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Home My WebLink AboutLTC 117-2026 Town of Cutler Bay Resolution No. 26-15MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK No.117-2026 LETTER TO COMMISSION TO:Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission FROM:Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk ~ DATE:March 19,2026 SUBJECT:TOWN OF CUTLER BAY RESOLUTION NO.26-15. Attached for your information is Resolution No.26-15,adopted by the Mayor and Commission of the Town of Cutler Bay on March 18,2026. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY,FLORIDA,SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY (UDB);URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION WEAKENING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CHARTER'S UDB PROTECTIONS; ENCOURAGING ADVANCEMENT OF AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING WITHIN THE UDB WITHOUT EXPANDING INTO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS;PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Town Clerk of Cutler Bay has requested that a copy of this Resolution be provided to the Miami Beach Mayor and Commissioners. If you have any questions,please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673.7 411. REG/le Attachment F:\CLER\$ALL\LILIA\LTC's -Transmittal's\Cutler Bay\Resolution 26-15 Town of Cutler Bay.docx RE SOLUTION NO.26-15 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORID A,SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE MIAMI -DADE COUN TY URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOUND ARY (UDB);URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATUR E TO OPPOSE AN Y LEGISLATION WEAKE NING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CHAR TER'S UDB PROTECTIONS; ENCOURA GING ADVANCEMENT OF AFFORD AB LE AN D WORKF ORCE HOUSING WI THIN THE UDB WI THOUT EXPAND ING INTO ENV IRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND S; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL;AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WH EREAS,the Town of Cutler Bay ("Town")supports environmental conscientiousness and declares,that it is in the interest of the public health,safety,and welfare of its residents to protect Miami-Dade County's ("County")downstream water resources,including the Biscayne Aquifer,regional groundwater supplies,the Everglades, and connected coastal waters and wetlands;and WH EREAS,the Urban Development Boundary ("UDB")in the County was established as a core growth-management tool to limit urban sprawl,protect environmentally sensitive lands,preserve agricultural areas,and safeguard natural systems critical to regional water supply and flood resilience;and WH EREAS,lands located outside the current UDB include wetlands,agricultural soils,and open spaces that play a vital role in protecting downstream water resources, including the Biscayne Aquifer,regional groundwater supplies,and connected coastal waters,upon which the County and coastal communities depend for drinking water, environmental health,and resilience to flooding and sea level rise;and WH EREAS,wetlands and prairies west of the UDB function as natural filtration and storage systems that support groundwater recharge,reduce pollutant loads,and maintain hydrologic connections between inland ecosystems,the Everglades,and downstream coastal waters;and WH ERE AS,the UDB also serves to protect South Dade agricultural lands by maintaining contiguous farming areas,preserving permeable soils,supporting food production,and preventing land-speculation pressures that arise when urban development expands into rural areas;and WHEREAS,on January 22,2026,the County Board of County Commissioners (BCC")approved Comprehensive Development Master Plan Application No. CDMP20230013 (the "Application")to allow development of a large heavy-equipment facility on hundreds of acres of predominantly protected wetlands outside the existing UDB,raising significant concerns regarding impacts to wetlands,water resources,flood control,and long-standing growth-management policies;and WHEREAS,on February 2,2026,County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava vetoed the approval of the proposed Application,citing the County's obligation to protect environmentally sensitive lands,uphold the integrity of the UDB,and ensure that development outside the boundary occurs only when there is a demonstrated and compelling public need consistent with long-range planning principles;and WHEREAS,on March 4,2026,the Florida House passed House Bill 399 filed by representative David Borrero,which would make it easier to approve development beyond the UDB by (i)allowing the BCC to amend the UDB by simple majority vote instead of a two-thirds vote,and (ii)requiring the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Governmental Accountability (OPPAGA)to study a way to identify the effect ofremoving the UDB or similar development boundaries in other counties;and WHEREAS,weakening or bypassing the UDB through legislative or administrative action risks accelerating sprawl into wetlands and agricultural lands,undermining Everglades restoration efforts,and increasing long-term public costs associated with infrastructure expansion,flood mitigation,and environmental degradation;and WHEREAS,protecting upstream lands and water systems is directly tied to the long-term environmental,economic,and public-health interests of the Town;and WHEREAS,the Town Council recognizes that addressing housing affordability is a critical local and regional public-policy goal and that developers have argued for expansion of the UDB westward to accommodate industrial and commercial projects as a means of preserving sufficient land within the UDB for affordable and workforce housing;and WHEREAS,the Town Council believes that the County can best achieve its affordable and workforce housing objectives through strategies that adhere to the existing UDB boundary,including infill development,redevelopment,zoning reform,and infrastructure-efficient growth,such as transit-oriented and transit-supportive development,rather than by encroaching on environmentally sensitive lands;and WHEREAS,the Town Council desires to express its support for the UDB,urge the Florida Legislature to oppose any legislation that preempts or otherwise weakens the County's UDB Charter protections,and encourages the advancement of attainable affordable and workforce housing developments within the UDB;and WHEREAS,the Town Council finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and welfare of the residents of the Town. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS: Section 1.Recitals.The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference. Section 2.Support.The Town Council hereby expresses its support for the preservation of the County UDB,as it currently exists,to protect downstream water resources including the Biscayne Aquifer,regional groundwater supplies,and connected coastal waters,as well as the Everglades,wetlands,and agricultural lands.The Town Council further supports and encourages the advancement of attainable affordable and workforce housing within the UDB to address housing affordability without expanding development into environmentally sensitive lands. Section 3.Urging.The Town Council hereby urges the Florida State Legislature to oppose any legislation that would weaken the UDB protections afforded by the County Charter,including Bill 399. Section 4.Transmittal.The Town Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava,each member of the BCC,the County State Legislative Delegation,the County League of Cities,and the municipalities in the County. Section 5. upon adoption. Effective Date.This Resolution shall be effective immediately PASSED and ADOPTED this 18"day of March 2026. zm TIM MEERBOTT Mayor Attested and Rendered March 19,2026: MAURICIO MELINU,CMC Town Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY FOR THE SOLE USE OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY: WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE &BIERMAN,P.L. Town Attorney Moved By:Vice Mayor Callahan Seconded By:Councilmember Duncan FINAL VOTE AT ADOPTION: Mayor Tim Meerbott YES Vice Mayor Michael P.Callahan YES Councilmember Robert "BJ"Duncan YES Councilmember Suzy Lord YES Councilmember Richard M.Ramirez YES