What does the new Miami-Dade County mayor have in common with growers in Redland? They have the UDB, or Urban Development Boundary — a line in the county’s master plan designed to limit development from encroaching on precious farmland. Read this excellent article in the Miami Herald which lays out where Carlos Gimenez and Julio Robaina stand on this sensitive issue. Then don’t forget to vote in the runoff election on June 28!
Mayor will have key role on holding line on development
The new mayor of Miami-Dade County will be more important than ever when it comes to holding the line on building outside the Urban Development Boundary, following state changes recently signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.
By Matthew Haggman
When it comes to moving the Urban Development Boundary, the power of Miami-Dade County government, and its soon-to-be new mayor, has never been greater.
For more than three decades, the UDB — the line that keeps growth from encroaching west and south into fragile agricultural lands and wetlands — has been a critical curb on sprawling large-scale development from encroaching on the doorstep of the Everglades. But recent changes by the Republican-controlled Legislature that were signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott have severely limited state oversight of planning decisions by city and county governments — such as moving the UDB. State planners previously served as a check on such efforts and could stand in the way of decisions to move the line, but now can only provide non-binding comments in most cases.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/15/2268668/mayor-will-have-key-role-on-holding.html
Redland Rambles 
Thank you for posting this. It is of the utmost importance that we are all extra vigilant these days. Thanks for posting ;). I’ll mirror this post on my blog as well. Need to get the word out!
Thanks for posting, It looks like big special interest money is behind the Parkland project. I’ll be surprised if the right thing happens