Kendall’s long-running fight over the shuttered Calusa Country Club hit pause again Thursday, when Miami‑Dade commissioners decided to delay a crucial zoning vote on GL Homes’ proposal for 540 single‑family houses. The decision to kick the item to the commission’s March 19 meeting came after more than an hour of public testimony, with neighbors urging a wider preserve around the tree‑island rookery. Save Calusa founder Amanda Prieto and other residents thanked commissioners for leaning on the developer to keep negotiating.
As reported by Local 10, commissioners said the delay is meant to give GL Homes and nearby residents more time to work through the remaining issues. The zoning application, listed in county files as Z2021000031, would turn about 168 acres of the former golf course into a gated GL Homes community with new lakes, partial lake fills and requests to change open‑space and street‑dedication rules, according to Miami‑Dade records.
“I’m thrilled that they listened,” Prieto told Local 10, adding that she hopes additional talks will lead to stronger wildlife protections and more neighborhood green space. Prieto, who heads the Save Calusa group, spent much of the public comment period coordinating with neighbors and their pro bono attorney.
Developer Pledges Trees, Cleanup Work and Flood Relief
GL Homes has pitched the project as an environmental and infrastructure upgrade. The company says its plan would add roughly 5,000 native trees, expand lake acreage, improve water quality and provide privately funded drainage capacity for flood‑prone areas nearby, according to materials posted by the builder. Those materials also detail traffic mitigation efforts and on‑site policing that would be paid for by the community association, according to GL Homes.
Neighbors and Conservationists Say Rookery Buffer Is Too Tight
Opponents counter that the layout still pushes homes uncomfortably close to the active rookery. Reporting from NBC6 notes that some new lots would sit about 100 feet from the nesting island. Residents and conservation groups have instead pushed for a buffer of roughly 300 to 330 feet, according to Save Calusa. The group and local birders argue that construction activity, lighting and noise could threaten colonies that include tri‑colored herons and other species the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has mapped on the former golf course.
Traffic Fights, Process Questions and Pending Studies
Traffic is another flashpoint. GL Homes’ project materials promote “turbo lanes,” extended turn lanes and a new traffic signal, along with privately funded police enforcement. At the same time, county conditions call for an additional traffic study to look at traffic‑calming measures on Calusa Club Drive. Residents told commissioners they have not yet had enough time to digest the latest reports and pushed for changes to the project’s timeline and design before any final vote.
Long Legal Shadow Still Hanging Over Calusa
The Calusa saga is also framed by a lengthy legal history. A 2021 commission approval for the project was later thrown out by an appeals court, and the Florida Supreme Court declined to take up the case in 2024, leaving that reversal intact and sending the developer back to the county commission. The 3rd District Court of Appeal’s opinion and later filings focus heavily on notice and environmental review issues, according to the decision posted by the 3rd DCA.
With the decision now pushed to March 19, neither side is backing away. GL Homes continues to highlight its remediation and infrastructure package, while neighbors say they want firm, public guarantees for the rookery and more accessible green space. The next commission hearing will show whether those competing visions can meet in the middle or whether Calusa’s stalemate just goes another round.
