This is the second time in less than a month that Political Cortadito writes about an upcoming zoning request before the Miami-Dade Commission to build 550 homes on the abandoned Calusa Golf Course, which has turned into an organic natural preserve that his home to endangered wildlife.
Because the commission deferred the request last month. Too many people wanted to talk about it, probably. They’re hoping that those people don’t stay engaged through all these delay tactics. They’re hoping people forget that it’s coming up again at Wednesday’s zoning meeting.
So Ladra is here to remind them.
Commissioners like to talk the talk about greenspace. This is an opportunity for them to walk the walk. This is a unique, precious opportunity to protect 168 acres of wildlife smack dab in the middle of Kendall’s suburban sprawl. Nobody should let them rezone this park space into high-density residential.
Read related: Developers plan to build 550 homes hurts imperiled birds, endangered bats
It would be criminal to let developers fill in the lakes where the threatened tri-colored heron and other Florida birds wade and obliterate the land where they nest and forage. There has also been evidence that the endangered bonneted bat has also made a home at Calusa.
The environmental studies are not even complete, yet. And the ones they have are wrong because they were done outside of the recommended period. That’s not a coincidence. The developers did that intentionally to under report the wildlife activity on the property. They say there are no rookeries when the state has, in fact, identified one.
The least the county can do is wait until all the studies and reports are complete. They shouldn’t hurry. Developers have been trying to develop this land for years. They let the golf course deteriorate so they could do this. Now they want to ram it through as quickly as possible because they know that if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deems the property a “critical habitat,” the project grinds to a stop and nothing can be built.
That is almost certainly why they have already started to disturb the environment — mowing the lawn and trimming foliage unnecessarily — and are applying for permits to remove trees and fill in lakes.
Please read the last story on this effort to kill one of the most unique and natural spaces in our county. Because everything is still true.
Then, call your county commissioner and tell her or him to vote against this criminal zoning request.
Miami-Dade Commission could wipe out Calusa preserve for 550 homes added by Ladra on
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