The new mayor of Miami Dade County will be more important than ever when it comes to holding the line on construction and development outside the Urban Development Boundary, following state changes recently approved by Governor Rick Scott, the Miami Herald reported.

For more than 30 years, the boundary which keeps growth from moving west and south into fragile farm lands, has been a major pin in expanding large-scale development. Changes by the Republican-controlled Legislature signed by Scott have severely limited state control of planning decisions, such as moving the UBD. [more]

Times are tough for the construction industry, especially in Florida, said Noelia Moreno, the incoming president of the Latin Builders Association, so she wants its membership to look ahead and be ready.

Moreno, who will be the first female president of the South Florida trade group in its 38-year history, wants its 650 members focused on the region’s future, despite the current battered state of the construction industry.

“We need to think about the fact that the problems we have in real estate are not going to last forever,” said Moreno, who commences her term Dec. 12. Already a member of the Latin Builders Association’s board of directors, Moreno will succeed Anthony Seijas, senior vice president of the Southeast Florida division of nationwide Lennar, the largest developer in Florida. Seijas became president of the LBA in January 2009.
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