Amid a contentious debate over the location of Miami-Dade County’s new garbage incinerator, David Martin, a prominent Miami developer and CEO of Terra development firm, has introduced a new proposal generating significant attention. Martin has proposed a 65-acre site in an agricultural area outside Hialeah Gardens on the county’s western edge. This location is intended to be remote enough to sidestep the fierce opposition from neighborhoods in Doral and Miramar, both of which have been vocal in their resistance to other potential sites.
The urgency of selecting a new incinerator site stems from the shutdown of the previous facility in Doral, which had been responsible for burning nearly half of Miami-Dade’s waste since its establishment in 1982. This incinerator was taken offline after a significant fire in February 2023, leaving the county needing a replacement. The Doral community, which had long expressed concerns about the environmental and health impacts of the facility, is now pushing for the new incinerator to be located elsewhere.
Martin’s proposed site, a tree farm off Okeechobee Road near Northwest 137th Avenue, is nearly 2 miles from the closest residential area in Miramar, a city in Broward County. Despite this distance, Miramar officials and residents remain apprehensive about the potential environmental impacts and have threatened legal action if Miami-Dade County proceeds with constructing the incinerator near their community.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava had initially recommended another site for the incinerator at the abandoned Opa-locka West airport, less than half a mile from a Miramar neighborhood. This recommendation has sparked intense opposition from Miramar, which has expressed concerns about the incinerator's proximity to residential areas and the potential environmental consequences.
Both the Opa-locka West site and Martin’s proposed location are situated outside Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary. This boundary is intended to separate suburban development from rural areas, protecting the Everglades and local farmland from the encroachment of urban sprawl. The placement of the incinerator outside this boundary has raised additional concerns among environmental advocates and residents, who fear the long-term impacts on these sensitive ecosystems.
Michael Goldstein, a lawyer representing Miramar, has described the two proposed sites as “functionally the same,” signaling that the city would oppose both locations. This sentiment was echoed by Yioset De La Cruz, the mayor of Hialeah Gardens, who expressed his disapproval of the incinerator being built near his city. “My preference would be they don’t build it anywhere near our city,” De La Cruz stated. “I think it can make a difference in air quality.”
While concerns about air quality and environmental degradation persist, county officials, including Levine Cava, argue that modern incinerator technology has largely mitigated the issues associated with older waste-processing facilities. These facilities, often called “waste-to-energy” plants, generate electricity while burning trash, offering a more sustainable waste management solution than landfills.
However, the debate over the incinerator’s location remains unresolved. Miami-Dade commissioners are scheduled to discuss the future of the county’s waste management strategy at their upcoming September 17 meeting. Miramar residents, in particular, are preparing to attend the meeting in large numbers to voice their opposition to the proposed Opa-locka West site, which is less than half a mile from the Sunset Lakes housing development.
David Martin’s involvement in the incinerator debate introduces a significant political dimension to the decision-making process. As a well-known developer and a reliable donor in local elections, Martin’s proposals carry considerable weight. His August 19 proposal, obtained by the Miami Herald, outlines a potential land swap deal in which Martin would provide the land for the new incinerator in exchange for a county-owned plot outside Doral. Martin has plans to develop this land, located at the intersection of Northwest 58th Street and 87th Avenue, into a mix of commercial and residential properties.
Martin’s development plans include 1,002 apartment units in low-rise buildings and 1 million square feet of industrial space. He has assured county officials that his development would be designed to accommodate the county’s plans for a soccer park adjacent to the Solid Waste Department site, which currently serves as a station for residents to dispose of household chemicals.
While Martin has declined to comment on his proposal, the county commissioner representing the Doral area, Juan Carlos Bermudez, who was also the former mayor of Doral, has not responded to requests for comment. The outcome of this debate will likely have significant implications for the future of waste management in Miami-Dade County and the broader conversation about sustainable development and environmental protection.
The community remains divided as Miami-Dade County grapples with deciding where to build its new incinerator. The choice between Martin’s proposed site, the Opa-locka West location, and other potential sites will have lasting consequences for the region’s environment, public health, and urban development. With the September 17 meeting approaching, all eyes will be on the county commissioners as they weigh the competing interests and make a decision that could shape the future of Miami-Dade for decades to come.
