Marina expansion is not a done deal

Even though Greenleaf’s proposed expansion of Tierra Verde Hi and Dry Marina was approved, the project is still a long way from a done deal. 

The developer has continued to decline to come to the table and compromise on a project compatible with Tierra Verde’s residential character and safe for manatees, seagrass beds, shorebirds and the natural area that surrounds us.

This is why we filed a lawsuit in circuit court to overturn the zoning approval. The lawsuit could take several more months to resolve. In the meantime, we are pursuing multiple avenues to force the property to be cleaned up while development is pending and to ensure all environmental laws and regulations are followed.

We hired an environmental consultant to help us navigate the many permits associated with the project to keep wildlife safe and water clean. In the past two months, we’ve seen progress.

·         Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) commented on the permit overseen by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) that it cannot recommend the proposed increase in slips at the marina, including dry storage. The FWC concluded that the developer has not shown how it can add boat slips without increasing risk to manatees.

·         SWFWMD raised serious concerns about drainage on the site which must be satisfied before the project can continue.

·         Tierra Verde Next has filed a formal complaint with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to investigate apparent ongoing violations of the submerged land lease governing the marina. A compliance inspection is expected within the next few weeks.

·         We have repeatedly asked the City of St. Petersburg to enforce its zoning and parking regulations and require the marina to remove boats and storage racks from spaces designated for vehicle parking. This is an issue for Tierra Verde residents because the outdoor storage, in addition to being unpermitted, unsafe and unsightly, requires forklift noise and back-up alarms extremely close to nearby homes.

We are grateful for your support, which has enabled us to continue this fight. Please keep spreading the word. Donations to our environmental and legal funds can be made through our website at https://www.tierraverdenext.org/donate