Are developers using dirty tactics to squeeze out a fishing village while destroying protected wetlands?

By Staci-lee Sherwood

Florida has been experiencing an explosion of development, everywhere.   Across the state from protected Mangrove wetlands (in Dania Beach) and forests (Split Oak Forest and Boynton Beach) to agriculture fields (Palm Beach County) and now fishing villages (in the Keys), developers and their friendly government officials are putting the squeeze on anyone who tries to stop them.  For decades these islands have been known as a cool laid back place where local artists, writers and fishermen had thrived.  Then the development boom started and much of the flavor and history of the Keys has been replaced by yacht clubs and mansions.  They don’t just look out of place they have displaced much of what made the Keys a place where millions wanted to visit or live.  

As building rages on the theme in Florida, and across the U.S., is to scrap the small businesses and workforce in favor of short term construction of housing.  I’m guessing most of those in power from lame duck Governor Desantis down to those on the zoning and planning boards will be retired in the next few years when all the damage being done now finally shows itself.  By then it will be too late.

Ramrod Key

This key is one of the smaller key islands that sits midway in the chain of islands called ‘The Keys’ in southern Florida.   It’s named for a ship that sank in the nearby reefs in the 1800s.  In 1963 it was one of the islands used to film PT 109.  It’s been a quiet sleepy place for most of its existence.  Now there is a new crinkle for the island coming from Terra Innovations, who one could say is trying to ram through their swanky plan for Ramrod Key. 

A few homes and small businesses exist on this island but the remaining open land is mostly wetland.  A few local commercial fishing families have been making their living here for generations but that might vanish if the developers have their way.   The 186 parcel of land at the center of growing controversy is located at 26450 Overseas Drive.  There’s an unmarked dirt road that takes you back to the traps where these family work.  The remaining parcel is wetlands home to a variety of shorebirds, crabs and key deer.

For years these families had access to the water which is slated to include other waterfront businesses.   In December 2025 a proposed amendment for a zoning change for the waterfront part of this parcel seeks to expand usage to include a marina (for yachts and charter boats), dive shop, restaurant(s).  It’s highly unlikely access to the water for these fishermen will continue once the area is fully developed with competing businesses.   A marina filled with pricey yachts won’t be willing to share public access.   Restaurants with big ocean views won’t want that view obstructed by fishing boats and traps.  This would effectively put them out of business, in a sly backdoor way.   All this alongside the luxury homes also proposed will change this place forever.

The view without any yachts.

Developers just need a foot in the door.  They rarely produce the full plan up front, preferring to show a partial concept before winning approval.  Once that happens they start to add hotels, marinas, businesses explaining how they’re necessary for the development and how they will add revenue to the county coffers.  This is why it’s very difficult to fight developers.  Too many times these deals are made in the quiet, not in public view of hearings for those most affected.

The parcels in question.

The proposed development by Terra Innovations, North Niles.

As you can see on a sunny day this dirt road is under water.

Some key points Terra Innovations must consider and overcome include:

• Traffic study.  More homes equal more cars and noise, longer delays on the one main road from mainland Florida down to Key west

  
  

• A 404 Wetland Fill permit required by the Army Corp of Engineers if they plan to fill in the wetlands. 

  
  

• Compatibility study fitting into the current landscape

  
  

• Consideration of the county Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO)

  
  

• Displacement of legally protected species like the Mangroves and Key Deer

Is all this development really necessary? 

Ramrod Key is a small key compared to larger arguably overdeveloped keys like Marathan, Big Pine and Key West.  How does luxury condos and yachts fit into a sleepy little key that’s mostly wetlands?   Developers always claim more buildings equals progress and sometimes the tax revenue does show that.  However no county or state can survive economically just on selling houses.  A variety of industry must also be there to provide necessary services but also enhancement.  Why live in a place that only offers houses?  The entire coastline of the Keys is already dotted with restaurants, bars and dive shops.  Do we really need more?  Up and down the Keys small businesses are closing up . 

One thing all small businesses have in common is the land their business sits on is seen as more valuable for developers to build mega mansions and yacht clubs than their value to the local community.

Who benefit$ - the developers and their mouthpieces

Monroe County voted on June 10, 2026 to not extend their environmental comprehensive plan, which notably had a cap on development.  Without a cap what good is the ROGO?   Entering the scene is Terra Innovations, current owner of the parcel in question.  Seeing other projects having delays and rejection from community pushback they hired Barton Smith as their attorney.  For years Smith has pulled the strings of officials in the Keys and now he’s aiming to do the same for Terra Innovations in Ramrod Key.   No doubt his brash behavior and political connections were the shining stars on his resume.

Here is a bit about him:

• In 2016 an offshore island called Wisteria was in the eye of developer Roger Berstein who hired local attorney Barton Smith to represent him.   Smith’s job was to get Berstein the right to build by whatever means.   To show his true colors this says it all as reported in The Blue Paper Key West paper “If he likes it, I don’t” exclaimed Commissioner Sylvia Murphy, who became suspicious after Smith said he supported her intentions to leave the current protections for offshore islands undisturbed.  “I know how devious he can be.  Therefore, if he likes it, I don’t.”

  
  

• In 2016 Smith seemed to be having a private conversation in public with Mayor Cates of key West that helped get his development, Sunset Marina approved.  Click hear to read more

  https://thebluepaper.com/key-west-government-and-big-developers-a-relationship-riddled-with-impropriety/

  
  

• In September 2020 the KEYS WEEKLY paper reported how the Monroe County Commission sided with developers, Murray Marine Sales and Service, Inc. and Wreckers Cay Apartments at Stock Island LLC., who wanted ocean views and access to the water on Stockton Island.   “The County Commission just gave away the last of the public access to open water on Stock Island to two developers,” Beruldsen said. “Looks like the commission thinks only tourists and wealthy homeowners with waterfront private property should get to access the water on Stock Island.”  Smith was their attorney.

  
  

• In 2022 Monroe County officials sought a traffic study when a commercial development was proposed on Tavernier Key.  Despite public pushback Smith helped his client, The Blackstone Group, get it approved.

  
  

Failure to represent the residents

The Tourist Development Council (TDC) created the Fishing Advisory Committee (FAC), whose main stated focus ‘represents countywide funding for tourism related fishing activities and marketing.’   That could mean the charter boats effectively putting small commercial fishing villages, like on Ramrod Key, out of business.  Without public hearings and input from those most affected the proposed zoning changes on Ramrod Key look to be another sweetheart deal for developers.

The Tourist Development Council (TDC) states, among other things, it ‘pledges to benefit residents by utilizing those financial contributions to improve the Florida Keys' environmental and community resources.  The tourism council also prioritizes enhancing residents' quality of life by safeguarding the health of the county's primary industry.’  How does putting out of business small commercial fishermen and destroying a wetlands home to protected Mangroves fit into this promise?  It doesn’t.   It’s trading local residents for tourists dollars which is not what government is suppose to do.

Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln, who’s running for re-election, sits on the TDC board.  Monroe County Commissioner David Rice served on the Florida Keys Hurricane Recovery Foundation.   If anyone would know how absurd over developing the Keys are it would be Rice.   

Here are the members of Monroe County Commission:

• Craig Cates - appointed by Gov DeSantis, owned Napa auto parts store

• Michelle Lincoln - career politician sits on the economic steering committee

• Jim Scholl - appointed by DeSantis, background is mostly military with a degree in zoology

• David Rice – sat on Hurricane recovery Foundation

• Holly Merrill Raschein - appointed by DeSantis and sits on Florida housing board

Wetlands are vital to a healthy ecosystem

Nature designed wetlands to be a naturally occurring sponge for excess water.  They’re a way to prevent, or lessen the damage from, flooding.   Big powerful CAT 5 hurricanes make the news but smaller hurricanes and tropical storms often do as much or more damage.   Florida sits at sea level, in some places the land is actually below sea level.  If not for the vegetation along the road that soaks up the water many roads would be unpassable whenever it rained.

A Wilson’s Plover catches some sun in Ramrod Key wetlands.

Click short video to see an endangered Key Deer doe and fawn on Ramrod Key. August 2026

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a93bc9_c08423d1cf6840dea5e2d89a72a59026/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Fiddler crabs play a vital role in the coastal food chain which greatly contributes to the health of the entire ecosystem.   I saw many in the wetlands..

Nature’s Hurricane protection

The Mangroves and all wetland vegetation act as a sponge absorbing excess water from storm surge.  We’ve all seen or experienced the damage a tropical storm or hurricane can do, it’s not the wind but water than does the most damage. 

As powerful storms increase we need more, not less, wetlands for protection.

There was a variety of dense thick vegetation from grasses to wildflowers to trees.   All play a crucial role in stormwater management in ways walls and  rocks can never match.   A house on stilts is only protected from rain not powerful storms.   At sea level the stilts can’t go down deep into the earth so during hurricanes much of the dirt they sit on washes away over time.

Protected Mangroves on Ramrod Key.

What you can do to help

If you’d like to see this key protected from unnecessary development please contact the Monroe County Commissioners and ask:

• They NOT approve any zoning changes to expand the waterfront part of the 186 acre parcel on Ramrod Key owned by Terra Innovations.  

  
  

• Also ask they NOT approve any housing developments, project North Niles. 

  
  

• If they plan to approve the project it must go through a traffic study, thorough independent environmental assessment, have a hurricane evacuation plan, compatibility study and explain how it fits ROGO.  

  
  

• Attend any county hearings and speak up, you don’t have to live in Ramrod Key or any Key to care what happens to them.  Once they’re all developed it will be too late to save anything.

  
  

• Reach out to community groups, small businesses/organizations and local leaders

Monroe County Commissioner emails

Michelle Lincoln  - boccdis2@monroecounty-fl.gov

David Rice -  boccdis4@monroecounty-fl.gov

Craig Cates -  boccdis1@monroecounty-fl.gov

Jim Scholl  - boccdis3@monroecounty-fl.gov

Holly Merrill Raschein - boccdis5@monroecounty-fl.gov