EL PORTAL, Fla. — It’s a tale South Floridians know all too well as a community fights development to preserve and protect its natural space.
This battle is brewing in historic El Portal, where one resident is even suing the developers and the village council, alleging code violations if the project goes forward as is.
Big trouble in the Little River is tonight’s don’t trash our treasure.
This is the story of two fig trees that for some impassioned El Portal residents are the last line of defense to try and stop what’s already been approved to be built there.
“These are native figs,” said El Portal resident and landscape architect Colin Brown. “And you know, we’re worried that they’re going to get removed, like the other part of the bank up here.”
In December, El Portal council members approved the site plan and development of a proposed eight story apartment building and restaurant at Northeast 83rd Street and Fourth Place called The Launch at Little River, despite many residents loudly advocating that the existing natural space be protected at all cost.
“I just ask that the project be considered under the existing codes, just to maintain the special characteristics of El Portal and the surrounding properties,” said Chloe Chelz, Executive Director of the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station.
The Little River is one of two legacy natural rivers in Miami-Dade County that flow into Biscayne Bay.
El Portal sits on the north bank, a historic village that was once the former capital of the Tequesta Tribe, and is now a bird sanctuary with nature trails, a lush tree canopy and abundant wildlife.
That’s why so many residents are against the proposed project.
“What we’re seeing here, with the development, is just a continuation of a disregard for the natural environment we want to be able to protect, restore, preserve, instead of continue to plug and destroy,” said El Portal resident Alexia Fernandez.
One resident is now suing both the village of El Portal and the developers, The Barrington Brothers, to try and stop it, alleging village officials violated El Portal’s code by approving the project even though existing code prohibits construction of buildings taller than four stories if they’re less than a 250-foot distance from a residential home.
“When I finally saw the plans, I realized, wow, this literally goes against our whole comprehensive plan, our zoning code, and everything that we’re supposed to do In this village for climate resilience and preserving the character of the village as well,” said resident Scott Kobrick.
Kobrick’s mother is the plaintiff in the lawsuit. She claims her home is 171 feet away from the site.
Despite the pending suit, developers began clearing the land, removing legacy trees that had been there for decades.
“So far, there have been five trees removed along the bank here, and then these two were significantly hacked back,” said arborist Ian Wogan.
That’s when Kobrick stepped in.
Determined to save the last two trees, he appealed the developer’s tree permit and is taking his case to the county’s Environmental Quality Control Board.
Until the hearing, Miami-Dade’s DERM issued a stay, preventing the last two trees from being touched, but just days before, workers were there to take them down.
Kobrick raced over in his canoe to try and stop the workers.
“The tree people were arguing at me, saying, ‘Get, get the hell out of here,’” Kobrick said. “I was telling them that it was illegal to cut down the trees. I let them know that DERM was coming with a stop work, essentially stop work order called a stay, and they continued to work.”
Significantly hacked, the trees are still there.
Concerned residents are hoping they hold the line.
“It’s senseless, and I don’t understand when there are scores of community members and people outside the community fighting for canopy while we’re coming in and clear cutting a historic bank,” said Brown.
The group is not anti-development, they just want whatever’s built there to look more like the existing natural, lush shoreline of the Little River that is the heart of El Portal, an inland waterway that leads directly into Biscayne Bay.
Concerned residents warn there’s too much at stake to get this wrong.
“As we face some of these challenges with sea level rise, storm surges and development, we’re faced with opportunities to design better, for more resilience, for greater habitat, for more livable cities,” said Wogan.
Kobrick and others hope the court sees it their way and forces the village council and the developers to go back to the drawing board, redesign and preserve what’s already there.
“There’s green infrastructure that could be done,” he said. “This development can be done. It just should be done the right way.”
STATEMENT FROM VILLAGE OF EL PORTAL:
“The Village of El Portal is confident that we have complied with our code and all applicable laws in the approval of this site plan.
“The Council has a legal obligation under Florida law to base decisions on competent and substantial evidence presented at the public hearing, which is exactly what was done.
“Environmental regulation is performed by Miami-Dade County (DERM), the State of Florida, and the EPA.
“The Village of El Portal has not been notified by any environmental agency of jurisdiction of any current environmental issues.”
Statement from village of El Portal attorney Joseph S. Geller of Greenspoon Marder LLP:
“It is our opinion that the Village has followed the law and we expect the court will affirm so.”
STATEMENT FROM BARRINGTON BROTHERS:
“The Kavista is a 282-unit apartment building that we completed last year. I don’t believe it’s relevant to our conversation other than to identify a location. There is approximately 13 acres of vacant land adjacent to the Kavista with numerous trees to the north, east, and west. Some of this land includes trees along the Little River on property that we do not own, and I am not able to speak on the plans of this area.
“I am not aware of a group that is trying to save trees from being cut down on property that I own. I am aware that Scott Kobrick filed an appeal to our approved tree permit, and we are actively working for a satisfactory resolution to that appeal.
“Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue our conversation due to a legal issue related to Scott Kobrick. Any comments or reports suggesting that work done on our property is “illegal” or “unpermitted” is inaccurate.”
READ THE COMPLAINT:
READ THE STAY ORDER:
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
