Miami Dade County Homeless Trust supports Rancho Lakes CRA expansion plan

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on September 3, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including public hearings and community redevelopment initiatives. The meeting began with a public hearing segment, during which two individuals were invited to speak on the proposed expansion of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) for the New Rancho Lakes area.

Vicky Millet, representing the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, expressed strong support for the CRA expansion. She highlighted the Trust's long-standing presence in the area, noting that they have provided emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing for over 1,100 individuals in the past year. Millet emphasized the need for affordable housing, particularly for seniors, and called for vibrant businesses and activated spaces to combat blight and enhance community development.

Lawrence Ventura, representing Colonel Kelly of the Homestead Air Reserve Base, initially requested a deferral of the CRA expansion due to concerns regarding military property. However, he later indicated that the county had made necessary adjustments to the CRA boundaries, ensuring that military-owned land would not be included. Ventura expressed satisfaction with the county's commitment to better communication regarding future developments and withdrew his request for deferral.

Following the public comments, the commissioners moved to vote on the agenda items. Commissioner Garcia requested to bifurcate items 5s and 5t for a no vote, which was approved. The remaining items were then moved and seconded, with the clerk confirming a unanimous vote in favor of the proposals.

Vice Chair McGee presented a video during the meeting that complemented the public hearing discussions, although details of the video were not provided in the transcript. The meeting concluded with the passage of the CRA expansion and other related items, marking a significant step towards addressing community needs in the New Rancho Lakes area.