Res No 100-21-15720RESOLUTION NO. 100-21-15720
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami,
Florida, endorsing Smart -Growth principles and endorsing the cause of the
"Hold the Line Coalition".
WHEREAS, the individual municipalities within Miami -Dade County and their
residents are influenced and impacted by the decisions made at the county level; and
WHEREAS, County -level land use decisions have major consequences for
municipalities in resilience, the nature of our shared metropolitan landscape, and the
allocation of limited infrastructure resources; and
WHEREAS, urban sprawl has major negative impacts on residents, the
environment, and the urban landscape; and
WHEREAS, the approval of new sprawl development on the urban periphery
requires the County government to dedicate tax revenue from existing communities to fund
the new infrastructure needed to meet minimum level of service capacity for these new
developments, thus redirecting critical County resources away from already developed areas
and communities that are in need of those resources; and
WHEREAS, municipalities within Miami -Dade County have an urgent need for
additional funds and resources to address existing transit, water management, and other vital
infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the low-lying agriculture and open space outside the Miami -Dade
County Urban Development Boundary forms a natural buffer from storm surge and flooding
which protects County residents from those elements; and
WHEREAS, new development on the County periphery falls outside existing public
transportation networks, resulting in over -reliance on existing highways and personal
vehicles for transportation, and increases the costs of servicing all Miami -Dade residents
with effective public transportation; and
WHEREAS, a smart -growth strategy promotes infill development along established
public transportation routes adheres to established zoning principles and growth plans which
help to preserve the prosperity of individual municipalities; and
WHEREAS, adhering to a coherent development strategy rooted in smart -growth
principles minimizes harm to the environment, maximizes the benefits of new infrastructure
investments, and produces a more integrated and walkable urban landscape; and
WHEREAS, Miami -Dade County possesses a unique topography characterized by
an elevated coastal ridge that runs through the center of the County, surrounded on the east
and west by low-lying and flood -prone open space; and
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Res. No. 100-21 -15720
WHEREAS, given Miami -Dade County's topography and exposure to flooding and
storm surge, development should be centered along the elevated coastal ridge, and avoided
along the low-lying periphery; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the environmental and economic harm caused by
suburban sprawl, and the County's distinctive topographical landscape, Miami -Dade
County established an Urban Development Boundary in 1983 beyond which dense urban
development is not permitted; and
WHEREAS, growth management plans and tools designed to facilitate Smart -
Growth often come under assault by individual parties seeking to gain exemption and
exception for their individual projects; and
WHEREAS, the best interest of all municipalities is served when the County's
elected leadership exerts restraint in approving new developments that do not adhere to
established sustainable -growth plans; and
WHEREAS, the Hold the Line Coalition is an alliance of individuals, community
groups, businesses, municipalities, and organizations dedicated to responsible and
sustainable land management in Miami -Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the Hold the Line Coalition has served as an effective means of
coordinating in favor of Smart -Growth principles and against the urban sprawl within
Miami -Dade County for over 25 years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true
and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this resolution upon adoption hereof.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami once
again endorses the principles of Smart Growth outlined in the City's and County's master
plans and encourages counties across the state to exercise restraint and judiciousness in
approving developments that conflict with established growth management plans.
Section 3. The City of South Miami declares its membership in Miami -Dade
County's Hold the Line Coalition.
Section 4. Corrections. Conforming language or technical scrivener -type
corrections may be made by the City Attorney for any conforming amendments to be
incorporated into the final resolution for signature.
Section 5. Severability. 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 will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
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Res. No. 100-21-15720
Section 6. Effective Date. This resolution will become effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7`" day of September, 2021.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
CITY MLERK AAYOR
0
AS TO FORM,
'. AND
COMMISSION VOTE:
5-0
Mayor Philips:
Yea
Commissioner Harris:
Yea
Commissioner Gil:
Yea
Commissioner Liebman:
Yea
Commissioner Corey:
Yea
Page 3 of 3
Agenda Item NoA.
City Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: September 7, 2021
Submitted by: Samantha Fraga-Lopez
Submitting Department: City Manager
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section:
Subject:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami, Florida, endorsing Smart -Growth
principles and endorsing the cause of the "Hold the Line Coalition". 3/5 (Mayor Philips)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
Resolution Hold the Line Coal itionCArev.docx