David Martin’s Terra hit a roadblock this week in its plans to redevelop the Miami Seaquarium, as the county deferred approval of its lease to a future date.
The county’s Recreation, Tourism and Resiliency Committee voted Tuesday to push the vote on the lease to another meeting, a move that supporters say strains Terra’s court-ordered end-of-year deadline and jeopardizes the entire redevelopment, the Miami Herald reported.
Time is of the essence for Martin, who was required by federal bankruptcy court to secure a 99-year lease with the county by Dec. 30 in order to redevelop the former Virginia Key theme park.
The lease still requires the vote of the whole county commission for final approval. The commission’s last meeting of the year is scheduled for Nov. 17, though its chair could call another meeting before the end-of-year deadline.
Commissioners noted the lease was added to their agenda at the last minute, meaning they had little time to review it before a vote.
Martin would pay 3 percent to 5 percent of the property’s revenues to the county under the lease.
But the $100 million project has faced pushback from environmental activists saying the process was rushed and poses risks to Biscayne Bay’s ecosystem. Two activists filed a lawsuit last month arguing the redevelopment should require a county-wide vote.
Martin has said the redevelopment will be environmentally sound and encourage conservation, with no marine mammal exhibits. Latest plans for the site call for 295 boat slips, down from 325, and a 242,000-square foot marina.
The Miami Seaquarium closed last year after its parent company, the Dolphin Company, was evicted from the site and filed for bankruptcy. The park had long faced animal welfare violations and allegedly failed to maintain the property.
— Alissa Gary
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