ABSTRACT
NearlyeverymajoraspectofFlorida'sproblemofcontrollinggrowth andprotectingenvironmentalqualitycanbefoundinDadeCounty.Dade isitselfasizeableregion,partdevelopedandpartundeveloped,covering 2,054squaremiles,anareaalmostexactlythesizeofthestateofDelaware (seefigure6-1).Itsstillburgeoningpopulationofalmost1.4millionresidentsisnearlytwiceaslargeasthatofanyotherFloridacountyand representsaseventhofthestate'stotalpopulation.Dade'sproblemsare, broadlyspeaking,ofthreekinds: oFirst,thereisthatofcheckingthedeclineinthequalityoflifeinGreater Miamithroughthecontrolofpopulationdensitiesandothermeasures, whileatthesametimemaintainingandenhancingahealthyeconomy. oSecond,thereistheproblemofcontrollingGreaterMiami'sexpansion frombeyondthefewhundredsquaremilesofnorthDadethatisalready heavilyurbanized.SouthDadeisthecounty'sfrontierareawhereland speculationisrampantandextensivedevelo.pmentisbeginning. oFinally,thereistheproblemofpreservingDade'svaluableremaining
state officials will have much to learn about appropriate strategy from Dade's experience and its current groping for effective policies. In 1972, the elected officials of Metropolitan Dade County (or "Dade Metro") began seriously to look for a growth policy and strategy. The undertaking of a major revision of the county master plan, together with the declaring of moratoriums on new construction in selected areas pending zoning studies and possible "rollbacks" to lower densities, was evidence of that search. So also was the proposal by Dade Metro's new mayor, John Orr, that Metro should establish limits on population density for all parts of the county, even overriding the municipalities in this critical matter whenever necessary.
