Herald: Miami River as a working waterway could be ensured

In the Miami Herald today:

Years of pitched battles over the future of a significant chunk of the Miami River could be drawing to an end under a pact between activists and the city that would preserve the working waterway while making it harder to build condos on its banks.

If approved by the state and adopted by the city commission, the agreement would mark a sharp turnaround from years of policy under former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, whose administration aggressively sought to transform the gritty river into a high-rise residential corridor within city boundaries.

Under the agreement -- which the city commission gave a preliminary green light to on Thursday -- the city would enact explicit protections in its comprehensive development plan for existing maritime businesses along the river with a goal of protecting and expanding its marine and industrial economy.

The language would significantly raise the bar for rezoning remaining industrial parcels while requiring the city to foster creation of new maritime businesses and jobs.

Read more.