The Miami Herald

OUR OPINION

Posted on, Feb. 27, 2006

DCA's message: Hold the line on the UDB

OUR OPINION: COMMISSION GOT WHAT IT WANTED: VERY GOOD ADVICE.

In recommending that the Miami-Dade County Commission deny all 17 amendments to the county's comprehensive development plan, Florida's Department of Community Affairs gave commissioners precisely what they said they wanted when transmitting the proposals to the state in November: Expert advice on whether to expand the Urban Development Boundary. The DCA's advice: Don't do it.

Expansion unjustified

Nine of the 17 proposed amendments are outside the current UDB line. The DCA's reasons for recommending denial of all the amendments, including those inside the UDB, are straightforward: First, as to moving the UDB, there is enough developable land inside the boundary so that westward expansion at this time isn't justified; second, the county hasn't ensured that it has an adequate drinking-water supply to support so much new growth, which will overwhelm clogged roads and further crowd school classrooms. These are sound reasons for the commission to heed the DCA's advice if, as expected, it votes on the amendments in April.

The DCA also was critical of a builder-authored proposal that would rewrite planning policy, saying that would make it easier to move the UDB. In rejecting even those proposed projects inside the UDB, state growth managers gave credence to concerns recently expressed by state and regional officials that Miami-Dade has failed to develop water-supply policies to serve residents in future years. A visionary change in the state growth-management laws last year links allowable new development with sufficient water.

Empowered by the new law, Florida Department of Environmental Protection chief Colleen Castille and South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle warned county officials in January that the county's access to Everglades water has hit its limit. Miami-Dade must come up with new sources of drinking water or else put growth on hold.

Extra burdens

The county's future water supply clearly is the DCA's primary concern. Yet its rationale for holding the line on the UDB also mirrors concerns of local residents who already struggle with traffic gridlock and packed classrooms. The County Commission's first priority should be to diversify and grow Miami-Dade's water supply. The second should be to heed residents' quality-of-life concerns. A good start would be to take the DCA's advice and deny the 17 amendments, thus containing growth until the county can catch up on infrastructure and develop a sustainable water supply.

Commissioners punted when they transmitted these amendments to the state. Now they've been told in precise terms what they should have been sensible enough to do in November.