Victory Against Development in the Everglades

Audubon has labored with many companions over time to “Maintain the Line” in Miami-Dade County to stop growth into the Everglades.

The Miami-Dade County Fee instituted the road within the early Nineteen Eighties in an effort to restrict city sprawl and defend agriculture and our pure assets.

Of those battles to guard the Everglades from city sprawl, one utility has been significantly troublesome: the South Dade Logistics and Expertise District. Initially, the plan for the district would convert 800 acres (negotiated right down to 350 acres) of farmland presently protected by the City Growth Boundary (UDB) in South Dade into an industrial park.

This undertaking has come earlier than the Miami-Dade County Fee many instances, and after a number of deferrals, our very personal Director of Advocacy Charles Lee noticed a mistake within the general course of: The candidates didn’t meet the deadline to carry the second public listening to (180 days after first listening to) in line with Florida legislation. Audubon notified the state of the missed deadline within the complete plan modification course of. In early 2023, the state issued letters indicating that the applicant had the truth is missed their voting deadline. Not surprisingly, the county and builders filed a swimsuit disagreeing with this conclusion.

Lastly, in February of this 12 months, after almost a four-year authorized battle, the courts dominated that Miami-Dade County did miss its deadline for altering the great growth grasp plan and shifting the UDB for this undertaking. This choice was a major blow to these searching for to hurry via growth with out correct regard for the environmental concerns.

This undertaking could return to the Fee sooner or later, so Audubon Florida, alongside Tropical Audubon Society and different companions, will proceed to face guard in opposition to any effort to undermine our neighborhood’s environmental protections. Two years in a row, Audubon coverage workers have stopped dangerous invoice amendments in the course of the state legislative session that might have retroactively authorised the undertaking. We stay dedicated to working with native, state, and federal companies to advocate for insurance policies that prioritize ecological well being and the well-being of our communities, making certain sensible development is the way in which of Florida’s future.

“This court docket choice is a win for the Everglades and for our companions who’ve lengthy understood the worth of holding the road in opposition to reckless growth. Audubon Florida will stay vigilant in defending the wetlands, water, and wildlife from city sprawl and to make sure Everglades restoration stays viable in our ever-growing city areas.”

— Kelly Cox, Director of Everglades Coverage, Audubon Florida 

This text was revealed within the State of the Everglades Report/Spring 2025 edition