| The
Miami Herald
Posted on Thursday, Mar. 23, 2006
DEVELOPMENT
2nd
builder drops bid to move boundary
Adrian Development Group is pulling the plug on its
application to move the Urban Development Boundary, saying there
is little hope the line will be moved.
BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN
mhaggman@MiamiHerald.com
Adrian Development Group is abandoning its
bid to build outside Miami-Dade's Urban Development Boundary, the
much-debated line beyond which large-scale development is not allowed.
Adrian is the second developer in recent weeks to withdraw its application
to move the line, just weeks in advance of a vote by the County
Commission.
Chief executive Peter Adrian said Wednesday afternoon, ''It is clear
to us that the County Commmission will not expand the Urban Boundary
for residential development.'' In February Shoma Homes withdrew
its application for much the same reason.
The moves by the two developers leave seven projects -- ranging
from a proposed residential subdivision to super-stores and warehouses
-- vying to move the line that runs along the western and southern
edge of Miami-Dade County. The withdrawals also point to a growing
momentum in recent months against changing the boundary, outside
which development is limited to one dwelling per five acres. Opposition
is especially strong to residential projects.
Environmentalists and anti-sprawl activists have long fought any
movement of the line, but recently the applications have come under
intense scrutiny from other and, in some cases, surprising sources.
In February, the state Department of Community Affairs urged county
leaders to reject all the applications for new development -- which
included nine proposals at the time -- because of concerns over
the county's water supply. Gov. Jeb Bush also expressed opposition
to moving the line.
MORE PLANNING
Prominent home builder Sergio Pino gave a speech to builders saying
the UDB should not be moved without more planning to avoid sprawl
and traffic-clogged roads. And a poll by Bendixen & Associates
found more than 70 percent of Miami-Dade residents oppose altering
the UDB.
''I think the UDB house of cards is falling down,'' said Alan Farago,
director of the Everglades Defense Council. Added Cynthia Guerra,
executive director of Tropical Audubon Society: "There seems
to be an awakening going on in our county.''
However, supporters say the UDB must ultimately be moved to accommodate
the region's population growth. Attorney Neisen Kasdin, who is representing
the Latin Builders Association and Builders Association of South
Florida, said limiting building outside the UDB to just one house
per five acres is an inefficient use of land.
''The population continues to grow,'' Kasdin said. "We need
a variety of housing for those people coming here and we need to
focus our efforts on properly planned development to accommodate
our future needs.''
The proposed 260-acre Adrian Development project, called Eureka
Palms, was the biggest of the applications in terms of acreage.
Located at Southwest 157th Avenue and 184th Street, it also ranked
among the most contentious because a portion of the property was
located in Miami-Dade's rural Redland area.
Neighborhood activists there feared the area's rural character could
be spoiled.
LOWER DENSITY
To offset concerns about density and traffic, Peter Adrian had said
the company intended to build 2.5 homes per acre and provide sites
for services ranging from a fire station and school to a CSX rail
line transit station. It also pledged to comply with water-use requirements
and said more than 20 percent of the homes would be affordable housing
for middle-class workers.
Adrian said it's ironic that the law allows him to build one house
on five acres without any services , but doesn't permit what he
proposed. "It is shocking to know that we committed to mitigate
for schools, parks, fire service, transit and workforce housing,
and still found little support.''
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