Feb 26, 2008

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Hold the Line Campaign Win for Round Two!

The state listens to concerns about protecting our Water Supply

On February 26, 2008, the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) unequivocally objected to three applications submitted by Miami-Dade County to move the County’s Urban Development Boundary (UDB) westward.

“This is good news for the community and our campaign! The state’s assessment validated the objections lodged by the Mayor, County Planning staff, Hold the Line and many others.” said Dawn Shirreffs, Community Organizer for Clean Water Action and the Hold the Line Campaign.

In the report sent to Miami-Dade County, the DCA outlined numerous reasons that ALL current applications to move the UDB should be rejected.

In December 2007, the Miami-Dade County Commission moved three of these applications towards approval by transmitting them to DCA, when it could have denied them. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez vetoed the transmittal recognizing that inadequacies cited in DCA’s 2006 report have not yet been addressed, but his veto was overruled.

A new application recently filed seeks to add nearly 7,000 residential units west of Kendall.

In rejecting these applications, DCA sent a strong message to the County that these applications overtax already strained water supply, local transportation and overcrowd schools. The evaluation mirrors objections previously identified in reports by County staff and the public that these applications would create unnecessary urban sprawl jeopardizing the agricultural economy, the Everglades and Biscayne Bay.

"The state’s objections were unusually strong and broad, identifying major legal problems on almost every planning issue raised by these applications," said Richard Grosso, General Counsel of the Everglades Law Center. "It would not make sense for the County to adopt any of these applications. The process at this point allows the Commission to save further taxpayer resources and simply decline to approve these applications”

The choice for the Miami Dade County Commission is clear.

“Protecting our water and wetlands is critical to protecting Miami Dade residents and quality of life in the face of sprawl and climate change. The Commissioners have been given all the information they need to serve their constituents by Holding the Line!” said Laura Reynolds, Executive Director of Tropical Audubon Society.

A final vote is currently scheduled to be held by the Miami-Dade County Commission on April 24, 2008.

For more information please visit www.udbline.com or call (305)489-5949.

The Hold the Line campaign represents over 140 diverse Miami-Dade and Monroe County organizations, including municipalities, homeowner groups, businesses, and non-profit organizations.