Keys should join others in 'Hold The Line' effort
An impressive roster of
29 environmental organizations has been assembled to oppose an effort to
extend Miami-Dade County's Urban Development Boundary south to
accommodate a megadevelopment at the top of Card Sound Road.
The UDB was established
in 1975 to protect Miami-Dade's wetlands and agricultural areas from
sprawl. The boundary is one of the most important protections against
development into the Everglades.
Recently, Miami-Dade
Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush joined the opposition,
surprising those who viewed them as part of the pro-development camp.
Bush cited both
Everglades restoration and Monroe County hurricane evacuation as reasons
for opposing changes to the boundary. Miami-Dade planners also note that
enough undeveloped land remains within the UDB to construct thousands of
homesites.
But Atlantic Civil, owner
of the 4,200-plus-acre property near Card Sound Road, has proposed
building a 6,000-home community with 300,000 square feet of commercial
shopping and 90,000 square feet of office space. One of the country's
largest builders, the Lennar Corp., has an option to purchase the land.
And Florida City has
drafted an annexation ordinance to include this same area within its
incorporated boundaries, though city leaders claim no desire to see the
property change from its current zoning of one home per five acres.
Environmentalists,
however, are skeptical, arguing that annexation is but a prelude to
extending the development boundaries.
Last year, the Ocean Reef
Community Association and the Monroe County Commission adopted
resolutions opposing development of the area.
These were appropriate
actions taken not only in the best interest of Monroe residents
concerned about evacuation, but for South Floridians who desire to
protect our water quality and supply.
Leaders of the Hold The
Line coalition are now calling on Monroe leaders to declare opposition
to Florida City's annexation efforts.
While we are typically
cautious about interfering in the politics of our northern neighbors, we
believe the greater good of the region forces our hand.
Florida City Mayor Otis
Wallace has told The Citizen that his community does not need the land
targeted for annexation for a tax base.
"We have that on U.S. 1,"
he said.
So what is the rationale?
"We're looking for
lifestyle choices here," he said.
But that lifestyle choice
really exists whether the area is annexed or not. So why not support the
status quo?
The annexation issue is
to be discussed in April by the Miami-Dade commission. We encourage our
county leaders and other Keys governments, business groups and civic
organizations to join the Hold The Line effort. And we applaud Gov. Bush
for drawing the line as well.
— The Citizen |
