The Miami Herald

MIAMI-DADE

Posted on Wed., Dec 6, 2007

Alvarez vetoes growth plan in West Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade County commissioners aren't likely to override a veto by the mayor to halt development outside the county's Urban Development Boundary.

BY CHARLES RABIN AND MATTHEW I. PINZUR
mpinzur@MiamiHerald.com

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez vetoed a series of projects planned for the county's western reaches Wednesday, effectively killing the deals in a vital test of where the county would draw the development line.

The veto represents a major victory for opponents of further growth in Florida's most populous county.

And, significantly, the veto is likely to hold. The county commissioners supporting development outside the invisible boundary typically off-limits to new projects don't appear to have enough votes to override Alvarez.

The mayor's message was direct: Expanding the so-called Urban Development Boundary would mean longer drives to work and trouble for police, fire and services.

''If Miami-Dade moves outside the UDB, it will affect our delivery of services and strain already taxed resources,'' Alvarez wrote. ``Police and fire rescue services would be spread over a greater area, resulting in longer response times due to greater distances and road congestion.''

The veto was a stinging setback for developers looking to build new homes -- and the shops and offices that come with them -- in suburbs near the Everglades.

''His veto overlooks the pleas of thousands of area residents,'' said Juan Mayol, an attorney for Lowe's, the home-improvement giant that sought to build a store outside the UDB.

"We are hopeful that the county commissioners will continue to recognize that these hard-working families are tired of overcrowded schools and long drives to buy such simple things as plywood or a garden hose.''

Hold The Line, an umbrella group of environmental organizations, said Alvarez's veto ''was the right thing to do,'' said group member and Miami Lakes Councilman Michael Pizzi.

''Expanding the UDB would have a devastating effect on the environment, and a devastating effect on the quality of life for Dade County residents,'' Pizzi said.

Commissioner Joe Martinez, who pushed for an office park outside the UDB and in his district, said Alvarez "has stopped a lot of good applications for no reason.''

It would take nine of the 13 commissioners to override the veto. The five commissioners who voted against extending the UDB westward said they plan on sticking by their vote at the next commission meeting Dec. 18.

PERMANENT LOSSES

Commissioners Carlos Gimenez, Sally Heyman, Dennis Moss, Katy Sorenson and Rebeca Sosa were on the losing side of an 8-5 vote last week. Only Heyman left wiggle room on her position, saying she was ''not looking to change her vote'' but was "not unequivocally saying no.''

Sorenson, often the most vocal anti-sprawl voice on the dais, said it's important to continue to hold the line.

''I assume that all these victories are temporary, but the losses [on UDB issues] are permanent,'' she said.

Wednesday, Alvarez vetoed all 12 applications to change the county's development master plan -- including three outside the UDB.

Without an override, projects outside the UDB won't be heard again -- if at all -- until 2009 when the county's Comprehensive Development Master Plan reappears before commissioners.

Alvarez asked the commission to work on a comprehensive plan for "inevitable future expansion.''

His veto comes a week after commissioners spent several contentious hours debating the legitimacy of moving the boundary. Over the objections of county staff, a divided commission ultimately forwarded three projects outside the UDB -- two of them with positive recommendations -- to the state Department of Community Affairs.

If the veto holds, the DCA won't see the applications.

The most heated debate involved Lowe's request to build on Southwest Eighth Street at 137th Avenue. The company offered land to build a school and to build a bridge to a side road.

Twice since 2003, representatives of the home improvement giant have sought permission to build outside the UDB; they failed both times.

This time the Lowe's issue drew a half-full commission chamber of supporters and opponents. One man in favor of Lowe's told a story of having to drive a long way to buy four light bulbs; opponents spoke of stretching resources like water and police and fire services.

Two other projects proposed for Southwest 167th Avenue in West Kendall were debated.

Almost immediately after commissioners voted to send the applications to the state Capitol, members of Hold The Line said they would file a lawsuit against the county if the mayor failed to veto them.

LITTLE CHOICE

Alvarez's veto also halted nine changes planned for inside the development boundary. Some of them -- like one that would have tweaked land-use maps at Miami International Airport and three smaller airfields -- were approved and even written by county staff.

But the mayor had little choice because Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro chose to package all 12 applications in one basket instead of separating them.

Barreiro said he's considering calling for a vote to override the mayor at the Dec. 18 hearing.