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Strife grows over building set for south of Florida City

More agencies decry decision

BY ANN HENSON, Staff Writer

The proposed development just south of Florida City failed to garner support during its first two public appearances.

The Homestead Planning Commission gave the project a thumbs down, as did a planning advisory committee for Miami-Dade County.

The latter meeting had to do with the annexation of the development by Florida City.

Not only is the development south of the city, it is south of the county's boundary line for development.

That news came as a pleasant surprise to the Monroe County Commission, which held its monthly meeting in Key Largo this week.

During the commission meeting, David Ritz representing Ocean Reef, said that a committee has formed to oppose the project.

"Ocean Reef is funding a media campaign" against the development, Ritz said.

He asked the commission for $25,000 for legal fees associated with the campaign.

The commission approved the funds with Commissioner George Neugent saying that the county should be "looking aggressively at following up" on the steps to be taken in the Development of Regional Impact presentation.

According to a newly released study by the Catanese Center at the Florida Atlantic University, governments should be monitoring what's going on around them.

"South Florida now spans a super region of seven interdependent counties from Key West to Vero Beach, and it is getting mixed marks," the report stated.

"While the region is improving in some matters, there are many more areas that need attention," said James Murley, director of the center and former secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

"This is a wake-up call to leaders in Monroe County and throughout the region on what needs to be done."

Until just recently, Monroe County officials have been blind to development to the north.

Monroe County Growth Management Director Tim McGarry previously said that his department was too busy dealing with issues inside the county to look beyond the county line.

However, when The Reporter announced the proposed 6,000 unit development (with two hotels, a shopping center and movie theater plus two schools), county officials were shocked that this development could proceed, as it is in an area slated for preservation as part of the Everglades clean-up.

The report states that areas in the region needing improvement include habitat and environment, transportation, housing and employment, and wages.

The central question of the report asks whether governments "should manage development or just let it happen."

The report noted that there is a positive trend of increasing cooperation and a realization that areas are not operating "in a vacuum."

Monroe County Commissioners have noted with growing concern the explosive development in South Miami-Dade County.

The commission passed a resolution denouncing the development at the gateway to the Keys during a previous meeting.

And the matter will be discussed in June when the South Florida Regional Planning Council meets in the Keys.

Ann Henson covers state and Monroe County government, environment, Key Largo and is the editor of The Reporter's website. She can be reached at 852-3216 or by e-mail at amhenson@keysreporter.com

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