Lennar's Push to Move Dade's Development Line Criticized by Two of the County's Biggest Developers

The following article appeared in the Miami Herald on Friday, October 31...

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN

Days before a group led by home builder Lennar launches an effort to win government approval for a new suburb on Miami-Dade County's western fringe, two of Miami's most prominent developers said the project should be rejected.

On Thursday, Armando Codina, South Florida's biggest commercial builder, and Jorge Perez, the region's largest condominium developer, said now is not the time to allow construction of a 19,000-person community near the Everglades.

To build the suburb, called Parkland, Lennar must persuade county commissioners to move the Urban Development Boundary, which limits large-scale building along the western and southern edges of the county.

''For residential development, it makes no sense to move the line,'' said Flagler Development Chairman Codina, who himself has twice won approval to move the UDB for offices and industrial parks.

''There are lots of opportunities within the boundary to build residential right now . . . But all applications should be judged on their own merits,'' said Codina, who made his comments during the Urban Land Institute's annual meeting in Miami Beach.

Perez, chairman and chief executive of Related Group, took his objection a step further.

''I think it's immoral to move the boundary,'' said Perez, who has focused on building condos and restaurants in urban areas.

''The urban boundary was done with a lot of planning and thinking,'' said Perez, also speaking at the ULI meeting. ``And that type of suburban development, when it comes to issues like the aquifer, the environment, traffic, it is the wrong type of urban policy.''

The developers' remarks come as Lennar and a group of prominent business leaders partnering in the Parkland project are set to begin public hearings Monday to win county approval for an expansion of the UDB.

''It's a shame that two developers would be so quick to react without having seen the merits of the project,'' said Jose Cancela, who heads up communications for the Parkland builders. ``Especially Armando, who has been the recipient of UDB moves on more than one occasion.

``As for Jorge, I would say he is highly motivated to make that statement because of the glut of condos that he is stuck with right now.''

The Parkland group is seeking government approval to put nearly 7,000 homes, shops, offices, a hospital and schools on 961 acres west of Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport. The rectangular patch of agricultural land west of the UDB runs from Southwest 162nd Avenue to Krome Avenue and Southwest 136th Street to Southwest 152nd Street.

Miami-Dade County's Department of Planning and Zoning already has recommended that county commissioners deny the boundary change, saying there is plenty of room to build within the UDB and that the project is contrary to county policy encouraging infill and urban redevelopment.

Lennar, one of the nation's largest home builders, and its partners contend that Parkland is an example of smart planning, with schools and offices within walking distance of homes and eco-friendly construction.

Among those partnering with Lennar on the project are Century Homebuilders President Sergio Pino, commercial builder Edward Easton, lobbying firm chief and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto, Sedano's supermarket President Agustin Herran and U.S. Century Bank Chairman Ramon Rasco.
If approved, the project would be the biggest change to the UDB for a residential project in two decades. The developers hope to start delivering homes in 2014, after the credit crunch has eased and the current outsized inventory of unsold homes in Miami-Dade has shrunk.

Help Hold The Line

Over the next few weeks, Lennar will once again endeavor to acquire an exemption to the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) to allow for the development of Parkland 2014. This mini-city is to be built west of Country Walk and in violation of the county's current Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP).

This project shares a reciprocal relationship with proposed high school HHH1. If constructed prior to the approval of Parkland 2012, the proximity of the new facility (and the requisite area improvements) would serve to buttress Lennar's claims that their residents could be accommodated by local county infrastructure. If Parkland 2014 is approved, the anticipated influx of new residents will almost surely demand construction of the new high school at its current location. Unfortunately, new residents will likely be accommodated to the detriment of students in our present community.

The very threat of Parkland 2012 underscores the importance of demanding that Miami-Dade Schools comply with then UDB and locate a new facility at a site in accordance with the CDMP.

Residents interested in upcoming hearings on Parkland 2012 are invited to attend one or all of the following upcoming forums:

West Kendall Community Council (11)
Date: November 2, 2008
Time: 6:30 P.M.
Location: Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School Auditorium
Address: 15735 SW 144 ST

Hearing of the Planning Advisory Board (PAB)
Date: November 19, 2008
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Location: County Commission Chamber
Address: 111 NW 1st ST

Board of County Commissioners Hearing
Date: December 18, 2008
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Location: County Commission Chamber
Address: 111 NW 1st ST

The Herald Gets It Right-- Again

OUR OPINION: COMMISSION SHOULD RESCIND VOTES TO MOVE URBAN BOUNDARY

Posted on Tue, Aug. 26, 2008

In a year when Miami-Dade County must trim crucial services because of budget shortfalls and changes in state law that cut property taxes, the County Commission should tighten the belt, too.

One of the more aggravating expenditures is defending the county against legal challenges. While some legal costs are necessary, others are not. One example of the latter is when the commission approves something that it knows will bring credible opposition. Such is the case with the votes to move the Urban Development Boundary for construction of commercial enterprises.

The commission voted to expand the UDB even though its own planning staff recommended against it, saying there is plenty of room for development inside the UDB. The state Department of Community Affairs also frowned on UDB expansion and gave the projects a thumbs-down. That may prompt opponents to file a legal challenge.

Commissioner Katy Sorenson wants the commission to rescind its votes to move the UDB at this time, averting a costly court challenge. Commissioner Natacha Seijas, as Governmental Operations and Environmental Committee chairwoman, has final say over whether this proposal procedurally moves forward. In fairness, though Ms. Seijas voted to move the UDB, she should give the entire commission a chance to decide on the plan.

Do commissioners want to commit public dollars to defend a plan that encroaches on the Everglades -- all on behalf of private businesses that want to do the encroaching? That's a poor use of public funds.

Tuesday, August 26, is Election Day

If you're headed to the polls, it pays to remember which candidates have best supported your vision of the future and have best safeguarded your quality of life. Remember which members of the County Commission have compromised smart growth and saddled us with unnecessary sprawl. Remember which School Board members have lent a sympathetic ear, while others sit idly by. Remember new voices, like that of Don Kearns, that seek to right the wrongs of the past with a more rational approach. Get to the polls today-- its might just save your tomorrow!

For more information on the election click here.

For a look at the sample ballot, click here.

Eye on September 10th...

Many thanks to all who attended our open forum on HHH1 this past week. Many good ideas were exchanged. Special thanks to Don Kearns for his attendance, advice and support. As noted during the meeting, all are encouraged to attend the upcoming school board meeting to voice their concerns regarding the proposed location of the school. Here are the details:

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2009

Place: 1450 NE 2nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33132

As always, we won't know if HHH1 is a formal agenda item or not until one week prior to the meeting. If it is, then we will need to be there at 1:00 p.m. Otherwise, we will need to be present for the public comment portion beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone wishing to speak before the board MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED BOARD SPEAKER FORM NO LATER THAN MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th. We'll see you there!

An Open Forum at Dodge City...

An open forum has been announced for
King’s Grant and King’s Grove residents
to discuss proposed high school HHH-1.

Thursday, August 21, 7 pm
16330 SW 147th Ave
a.k.a. “Dodge City”

Many residents hope the location of the school will be changed and would like to discuss alternative sites. State Rep. Juan Zapata and Ana Rivas-Logan have joined us in these talks and understand our concerns, which include:

• UDB violations set a bad precedent.
• Emergency support and vehicle access for the school and community are inadequate.
• Roads are inadequate for expected traffic.

We hope you will take time to join us to provide
insight on the project.

Comments Before the Board...

Here are my comments to the Miami Dade School Board during their Wednesday, June 13 meeting. Again, many thanks to those that took the time to present themselves before the board on this important issue!

Good evening, Board Members. Last week, each of you received via certified mail copies signatures gathered from individuals in our community asking for the relocation of proposed high school HHH1. As you look through those petitions, I would ask that you consider what stands behind each signature. Please think about the families each signature represents. Please think about the homes and property each signature represents. An entire community stands to be heavily impacted by this ill-advised project, and they reach out to you tonight for resolution.

Two months ago, I stood before you and tried to bring light to the lack of public process that has plagued this project since its inception. Over the past two months, this deficiency has manifested itself ever more clearly.

• For nearly two and a half years, the Facilities Planning Office worked to acquire and design this project and made no honest effort to inform or involve the host community.
• Without the benefit of public input, they now propose to impact our neighborhoods with increased traffic, noise, lighting and truancy.
• Most troubling, they quietly secured what could have been a highly contentious exemption to the county’s CDMP without the benefit of public scrutiny. In violation of accepted smart-growth policies, the proposed school now sits within a half mile of the UDB, and would serve to entice and justify continued westward development.
  

Because the community was not involved in the early stages of this project, we now find ourselves saddled with a project that our community does not want, the county does not recommend, and has resulted in the seizure of private property through the use of eminent domain.

At my last appearance, Dr. Holloway, you questioned the manner in which the Facilities Planning office had proceeded with regards to this project. You were right to do so. I would encourage, and expect, all of you to continue this line of questioning, and determine for yourselves whether or not this office made a reasonable and honest effort to involve the host community that would be so heavily impacted.

This issue goes beyond a single school. It is about fundamental principles in public administration. It is important that you take this opportunity to demand better and acknowledge the need for community engagement with regards to $68 million public works projects. If this is the sacrificial lamb upon which this lesson must be learned, then so be it—WE MUST RELOCATE HHH1! In light of the severe operational cuts this board has just approved, we fully support the need for a review of the 5-year capital plan, as noted by Ms. Greer and Ms. Rivas-Logan. We would also welcome a motion by the board tonight that directs the Facilities Planning staff to immediately begin finding an alternate location for HHH1, and to do so with full transparency and in collaboration with the host community.