We, the undersigned, oppose the proposed historic 67th Avenue shared-use path project and any associated tax increases. We urge the Village to prioritize resident safety, privacy, fiscal responsibility, and the preservation of Pinecrest’s environment and character.

🏘️ LOSS OF PRIVACY & NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
The paths would run immediately adjacent to homes, eliminating privacy, increasing loitering and unwanted foot/bike traffic, and fundamentally changing the peaceful, residential feel of Pinecrest. Many residents were never notified, despite living along the proposed route.

💸 FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY & TAX BURDEN
The proposed multi-million-dollar project will increase our taxes significantly and has no long-term maintenance plan. In uncertain economic times, Pinecrest should focus on public safety, infrastructure repair, and flood mitigation, not non-essential spending. Pinecrest was awarded a $1 million grant in 2015 to build a shared-use path along SW 104th Street (from Pinecrest Elementary to U.S. 1). The project was later abandoned, and the grant was transferred to Miami-Dade County, which ultimately used the funds to construct the SW 136th Street shared-use path in Palmetto Bay. Now the council wants taxpayers to fork up the money! 

🌳 ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE & FLOOD RISK
This project requires to remove hundreds of mature trees, increasing heat, water runoff, and neighborhood flood risk. After Hurricane Andrew, the Village invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in professional arborists to restore and cultivate the tree canopy we now cherish along 67th Avenue. That canopy represents over 30 years of careful growth—and the current plan would see it destroyed! These trees are essential for storm resilience and property protection. Insurance rates are already rising—this project could raise our insurance rates and decrease our property values.

🔒 CHILD SAFETY AT RISK
Florida ranks #3 in the nation for human trafficking, with over 1,600 Miami-Dade child victims reported in 2023. Shared-use paths near schools and residential areas increase exposure and reduce natural protective barriers like tree cover and privacy buffers. Safety must come before infrastructure. Most parents are not comfortable allowing their young children to walk to school alone given the very real safety risks—making this project unjustified and costly. 

🚗 TRAFFIC IMPACT IS MISREPRESENTED
Most traffic near schools comes from outside the Village. Shared-use paths won’t fix congestion and may worsen confusion on already narrow streets. We already have an extensive sidewalk network—this project is not a necessity. This will not solve traffic but in fact create major traffic disruptions along 67th Avenue.

🗣️ LACK OF TRANSPARENCY & COMMUNITY INPUT
This plan has been pushed forward with insufficient notice to residents, especially those whose homes are directly affected. There has been no meaningful effort to gather broad community consensus. Significant changes to our Village should require a town hall meeting with all Pinecrest residents invited. 

 

✅ We, the undersigned, respectfully demand:
- An immediate stop of the 67th Avenue shared-use path project.
- A full financial review of current/future projects and potential tax burden.
- Public meetings to gather direct input from affected residents
-Shift focus to preserving trees, reducing flood risk, and maintaining Pinecrest’s unique character