May Still Be Built: Trash & Recycling Center in Redland

The most important part of the story is highlighted in yellow and is summarized here: 

According to PWWM Division Director Gayle Love, while the site is being reconsidered, there is still a possibility of building the trash and recycling center at the location.

“The SW 202 Avenue site is being re-evaluated and alternative sites are being considered,” Love said. “All options are still on the table. We are preparing to begin the process of identifying alternate sites, but no new sites have been identified at this time.”

Story recopied from http://southdadenewsleader.com/issue/south-dade-news-leader/article/trash-recycling-center-in-redland-may-still-be-built which was originally published Friday, March 1, 2013.

Trash & Recycling Center in Redland May Still Be Built

By Mike Dill   Sat, Mar 02, 2013

Photo: Redland resident Pat Milone (right) speaks to a group of angered neighbors about the County’s proposed Trash and Recycling Center at SW 290 St. and SW 202 Ave.

For several months, Redland residents have been outraged because of a county proposal to build a trash and recycling center on a ten-acre parcel of land located at SW 290 Street and SW 202 Avenue. They were outraged because they knew nothing about it, until it was almost too late.

“It is across the street from my house,” said Pat Milone. “I have a lot to lose. I notified my neighbors and it set off a chain reaction.”

Milone first found out about the dump one day before Miami-Dade officials held a public meeting regarding the proposal in January. Milone made flyers and did her best to let everyone in the area know about the meeting.

As a result, more than 50 residents attended and voiced their objections. After two hours of public comments and the formal presentation of the proposal to build the site, the residents were told that there would be another meeting on March 20th. 

Immediately after that first meeting in January ended, Milone and her neighbors took their objections to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez. 

Last week, Gimenez sent a letter to the residents stating he has asked the Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) to reconsider their proposal and cancelled the March 20th meeting.

“Having read residents’ letters and in consultation with Vice Chair Lynda Bell, District Commission, I have decided to have PWWM re-evaluate the location chosen for the proposed trash and recycling center and determine if a more suitable site is available that conforms to county policy,” Gimenez said. 

“Vice Chair Bell listened closely to the strong objections of the residents of the area, and has worked with my office to satisfy the requests of her constituents and the needs of the Department to find an equitable solution for everyone.”

According to Vice Chair Bell’s office, they received more than 80 phone calls, emails and letters from residents objecting to the proposal. Representatives from Bell’s office were also present at the meeting in January and informed Bell of the numerous objections. 

After the meeting in January, Bell went to the Mayor’s office to find a better solution for the proposal.

Redland resident and farmer, Sidney Robinson stated he is pleased that the site is being re-evaluated. He said he was concerned about the center itself and the possibility of contamination to the ground water.

“People move out here because it is the environment they want to be in,” Robinson said. “We desire to live out here. We support our neighbors and what they feel is best for the community. So far, this is a winner for the locals.”

While Milone is relieved the proposal is being re-evaluated she knows there is still more to be done. 

“At first I felt good,” Milone said. “But I look at the wording of the letter and it is vague.”

According to PWWM Division Director Gayle Love, while the site is being reconsidered, there is still a possibility of building the trash and recycling center at the location.

“The SW 202 Avenue site is being re-evaluated and alternative sites are being considered,” Love said. “All options are still on the table. We are preparing to begin the process of identifying alternate sites, but no new sites have been identified at this time.”

According to the county officials, residents will be informed of the future plans for trash and recycling center at the “earliest possible time.”

Milone said she will continue to keep her neighbors informed of what is going on with the site.

“I feel an obligation to let the residents know what happens,” Milone said. “We need our officials to recognize us. I’d like to save the Redland.”

By Mike Dill

Decision NOT Yet Made

The most important item to note about this article is that THE DECISION IS NOT YET MADE concerning the proposed trash and recycle center on SW 290 Street and SW 202 Avenue.

According to the Miami Herald site, this article re-published here was originally published on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013. This article was re-published in the Miami Herald's Neighbors Section on Sunday, February 24th, 2013. If the link is still active, the original can be found here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/20/3244252/county-puts-brakes-on-plans-for.html

Article as shown:

REDLAND

County puts brakes on plans for Redland trash center

 
BY JANEY TATE

JTATE@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Miami-Dade County is putting the brakes on plans for a new trash and recycling center for Redland.

Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s office said Monday that he has directed county Solid Waste Management officials to reconsider the proposed site, at Southwest 202nd Avenue and 290th Street, and look for a different place for the center.

The decision comes after about 50 Redland residents objected to the project at a Jan. 17 meeting at Fruit and Spice Park.

The county says the center would provide a convenient place for residents to drop off yard waste, unwanted appliances, electronics, tires, furniture and other bulky items. Officials want the to ensure that all county residents have a place to drop off large items within five miles of their homes.

But in the Redland, where homes are on multi-acre lots scattered among plant nurseries, this convenience is neither needed nor wanted, residents said.

The residents think that the center would bring traffic, pollution and a bad smell to the area.

Patricia Milone, a Redland resident who has been active in opposing the center, said she hopes the mayor’s decision means no such facility is coming to her area.

But the mayor’s office said a decision has not yet been made.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/20/3244252/county-puts-brakes-on-plans-for.html#storylink=cpy

Letter from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez

The following email was received on February 14th, 2013. 

This is not the end of the proposed site, but a re-evaluation of this proposed site for the West South West Trash and Recycle Center.

Re: Proposed West Southwest Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center

Dear Southwest Miami-Dade Resident:

Thank you for offering your thoughts and concerns regarding the potential development of a Neighborhood Recycling Center (TRC) at SW 202nd Avenue and 290th Street.  I want to assure the community that a concerted effort was made by County’s Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) to inform area residents about its plans for the TRC, but I understand that many of you feel the two (2) publicly noticed meetings held on December 12, 2012 and January 16, 2013 at Fruit and Spice Park were inadequate.

Having read your letters and email messages, and in consultation with your district Commissioner Lynda Bell,  I have decided to have the PWWM re-evaluate the location chosen for the proposed TRC and determine if another more suitable site is available that better conforms to County policy.  Therefore, the third and final public outreach meeting scheduled for March 20, 2013, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the South Dade Government Center, Room 203, 10710 SW 211th Street, has been cancelled. Your County Commissioner, Vice-Chair Lynda Bell, listened closely to the strong objections of the residents of the area, and has worked with my office to satisfy the requests of her constituents and the needs of the Department to find an equitable solution for everyone.  The information gathered at the previous meetings will be kept on file.

Again, thank you for participating in the Government Facilities process and rest assured that any future plans for TRC development in the Southwest area will be fully shared with you at the earliest possible time.

Sincerely,

Carlos A. Gimenez, Mayor

Miami-Dade County

cc:   Honorable Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa and Members,

           Board of County Commissioners

      Alina T. Hudak, Deputy Mayor

      Kathleen Woods-Richardson, Director,

           Public Works and Waste Management Department

Blueprint Maps of Proposed West South West Trash and Recycle Center

Blueprint aerial plans.

Maps were provided by the office of Commissioner Linda Bell as PDFs (portable document files).

Screen shots of the PDFs were included in this blog post and on the blog page. The details in the PDFs are slightly better (but not much). 

Blueprint plans.

Map of area that is to be serviced by
 West South West Trash and Recycle Center.

Well Water Concerns

During the January 16th meeting, numerous citizens voiced concerns over the contamination of well water. Most of the area called Redlands, Florida, is serviced by water from wells on individual properties. 

The group from Public Works said that the plans for this West South West Trash and Recycle Center were part of the Miami Dade County Development Master Plan. 

The question that arises after the brief research outlined below is:

How is the county handling water supply and waste water treatment from the facility, which includes storm run off, to keep waste water out of our well supply?

When blog author called Commissioner Bell's office to ask about city water lines planned for the Redlands area, the office said that Miami Dade County has NO plans to provide city water lines to the Redlands Area at any time. This means that the Redlands will continue using well water. 

The Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) says the following: 

The CDMP expresses the County’s general objectives and policies addressing where and how it intends development or conservation of land and natural resources will occur during the next ten to twenty years, and the delivery of County services to accomplish the Plan’s objectives. It provides for "sustainable development" - allowing for land capacity to meet projected needs, preservation of wetlands and agricultural areas and protection of (drinkable) water well fields.

The CDMP establishes the broad parameters for government to do detailed land use planning and zoning activities, functional planning and programming of infrastructure and services. As such, it is a framework for use by other programs to be developed to support it's long-range planning goals. For each of the master plan elements, there are goals, objectives and policies, measures to be monitored and maps of planned future facilities.

Link to more about CDMP is here: 

http://www.miamidade.gov/business/library/reports/cdmp-conservation-element.pdf

The CDMT has about water conservation:

New water supply or wastewater collection lines should not be extended to provide service to land within areas designated Agriculture, Open Land, or Environmental Protection on the Land Use Plan map. New water or wastewater lines to serve land within these areas should be approved or required only where the absence of the facility would result in an imminent threat to public health or safety. The use of on- site facilities should be given priority consideration. In all cases, facilities should be sized only to service the area where the imminent threat would exist, to avoid inducing additional urban development in the area. This policy will not preclude federal, State or local long-range planning or design of facilities to serve areas within the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) or Urban Expansion Area (UEA). Public health and safety determinations will be made in accordance with Chapter 24 of the Code of Miami-Dade County (Environmental Protection) and Section 2-103.20, et seq., (Water Supply for Fire Suppression) Code of Miami-Dade County.

More about this can be found here: 

http://www.miamidade.gov/business/library/reports/cdmp-water-solid-element.pdf

Most of the Redlands is considered Agricultural:

http://www.miamidade.gov/business/agriculture-redland-raised.asp

Where and When Were the Public Notices?

A number of people at the January 16th, 2013 meeting were notified by neighbors about the proposed West Southwest West Trash and Recycle Center. They were completely caught unawares. No one had seen the public notices.

This blog author requested copies of these notices. 

The notices were published in the Miami Herald on the following dates:
December 2nd, 2012, Sunday
January 3rd, 2013, Thursday, in Spanish El Nuevo Herald
January 6th, 2013, Sunday

Homestead Is Home Blog Post

Originally published by Homestead is Home Blog.

TRASH IS TRASH -- Anyone ever live or work near Doral dump?

Redland residents don’t want bulk-trash drop-off center Residents said the proposed project would bring a bad smell, traffic and groundwater pollution. By Janey Tate jtate@MiamiHerald.com Miami-Dade Waste Management officials say a new Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center would be a convenience for residents in the Redland area of deep South Dade, a place to drop off yard waste, unwanted appliances, electronics, tires furniture and other bulky items. The proposed center, on 10 acres at Southwest 202nd Avenue and 290th Street, would accept no regular garbage. But Redland residents aren’t convinced. About 50 people crowded into a small meeting room at Fruit and Spice park Thursday night and gave county officials a clear message: We don’t want it.

To read more, which is a repeat of the Miami Herald article, please click on this sentence or copy and paste the link: http://homesteadishome.blogspot.com/2013/01/trash-is-trash-anyone-ever-live-or-work.html

Redlands Trash Recycle Center Next Meeting

March 20, 2012 
The next public meeting to discuss the proposed West Southwest Trash and Recycling Center will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 in Room 203 of the South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211 Street, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

The proposed site for the West Southwest Trash and Recycling Center is on 202nd Ave and 290th Street in Homestead, Florida 33030.

At the time of this post, there was no calendar entry to the Miami-Dade County Public Works site. To review that site, please click on this sentence or cut and paste: http://www.miamidade.gov/publicworks/calendar.asp?next=nex

Notification of this meeting was received via email. Blog author had attended the January 16th, 2013 meeting at the Fruit and Spice Park and had entered contact information on the spreadsheets collected by the county. 

Letter to Commissioner Lynda Bell for Use

Please note that this is a suggested letter. Feel free to edit as you feel necessary.

[Name]
[address line 1]
[address line 2]
[address line 3]

Date

Commissioner Lynda Bell
District 8

14707 South Dixie Highway, Suite 101
Palmetto Bay, Florida 33176

RE: Opposition to construction of a waste collection facility

Dear Commissioner Bell:

I am writing to ask you to abolish the plans for construction of a waste collection site located in The Redland near Southwest 288 Street and Southwest 202 Avenue. This collection site will interfere with the residents of The Redland.

The purpose of Redland residents is to reside in a rural atmosphere free of urban traffic and ways of life. Placing this collection site in our community will destroy the rural atmosphere we seek. Increased traffic of sanitation trucks, private residents, and lawn maintenance vehicles will impede the quiet atmosphere. More trash along the roads is a factor, as some people may not take the necessary precautions to secure their waste. Illegal dumping may also be an effect.

This decision was made without the opinion of the residents that it will directly affect. As a commissioner, one of your responsibilities is to listen to the community and make decisions.

At the last meeting held on January 16, 2013 at the Fruit and Spice Park, resident’s opinions were heard, but not taken into consideration. Please rethink your role as commissioner and listen to the community you represent.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

[Name, with signature above if printing and snail-mailing]

Emailed Meeting Notice March, 2013

Received via email, 1/28/13

Good afternoon,

As a result of the public input process required for the proposed Trash and Recycling Center in the vicinity of SW 202 Avenue and 290 Street, the Public Works and Waste Management Department has indicated that there will a 3^rd Public Community Meeting.  Please read below.

The next public meeting to discuss the proposed West Southwest Trash and Recycling Center will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 in Room 203 of the South Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211 Street, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

The Community meeting will be conducted to provide area property owners with information related to the proposed TRC.  The plans, maps, drawings and other pertinent information will be available for public review from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the day of the meeting.  The first part of the Community Meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to view the plans and to discuss the project with Public Works and Waste Management staff.  During the second part, which is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m., there will be a brief presentation of the proposed project, followed by a questions and answer period for the remainder of the meeting.

Residents with questions about the proposed TRC or the March 20th meeting can call 305-514-6653 or send inquiries via email to the Public Works and Waste Management mailbox atpwwm@miamidade.gov.

Newspapers ads announcing the March 20th meeting will be placed in the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald and the South Dade News Leader prior to the meeting.  The meeting will also be noticed on the County Calendar.  Prior to the March 20, 2013 meeting, the Public Works and Waste Management Department will mail a meeting notice to households within a 1-mile radius of location of the proposed TRC.  Commissioner Bell will also be sending e-mail notifications to those that provided an (legible) e-mail on the sign in sheet at the 2nd Community Meeting.

If you have questions about this subject, contact the Public Works Department 305-514-6653 or the Office of Vice Chair Lynda Bell at any of the numbers below.

Thank you,

Johanna Faddis, Legislative Director

Vice Chair Lynda Bell

Main Office (305) 375-5218

Fax (305) 372-6073

District Office (305) 378-6677

johanna@miamidade.gov

"Delivering Excellence Every Day"

Public Meeting January 16, 2013 - Redlands Trash and Recycle Center

Originally published Sunday, January 20th, 2013 by the Miami Herald. To link to original article, please click on this sentence. Article is copied here because the Miami Herald keep most articles online for a limited time. 

REDLAND

Redland residents don’t want bulk-trash drop-off center

Residents said the proposed project would bring a bad smell, traffic and groundwater pollution.

Lee Casey, division director for technical services and environmental affairs for Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management, answers Redland residents' questions during a community meeting regarding construction of a trash and recycling center in the area, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, in South Miami-Dade County. About 75 area residents spoke out against the plan during the meeting, which was held at Fruit and Spice Park. DANIEL BOCK / For The Miami Herald

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BY JANEY TATE

JTATE@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Miami-Dade Waste Management officials say a new Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Center would be a convenience for residents in the Redland area of deep South Dade, a place to drop off yard waste, unwanted appliances, electronics, tires furniture and other bulky items.

The proposed center, on 10 acres at Southwest 202nd Avenue and 290th Street, would accept no regular garbage.

But Redland residents aren’t convinced. About 50 people crowded into a small meeting room at Fruit and Spice park Thursday night and gave county officials a clear message: We don’t want it.

Residents worried that the project would bring truck traffic and a bad smell, and that it would harm the groundwater in a neighborhood where homeowners get their water from private wells.

The county said the center would be part of a program to ensure that all county residents have a place to drop off large items within five miles of their homes. But in the Redland, where homes are on multi-acre lots scattered among plant nurseries, this convenience is neither needed nor wanted, residents said.

“They are basing it off of engineering that is within 5 miles; they are not basing it off of the community,” said resident Salvatore Devito. “Out here in rural Miami-Dade, the average plot is 5 acres. It’s not as dense as other areas. Let’s keep the Redlands rural.”

Patricia Milone, a resident of Redland since 1978, learned of Thursday’s meeting only one night in advance from a flyer someone stuffed in her mailbox. She made 40 copies of the flyer and passed them out in her neighborhood.

“What the county commissioners consistently neglect to accept is that this Redland farm area is very small, it‘s fragile and it unique,” Milone said after the meeting. “I’m hoping that they will go back and let them know we don’t want this out here.”

County Waste Management spokeswoman Jeanmarie Manze Massa said she was surprised by the opposition to the project.

“The purpose of this was to gather information. I didn‘t know, I thought people would be happy,” said Massa. “But it’s important to hear all this information. We are strictly gathering the input from the community.”

Residents watched a Power Point slideshow explaining the project, presented by Lee S. Casey Waste Management’s division director for Technical Services and Environmental Affairs. He said the project wasn’t a sure thing.

“That’s why we are collecting this feedback, this is a part of the process,” said Casey during the meeting that lasted little over an hour.

The officials said they were there to listen, and would take the neighborhood’s concerns back to their agency.

During the meeting many residents said that that community needs to unite so that their concerns are addressed. Milone urged residents to contact their county commissioners to voice their concerns.

“The commissioners need to hear from us.“ said Milone during the Wednesday meeting. “If they know what’s good for them, then this might be the last meeting if we get it across to them that we don’t want this.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/18/3189209/redland-residents-dont-want-bulk.html#storylink=cpy