Commissioner Sorenson has advocated a resonsible growth plan for South Miami-Dade County.  As the "last frontier" of urban development, Commissioner Sorenson realized years ago that careful urban planning would be the key to preserving the quality of life in South Dade.  To that end, the Commissioner has advocated for more "traditional" communities that provide a mix of uses, have plentiful green spaces, bike paths and sidewalks, and connected streets.  She has pushed for greater density along the urban core of US 1 instead of the perpetual sprawl that leads to traffic jams and incremental loss of farm land.

Commissioner Sorenson has been outspoken about the importance of "holding the line" on urban sprawl by maintaining the County's Urban Development Boundary where it is.  She has also been instrumental in creating programs to retain agriculture as a viable economic engine in South Dade as well as an important quality of life asset for us all.

"Nothing has a longer or more direct legacy than community planning choices," explains Commissioner Sorenson.  "We have an obligation to get it right in South Dade."

South Dade Smart Planning

Smart growth initiatives are a move to develop alternatives to our current development patterns in Miami-Dade County, best characterized as “sprawl.” Smart growth incorporates livability concerns such as access to a variety of transportation choices, creation of walkable neighborhoods, easy access to shopping, recreation, schools and a range of housing choices, as well as preservation of parks, farmland and natural areas. Smart growth can also be profitable for both developers and communities.

Over the last several years, Miami-Dade County has held a series of charrettes to engage public involvement in the decision-making process about future growth and development. Lasting 7 to 10 days, the charrettes include an experienced urban design team working with citizens in a series of high-speed intensive creative sessions, concentrating on specific design problems, reaching a consensus, and expressing solutions in graphic form. The team then combines all of this information into an overall illustrative plan and written report, which forms the basis for a community’s master development or redevelopment plan. The South Dade charrettes have focused on developing community urban centers along US 1 and Old Cutler Road.

South Dade Charrettes

Downtown Cutler Ridge
The Cutler Ridge master plan grew out of a public charrette, held from September 28th through October 4th, 2002. This master plan is the communities’ vision for the redevelopment of the 220-acre Southland Mall and surrounding commercial properties into a mixed-use, high density downtown for Cutler Ridge.
Download Charette Report    1.4 MB

Naranja Community Urban Center
The Naranja Community Urban Center Charrette, held from August 3 through August 10, 2001, was the first in a series of community-developed plans for creating urban centers along US 1 in South Dade. The “Discover Naranja” master plan identifies areas for mixed-use development, additional open space and common areas that will establish a town center at southwest 264 Street and US 1.
Download Charette Report   1.2 MB

Old Cutler Road
The Old Cutler Road master plan grew out of a public charrette held from June 21 through June 28, 2002. This master plan is the communities’ vision for enhancement of Old Cutler Road, from SW 200 Street to SW 224 Street. The plan will reduce traffic congestion and allow development while restoring the historic ambiance of the road.
Download Charette Report   1.4 MB

Princeton Community Urban Center
The Princeton Community Urban Center public charrette, held from June 6 through June 13, 2003, created a master plan for a Princeton town center at SW 248 St and US 1 in South Dade. The community vision includes a greenway system along the C-102 canal, several new neighborhood parks, new roads that will enhance the street network, and enhanced pedestrian amenities.
Download Charette Report   1.2 MB