A proposal to build an industrial headquarters on 246 acres outside Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary is set to return for a commission vote on March 17, despite ongoing concerns about its impact on local wetlands.
The project, led by Kelly Tractor, involves constructing a 2.2 million-square-foot facility with offices and space for storage and repairs near Sweetwater. The site is located at the northwest corner of Northwest Sixth Street and a Dolphin Expressway ramp in unincorporated Miami-Dade. Environmental groups have raised objections to the plan, citing the potential loss of wetlands that support wildlife and are important for water quality and flood mitigation in the area.
After commissioners initially approved the project in January, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava vetoed it last month. Instead of seeking to override the veto, commissioners allowed Kelly Tractor to revise its application. The updated site plan now proposes preserving 44.5 acres of wetlands and maintaining the 18.6-acre Bayhead Preserve. However, environmentalists argue this does not meet requirements due to an existing covenant mandating preservation of at least 63 acres of wetlands on the property.
Chris Kelly, president of Kelly Tractor, said discussions about wetland preservation are ongoing and no final agreement has been reached. “I don’t develop real estate for a living. I run a heavy equipment and power and energy dealership,” Kelly said. “We are not land speculators. We are not looking to buy and flip and get a return. … We are a long-term holder of the property and have a long term vision of the business.” He also linked the company’s expansion plans to supporting working class residents through job creation amid Miami-Dade’s affordable housing crisis.
Opponents have also criticized Kelly Tractor’s use of a text amendment process rather than following traditional procedures for expanding development beyond the Urban Development Boundary, arguing it could set a precedent for bypassing established review processes.
A new county staff recommendation on the revised plan has yet to be issued, making another delay possible when commissioners meet Thursday.
