The UEL has a proud 10-year history of involvement in important local issues – from preserving Virginia Key and Bicentennial Park from thoughtless development to leading the struggle to preserve the Urban Development Boundary Line by working with other local organizations in forging a new constituency that is sensitive to environmental and equity issues, housing, and overall better planning.
Our core mission is to ensure environmentally responsible, smart growth oriented planning in Miami-Dade County. In our advocacy and education efforts we focus on five main policy areas. these include:

Growth Management & Urban Design

  • UDB: UEL is a proud advocate for the Hold the Line Campaign, seeking an end to Urban Development Boundary expansions into rural and agricultural lands. We maintain constant supervision of pending development applications that seek to expand the boundary, and lobby our elected officials to end the irresponsible practice of expanding sprawl into natural areas.
  • Growth Management: At the state level, the UEL vigorously supports improved growth management programs and rigorous community planning initiatives to set the vision, develop policies and formulate implementation program. We oppose the current efforts led by Governor Rick Scott to weaken growth management laws, and urge our local representatives to be responsible stewards of public lands.

Parks and Open Space

  • UEL calls for increased pubilc participation in plans for Virginia Key and Bicentennial Park, both of which can become extraordinary amenities for our City’s residents and visitors
  • UEL strongly supports keeping public lands for public use

Waterfront Space

  • UEL will monitor the hotel development on Watson Island to assure the project adheres to permitted guidelines approved by the City of Miami

* UEL will sponsor a series of Community Forums (lunch and dinnertime programs) presenting current, provocative community issues wth diverse viewpoints.
* UEL will support increased public participation in government planning and policy-making
* UEL advocates support for affordable, workforce, mixed-income housing opportunities and vibrant, cohesive, stable neighborhoods

 

One Response to Issues

  1. Earl Blechinger says:
    March 18, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    I couldn’t agree more! I was searching on yahoo when I found your post, and I found just what I was looking for. I’ve added your rss feed to my Google reader, I look forward to more posts from you. Thanks!