“As we continue to plan restoration projects for the Everglades and Biscayne Bay, it becomes increasingly clear how critical this land is for restoration of our waterways and to protect us from the impacts of climate change into the future. We have rules in place designed to protect the public and our environment and we are thrilled that the judge ruled in our favor. We hope that this ruling will put an end to this massive development proposal in the wrong place.” – Elizabeth Fata Carpenter, Executive Director
ELC and our co-counsel secured a win in litigation to stop the development of the South Dade Logistics and Technology District, a nearly 400-acre industrial complex proposed on agricultural land needed to restore Biscayne Bay and the Everglades, and protect our community from climate change. This past Friday, a Leon County judge ruled that Miami-Dade County failed to comply with statutory deadlines when approving an application in 2022 for the development of the project outside the County’s urban development boundary
Everglades Law Center, along with co-counsel Paul Schwiep and Richard Grosso, initially challenged the Plan Amendment in 2022 on behalf of our client, Dr. Nita Lewis, a long-time Miami-Dade County resident whose property is adjacent to the proposed development site. ELC asserted that the development violates state law and Miami-Dade County’s own development rules, threatened Miami-Dade County’s water supply, unnecessarily burdened taxpayers, and conflicted with Everglades restoration plans, Biscayne Bay water quality, and flood risk management.
After ELC and our partners challenged Miami-Dade County’s approval of the development for violating its own development rules, the State of Florida notified the County that they failed to approve the development within the timeframe mandated by Florida law. In response, the County and the developers sued the State, seeking to invalidate the Department’s determination. Everglades Law Center intervened in the suit on behalf of our client and in support of the State.
Florida state law required the County to approve or reject the Plan Amendment after two public hearings and within a set timeline. The County, however, granted the developers extension after extension, deferred a vote across several hearings, and ultimately failed to approve the application by the statutory deadline. As a result of the missed deadline, Friday’s ruling deems the Plan Amendment “withdrawn and therefore a nullity,” meaning there is currently no pending or approved development application.
We are so thankful for the hard work of our partners – the Everglades Foundation, Hold the Line Coalition, Tropical Audubon Society, Friends of the Everglades, Audubon Florida, Miami Waterkeeper, and many others – in working to oppose this improper development from the outset.
This is a significant win for both the environment and for smart, sustainable development in Miami-Dade County. Everglades Law Center will continue to fight against irresponsible development in South Florida that threatens our environment, communities, and future.