DIRECTING CDMP AMENDMENT RE VERTICAL FARMING

Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee · 2026-07-14 · resolution

Miami-Dade County is directing the County Mayor or designee to file an application to amend the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP). The amendment aims to allow or encourage greater allowances for high-intensity, closed agricultural production systems, such as vertical farming, within urbanized areas. This initiative is based on recommendations from an agriculture report that highlights the decline of traditional farmland and the need for innovative, space-efficient agricultural practices. The report indicates that vertical farming can conserve space and water, reduce CO2 emissions by bringing production closer to consumers, and offer resilience against environmental pressures like rising sea levels. Over 70 stakeholders expressed frustration with regulations and a lack of support, advocating for more flexible policies like those enabling urban vertical agriculture. The vertical farming sector in Miami-Dade has reportedly grown substantially to meet demand, particularly from the restaurant scene. The proposed CDMP amendment requires that such vertical farming uses be compatible with surrounding residential or commercial development.