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Miami
Herald But with a groundswell of groups already mobilized to torpedo the 6,000-home development dubbed Florida City Commons, both landowner and developer are making moves to appease -- or at least appeal to -- the opposition. And as testament to the fractious and politically charged atmosphere surrounding the project, conflict resolution experts have been called in. The recommendation to bring in a neutral party came at the suggestion of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, which reviews major developments such as the one proposed on the newly acquired Florida City land. 'SO MUCH TALK' ''There's been so much talk already about this,'' said John Hulsey, senior planner for the council. "We sometimes get into our little planning silos, but we also wanted to be sensitive to some of the political aspects.'' Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium, a neutral group created by the Florida Legislature to help mediate community disputes, moderated the meeting Wednesday morning, a modestly attended gathering of homeowners, activists and other interested parties. Some questioned the contingent representing homebuilder Lennar and landowner Atlantic Civil, which has a contract to sell the roughly 1,000-acre site to Lennar. ''We have said all along we have nothing to hide,'' said Ed Swakon, a consultant for Atlantic Civil. The project has several hurdles to
clear -- most notably, convincing the county commission to move
the urban development boundary, the line that separates undeveloped
land from sprawl. Officials in neighboring Monroe County, just a short county-line hop away, have publicly criticized the project out of concern that the large-scale project at the mouth of the Keys could create dangerous bottlenecks during hurricane evacuations. A coalition of dozens of neighborhood and environmental groups launched a massive petition drive against the annexation of the property by Florida City, saying it would lay the groundwork for future development in the area -- and pointed to the pending deal between Atlantic Civil and Lennar as proof. Environmentalists say the parcel sits within land that should be used to help restore water flows to Biscayne Bay, part of the $8.4 billion Everglades restoration plan. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez also cited the project when he vetoed the county commission's approval of the annexation -- but commissioners overrode his veto last month. Wednesday's meeting at Homestead's Keysgate clubhouse produced more questions than answers, touching on a gamut of topics such as the evacuation fears, concerns of traffic congestion and whether the homes would even be affordable to the average home buyer. The project, which could bring up to 18,000 new residents to a development of condos, townhomes and single-family dwellings, also calls for 300,000 square feet of retail space, an 1,800-seat theater and a 240-room hotel. HURRICANE SHELTER Lennar and Atlantic Civil speakers pointed to some features that they said could help quell fears. For example, a planned high school within Florida City Commons that could serve as a hurricane shelter for Keys residents -- easing any evacuation-related traffic crunches. Lennar executives said Wednesday they'll be setting up meetings with Keys leaders, and the proposal has already been broached with Miami-Dade's office of emergency management. Lennar also hopes to alleviate concerns over water flow to the bay, proposing a spreader canal at the eastern edge of the development that would direct the water around Florida City Commons on the way to Biscayne -- a prospect that would require not only convincing neighbors, but the Army Corps of Engineers. The argument didn't sway John Adornato, Everglades restoration program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. ''They still haven't answered what
the impact is going to be,'' he said.
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