In some somewhat surprising decisions, applications 6, 7, 11, and 24 did not pass. Application 5, by the City of Hialeah, did pass, and was filed as a separate ordinance.

Here is the Herald’s take on it. How they voted.

May 8 update: All notes now posted.

Also, please note that every effort has been made to be accurate, but there could be some errors. If any are found, please notify.

Application 6, in Doral, was denied 12-0. They were offering to clean up a site that most likely was highly contaminated as a result of it’s proximity to an illegal landfill (which they are required to do anyway).

Application 7, by Lowe’s in West Dade, did not pass in a surprising 8-5 vote seeking approval (nine were required). They were offering 30 acres at cost for a school, and by the end of the day additionally offered 10 additional acres for a park, later reduced those 10 acres to half-cost, and later offered those 10 acres free of charge. The decision was not overturned.  (The five no’s: Sorenson, Sosa, Gimenez, Heyman, Moss)

Application 11, in Kendall, did not pass in another surprising vote, 7-6. They were offering to build a road to supposedly alleviate traffic problems in the area. (I’m sorry to say I missed the final vote and do not have the names. I believe at least these people said no: Sorenson, Gimenez, Souto, Sosa…)

Application 24, in Homestead, near the hospital. Denied: 9-4. They discussed space for medical office buildings. Sorenson put a motion to deny, Jordan, Seijas, Bairrera, Diaz against.

Application 5, in Hialeah, on the site of the Pierless Landfill, was approved and passed as it’s own ordinance in a 12-1 vote. This is being requested by the City of Hialeah who seems to really want to improve this area.

Overall, as I mentioned above, the applicants were offering many things that made the community and the commissioners interested in the project. They wanted approval in order to get the schools, the roads, the clean-up. But the right number of commissioners voted that we can not approve these projects just for the "carrots" being offered, as they should be done anyway.

Please note that I just put the most basic info in right now, and tomorrow my full notes will be updated.

Additionally, I would like to say that I was personally offended by Commissioner Seijas to be grouped together along with people that do not represent what I represent. I too am a person of integrity and do not believe you can say you respect everyone, while making gross generalizations such as the ones she made tonight. I will embellish more tomorrow.

UPDATED 4/20 with notes from 4/19:

9:56 am: Front rows that were full yesterday will green shirts are now very empty. A lot of people returned today with "Neighbors Supporting Lowe’s" buttons.

9:58 am: Roll call. 6 members present. (Meeting was to start at 9:30am.)

10:05 am: Roll call. 10 members present. Meeting begins.

We go right into application 6. Application by Doral West Commerce Park, LLC. Location: West of Turnpike & East of NW 122 Ave, approx. theoretical NW 22 St.

Staff believes that to expand would be premature.

Developer’s Lawyer’s comments: Developer pledges water reuse, green roofs, etc. States that this is the right project, at the right place. UDB is located 1.5 miles west of this application., and there is development all around. The site is located next to an illegal landfill. 400,000 cubic yards of waste, 1.2 billion pounds of illegal waste (Beacon Lakes). Hazardous waste in soil/groundwater. Need revenue to address these issues. Client wants to investigate what is on the site, create a remediation plan, and execute the remediation plan. Site doesn’t qualify for "aquifer recharge" because rainwater in this area would cause leeching of toxins into the groundwater. If approval doesn’t go forward, then remediation will not go forward.

Commissioner Sorenson interrupts the presentation to clarify with DERM. DERM: We do not have a record that this was a landfill. DERM looked at records and this wasn’t an issue previously. DERM didn’t go to investigate the site.

Sorenson: Our code says that you have to clean up the pollution. Not that in order to clean up pollution, you can extend the UDB.

Chairman Martinez says that all of this information was given to us in the November hearings. Why hasn’t anything been done to investigate from November until now? DERM does not have a good answer. There is some discussion about the fact that DERM is under resourced.

Attorney now states that there is no proof that this contamination exists on his client’s site, they were just using knowledge from the Beacon project. My opinion: The beginning of the presentation eluded to the fact that these photos of waste we were seeing, and the statistics that were being given, were on the site in question. However, now the lawyer is clear to state that they are just assuming. A little tricky in my opinion.

Attorney: If the county decides to take enforcement-first for this property instead of incentive-first, my client will spend a lot of time and money in litigation to fight it. My opinion: This was an outright threat that stated, if you don’t approve my project and try to make me clean it up, I will take up your time and resources fighting it.

Begin comments from the public on application 6, many of which were general UDB comments:

• ?, I propose a referendum to cities within Miami-Dade County to increase density. South Miami sits on US 1 and has a 4 story limit.
• John Van Leer, moving UDB goes against Florida Forever/Everglades Forever. Water levels rising, future hurricanes more severe…recommend 2 books: Weather Makers, & The Everglades, an Environmental History.
• Cynthia Guerra, enough land until 2022. DERM doesn’t have enough resources to follow up on all violations.
• Alan Ferago (sp?), What if a farmer said I have a lot of pesticide pollution on my land…I have a developer this will pay to clean it up?
• Diane Marmenstein, If you build it, they will come, if you don’t, they won’t. Wants to support local produce, and suggests to the commission to ban or tax foreign produce.
• Kathy Hollis, (I don’t have many notes on her speech, but it was eloquent and just what I wanted to say.)
• Santiago Leon, recommend a book, Urban Sprawl & Public Health. Looking at health side of urban density, such as obesity, exercise, etc.
• Mayor Slayton, Miami Lakes, ML passed a resolution against development past the UDB over a year ago.

Close public hearing, commissioners discuss. Valido landfill is adjacent to this site. DERM estimates that it will cost $200K-300K to clean it up. The land is the hole in a donut with development all around. Diaz, moves to deny at this time, and wants to later move the UDB to remove the donut in the near future.

Gimenez supports denial because approval keeps speculation going. Sorenson supports denial because it is spot planning. Expects DERM involvement and clean-up immediately.

Souto, felt inspection process was tainted and that is why he is against – not because of Hold the Line (HTL) because you can not draw lines. Must look at issues individually. Regional planning. These people live in "lala land". "I’m for protecting the Everglades, but I’m for people living, too." My district has mini-urban forests adopted by schools in the district.

Seijas to Coffery – What does DERM need to do to enter private property? There is a process…

Edmonson – this is a well field (wetlands?) with a dump on top of it. Get it clean immediately. Would like a report from DERM.

General discussion: A lot of parts of town, Diaz, Sejias, and 3 other districts have huge illegal dumping problems. A lot of education is needed.

Jordan: I have a report of 90 hot spots in MD county, hoping to secure cameras to rotate around these hot spots.

Diaz wants to waive the reapplication fee. Withdrawn. Deny 12-0.

Update 4/25 with notes from 4/19

Application 7. Lowe’s. Land for this use available until 2025. Lowe’s was offering 30 acres for a school. One of the big issues was the language of this promise, which was amended before the hearing begun. The 30 acres would be used only for a school. Lowe’s is offering to sell the 30 acres at cost, and will pay for infrastructure for the school – roads, water. Lowe’s asks supporters in the audience to stand – about 30 people from the neighborhood stand, as well as another 30 that are here supporting another issue, but also support this one.

They promise water reuse, water conservation. The rainwater will be collected from the roof and a/c system to be used in the Garden Center & store. Lowe’s conducted their own poll, and 80% (and then 94%) are in favor of the store.

Commenters For Lowe’s:

Martha Garcia: Lives in SW part of town. This store will keep people in their area, with will reduce traffic in other areas. Hurricane supplies necessary.

?, Schools…we need a school close

Mario Ollos (sp?), Schools, generators, supplies

Diego (w/translator), want to have our children work closer to home so that they can see their families more.

? (w/translator), better quality of life

Donald, nurseryman/landowner. Competition will bring prices down. Put responsibility on developers to implement conservation, water treatment.

Commenters Against Lowe’s:

?, mentions, in reference to the last application, that GPS tracking system could be placed on all vehicles that dump, know when they are dumping…in lieu of the cameras previously mentioned.

Cynthia Guerra, Tropical Audubon Society, Application has done a good job at outreach, but did they tell residents that they have 16 acres  that could have developed 2 years ago?

?, Build up

Sara Feign, NPCA, we would be left without buffer land between the city and the Everglades

?, This would create another hole in the donut – need to look at moving the line overall, not piecemeal.

?, accuses lawyer of paying the residents to support the project (this causes quite a stir).

Erica, Alliance for Reliable Transport, check Green Building Council. Putting a traffic generator such as a school at the most western part of the city is not reasonable. (I think this was a terrific point.)

Nancy Lee, talk about money, prices paid, prices moving up. (Brought a visual map)

Mario Ollos (for), all of these people against Lowe’s are from other parts of town. No one from this area. Live our life.

Lowe’s rebuttal, to put a store on the current site, it’s too narrow, would cause traffic problems, etc.

Gimenez: leaning towards no. Sorenson: was in New York City and saw a Home Depot 6 stories high. The last application said, "If you move the line, we’ll clean this," this application "If you move the line, we’ll give you a school." We can have a win-win, build a Lowe’s on the 16 acres and save the wetlands.

Heyman: believe in Lowe’s effort. But crossing the line is not necessary. Sosa: Can not support because you have an alternative.

Diaz: We’re lacking in High Schools. Other sites are not quality sites. This is Urban Expansion area. You could build 5 acre homes, cemeteries, rock quarries. Diaz really wants this for the school.

Diaz motions for approval, Seijas seconds. Edmonson: Miami Gardens Lowes is on 13.3 acres. Lowe’s: That is because that location has no water retention regulations. Seijas: They have 2000 signatures.

Souto: If the schools don’t use it, would you give it to the Parks? Lowe’s: At cost, yes. Martinez: maybe this is another site for the Marlins. Jordan: I’m impressed by the turnout of the community. Supporting the residents. Rolle: Agree with Jordan. Gimenez: School Board not here to support. Edmonson: Support.

Moss never commented. Voted no. Surprised everyone. Now there is a big confusion about a technical manner of continuing. This is all one ordinance, each item can be separated out, but then they could be vetoed separately.  Preliminary votes don’t require 9 votes, but that can be changed. Lots of drama. The entire commission is confused. I believe that the decision was that if it didn’t get nine votes, it would not go to the final ordinance. 8-5. Does not pass.

Application 11 – Kendall. Will change covenant to include no residential. Brought about 30 residents in favor of the project, around 30 people. Land located within Urban Expansion Area (UEA). For some time during this presentation, many commissioners were not present.

Comments FOR:

Patricia Shannon Davis: Took 3 days of vacation from work to attend these meetings. Social worker. Lot of traffic. Wants the road the developers are offering.

Commenter: Traffic.

Comments AGAINST:

John Wade: Lose water, no recharge. Florida Right to Farm. Covenants are easy to change (this was later corrected by county – if covenant is made in a CDMP, it can only be changed through another CDMP). Farmers can sell their land. Once the UDB is moved, no new agriculture is allowed. (This is an important fact.)

Jamie (Audubon): because Comprehensive Plan, don’t look at individual applications, make a plan overall. Good urban infill happens when you disincentivize sprawl. (I also liked this point.)

Diane M.: Preserve agricultural land

Millie Herrera: Covenants can be changed. (County lawyer: not true, Master Plan covenants can only be changed with another Master Plan vote.) Kendall is unbearable to live in.

Ronald, Pres. Student Council Association: (I don’t have good notes on what he said, but he was a great speaker.)

REBUTTAL: not viable agricultural land. Between Kendall Drive & residential. Probably only being farmed for tax purposes.

Martinez: Support. Gimenez: road isn’t reason enough to approve. Sorenson: can not support. Jordan: support, 2018 w/500 acres, but there was an error in coding and they "lost" 200 acres. (The absorption rate was later corrected to 2015.) Sejias: support. Does not pass: 7-6.

My side notes: Hold the Line campaign is being poorly received by the commissioners. Too much of "Hold the Line, I don’t care about the circumstances." Basically these developers offer up "carrots" to the county and the reason the commissioners & residents want the projects are for these carrots.

Application 24 – Homestead, near the hospital. Neighborhood based health services.

Comments against:

Sara, NPCA: Will eliminate the buffer area.

Grad student, doing thesis on similar topic: Miami-Dade is a textbook example of a green-belt. You are not containing growth by the UDB line, but you are contained by the Everglades & Miccosokee. What if Central Park wasn’t set aside in NYC when it was? Please have a plan.

Moss: will vote no. Does not think the line is hard fast, but needs to be moved in a comprehensive manner. Sorenson: spoke with Baptist Hospital and they have 50+ acres set aside for these types of medical services. Motion to deny: Jordan, Seijas, Barriera, Diaz against (the denial). Motion passes, application denied.

My notes: at this point the closed captioning was removed from one of the screens inside. That was helping me follow this complex discussion. It never returned.

Application 5 – Hialeah. Department generally supports but is concerned with levels of service. High water consumption. This is the site of Pierless landfill. Mayor of City of Hialeah: would have been inside the UDB before, but it was being operated as a dump & couldn’t be inside. Create jobs, eliminate landfill.

Comments FOR:

?: in support of Graham companies

Former Mayor: Ethics in journalism. Newspapers are feeding venom. One of the biggest polluters is funding the Hold the Line campaign (I’ve been trying to find out what was meant by this, but have had no luck). Collecting signatures under false pretenses. Where were the environmentalists when the dump applications were put through in Hialeah (without telling the City of Hialeah, staffers found it in the paper).

Comments AGAINST:

?: Miami Beach is the densest area south of New York City. Chicago is "green", temporary gardens in open spaces – even contaminated sites.

Diana Marmerstein: vegan, local food, reduce, reuse, recycle.

Mike P: Councilman, town of Miami Lakes. 8G & H states that you can not pass this unless you find a compelling need.

Rosenbaum: I am for Holding the Line, but if you pass, add these restrictions. (not noted)

Because this is a city application, covenants don’t apply as do with private applicants.

County Manager changes staff recommendation to Approval. Dump holds construction materials. States that Hialeah has worked very hard on this.

Reverse osmosis – water coming from Florida aquifer (which is brackish water).

Diaz, Seijas, Souto, Sosa, Heyman, Moss, Martinez state they are in support of the application. Sorenson is not. Moss: I don’t want a competitive disadvantage from Broward. Passes as ordinance 1a: 12-1.

FINAL VOTE

Right before the final vote for the day (all previous votes expect for Application 5 were straw votes), the Lowe’s lawyer returns with his client. Additional 10 acres concession for a park, in addition to the 30 acres for the school. Later offered the 10 acres at half price, and later free. Deal not accepted.

Ordinance passes 13-0, summing up all of the previous votes from these 2 days of meetings.

Today decisions were made for all non-UDB items (1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27). Some general comments on the UDB were also heard on the record. UDB applications will be discussed tomorrow, April 19th, beginning at 9:30am in the Stephen P Clark center. The public is encouraged to attend (and wear green).

1:10pm. We are on lunch. The meeting will proceed at 1:30pm. Non-UDB items are being heard first. So far, application numbers 1, 2, & 3 have passed with a 13-0 vote. Item number 27 was heard and a preliminary vote was taken.

Remaining items to be addressed prior to UDB items are: 4, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, & 27. My assumption is that we will not reach the UDB items today, although one may be heard. Proceedings will continue tomorrow, April 19, and through April 20 if necessary.

UDB application number 23 withdrew yesterday, which leaves only 5 items remaining (5, 6, 7, 11, 24).

This morning…

9:50am. I arrived a little late, but the meeting still hasn’t started. I signed a Clean Water Action petition on the way in. The girl running it, who I would regard as an activist in the traditional sense, saw that Commissioner Rebeca Sosa was walking in at that time. She told the commissioner that they polled 26 people last night (and I forget where) and 23 were against moving the UDB. Comm. Sosa says, "You should go to Hialeah, Flagmiami,"…they go back and forth. Sosa, "I’ve gotten many emails & letters"…"I just want to get this over with, we have so many other important things to do." Then she said something to me like, I just want to go to the Keys and be done with this.

Chairman Joe Martinez holds a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. Before starting the meeting, because a few commissioners had not yet arrived, he addressed the public and the commissioners. "A lot has be written that these decisions we are going to make here this week are life-altering decisions." He states that he has made life or death decisions before, and this is not one of them. He goes on to discuss the personal attacks. "One person has decided that they are the only ethical person in the county." He seems to be referring to this article, and to Mayor Carlos Alvarez. "Everyone in this room has an agenda – usually to their benefit. We [, the commissioners,] have to make decision to benefit our voters," goes on Martinez. He tells us that each decision is based on three things: Political, Ethical, & Heartfelt.

He is obviously very upset to the harm that has come to his family. He finishes, "I am not reclusing myself, and I will vote on every single issue." After that, Commissioners Seijas, Jordan, Diaz, Gimenez, Sosa, Edmonson, Rolle, Barreiro, Souto, & Moss all compete in a Talk As Long As You Can While Saying The Same Thing Contest in support of the Chairman.

Today, the Final Actions on these items will be: Adopt, Adopt with Changes, or Deny. Deferrals are no longer possible. Approval requires 7 members for non-UDB items and 9 members for UDB items. Decorum is discussed multiple times, due to lots of moving around and occasional murmuring of the audience, a full house. Each applicant has 15 minutes to speak, and the public has 3 minutes each.

The director confirms to one of the commissioners that it maintains the idea that we have enough residential land inside Miami-Dade county (I assume inside the UDB) to last until the year 2018.

Update 8:53pm: The meeting ended probably around 6:30pm. Application #4 (staff recommendation: Deny) passed a preliminary vote, expecting changes that are supposed to happen tomorrow. Number 15 passed 13-0. Number 20 (staff recommendation: Deny) passed 12-1 (Sorenson: no). #21 (staff rec.: deny) passed 11-2 (Sorenson & Heyman: no). #22 passed 13-0, with amended workforce housing to 65 units. I was out of the room for #26.

One of the interesting topics that came up today started being discussed during application #2. Urban infill and/vs. Hold the Line. The developer on this project stated that "there is not one person from Hold the Line stating that this is the type of development that we need for urban infill." Later Comm. Sorenson commented and told him, "I am a member of Hold the Line and this is the kind of project that we need in order to Hold the Line."

This was an important point. First of all, people get sick of hearing "No" all of the time without receiving solutions. I’m sure it is difficult to dedicate resources to cover so many issues, but that could be an incredible resource: to work with projects that are in the right locations, as well as oppose projects in the wrong location.

On application #3, Comm. Sorenson commented that the developer has stated 9 potential water saving measures that are very good, including green roofs, low irrigation, etc. The developers are interested in creating a green building, and potentially getting certified "green", but are not prepared to commit to that.

After returning from lunch, the 1:30pm meeting began at 2:00pm. We hear from the water experts: we are using 2.76 million gallons/day of "borrowed water" from the Biscayne Aquifer. The idea is to give the county 18 months for alternative water development, that don’t rely on water that comes from the Everglades. He also states that Dade County hasn’t put a lot of energy into water reuse. (Currently, we only reuse 5%.)

General comments: The "green shirts" in the audience are varied in age, from young college students to senior citizens. In the morning, it was a full house. In the afternoon, the room was much more empty. The tension between Commissioners Sorenson and Seijas can be cut with a knife.

Application #15. Site for a Publix in South Dade. Moss: want to "create conveniences closer to where people live". "There was a time that I said if it was on the UDB line I wouldn’t support it." Sorenson: Couldn’t decide how to vote, but hope that by putting it closer, people will walk, bike, scooter or segway to the store.

Chairman Martinez mentions that he is under a confidentiality agreement, but that we all know that CSX (apparently a railway) is coming down that way, and wanted to know if he could get them to set aside some parking for a Park & Ride. Turns out this land doesn’t bump up to that site. Also, Sorenson was surprised to hear this and would think very differently about the project if that was the case. Developer states that this use will be the lowest water use of all potential uses.

Application #20. Lawyer states: For economic development in the area, offering mixed use. Residents in this area (near Cutler Bay) do not drive. Affordable housing and affordable business space is needed.

The big discussion on this one is that there is existing business space, but in poor conditions. So do you approve new space that will be done "right" and "nice", or do you encourage updating the current establishments? The absorption rate in the area is  until the year 2024. This was interpreted by Seijas and Moss that it is slower because there is no investment in the area. (Much of the rest of the county is 2018.) The commission voted to create new space.

#21 is located about 1/3 mile from #20. It is a parcel of land less than one acre. There was a big question as to who’s district this is in. After having to delay the vote to determine, it is in Sorenson’s district (whereas #20 is in Moss’s). Sorenson: With dilapidated buildings/businesses, the worst thing you can do is open up more land. There is no incentive to redo older ones. When she asked what was planned to go there, the answer was a pharmacy or a fast food chain. Sorenson: Hate to see it become "Trans-Fat Row".

#22: We hear opposition first: Opposed to so much re-zoning because it just increases property values when they don’t even intend on using it. Sorenson: Supports density along transportation corridors. For approval. Martinez wants more workforce housing, a topic he’s been very interested in all day. Finally, after much discussion, the developer commits to 65 units for workforce housing, in a manner which felt very much like an auction.

4:46pm Chairman Martinez opens the floor to the public that has general UDB comments, for or against, for people that can not return tomorrow. Below are my notes on their comments.

Commenter, Urban Environmental League of Greater Miami, The number 1 reason for moving the UDB was to provide affordable housing. Most application are commercial in nature. No plans for water, transportation, roadways, affordable housing, saving farm land, infill housing, or to fix existing infrastructure.

Commenter, Kenwood ’06 Storm Rebuilding Team (on his t-shirt), I’m impressed. Chairman Martinez told the applicants that he wanted a traffic plan…and they all pulled out. You are training developers quite well. If you say no, what will they do? They’ll put it in parts of Miami that need revitalizing.

Commenter, Lawyer for Sierra Club and other organizations, The state has seen the crisis. Miami Dade is on the cutting edge of making difficult decisions.

Commenter, Redlands resident, I live outside the UDB. It took me 2 hours to get here by mass transit. I took the day off work. I moved outside of the UDB to not live in this environment.

Commenter, Redlands resident, VP Motes Orchids, South Florida is a horticultural economy more than an agricultural economy now. They’ll have you think that it is hobby farming, and, "that we wander around milking a goat with a glass of while wine in our hand." "People need green space more than the rabbits and people need trees more than the birds."

Commenter, Tree Farmer, In support of moving the UDB. Between freezes, floods, hurricanes, etc, we can’t afford to farm anymore. I’ve been shot at, had cars stolen, illegal dumping 12 times in the last year, stolen tractors…..

Commenter, This has a worldwide impact. I ask you to hold the line because of the impact on 2 national parks. Cement means less opportunity to recharge the aquifer.

Mark Lewis, Biscayne National Park also representing Dan Campbell Super Intendent of the Everglades. We have reviewed all of the most recent information, and there is nothing in it to allow us to change our position. We are still concerned about Everglades Restoration. Expansion will make it more difficult to achieve restoration. (This is probably the reason I support Holding the Line.)

Nathan Geisler, Clean Water Action, used his 3 minutes to list off all organizations in support of Hold the Line. This created some discussion.

The discussion goes back to what I mentioned in item #2. Commissioner Moss is challenging the community to not just say "No, no, no", but to also support higher density projects. Nathan makes it clear that Hold the Line is not a no-growth campaign. I think this is an incredible point. One reason I am cautious to join activist groups is that they can be viewed as very negative forces by the government and the public. If there is a way to become a resource and be viewed as a positive force, so much more will be able to be accomplished.

Another topic that was brought up by various citizens today was the fact that there is not a "master plan" but a lot of the work and approvals are being done piecemeal, as people come to the county with requests. They feel that a much larger plan should be in place for overall development in the county.

Additionally, farm land was a topic not discussed very much, but a little, and I hope it gets touched on more tomorrow. Comm. Jordan: Saddened by the loss of farmland – don’t know if we’ve done enough to support the farmers in South Dade. If a farm is not profitable, have we ventured into organic farming, etc?

And again, urban infill was discussed, in which Chairman Martinez stated that urban infill with $400,000 condos – you’re getting gentrification. People that live there currently can’t afford it. Where do they go?

By the way, I experienced acronym mania today, and still have to learn what some of them mean! PAB, DCA, CDC, MSA, CDBG, CUC, UMSA, SERP.

Until tomorrow, this is GreenerMiami, signing off.

Each speaker discussed briefly why they are against moving the UDB. Reasons focused on two areas: 1) take care of the people and existing parts of the county first, and 2) save the environment.

Now, something I really wanted to understand before leaving this event was exactly what the current details are so that I can do my homework before the meeting tomorrow. There have been many revisions to the original, but here is the real deal:

Applications 5, 6, 7, 11, 23, and 24 will still be considered, and this is what the focus of the meeting starting tomorrow is all about. To read the 153-page document from the Planning Board, click on the text near the top of this Hold the Line page.

A quick rundown of the locations: #5 – Hialeah (apparently there was some potential discussion of putting the Marlins here, which has some fans upset with us), #6 – Doral, #7 West Dade, #11 – West Kendall (this one includes housing, others are mainly office, business, and industrial requests), #23 & #24 – South Dade.

Catch some sound bites from today’s press conference on the news tonight. Check out these stations that attended. CBS 4, NBC 6, Univision 23.

Don’t Forget: If you want to support the Denial of these applications to move the UDB line, come out in your GREEN shirt tomorrow, April 18, around 9:00 am. Stephen P. Clark center (Government Center metrorail/mover. Ground floor. Go through security gate for visitors and to the 2nd floor meeting room.) Meeting starts at 9:30am. If you can’t make it on-time, still come…I’m sure we’ll be there all day!

Update: See recent articles on the topic: Now isn’t the time, Moving beyond talk, If you go, Battle nears end.

Also, see the agenda for the meeting. Non-UDB items will be heard first (1, 2, 3, 4, 15, 20, 21, 22). (Please understand that this might take a little while…I have no idea how long. If you can, I’m sure the HTL campaign would still appreciate everyone arriving from the beginning of the meeting. But again, better late than never.)

If you can not go, you can watch the proceedings live on Miami-Dade TV or try viewing it on your computer with the county’s live webcast.

Yesterday I spoke with Nate Geisler, the South Florida Community Organizer for Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund…basically he’s the guy doing a lot of work for the UDB (Urban Development Boundary) Hold the Line campaign. Here’s the deal:

How you can help HOLD THE LINE:

1. Be at the public hearing on Tuesday, April 18 at 9:00am in the Stephen P. Clark center (Metrorail: Government Center)
2. Wear a GREEN shirt.
3. If you go, let me know. I’ll be there, trying my hardest to live-blog it.
4. That’s it! Sounds easy, but it will help a lot to have community members in front of the commissioners while they are deliberating.

The Hold the Line campaign has had successes even before the vote. Yesterday some controversial plans were withdrawn.

Got more time on your hands? Come to the Hold the Line press conference on Monday, April 17 at 1pm. It will be located in the Tina Hills Pavilion (south of fountain) in Bayfront Park. (But if you have to choose, please go to the meeting on Tuesday!)

Can’t go to either? Find your county commissioner, and send an email with your thoughts.

Why is this important? (Source: Hold the Line flier)

• Miami-Dade is the only county in South Florida that has an Urban Development Boundary. Developers say moving the line will make houses cheaper for people to attain the “American Dream”. However, Broward County is already built to the edge of the Everglades and homes in Broward are as expensive or more than in Miami!
• Our roads, sewers, and parks are all lacking, schools are overcrowded, yet big developers want to move the UDB and cause taxpayers to keep paying millions to foot the bill for sprawl.
• We are losing more and more of our remaining farmland. Agriculture is the County’s third largest industry but it is under threat with expansion of the Boundary.
• Moving the “UDB” will add more traffic through our communities. Current proposals alone, at different stages of review, could add 100,000 people or more outside of the UDB and COUNTY EXPERT STAFF HAVE SAID THERE IS ENOUGH LAND SUPPLY IN THE UDB FOR 15 YEARS OR MORE!

If you would like any more information, you can contact the Hold the Line offices: 305-485-5949.

The community wants to Hold the Line. The developers want to move past it. The Planning Advisory Board is now recommending 4 of the 6 applications. One developer pulls out, due to lack of support.

Find your county commissioner, and send an email with your thoughts.

Update, 4:23pm: I’ve decided that since this is an issue I just do not know enough about, one good way to learn would be to drive out to the UDB and see what it all looks like. I’ll be using this map as my guide. Please send any suggestions or additional information that might be of use to me.