FDACS Issues Agency Review Opposing Miami-Dade Urban Development Boundary Expansion

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) completed its statutorily-required agency review of a proposed expansion of Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary (UDB). These proposed comprehensive plan amendments seek to convert nearly 800 acres of agricultural land in Homestead into the South Dade Logistics and Technology District industrial park, a hub for warehouses and other commercial ventures. FDACS opposes the proposed expansion and recommends that Miami-Dade County deny the amendments, citing the potential loss of federally-designated “farmland of unique importance.”

Review Findings: Under state law, FDACS is responsible for reviewing proposed amendments to local government comprehensive development plans to determine their impact on agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. The project’s applicant, Aligned Real Estate Holdings, states that “agricultural use is marginal at best” and “not a long-term viable activity within the site” on the proposed 793 acres. The department does not concur, and finds that these agricultural lands are an “irreplaceable resource of statewide importance” under 163.3162(1), Florida Statutes, and the amendments would not be in compliance with the state’s Community Planning Act, in which agriculture is to “be recognized and protected” under 163.3161(11), Florida Statutes. 90 percent of the proposed area’s land meets Miami-Dade County’s highest soil designation, with significant acreage of specialty crops grown on adjacent agricultural lands. In particular, the FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy finds that the proposed amendments would threaten to disrupt flood control, nutrient filtering, and water management that significantly benefit agricultural lands.

Miami-Dade County’s staff analysis recommended denying the proposed amendments, expressing concern with the “premature and unwarranted replacement of 793 acres of agricultural land” for “urban uses that have not shown to be needed at this time,” and that the proposed project “fails to make commitments to preserve agricultural lands in other locations” as required by county policies. Miami-Dade County’s Agricultural Practices Advisory Board unanimously recommended denying the proposed amendments, particularly citing potential impacts to agricultural water drainage.

The agency review letter, transmitted today to Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, may be viewed here.

“Rapid, unchecked urban development puts pressure on agricultural lands, especially south Miami-Dade’s farmland that is vital to the county’s $2.7 billion agriculture industry. Replacing nearly 800 acres of farmland federally designated as “of unique importance” with industrial space would threaten not only agricultural production from seasonal produce to nursery crops, but also flood control and water management critical to agricultural lands, Biscayne Bay, and South Dade’s environment,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Once paved over, our agricultural lands are gone forever, along with their ongoing economic and environmental benefits. The loss of this farmland, state and county rules on protecting agricultural lands, and Miami-Dade County’s own expert concerns lead our department to recommend that County Commissioners deny these amendments and maintain the delicate balance between the urban, agricultural, and natural environments.”

Background: In March 2021, developers submitted a proposal to expand Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary by 793 acres to build a new industrial commercial complex. On September 9, the Miami-Dade County Commission voted 9-3 to transmit the proposed comprehensive plan amendments to the State of Florida for required review under Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, of which FDACS is a reviewing agency. Once the state review is complete, the amendments will return to the county government for a final vote of the County Commission.

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