House Bill 9379

    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HR 9379

        By Representative Bullard






  1                         House Resolution

  2         A resolution urging prompt action by the

  3         Governing Board of the South Florida Water

  4         Management District in issuing permits to allow

  5         redevelopment of property at the site of the

  6         former Homestead Air Force Base.

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  8         WHEREAS, in August of 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated

  9  the South Dade community, and

10         WHEREAS, South Dade's three major economic catalysts,

11  agriculture, tourism, and the Homestead Air Force Base, were

12  decimated, and

13         WHEREAS, as a result of the destruction brought upon

14  the base facilities, the Federal Government decided to close a

15  portion of the military property, which became surplus federal

16  property, and

17         WHEREAS, the Dade County civic, business, and

18  governmental community joined together to create a model reuse

19  plan for civilian use of the property as a commercial aviation

20  facility and petitioned the Federal Government to designate

21  Dade County government as a reuse authority for that purpose,

22  and

23         WHEREAS, the Federal Government accepted Dade County's

24  request to convey the property to the local government for

25  redevelopment, and

26         WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature, understanding the

27  urgency of redeveloping this major economic catalyst, created

28  an expedited land use plan process in 1994 embodied in chapter

29  288, Florida Statutes, and

30         WHEREAS, the two other main economic catalysts,

31  agriculture and tourism, have yet to reach economic levels

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HR 9379

    546-159A-98






  1  existing before Hurricane Andrew, thereby making redevelopment

  2  of the base property a more pressing need to revitalize a

  3  still stagnant economy, and

  4         WHEREAS, recent decisions by the Federal Government

  5  dealing with welfare and immigration reform threaten to create

  6  an economic crisis in Dade County, where job creation and

  7  economic development will become the most important priority

  8  of our citizens, and

  9         WHEREAS, in the first 15 years of development of the

10  project, the reuse of Homestead Air Force Base may generate in

11  excess of 6,000 direct jobs, 12,000 indirect jobs, and 10,000

12  induced jobs, and

13         WHEREAS, failure to create adequate employment

14  opportunities in South Dade will lead to further depression of

15  the local economy, an increase in crime, and a greater need

16  for local and state welfare and social service assistance, and

17         WHEREAS, Dade County has conducted numerous studies

18  that indicate that redevelopment can occur in a prudent,

19  responsible fashion that balances the needs of economic

20  development and environmental protection, and

21         WHEREAS, Metropolitan Dade County has applied for

22  permits before the South Florida Water Management District to

23  allow initial development activity while further environmental

24  protection measures are studied and implemented, and

25         WHEREAS, this initial development activity will not

26  result in intensity of use or impacts at or above the levels

27  that existed before closure in 1992, and

28         WHEREAS, the South Florida Water Management District

29  and all other state and local agencies have a responsibility

30  consistent with their statutory duties to assist local

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HR 9379

    546-159A-98






  1  government in expediting projects of great significance and

  2  economic benefit to the local community, NOW, THEREFORE,

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  4  Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

  5  Florida:

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  7         That the Florida House of Representatives strongly

  8  urges the South Florida Water Management District Governing

  9  Board to expedite the permitting process for development of

10  initial facilities on the property of the former Homestead Air

11  Force Base so that Metropolitan Dade County can commence its

12  efforts to revitalize the economy of south Dade County.

13         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution

14  be transmitted to the Executive Director of the South Florida

15  Water Management District and to each member of the district's

16  governing board.

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