Gables Accountability Project

Front page of the Miami Herald

WAWA Scraps Gas Station Near Little Carver

Sometimes, the little guys and gals win.

This week, we received notice that WAWA quietly walked away from its plans to build a gas station on the empty lot in front of Carver Elementary. The surprise reversal came in response to a lawsuit filed last year by the Gables Accountability Project (GAP), a group of Carver parents and community residents who sued the City of Coral Gables, WAWA and the site’s developer for approving a gas station without any public input.

In a parallel lawsuit, WAWA in February sued the developer, the Bahamian Village, to recover a $525,000 bond after giving notice it didn’t want to go forward with the project. The Bahamian Village initially refused and litigation ensued. Finally, on June 29, Miami Dade Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman signed off on a settlement by which the two parties agreed that the lease was formally terminated, as of March 30.

This is a major victory for the grassroots community organizing against some deep-pocketed, politically connected business interests. It means there won’t be a six-pump gas station and convenience store less than 300 feet from Carver classrooms.

However, the hard work isn’t done.

GAP’s lawsuit is still pending and more important than ever: Its aim was never just to put the brakes on a gas station but uphold the public’s right to have a say on important land use decisions.

The decision to develop a WAWA was the result of an earlier 2017 legal settlement that gave the City of Coral Gables authority to sign off administratively on modifications to the site plan, thus skirting public input—something Judge Hanzman said was “blatantly illegal.” Originally designated to be affordable housing, plans for the 1.7-acre property have been repeatedly altered over two decades of failed proposals.

As we move forward, GAP will redouble its support for other members of the community in finding the best use of land, one that honors the West Grove’s rich, threatened history as one of Miami’s oldest Black neighborhoods.

Miami-Dade judge slams Coral Gables on WaWa’s secret approval process – Political Cortadito Share on Facebook Follow on Facebook Add to Google+ Connect on Linked in Subscribe by Email Print This Post TweetSumo Tweet City commission could give attorneys new direction A Miami-Dade judge last week refused to dismiss a case against the city of Coral Gables, saying the attorney and administrati...

“I guess you’re not hearing me because I’m not buying that it was a minor amendment,” Judge Michael Hanzman said to the City's counsel. “I’m not buying what you’re selling. This does not look like a site plan modification. It looks like a change of use from a restaurant to a gas station. Nothing about this is minor to me. Seems disingenuous for the city to say now that it was minor.

“Land use decisions can have a dramatic impact on the health and well-being of a community,” he added.

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/coral-gables/article257099747.html =cpy.