Fontainebleau Neighborhood in Florida May Gain 1,890 Homes

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The decision would mean changing the county’s master plan
By Alexandra Zayas

The Miami Herald

RISMEDIA, May 10 ? The residents of Fontainebleau in Florida may finally know the fate of the neighborhood’s golf course — at the center of a bitter debate for two years — when county commissioners debate on whether to approve an application by Shoma Homes to build homes on the eastern portion.

The decision would mean changing the county’s master plan, since that area of the course is not currently designed for residential use. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the commission’s chambers, 111 NW First St.

Shoma’s plan would allow for 1,890 units to be built — including 1,176 units on the east golf course — a passive park and a 200-foot buffer between new and existing buildings. The plan was agreed to by neighbors in the Keep the Bleau Green Committee after a year of negotiations.

“We expect to be there fully supporting the developers,” said Santiago Echemendia, attorney for the Bleau Green Committee, which represents 70 percent of the community’s 25,000 residents.

Another smaller group, the Fontainebleau Federation, had fought for only 1,300 units to be built on the entire site. They fear more construction will increase flooding and traffic to the area.

“It’s going to have a major impact on the area. If I can, I’m going to sell my property and go someplace else. It’s going to be impossible,” said resident Eric Garcia, who supports the Fontainebleau Federation.

Bleau Green President Jesus Carcasses said his committee did the best it could do to talk Shoma down in units.

“The negotiations we did with Shoma were positive,” he said. “I don’t think we could have gotten any better deal than we had. It’ll be great for the community just to get this over with.”

Commissioners will take into consideration a recommendation made last month by the Miami-Dade County Planning Advisory Board to approve the application.

Board members were satisfied with Shoma’s plans to account for the estimated 400 students the development would generate by buying land to open a new school in the area. If the application is approved, Shoma will create more detailed plans for the development that the county would have to approve.

One issue neighbors will consider if the application is approved: who would be responsible for the park included in the settlement agreement between neighbors and Shoma.

When the Bleau Green Committee and Shoma made their agreement, Shoma agreed to leave the undeveloped land as a passive park.

Pending the approval of Shoma’s application, neighbors will take a straw poll vote on whether they want the park to become the responsibility of Fontainebleau homeowners, or whether they want to turn the land over to the county’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Copyright ? 2005, The Miami Herald

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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