Coral Gables Watch

Coral Gables has a Fictitious Master Plan, or Is it Amendment 4?

There have been several actions taken recently by the Commission of the city of Coral Gables that demonstrate that its members are 1) captured by developers;  2) captured by the “too big to fail” UM; and 3) desperate for money to pay for huge unfunded liabilities and softball contracts with firefighters and police.

Thanks to the soon-to-be-absent commissioners and mayor, who seem to care little about the future pattern of development of the city after they leave the deus, the city is stuck with a 20-year master plan for UM and a potentially hugely distorted pattern of development, traffic and transportation in the commercial district.  All of this is happening because the commissioners are terrified by the possible approval of Amendment #4 that would take city development out of their hands and put it in the hands of citizens.  Yes, their commitment to developers stand ahead of their belief in local democracy and citizens.  At least, for reasons he had, thanks to Bill Kerdyk for voting against these buildings (but sorry, he voted for the UM master plan and commercial-health district).

Vice Mayor William “Bill” Kerdyk sees a dangerous trend in Coral Gables’ central business district: upzoning properties one at a time.

via Gables approves taller buildings in business district – Coral Gables – MiamiHerald.com.