Legal Costs to Challenge Pine Rocklands Zoning

Several ordinary local citizens (including us) have, for more than a year, been suing a real estate developer, Miami-Dade County, and the University of Miami to overturn improperly granted zoning variances that would allow construction of a Walmart shopping center on formerly publicly owned land---which just happens to be the largest habitat of rare pine rocklands outside of the Everglades. This habitat is on Coral Reef Drive near Zoo Miami, and it is home to more than a dozen listed species in danger of extinction.

We need small and large donations to pay for future out-of-pocket costs, such as deposition transcripts, so we can win in circuit court and protect this vital environmental treasure. We need a modest amount of money for court fees, court reporters, public records requests, and expert witnesses. Your contribution will only be used for incidental expenses to help us win this important and precedent-setting case against numerous destructive zoning variances that should never have been granted.

We will let you know specifically what your contribution is spent on, and keep you apprised of our progress as this case advances. Many of Florida's environmental protections have been won in court battles like this one. Only with the help of supporters like you can the citizens who have filed this suit force new zoning hearings on Miami's pine rocklands---and overturn the numerous variances that would make this awful destruction possible.