Alerts

Litigation UPDATE Dec 27, 2021: Save Calusa Neighbors filed litigation/writ asking to:

1. Quash the development approval granted November 17th, 2021 because it was done without proper hearing notice
2. Stay (hold) of any tree/building removal permits until required environmental studies can be completed.

Current Zoning Status: Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (acting as the Zoning Board) approved the 550 home development plan on November 17th, 2021 with a 10-2 vote (Martinez and Heyman were the dissenting votes, Sosa was absent).

After 5000+ letters were sent to Mayor Cava asking for her to VETO the decision, she issued a (non-veto) statement on November 27th that includes enforcing critical environmental protection measures, and direct County oversight/independent studies.

Zoning Application: The zoning application was submitted February 18th, 2021 under application number Z2021000031. Zoning application materials are available here: https://energov.miamidade.gov/EnerGov_Prod/selfservice/MiamiDadeProd#/plan/51da3c66-18a1-4022-ab4b-a3a27b8c1dbd?tab=attachments

Proposed Development: The applicant submitted an application and site plan for 550 single family homes in a private gated community. There are no community benefits included in the application, even though a nearly 5 acre park was recommended by the Parks, Rec and Open Spaces Dept as part of the pre-application process under Z2020P00230.

Location: The property is located in Calusa, and is currently 168 acres of undeveloped greenspace. Calusa is located in Kendall/West Kendall between 127th and 137th ave, and 88 street (Kendall Drive) and 104th street. It is known as the former Calusa golf course which the owner closed permanently in 2011. The property address is 9400 sw 130th ave, Miami, Florida 33186

Zoning: The zoning, after the release of our 99 year Covenant in Oct 2020, automatically allowed for the development of GU (General Use Interim) under EU-2 (Estate, Single Family, 5 acre lots) which allows for ~30 single family homes. The new proposed application asks for a maximum density of 550 single family homes (3.250 units per acre) under a PAD (Planned Area Development) agreement.

CDMP: The property is designated as Parks and Recreation on the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) Land Use Plan (LUP) map. The Parks and Recreation designation includes golf courses and other parks of approximately 40 acres and larger which are significant community features. This Parks and Recreation designation on the CDMP LUP did NOT change as a result of the Nov 17th approval of the large-scale development.

Wildlife: There are tremendously diverse wildlife on the 168 acre property, and since no thorough wildlife utilization has been conducted, nobody knows exactly what wildlife call Calusa home. However, we have spent the most time advocating for protection of the following because their presence has been confirmed and could be monitored from the perimeter of the golf course property:

1. Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat: High bonneted bat activity was recorded through acoustic surveys, and the timing and nature of the calls support that roosting is likely to occur nearby. Please see the Bonneted Bats section for more details and specific concerns.

2. Calusa Rookery: Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) added the State Threatened tricolored heron nesting colony in the Calusa Rookery to their Wading Bird Guidelines map as a recent (2021) imperiled wading bird colony. The only reason this nesting was documented was because concerned local residents documented it, and reported it to FWC. The FWC map is available here (you can search for Miami-Dade County and will see the Calusa Rookery identified) https://myfwc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b00eccadc9504b96aa4a027b5acd2b99 Please see the Calusa Rookery section for more details and specific concerns.

Community organization letters OPPOSING the proposed development:

Z2021000031 Important Zoning Application Documents:

Nothing, it seems, can stem sprawl in West Kendall. Except maybe a big-eared creature of the night. Bats to the rescue? Read the full article: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/kendall/article251481538.html

Calusa has a rare, active, multi-species rookery currently in nesting season! We’ve documented great egrets, anhinga, cattle egrets, tricolored herons, and a rare redhead! Learn more: Calusa rookery

Update 3/11/2021 NEW PETITION LINK: www.change.org/savecalusa 

Who should sign: All residents concerned with the long-term impacts of a large-scale development of 550 homes on our 168 acres of green space may sign. Communities must support each other! Calusa is in District 7, but Districts 8,10 and 11 are across the street (REALLY!), and District 11 is only a mile away. Even if you signed our petition last year, this one is NEW so please sign this one!

Petition History: In 2020, we obtained 3952 petition signatures (3174 online and 778 paper) fighting to KEEP our 99 year covenant, and AGAINST a large scale development and the long term environment, infrastructure and traffic implications on our  quality of life in Calusa. Since this petition was specific to releasing the Covenant, it is now closed.