Palmetto Bay Residents Fight to Preserve 9-Acre Woodland from Development

Community Mobilization for Woodland Preservation

• 🏘️ Palmetto Bay residents are actively mobilizing to preserve an approximately 9-acre woodland area.
• 📢 They are voicing concerns about potential development of the property ahead of an upcoming village budget hearing.

Lease Dispute and Village Promises

• 🌳 The woodland is owned by Miami-Dade County but has been leased by the village since 2019.
• 📜 The lease was granted with the promise of creating trails and park features, which residents state have not materialized.
• 💰 Neighbors are questioning the village's expenditure, with some citing $40,000 annually while others claim the lease cost is only $10 per year.

Proposed Land Return and Resident Concerns

• ⚠️ The village is considering returning the land to Miami-Dade County, which residents fear would leave it vulnerable to development.
• 🤝 Vice Mayor Mark Murwitzer plans to vote against relinquishing the land, emphasizing its importance to residents' quality of life.
• 💔 He views abandoning the park as a betrayal of the village's identity as the "village of parks."

Call to Action for Preservation

• 🏞️ Residents advocate for preserving the plants, geological features, and the natural habitat for local creatures.
• 🗓️ A flyer is being distributed urging neighbors to attend the Village Hall meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. to voice their support for keeping the woodlands intact.
• ✅ The core message is to encourage the city to commit to using existing funds to maintain and preserve the woodland.