61 RESOLUTION NO. ___ _
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3 A Resolution opposing the Miami-Dade County Comprehensive Development
4 Master Plan change requested by FECI for the Ludlam Trail rail corridor.
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6 WHEREAS, Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) owns an abandoned railway corridor,
7 "the Ludlam Trail", that runs between Downtown Kendall and the Miami International Airport;
8 and
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10 WHEREAS, great cities throughout the United States have beautiful, landscaped linear
11 parks, but greater Miami does not; and
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l3 WHEREAS, studies show that citizens who live within a half-mile of a linear park are
14 much more likely to exercise, improving happiness of the citizenry and reducing their health care
15 costs; and
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17 WHEREAS, the Ludlam Trail is the only mid-County tract that could be converted into
18 a new linear park; and
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20 WHEREAS, the citizens of Miami-Dade County would obtain significant health benefits
21 and pleasure from the conversion of the Ludlam Trail into a recreational trail; and
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23 WHEREAS, a Ludlam Trail bikeway would provide a direct, safe, efficient route for
24 commuter cyclists, crossing a significant portion of the county that is presently poorly served by
25 bike routes, encouraging more use of non-motorized transportation options and reducing the
26 burdens on the region's crowded motoring routes; and
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28 WHEREAS, a pedestrian transportation corridor along the Ludlam Trail would provide
29 safe transportation options for local students walking or biking to three adjacent public schools:
30 South Miami K-8 School, South Miami Middle School, and South Miami Senior High School,
31 reducing morning traffic congestion on area roads; and
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33 WHEREAS, the Ludlam Trail would connect with the existing A.D. Barnes Park,
34 encouraging more County residents to safely bike to this County park and swimming pool
35 without adding to road congestion or parking problems; and
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37 WHEREAS, in public forums conducted over the years, residents of South Miami and
38 the surrounding unincorporated areas have expressed their strong desire to see the Ludlam Trail
39 converted into a linear park suitable for pedestrian use and bicycle transportation; and
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41 WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County comprehensive master plan currently designates
42 the Ludlam Trail corridor as a recreational and parks amenity; and
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44 WHEREAS, FECI is seeking a change to the Miami-Dade County comprehensive
45 master plan that would pave the way for construction of more than 2300 housing units within the
46 100' wide abandoned rail corridor; and
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48 WHEREAS, new development surrounding rails-to-trails conversions across America
49 have provided greater return to the tax base than development within the abandoned rail beds;
50 and
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WHEREAS, converting the Ludlam Trail into a linear park would promote higher value,
mixed-use redevelopment in the industrial and low-value retail districts between SW 44th St and
Flagler; and
WHEREAS, FECI has not conducted the appropriate public outreach prior to conceiving
their plan, nor provided the public with a complete proposal showing what they plan to construct,
with dimensions for the entire corridor; and
WHEREAS, the land use change proposed by FECI does not guarantee the creation or
maintenance of a recreational trail; and
WHEREAS, over two hundred cItIzens have attended recent community council
meetings and expressed their strong opposition to FECI's current proposal despite minimal
notice by the County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1. The City Commission hereby expresses its opposition to the Ludlam Trail
comprehensive master plan change currently sought by FECI and requests that the County deny
transmittal of the proposed change to the state and regional agencies.
Section 2. The City Commission authorizes the City Mayor to write more detailed
letters to the County and the press presenting the City's opposition to the proposed land use
change and supporting the creation of a Ludlam Trail linear park.
Section 3. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ , 2014.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF
CITY ATTORNEY
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APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Harris:
Commissioner Edmond:
Commissioner Liebman:
Commissioner Welsh: