DIRECTING CDMP AMENDMENT RE VERTICAL FARMING

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

Miami-Dade County is directing its Mayor or designee to file an application to amend the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) to allow or encourage greater allowances for high-intensity, closed agricultural production systems, such as vertical farming, within urbanized areas. This directive stems from a report evaluating agricultural land use trends, which highlighted declining farmland acreage and the need for innovative, space-efficient agricultural practices. The proposed amendment aims to support the viability of the agricultural industry, particularly small operations, by enabling vertical farming in areas zoned residential, commercial, or industrial, provided it is compatible with surrounding development. Stakeholders expressed frustration with existing regulations and a desire for more flexible policies, with the vertical agricultural sector already showing substantial growth in urban areas to meet demand, especially from the restaurant scene.