Two environmental advocates filed a lawsuit challenging Terra’s $100 million plan to redevelop the Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key, arguing that the county charter requires voters’ approval.
Gregory Frankel and Aaron Stauber, who are both lawyers, cited county rules under the charter’s protections for public land, the Miami Herald reported. The lawsuit is centered around which parts of the proposal can still be considered part of the Seaquarium.
Coconut Grove-based Terra, led by David Martin, filed an application earlier this year for what could be the largest marina in the county with 325 boat slips, a fuel depot and floating docks. The project includes adding restaurant and retail space, as well a new accredited aquarium, aquatic experiences, wellness spaces, a fisherman’s village, and an education, conservation and research center.
Resilient Aquarium LLC, the Terra affiliate, said in a statement provided to the newspaper that it’s confident the firm will be able to move forward with the project once the commission approves the plans. “The plan was very carefully designed to be consistent with the property’s allowable use, and with Article 7 of the County Charter, which specifically exempts both the Seaquarium and marinas from any referendum requirements,” Martin’s Resilient Aquarium LLC said in the statement.
The Miami-Dade County Commission is set to vote on final approval for the project, which includes the 99-year lease for the property at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, on Nov. 19. Last year, the commission approved via a non-binding vote a preliminary version of the plan.
The county evicted the former operator of the Seaquarium in 2024 due to a series of animal welfare violations, and the company’s failure to maintain the property.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulators raised concerns about the project’s impact on the protected wetlands, coral and water quality. In a six-page response to the application, regulators asked for details about dredging, a management plan for docks including sewage and fuel spill rules, and any alternative designs the county had considered.
— Katherine Kallergis
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