Protecting lands outside the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) is critical for the well-being of Miami Dade County (MDC). The county’s Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) has been an excellent policy that has allowed planners to balance the development needs of MDC, while preserving our precious agricultural and environmental lands.
In May 2019, during the CDMP amendment cycle, the MDC Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) was instructed by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to develop a report in order to identify: 1) additional areas that may be identified as Urban Expansion Areas (UEA), with the goal of replacing 1,993 acres that were proposed for removal in one of the CDMP applications, and 2) potential additional uses that would be appropriate for the UEAs near the Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB). This report is out for public comment by April 19.
After an excellent analysis, the RER demonstrated that land within the UDB and the existing UEAs, including proposed contractions, “are sufficient to accommodate long-term population growth,” that is, growth by 2040, which is the CDMP’s planning period. It concluded that:
- There is sufficient residential capacity within the UDB beyond 2040, and that there are 2,000 acres in the current UEAs suitable for residential development.
- There is sufficient capacity within the UDB for industrial land countywide beyond 2040, except for a tier that has projected depletion by 2030.
- There are 2,700 acres in the current UEAs (including proposed contractions) that are suited for non-residential uses.
Furthermore, there is good reason for the Draft Report to not recommend targeting lands near the HARB for future urbanization. Doing that would violate the 2001 United States Air Force Record of Decision intended to protect the remaining military operations, farmland, wetlands and the Bay.
The report concluded that no additional Urban Expansion Area be recommended!
Take action NOW by writing to Assistant Director for Planning Jerry Bell of Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, and copying your district's MDC Commissioner in support of the Draft Urban Area Expansion Report.
Note: Tropical Audubon Society will convey your letter to Assistant Director for Planning Jerry Bell, Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, as a public comment and a copy will be sent to your representative on the Board of County Commissioners of MDC.
