Voters in the Town of Cutler Bay approved on Tuesday a General Obligation bond of up to $37 million to build a municipal complex with a community center and a park on 16 acres along Old Cutler Road purchased in by taxpayers in 2020.
The idea, according to town leaders who call it their version of New York City’s Central Park, is to convert the parcel into the heart of the community.
Results from the Miami-Dade Elections Department show that almost 20% of the mail-in ballots were returned by March 22, with almost 2 to 1 in favor of the bond, which passed 66% to 34%.
The parcel at Southwest 212th Street and Old Cutler could have been developed into up to 480 residential units, according to zoning. But the city leaders had a better idea: Less traffic and more greenspace.
“Since we incorporated in 2005, Cutler Bay residents have regularly approached the Council to express their concerns about vacant parcels in town being developed into more residences and the added traffic that would bring,” Mayor Tim Meerbott said in a statement.
Read related: Cutler Bay $37 mil bond for Town Hall, ‘Central Park’ project goes to voters
“We heard our residents and took action to ease some of their concerns by acquiring this land and stopping the possibility of more residential units. Now, it will become the jewel of South Miami-Dade, a central space our community and future generations will enjoy.”
The city has estimated that the average Cutler Bay homeowner would see a property increase of about $90 a year for the duration of the 30-year bond. But only if the city takes it out all at once in one lump sum, Meerbott said.
But it is more likely that the bond is drawn down in pieces, as funds are needed for the project to progress. So how much could residents really pay?
Trust us, Meerbott asks residents. There is a video about it on the city’s website.
“We want our residents to know that we’re an extremely financially-prudent Town,” Meerbott said in the statement. “Cutler Bay was rated number 1 as the most efficient in government spending out of 90 cities in Florida our size. That did not happen by chance, and we will continue being prudent with our residents’ tax dollars on this project.”
Town leaders project the park to open within four or five years. The first step will be the design phase. Town Manager Rafael Casals said the city has received more than 850 resident surveys with feedback and ideas and the video includes footage of public workshops for residents to participate.
There will be a new series of public meetings now to finalize the scope of work to put out a request for proposals.
“Over the next year or so, we’re going to be doing the most challenging part of this project — that is to decide the final design for this site, what it will look like, what features we will go with,” Casals said in the statement.
“It’s extremely important that residents be involved in this process so we can make sure this project is truly a representation of our wonderful community.”
Cutler Bay voters approve $37 mil bond for 16-acre ‘legacy’ park, Town Hall added by Ladra on
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