MIAMI—Would developing the public waterfront land to year-round commercial event space, which would include the Boat Show, harmful to Key Biscayne or not? The debate is raging in the wake of a lawsuit that pits the Village of Key Biscayne against the City of Miami.

Miami International Boat Show director Cathy Rick-Joule has plenty of reasons why the village shouldn't worry. But Key Biscayne Mayor Mayra Lindsay isn't buying any of them. It seems some citizens are also voicing their concerns in a Change.org petition.

GlobeSt.com: The National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA), which operates the Miami International Boat Show, says it has a plan for traffic tied to the Miami International Boat Show. Why do you believe that this is not enough?

Lindsay: Key Biscayne is home to more than 10,000 residents and upwards of 7 million visitors per year. With only one road in and one road out, even the best designed “traffic flow” plan will be ill-equipped to address the disruption caused by the Boat Show—and it is irresponsible to attempt to bring so many people into an area that simply cannot contain it, without adequate parking no less.  The event will also take place the very same weekend of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which would create a massive bottleneck on South Miami Avenue and disrupt quality of life for all surrounding neighborhoods.

GlobeSt.com: The Miami International Boat Show has also expressed that its move to Marine Stadium on Virginia Key is not permanent and only a temporary measure. You disagree?

Lindsay: What the Boat Show says versus what the Boat Show does seems to be two very different things. While they claim it will be a short-term move, they have just executed a contract with EventStar, a private tent company, for a 10-year contract to erect tents on the Marine Stadium site. 

This, in our opinion, underscores that this “temporary” site location is far more permanent than either they or the City of Miami would like us to believe. Not only would this add to the traffic nightmare but would siphon off access to the waterfront and block any public recreational use for up to six months each year.

GlobeSt.com: The Miami International Boat Show also says your claims of environmental damage are unfounded?

Lindsay: According to the federal government's public report, the Boat Show would cause “substantial” harm to the ecosystem and determined “the applicant [NMMA] has not provided adequate compensatory mitigation for piling locations or shading impacts,” which could have serious effects on marine life. NMMA assures the public that this report is simply a routine part of the permitting process. 

While that may be true, the detailed findings put forward by the US Army Corps of Engineers are anything but routine. But it isn't just the federal government that has concerns. In fact, a slew of environmental groups have gone on record to sound the alarm bells on what could be an environmental catastrophe. including the Sierra Club, Audubon Society and Miami Waterkeeper.

Stay tuned for part two of this exclusive interview, in which Lindsay will discuss why she believes the Boat Show should be moved.