It sounds like the Mayor wants to change the land use and zoning and increase the density of shops, offices, and probably also residential density on the Key. I would venture a guess that these ideas are coming from developers and builders. 

I keep hearing that “developers are in control” and I can just see them visualizing a Crandon Boulevard lined with eighth to twelve-stories multi-use shopping malls with offices and apartments. I also believe this tie in with the $8-10 million Crandon Beautification Project which I believe is a first step in paving the way for redevelopment along Crandon Boulevard. 

It reminds me of when the “new” bridge was built and they put three lanes for the traffic coming and going. I used to drive there in the 80’s wondering why there were so many lanes when there was no traffic - well, in those days there was hardly any traffic. Of course, now we know that the bridge and all those lanes were built to accommodate the growth on Key Biscayne. We have grown enough - Key Biscayne is a jewel and a treasure to be preserved – not exploited. 

We need to make sure that the Master Plan is not tinkered with and that no increase in density be allowed, or, watch the developers bulldoze their way down Crandon Boulevard. Not altering the Master Plan is crucial if we want to keep anything that even resembles a “village” in the Village of Key Biscayne. 

Let’s look for a moment to what’s happening on Miami Beach. Their Commission held a budget workshop on March 10th and their City Manager said that their administration needs to close a $9.7 million gap and thus they needed to look for new tax revenues. The City Manager said “not to worry because a large amount of new developments are expected to be on the tax rolls.” Of course this will give Miami Beach a financial shot in the arm but at a terrible cost for its residents. Do we want the density and population of Miami Beach or, for instance, Brickell Key? Don’t think for a moment that developers would not love for Key Biscayne to look like Brickell Key. 

This is what local governments do to patch budget shortfalls and that is what the Key Biscayne government will do as well if we let them. After our administration has spent all the money and come up short they are desperate for revenues and the only way left to increase revenues is through increased density - which helps patch the budget but does little to help the residents? Our local government will never have enough money for everything they are planning and we will have to live with more congestion, more pollution, more cars, longer lines and higher demands for services like water, sewer, roads, police and fire and schools. And - less tranquility! And our lives will be forever altered and for every round of this we will lose a little bit more of paradise. 

So, what’s the solution to these problems? Well, one solution is to elect individuals that have such strong intellect and brains that they do not fall into the trap of developers’ promises and tricks. Another solution is to keep our local government small and manageable. The road we are taking now is not good – let’s take a step back and do what the recent FIU survey recommended. Do nothing. Stop. Do not raise taxes. Let’s try it. Nothing good whatsoever will result from increasing density to accommodate more growth any which way you look at it.

Key Biscayne Firefighters desire to have fully manned firetrucks

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