The proposed location for high school HHH1 lies wholly within a mile of Miami-Dade County's Urban Development Boundary (UDB). While much press has been generated lately regarding exemptions granted for development west of this boundary, it should also be recognized that there are similar limitations for what can be built to the east within a certain distance of the UDB. The county's Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) clearly states that high schools are not to be constructed within one mile of the line.
The reason? Building community facilities and expanding infrastructure within this buffer serve to promote further westward development. Housing such services on the edge of rural areas only provides greater incentive to convert presently vacant land to denser uses. This is particularly troubling, given that builder Lennar is actively seeking an exemption to construct a mixed-use development on nearly 1,000 acres between Southwest 162nd and 177th avenues, and 136th and 152nd streets.
Miami Herald reporter Charles Rabin spelled out the implications of this issue in his May 4th article, Glades Invasion Already Under Way. In recognizing the current siting of HHH1 will have much broader implications than a simple widening of local roads, we encourage the School Board to relocate the project site in favor of a location in accordance with the CDMP. Allowing this Pandora's Box to be opened will literally pave the way for greater sprawl to the west... literally!
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This is why planning and zoning becomes so important. We all want more schools, but in the RIGHT place.
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