The Miami Herald

Posted on Friday, April. 21, 2006

EDITORIAL

Smart choices on urban boundaries

OUR OPINION: MIAMI-DADE SHOULD STRIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

The Miami-Dade County Commission chose the best course this week in rejecting all but one request to expand the county's Urban Development Boundary. Too many festering problems created by the current rate of development must be dealt with before large-scale construction projects are allowed to encroach further on wetlands.

Residents' angst

Although this paper recommended that none of the UDB expansion proposals be approved, we nevertheless believe the commission made responsible choices in rejecting all but one application. Commissioners clearly heeded regional and state officials' warnings that the county must increase its water-supply sources and find solutions to traffic gridlock and school crowding before opening more of western Miami-Dade to subdivisions and shopping malls. Commissioners showed they understand the angst of residents who are tired of sitting in traffic jams and sending their children to crowded schools.

The one expansion proposal that commissioners approved -- Hialeah's application -- will put industrial parks and warehouses on 1,100 acres but no residential construction that would require new schools. Hialeah sweetened its request by pointing out that an old landfill will be cleaned up and by offering to build a water-treatment plant for the new businesses. But that still leaves the added traffic pressures, particularly on the turnpike.

The year-long process for amending the comprehensive development plan brought into sharp relief two contrasting views of Miami-Dade's future with developers on one side and residents on the other side, including PTA moms and environmentalists. Truth is, all of us live here and somehow must find ways to work together to ensure a better future.

New construction will continue, to be sure. But development should be directed by the principles of what is termed ''sustainable growth'' -- where the rate of new infrastructure, emergency services, water supplies, schools, mass transit and roads is paired with the rate of growth that is allowed. Another pressing need is to ensure that a good portion of the new residential construction will include workforce housing at affordable prices.

Find common ground

These are vital issues that confront not just the County Commission, which can't do the job alone, but the entire community. Commissioners need the ideas and views of the business and development communities and of residents. Toward that end, the commission should encourage the two sides that have been so at odds over UDB expansion this year to work with county officials to ensure that all sides are helping to plan a sustainable future for Miami-Dade County and all its residents.