Developer Caught Violating Public Trust

CAPTION: In a screenshot taken on Aug. 6, 2026, the blue shows where the boat clubs and boat rental companies occupy slips intended by the state to be left open for public use.]

State inspection identifies multiple violations at Tierra Verde Marina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TIERRA VERDE, Fla. - August 31, 2026 — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a formal Warning Letter to Tierra Verde Marina after a state inspection found that the marina was not meeting multiple contractual obligations of its state Submerged Lands Lease.

In late July, Tierra Verde Next identified serious potential violations by Greenleaf Capital at the marina it owns in Tierra Verde. The FDEP inspected the marina on Aug. 6 and confirmed multiple violations requiring corrective action, including failure to make the required 90 percent of wet slips available to the public, missing required signage, damaged structures and alterations to finger piers beyond their permitted dimensions.

FDEP found Greenleaf not in compliance with the most important requirement of its State of Florida Submerged Land Lease – to maintain 90 percent of its slips for use by the general public. This requirement assures that the number of daily boat trips into and out of the marina will remain low enough to avoid serious damage to nearby seagrass beds and wildlife.

Greenleaf replied that it was committed to following the terms of the lease and “will cooperate with any FDEP investigation to demonstrate that it has complied with its legal obligations.”

But the FDEP inspection showed Greenleaf’s own slip management system disproves that compliance, as many of the slips are occupied by permanent rentals. The agency identified the facility as having 89 wet slips and directed it to make 80 of them available for public rental, expressly rejecting the idea that boat clubs satisfy that requirement. The FDEP stated that the public requirement does not include companies such as Freedom Boat Club because membership is required to use their boats. The agency specifically identified Freedom Boat Club, Suntime Boat Club, Tierra Verde Boat Rental and the Tampa Bay Pilot’s Association among the commercial operations occupying marina slips that should be left open for public use.

FDEP also documented other violations including finger piers that appeared to have been extended from the permitted 25 feet to approximately 37 feet, directing the marina to remove the extensions or seek appropriate authorization. The Warning Letter states that violations may result in damages, restoration requirements and civil penalties. The matter remains an ongoing agency investigation.