The Lake Belt Area is an 89 square mile area located between the Everglades and the urbanized areas of Miami-Dade County. Beginning at the Broward County line, it generally includes the area between the Turnpike and Krome Avenue, north of the Tamiami Trail, excluding the town of Sweetwater. The Lake Belt Area also includes a portion of the Bird Drive Basin and lands west of Krome Avenue south of Tamiami Trail.
Q:
Why is this area important?
A:
The area provides half of the limestone mining resources used in the state every year, includes one of the largest drinking water wellfields in the state, and serves to buffer the Everglades from urban development.
Q:
Who controls existing and future land use regulations within the Lake Belt Area?
A:
Miami-Dade County.
Q:
What is the County's current plan for this area?
A:
Nearly all of the Lake Belt Area has been designated in the future land use plan of the County's Comprehensive Development Master Plan as "Open Land" or "Environmental Protection". These Open Land and Environmental Protection areas were designated to protect water quality, maintain aquifer recharge for northern Miami-Dade County, protect the public interest in floodwater detention, protect wetland functions, provide for limestone quarrying, and support the manufacture of construction materials. All of the Lake Belt Area lies outside of the planned Urban Development Boundary.
Q:
What land uses are allowed in "Open Land" areas?
A:
Uses allowed in areas designated "Open Land" include rural residences on 5-acre lots and non-intensive, non-urban, resource-based activities such as limestone extraction, agriculture, recreation, communications, utilities and public facilities, subject to compliance with environmental regulations. New uses that could compromise groundwater quality are not allowed in the Northwest Wellfield area between N.W. 12th Street and Okeechobee Road.
Q:
What land uses are allowed in "Environmental Protection" areas?
A:
Uses allowed in areas designated "Environmental Protection" must be compatible with the area's environment and may not adversely affect the long-term viability, form or function of affected ecosystems. Residential use is limited to 1 dwelling unit per 5 acres, with a minimum of 40 acres required to build a house west of the Everglades containment levee (Levee 31N). Between Krome Avenue and the Dade-Broward Levee, compatible low-coverage communications, public facilities and recreational uses may be considered for approval subject to compliance with environmental regulations.
Q:
What is the zoning in the Lake Belt Area?
A:
Zoning throughout the Lake Belt Area is primarily GU (General Use) or AU (Agriculture) with numerous areas having Unusual Use approvals for limestone extraction and related uses. Most urban zoning inconsistent with the Comprehensive Development Master Plan or Northwest Wellfield Protection Plan was rolled back to GU in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Q:
Can the County's Plan for this area be changed?
A:
The Comprehensive Development Master Plan is eligible for periodic amendment, subject to compliance with State comprehensive planning law as well as the County Code. Applications to amend the Urban Development Boundary or the future land use designations of land outside the Urban Development Boundary may be filed during the month of April every odd-numbered year (e.g., April 1999). The process takes approximately one year to complete.
Q:
What permits do I need to make improvements on property?
A:
Improvements on property including land within the Lake Belt Area are regulated by the wetland protection laws of the federal government, State of Florida, and Miami-Dade County. These laws allow the filling of wetlands only if no alternative exists and the wetland function loss will be "mitigated" by restoration or creation of other wetlands.
At a minimum, any proposed use of your property, including improvements to any existing buildings or facilities, will require some type of permit from Miami-Dade County.
State and federal permits from the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may also be required in order to build on your property, particularly if there are wetlands on your property.
Q:
Are more detailed long-range plans being developed for this area?
A:
The Florida Legislature established a Committee in 1992 to develop the Dade County Lake Belt Plan to enhance the water supply for Miami-Dade County and the Everglades and maximize efficient recovery of limestone while promoting the social and economic welfare of the community and protecting the environment. The Committee is composed of representatives from government agencies, the rockmining industry, environmental organizations and a representative for non-rockmining landowners.
Also in 1992, the U.S. Congress authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, as the local sponsor, to complete the Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy) to restore and preserve South Florida's natural ecosystems, while enhancing water supplies and flood control. The Restudy was completed in 1999 and resulted in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
Q:
What has the Lake Belt Committee done?
A:
The Committee completed the Phase I Plan in 1997. It identified areas for mining and mitigation; recommended a strategy for streamlining the permitting process for rockmining; proposed a fee on all rockmining to pay for mitigation; and authorized land swaps between the government and industry. The Legislature approved the Phase I Plan in 1997.
The Phase II Plan was completed on December 15, 2000. The Phase II Plan provides a more detailed plan to further implement and specifically address a number of additional legislative mandates. Key elements of the Plan include: the 2050 vision for the Lake Belt area; a set of Guiding Principles for land use; identification of Guiding Actions needed to address specific issues including: wellfield protection, water management, mining interests, non-mining interests, environmental enhancements, recreation and land ownership; and, recommendations pertaining to funding, implementation, phasing, and legislative and regulatory revisions.
Q:
Does either the Phase II Plan or the CERP change the allowable uses on property within the Lake Belt Area?
A:
No.
Q:
Is the South Florida Management District (District) buying land in the Lake Belt Area?
A:
Yes. The District has been buying land as part of the overall Everglades restoration effort, using funds from the U.S. Congress, the Florida Legislature, and other sources. The lands purchased to date generally have been in the Pennsuco wetlands or near I-75. Offers also are being made to purchase vacant land along the north side of Okeechobee Road and in the northwest Bird Drive Basin south of Tamiami Trail.
Q:
What is the process for selling my land to the District?
A:
At no cost or expense to you, the District will obtain an appraisal, title commitment and environmental review of your property; and make you an offer. Contracts will be prepared and signed and the transaction will be closed if you agree to sell for the offer amount. You may decline our offer at no cost or expense to you.
Q:
What will the District pay for my property?
A:
A professional contract appraiser will appraise the property. The District is offering 100% of the appraised value. In addition, landowners may be eligible for relocation benefits if the property is required for a Federal project.
Q:
Will the District sell my property at a later date?
A:
The District is acquiring property for water management purposes. If the District does acquire your property and later determines that it is no longer required for a water management project, the District may sell the (surplus) property.
Q:
If acquisition of my property is not mandatory and I do not want to sell, is the government or the District going to take (condemn) my land?
A:
No. The land acquisition program in the Save Our Rivers (SOR), East Coast Buffer Project is a "willing" seller program. Property is being purchased from those landowners that want to sell. However, the acquisition program could change in the future and acquisition of some property for specific water management projects may become necessary at a future date.
Q:
Can I notify the District that I do not want to sell my property?
A:
Yes. Inform Tom Jordan, our field representative, that you do not want to sell your property. The District still may contact you in the future to determine if you have changed your mind.
Q:
Whom should I contact to sell my land?
A:
Tom Jordan, Field Representative The Nature Conservancy 2455 E. Sunrise Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304 (888) 597-6288
Q:
Whom should I contact for general information about the East Coast Buffer Acquisition Program?
A:
Barbara Katz South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 (800) 432-2045, extension 6837 or (561) 682-5006
Q:
Whom should I contact for information about the CERP?
A:
Steve Sutterfield U.S. Army Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 4970 Jacksonville, FL 32232 (904) 232-1104
Q:
Whom should I contact for information about the Lake Belt Phase II Plan?
A:
The Reference Center South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 (800) 432-2045
Q:
Whom should I contact for zoning information on specific parcels of land?
A:
Zoning Information Miami-Dade County Department of Planning, Development, and Regulation 111 NW First Street, 11th Floor Miami, FL 33128 (305) 375-1806
Q:
Whom should I contact to find out which permits are needed?
A:
Freshwater Wetlands Permitting Program Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management 33 SW Second Avenue, Miami, FL 33130 (305) 372-6585
Water Supply Plans
Miami-Dade Co. Lake Belt
