CUTLER BAY APPROVED BY VOTERS AS NEWEST MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MUNICIPALITY

Cutler Bay is about to become Miami-Dade County's 35th and newest municipality.

South Dade's community of Cutler Ridge took on a new identity recently when voters approved two ballot measures.

South Miami-Dade community of about 30,000 approved the charter and chose a new name for the county's 35th municipality.

22 per cent of the electors turned out for the November 8th election. 60.9 percent of 3,898 ballots cast voted in favor of the proposed charter, which serves the role of the city's constitution. 2,374 voted in favor of the document and 1,524 voted against.

As with other recent breakaways in the recent history of Miami-Dade County's municipalization movement, there was no unanimity of opinion. As reflected in the split vote, there were both proponents and oppponents of cityhood.

Voters opted for the name Cutler Bay over Cutler Ridge by a vote of 1,920 to 1,403.

An earlier approval by area voters determined that a new municipality would be created in the area. This week's vote approved the charter as drafted and proposed and decided on th name Cutler Bay. Area voters approved incorporation in principle on January 11, 2005. The charter approval crystallized the two issues featured on the ballot. Town council elections are scheduled for January 10, 2006. If necessary, a runoff election will be held on Januear 31, 2006.

Self-governance and responsive municipal services, particularly police and fire, top the list of motivators for local communities seeking to incorporate.

Number 1 on the list of self-determination issues for new municipalities is nearly always zoning and land use decisionmaking. Until it adopts its own zoning code, Cutler Bay will be governed by provisions of the zoning code of Miami-Dade County.
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To be sure you're doing the most you can with your property consistent with applicable zoning and land use regulations, contact a Florida zoning or land use lawyer.

Daniel A. Weiss has over 24 years local government experience. Mr. Weiss represented the Miami-Dade County in litigation and appeals between 1981 and 1995 as a Miami-Dade Assistant County Attorney and has since represented both municipalities and people who do business with counties, municipalities and other local government agencies.

In Florida Trend magazine™'s Legal Elite's issue, July 2004, Mr. Weiss was selected by his peers as one of the top 30 government lawyers in the State of Florida.

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