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A gigantic $4 billion retail and entertainment complex won government approval Thursday after years of debate, greenlighting what promises to be the largest mall in North America, just a few miles from the environmentally sensitive Everglades.

The Miami-Dade County Commission voted 9-1 to approve American Dream Miami, which would be built on 175 acres of now-vacant land at the busy confluence of Interstate 75 and Florida's Turnpike, northwest of Miami International Airport.

Plans call for hundreds of retail shops and restaurants, but the developers don't want people to call it a mall. They're pointing to its planned theme-park attractions such as an indoor ski slope, submarine ride, water park and skating rink, along with 2,000 hotel rooms.

"We're not building a mall. We're not in the mall business," said Don Ghermezian, president of Canada-based developer Triple Five. "This is a park that is meant to compete with the best parks in America."

American Dream Miami would be about 1.2 million square feet larger than Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, a similar entertainment and retail center that was also developed by Triple Five and is now the largest on the continent.

Verbiage was also added Thursday to ensure no taxpayer dollars will be spent on the Miami project.


Supporters say developers will follow environmental rules meant to protect the Everglades and pay for measures to address traffic concerns.

Triple Five estimates it would draw some 30 million visitors a year and as many as 70,000 separate vehicle trips every day. Neighboring Broward County has threatened to sue if developers don't address gridlock - and tens of millions of dollars have been pledged by Triple Five to widen roads, pay for additional buses and so forth.

"We're talking about a tremendous increased volume of traffic," said Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, who cast the lone no vote.

Developers say the project - which still needs to obtain 32 local, state and federal permits - will create at least 14,000 permanent jobs, as well as thousands more during construction. Supporters pointed to that and many other envisioned economic plusses, and urged yes votes to help Miami compete against Orlando's tourist mecca.

"It is the most significant project that has been done in Miami-Dade County," said Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz, whose district includes the complex. "It's a good day for us."

Environmental groups say it's too close to the Everglades, threatens the region's drinking water, could be swamped by rising seas and will require vast amounts of electricity.

"This place is a treasure house of public lands, nature, wildlife, and beauty," said Matt Schwartz, executive director of the South Florida Wildlands Association. "There is nothing positive about this project whatsoever."

Other opponents wore t-shirts that read "No Megamall, No Traffic" and "Say No to the American Nightmare Mall."

And that's not all: Another developer, The Graham Companies, plans a separate construction project adjacent to the mall that would include office space, retail, and 2,000 apartments.

Proponents say the critics should embrace the potentially vast impact the overall project could have on the entire South Florida region, which has never had a large theme park drawing tens of millions of tourists every year.

"This is a game changer. This is a watershed development for our community," said Commissioner Dennis Moss.

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Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Miamicurt