Victory Against Development in the Everglades

Audubon has worked with many partners over the years to “Hold the Line” in Miami-Dade County to prevent development into the Everglades.

The Miami-Dade County Commission instituted the line in the early 1980s in an effort to limit urban sprawl and protect agriculture and our natural resources.

Of these battles to protect the Everglades from urban sprawl, one application has been particularly troublesome: the South Dade Logistics and Technology District. Originally, the plan for the district would convert 800 acres (negotiated down to 350 acres) of farmland currently protected by the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) in South Dade into an industrial park.

This project has come before the Miami-Dade County Commission many times, and after several deferrals, our very own Director of Advocacy Charles Lee spotted a mistake in the overall process: The applicants did not meet the deadline to hold the second public hearing (180 days after first hearing) according to Florida law. Audubon notified the state of the missed deadline in the comprehensive plan amendment process. In early 2023, the state issued letters indicating that the applicant had in fact missed their voting deadline. Not surprisingly, the county and developers filed a suit disagreeing with this conclusion.

Finally, in February of this year, after nearly a four-year legal battle, the courts ruled that Miami-Dade County did miss its deadline for altering the comprehensive development master plan and moving the UDB for this project. This decision was a significant blow to those seeking to rush through development without proper regard for the environmental considerations.

This project may return to the Commission in the future, so Audubon Florida, alongside Tropical Audubon Society and other partners, will continue to stand guard against any effort to undermine our community’s environmental protections. Two years in a row, Audubon policy staff have stopped harmful bill amendments during the state legislative session that would have retroactively approved the project. We remain committed to working with local, state, and federal agencies to advocate for policies that prioritize ecological health and the well-being of our communities, ensuring smart growth is the way of Florida’s future.

“This court decision is a win for the Everglades and for our partners who have long understood the value of holding the line against reckless development. Audubon Florida will remain vigilant in protecting the wetlands, water, and wildlife from urban sprawl and to ensure Everglades restoration remains viable in our ever-growing urban areas.”

— Kelly Cox, Director of Everglades Policy, Audubon Florida 

This article was published in the State of the Everglades Report/Spring 2025 edition