New Seaquarium plan advances. Environmental groups wanted county to force a delay

Miami-Dade commissioners on Tuesday advanced a developer’s plan to transform the shuttered Seaquarium theme park into a marina and an entertainment center, waving off requests by environmental groups for a delay.

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“This is an iconic property that is important to so many Miamians,” Rachel Silverstein, head of the Miami Waterkeeper advocacy group, told commissioners. “We do have environmental concerns. Impacts to seagrass. Potential coral and water-quality issues. We are concerned it is going before the board today without all of the information available to the public.”

Commissioners unanimously voted to advance the Seaquarium plan to a final vote later this year. There was no debate, which is customary for commissioners’ preliminary votes on legislation.

Terra’s David Martin already has preliminary county support for his Seaquarium plans, but he needs commission approval on a formal lease and zoning changes to proceed with construction on the $100 million project on the county-owned site.

Once a popular tourist destination, the former home to captive dolphins and other marine mammals shut down last year after an eviction court fight with Miami-Dade. The county cited animal-welfare concerns that the Seaquarium denied.

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The county owns the 38-acre waterfront property and would lease the land to a Terra entity for 99 years under Martin’s proposal. He’s planning to retain the Seaquarium name and add an aquarium and a public baywalk, as well as restaurants, event space, a 325-slip marina and drydock storage for more than 500 additional boats.

Martin paid $23 million for permission to purchase the lease from the Seaquarium’s former owner in bankruptcy court. That deal would close after Miami-Dade’s approval of Martin’s plans.

Martin says he’s employing cutting-edge design to minimize the environmental impact of the marina on Biscayne Bay. The Miami developer, who is a reliable donor to commissioners and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, did not speak at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

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A final vote on the Seaquarium plan is expected next month.