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Immediate action needed: Contact Florida House members today!

Updated: Feb 22

February 19, 2026


Our collective efforts have successfully reduced the scope of the Greenleaf project. The original proposal for six 90-foot structures has been downsized to two 72-foot structures. NEXT’s goal is to help the developers understand that 50-foot enclosed buildings are more reasonable for our community. The next projected DRC date is May 6, as the February filing deadline was missed.

 

Our ongoing concerns include:

 - Noise pollution from specialized forklifts

- 72-foot open-ended warehouses creating an unfinished industrial appearance

- Hurricane hazards regarding boat parts

- Risks to local sea life


IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! 

We NEED you ASAP to contact our representatives to get the Florida House to pass a CRITICAL Bill before the House session closes March 13th.  


Issue: “On Feb 19th Florida Senate Bill SB840 passed but has not been taken up by the FL House yet.  WE SUPPORT THIS AS A TOP PRIORITY for the House to PASS ASAP”

WHY IS THIS OUR PRIORITY:A Pinellas County Ruling in 2025 reduced the maximum height of buildings like the proposed boat storage towers to 50ft.  A few months later, SB180 ordered that height to be returned back to 75ft.  SB840 would cancel that order and allow the 50ft maximum to be restored.



PLEASE *call or write to Linda Chaney, our district 61 representative, and to the House Speaker, Majority and Minority Leaders with your own words or copy “issue” above.

Please call or write to Linda Chaney, our district 61 representative, and to the House Speaker. You need to mention to the speak that this legislation must be scheduled. Also contact the majority and minority house leaders.

 Linda Chaney: 850-717-5061. Chaney’s District office: 727-387-8600

Chaney’s aides: Tara.ross@flhouse.gov (District) graham.bernstein@flhouse.gov. (Legislative)

 Daniel Perez, Speaker:

 Tyler Sirius, House Majority Lead:

850-717-5032

 Fentrice Driskell, House Minority Lead:

 

Continuing Actions:

 - Persisting in efforts to have Greenleaf meet with NEXT members

- Securing contact information from all islanders

 

What You Can Do:

 - Stay engaged, informed, and volunteer to spread the word. Contact the numbers above to get SB840 passed. We expect this to help us to keep the height requirement to 50 feet.


- Send photos of yourself and friends in your yellow NEXT T-shirts. Contact Kathryn Challenger at kchallen@tampabay.rr.com to get your shirt.


 -We are looking to grow our Executive Team and need additional support to follow up on projects established during our Steering Committee meetings. Please let us know if you are available to help.

  

Thank you,

 

Melanie Coleman Simon and the NEXT Steering Committee

 
 
 

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