in attendance indicated a "lack of interest", with no mention of the shameful inadequacies in "Information and Outreach" to people who care.

Ethics violations by counsel members were soon exposed by the Herald, and rules were changed - but not in time to stop Lennar's "Kendall Square" - under construction right now on farmland. So, another giant chunk of Redland FARM Area was lost to devious developers. And what they are erecting are big, ugly monstrosities. Go see for yourself.

Redland FARM Area must be preserved as an AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, with its "Redland Raised" produce, huge groves and nurseries, exotic koi farms and orchid houses, animal farms, horse ranches and feed stores!

People from your side of the UDB, come to our side of the UDB to get away - not to drive by a 10 ACRE DUMP!

Redland FARM Area - Keep it Ag.

Pat Milone
Native Miamian - Redland resident since1978

The Urban Development Boundary Move - Response from the Redland Citizens Association. By Geniusofdespair

You asked in your Dec. 9th  EOM blog post why we "bumpkins don't sound off on the UDB." Well, we did! We sent a letter to Mayor Carlos Gimenez and we sent this letter to the Newspaper - Redland Citizens Association

Letter Sent to the News Leader - DEC 12, 2011

Just recently Miami-Dade Commissioners voted 7-5 to send a controversial application to move the Urban Development Boundary to the state level, (DCA now called Dept of Economic Opportunity). Earlier this year, a change in state law backed by Gov. Rick Scott dramatically watered down the state's 25 year old growth management regulations giving counties and municipalities greater freedom to amend their local comprehensive development plans to control sprawl.

This application involves a 9.9 acre agriculture zoned parcel outside the UDB to be converted to business and office development and so the Redland Citizens Association (RCA) felt it important to act on this matter and send a letter to Mayor Gimenez to Veto this application.

It might also be mentioned that our own commissioner, Linda Bell was recently appointed as Co-Chair of Florida Association of Counties' Board, (as published in News Leader, Local, Dec 2, 2011). This Board makes recommendations regarding State of Fla growth management, environmental planning, and agriculture policies. We would encourage her to use her leadership position to encourage, support, promote, and sustain the agricultural industry. Ag comprises a vital portion of her district and a major economic engine of our economy.

Are You a Dignitary? I am not. By Geniusofdespair

Dignitary: A person considered to be important because of high rank or office.

I went to Mayor Gimenez's Meeting held last night in Homestead. Apparently there was a meeting BEFORE the meeting that no one knew about. I asked a Gimenez Aide, standing outside the closed doors (guarding them?), who was in the room. He said there was a meeting of "Dignitaries". I am thinking to myself, in Homestead, is he kidding? Geez, that is an oxymoron if I ever heard one: Homestead Dignitaries.

Well it turns out there was friggin' Lynda Bell in there, some Farm Bureau folks -- big farmers -- and the Frick and Frack of Homestead: Bill Losner and James Humble. Talk about NOT dignitaries, how about a big "L" on those foreheads? If I remember correctly James Humble gave $500 to Julio Robaina's campaign. Anyway, most if not all of the dignitaries left BEFORE the Mayor's presentation -- too imperial to hear the Mayor's spiel? The rest of the farmers, feeling like riffraff, sat dutifully waiting for the presentation. Worse - the riffraff, as they waited outside in the hall, were hushed by a burly cop, during the 'dignitary only' closed-door meeting.

Remember people that about 70% of Maimi Dade farms are 9 acres or less so in the future, lets give everyone the same respect.

I didn't stay for the Mayor's presentation, instead of leaving because I felt imperial - I instead felt immaterial. If you don't have money to throw around, you are nothing in Miami. The aide should have said, when I asked who was in the room:

"Some rich guys and a couple of politicians."

What is the point of anything I write anymore? I come back from vacation and it is the same old shit. Wait let me find an appropriate song lyric:

He's a real Nowhere Man / Sitting in his Nowhere Land / Making all his nowhere plans / for nobody.

The farmers I admire are the ones like Sidney Robinson, proud of their produce, fighting for their way of life and the future of farming in Miami Dade County.

I am adding this observation from one of your comments readers:

My definition of dignitary would not fit this pre-meeting crowd. I think of a dignitary as either an elected official or someone who has distinguished themselves in word, deed, and hard work, leaders of the community. Humble and Losner are destructive forces all about making money. The Dade County Farm Bureau is an insurance company not interested in the betterment of anybody. Charles LaPradd is a county employee. Other than Bell (who is also destructive), I did not see any dignataries who have true dignity. On the other hand, I saw true community leaders standing in the hall like second class citizens. I saw world renown, published orchid growers, Mary and Martin Motes. I saw Tropical Fruit Grower President, Louise King. I saw past Tropical Fruit Grower President and real farmers, Lee and Dewey Steele. I saw avocado grower and Redland cheerleader, Sid Robinson. - Anonymous

"Miami Beach News" is Chamber of Commerce Drivel. By Geniusofdespair

(To enlarge image hit on it.)

When you pick up the "Miami Beach News", a product of "Community Newspapers" you had better realize what entity is writing it. As I was reading it, I said to myself, these sound like ads. Well, I was right. The Chamber of Commerce (or as I like to call them - The Chamber of Charlatans) is writing "Miami Beach News". The Charlatans have been busy spreading misinformation and spending lots of bucks against Amendment 4.

I asked Pat Wade, who published the "Redland Country News" in cooperation with the "Community Newspapers" for 8 years, what she thought of the Chamber's involvement in this newspaper. She said: "If the Chamber of Commerce is doing it, it must be filled with a bunch of one-sided crap." I looked it over, nothing controversial, but it was pretty crappy. Pat was spot on with her adjective.

I was curious about how "Community Newspapers" run their Miami publishing empire (I use the term loosely) so I asked Dr. Wade. She said the Miller brothers pay for the printing, get the ads, and control the layout although she had input on the layout. She had a group of people doing the writing, taking photographs and the delivery - all worked for free. They published the Redland paper 6 times a year and each edition was about 8,000 copies. She and her group distributed the paper to individual homes -- it took 3 or 4 people a few days to deliver them all. She said she bought her own plastic bags and folded each paper into them. And I thought blogging was hard. Pat Wade you are a saint to do all that work for the community -- not making a penny off it. I guess the Miller Brothers made a bit of money over the years, not enough. They shut it down.

The Chamber of Charlatans' "Miami Beach News" might run similarly to Pat's paper, except NEWS was conspicuously absent from the Chamber's rag. It contained a lot of what you would expect in a Chamber publication: Crap....and drivel.

Goodbye Colleen Griffin. Guest Blog by Redland Citizens Association

They called her Miss Griffin and she was our steel magnolia. This countrified lady of the land had the spirit to just keep on 'going, kinda like her square dancing on Friday nights. She could tell stories about Quail Roost Drive being a meandering dirt trail that would later become Kendal Drive. But she was much more than just "Ma and Pa Kettle come to town." She and Mr. Joe were one of the first Redlanders to give the state a conservation easement on their pinelands. They worked their own avocado and mango groves and ran their own packing house.

Colleen was our Election Precinct Supervisor. It was a pleasure because she greeted every voter at the door and ran a smooth operation. As an avid protector of Redland she was instrumental in pushing back any attempts to breach the U.D.B. in Redland. For more than forty years she represented the Redland Citizens Association before the Metro Zoning Appeals Board and the County Commission. As Secretary for many years she later became President of the RCA. Colleen also served as an agriculture advisor to the Planning Department and spearheaded farm legislation such as the "Packing House Ordinance."

We all cheered when County Commissioner Larry Hawkins appointed her to the Metro Zoning Appeals Board. But the zonging attorneys did not cheer. They'd seen Miss Griffin in action. By the time she was elected Chairperson of the ZAB these same attorneys loved her.

So you see, that country farm lady with the homemade dress and southern drawl didn't do too bad after all. Colleen Griffin is our spirit and we know she's looking down on us to make sure we do right.

The Membership of the Board of Directors - Redland Citizens Association

Redland Community Council Rejected Soccer Field. By Youbetcha' and Geniusofdespair

The Community Council 14 vote was a unanimous 4 against a formal soccer field in the middle of agriculture land. Here is the whole story by Youbetcha' and it is a good one:

The attorney and his client did not seem at all concerned about the Urban Development Boundary or that they were plotting this 240 person stadium and 180 car parking area smack-dab in the middle of farmland. Yes, they knew that farmland was shrinking, but it was okay because their area was surrounded by larger parcels of farmland that could still be farmed. Even better is the fact they stated that they didn’t really want 180 parking spaces; the “county MADE them do it.” (Hit read more)

Since when do fruits, vegetables and farm animals play soccer? Actually, come to think of it, I suspect that the average neighborhood farmer would like to have a good night’s sleep after listening to their neighbors play soccer…illegally, without the benefit of a public hearing.

I found it particularly annoying that the applicant’s attorney stood at the podium and played the “migrant workers “card. Attorney Vera made it seem that out of very goodness of Bernardo’s heart, he was going to construct a private soccer club for the local residents and farm workers to use. He brought the prerequisite beautiful children to fill the seats and stand on cue. It was just like a wedding, his family on one side, her family on the other.

The plan was to light up the field, too. Imagine that. They would be playing soccer and creating traffic in a community that was tractor slow, as well as confusing the heck out of light-sensitive plants and wildlife.

It wasn’t a concern that they would be dumping automobile fluids and septic tank poop into the ground water which flows directly at their neighboring farmer’s drinking water wells. It didn’t seem to matter that the poop would work its way into the canal system or into the irrigation wells to water produce.

Actually, it was pointed out that DERM approved it. (What was DERM thinking?) This property has a canal on one side and an entire community around it that drinks and bathes in well-water that can be pumped from 10 feet down! The county environmental board actually told the property owner that his guests and employees would have to drink bottled water. Screw the neighbors! Screw the environment!

The miserable thing is that the county allowed the illegal soccer games to go on for at least a year. This resulted in anger and frustration that spilled over at the podium as the neighbors spoke. They complained about strangers in their neighborhoods; wild, if not drunken driving after events, noise and pollution. Some of it was undoubtedly true. Other of it, such smoke from fires, may not be solely the doing of the soccer players as farmers burn debris and plastic, too. But, the tone of the frustration took on an ethnic tint. That was not a happy thing for a diverse community such as our county.

I blame the county for not enforcing the laws. If county code enforcement was doing their job, not just the 7-4 Monday through Friday thing, the soccer games would have been shut down long before the growers/farmers sustained damages to their property and farms. The community would have not been able to complain about noise and strangers on the canal bank, and those beautiful children would not have been disappointed tonight.

Tonight could have been a teachable moment for those children. A moment that could have said, “there are laws and your dreams have to abide by them”. Instead these kids were let down because no one explained that they had an unreasonable expectation that they could have what they wanted in spite of laws to the contrary. Tonight’s teachable moment became “we didn’t win because we are not like them, we are foreigners” NOT “we didn’t win because our soccer club was not a legal use for that property”. There was resentment, bewilderment and hurt as a result. You could see it in the young faces.

Community Council 14 board members did the right thing. They voted to protect the environment, the farmland and farm businesses. It isn’t easy to see children and vote against them. But, the Board honored their commitment to uphold the comp plan and Urban Development Boundary; it was an easy call after the evidence, but tough job at the end.

(Genius said: Youbetcha' I think the County Commission will fold and approve the soccer field when they hear it.)

Beyond the legal limits: Nightlife Outside the Urban Development Boundary. Guest Blog by RedlandNeighbor

Back in 2003, the Schenbly’s began wine making, turning a hobby into a business. The birth of the winery is not necessarily as romantic as the story they present on their website.

The county winery ordinance created in 2004 sought to protect the sanctity of the agricultural community while allowing some agri-tourism to occur. The existing winery is not quite like the ordinance envisioned, or perhaps, it is exactly the vision and the reason the winery ordinance hearings were so inharmonious among residents in The Redland. There was much community animosity and county laws (or lack of) for the owners to deal with before they got the winery open for business. They were great at the “cart before the horse” routine.

Today, there is trouble in paradise and the rule bending still proceeds:

The RULES say: Food service must be accessory to the production of wine and limited to hors d'oeuvres and other snacks. All such food shall be prepared off-site.
The Reality Is: Rental of the prep kitchen is available for all catered events for a fee of $500.00. This fee will cover the use of ice, electricity, as well as the use of the dishwasher and food prep area. No cooking is allowed in the kitchen. All cooking will be done outside.

The RULES say: Special events such as festivals are subject to the special events requirements of the Miami-Dade County Police Department
The Reality Is: Based on the type and projected attendance, additional security may be required, in which case the Host will be required to secure and pay The Homestead Police Department Stipulated by the Events Coordinator.

The RULES say: That the use of mechanically amplified outdoor live entertainment shall be prohibited.
The Reality Is: Noise levels due to crowd, music and other sources shall be at the discretion of the Event Coordinator.

The RULES say: That the hours of operation for the farm related winery shall not extend beyond 10:00 p.m.
The Reality Is: All receptions must end by 11:00 pm. All beverage service must conclude 15 minutes prior to the ending time.

The RULES say: That the principal use of the property shall be a working grove or vineyard and that the farm winery shall be ancillary to the principal use of said grove or vineyard.
The Reality Is: They are running a nightclub and event hall on farm winery property. When is that sort of business an ancillary use to a principal use of grove or vineyard?

The RULES say: That such a farm winery may be open to the public for tours, wine tasting and for the sale of the wine products produced on the property… Such outdoor farm related winery festivals shall be restricted to daylight hours only.
The Reality Is: While the ordinance does allow for six festivals a year, is each wedding or dinner event a festival? Even the festivals cannot be a night event, so how can an outdoor nightclub be allowed? Where are the ZIP permits if they are considered festivals?

The RULES say: Outdoor farm related winery festivals shall be allowable on properties having a current Certificate of Use for a farm related winery provided the organization and nature of those festivals is related to the winery operation on the site for the purpose of promoting the farm winery concept.
The Reality Is: Are weddings and outdoor nightclubs promoting the principal use of said grove or are they promoting an entertainment business? How is this business different from Signature Gardens?

The winery’s gorilla marketing goes way beyond the property line. They consistently posted A-frame signage and other signs along the roadways because they could not get county permission to tout the winery on public right-away. The county has strict rules about business signage, a policy that did not coincide with the Florida signage rules which gives the winery’s agricultural business an advantage over other agricultural enterprises.

Some people may consider the winery issue trite. However, when you have a business owner setting their own rules in spite of laws that were designed to prevent the direction he has gone, it then goes to the very heart of county building and zoning laws. Why do we have public hearings, ordinances, and code enforcement if they mean nothing? That very issue affects the quality of life that everyone living in this county enjoys.

The winery’s disregard for the very law that created their facility brings other people into innocently abusing county law. The winery is an entertainment business in a rural agricultural area taking advantage of tax exemptions. How does a business owner flaunt the county laws and still have code enforcement people as well as the public shrug it off? These actions are exactly why the community fought the winery.

The winery has become the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent: commercial development way beyond the Urban Boundary Line.