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Survey
teams seek rare species By
Terry Witt
State
survey crews have begun visiting properties along the chosen route for
Suncoast Parkway 2 in Citrus and Hernando counties to determine whether
two rare species, one plant and one animal, live there. Florida
Turnpike Authority spokesman Joanne Hurley said residents along the
parkway route might encounter the survey teams, and if they do, the teams
are carrying a letter of introduction. The
survey teams are looking for the state and federally threatened scrub jay
and the state endangered pond spice, a member of the laurel family that
grows in ponds and swamps, Hurley said. The
search for the two species is being done in advance of a larger evaluation
of the parkway route. Federal agencies directed FTE to conduct the advance
survey because the scrub jays are breeding and the pond spice is in bloom,
Hurley said. Suncoast
Parkway 2 is a four-lane toll road that will extend from northern FTE
selected the route in 1998 and is starting the formal process of
re-evaluating the 9-year-old alignment to determine what has changed. The
agency is negotiating a contract with Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt (DRMP),
the company that will conduct the evaluation. A final contract is not
expected until June. Additional
fieldwork is scheduled to begin in June when the contract with DRMP is
finalized. Lull
Prompts KB Home To Sell Land By
SHANNON BEHNKEN The Published:
Apr 10, 2007 A
St. Petersburg development and acquisition company, The Cypress Co., is
poised to purchase seven of KB's undeveloped subdivisions in Hillsborough,
Pasco and Polk counties, said Blake Whitney Thompson, Cypress' vice
president and general counsel. Los
Angeles-based KB isn't the only builder finding that it overestimated
demand for new homes in some markets. Thompson said he is in talks with
several other major builders that want to shed land. This could mean less
expensive homes and property for consumers and developers who have been
used to dealing with high prices in recent years. "It's
a very poor market in Cara
Kane, a spokesperson for KB in Kane
said a housing slowdown in some markets, including the Bay area, has
pushed KB into re-evaluating its building plans. That means shedding
excess land in some areas of the region, she said. The
company still plans to grow, however, and may purchase land in other local
markets, she said. "This
is not a sign of KB Home exiting the market," Kane said. KB
is developing or has built 20 subdivisions in the During
the most recent real estate boom, builders stockpiled land because of
rising prices and a short supply, said Joseph Narkiewicz, president of the
Tampa Bay Builder's Association. Now that market conditions have changed,
some of the planned subdivisions no longer are profitable, he said. "Builders
are evaluating their holdings; some are trading sites, selling some and
buying others," Narkiewicz said. "Some may want to shake loose
lots, because you can only hold on to so many lots and build so many
houses." The
The
purchase price for the land was not disclosed, but Thompson said his
company generally is offering about $14,000 to $17,000 per home lot. By
comparison, the same types of lots typically went for $50,000 to $60,000
last year, Thompson said. As
a result of the deal on the land, he said, consumers will benefit through
less-expensive homes. Thompson
said his group can afford to offer lower prices because it can take its
time building. "If it normally would take two years to develop an
area, we can afford to double that," he said. Adams
Homes was formed in 1991, is based in Gulf Breeze and builds homes in the
Southeast. The company only recently moved into the Bay area and is
building its first five homes in Riverview, said Brian Adams, regional
manager of southwest The
Cypress Co. is an acquisition and development company and has a private
equity arm for real estate and corporate investments. The company is
active in eight states. Some of its projects include the "This
Is Good For Consumers' The
KB contract doesn't surprise some analysts, such as Gieber of A.G. Edwards
and Paul Puryear of Raymond James & Associates in Sales
of new homes nationally fell sharply in February to the lowest level in
almost seven years. The supply of unsold homes climbed to the highest in
16 years, the Commerce Department said last month. KB
said recently that it suffered a loss in its fiscal fourth quarter. KB
Home posted a loss of $49.6 million, or 64 cents per share, after a profit
of $304.4 million, or $3.44 per share, during the fourth quarter of 2005. "All
the home builders are trying to sell off excess land, without
exception," Puryear said. "This is good for consumers who are
trying to buy." Information
from Bloomberg News and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7804 or Dunnellon
halts new growth DUNNELLON
- The Dunnellon City Council approved a moratorium on growth Monday that
will put an end to large-scale development there for the next year. The
Sad Saga Of Piney Point Pollution The
polluting discharges at Piney Point phosphate plant have finally stopped.
But the public has little to celebrate in this saga of industry abuse,
state neglect and federal indifference. The
debacle has cost state taxpayers more than $100 million in cleanup costs
and fouled And
though scientists are uncertain, many residents believe the discharges of
nutrient-rich water fueled the recent outbreaks of red tide that have
devastated beach communities. The
accident never should have happened. But a lax state permitting system
allowed a company with a history of violations to take over the plant in Because
acidic water in the plant's holding ponds was in danger of overflowing
into Tampa Bay, which would have caused a catastrophic fish kill, DEP
began treating the water to reduce its acidity and releasing the
nutrient-rich water into Tampa Bay. It
tried other solutions, but none proved sufficient. The federal government
nixed the most sensible: loading the tainted water onto barges and
dispersing it over large stretches of the So
instead, the state had to continue discharging the wastewater directly
into a shallow estuary. Algae blooms followed. So did red tide. And
after four years, and dumping 1.1 billion gallons into the bay, DEP
finally has halted the discharges. How
long the bay will continue to suffer is anyone's guess. But Piney Point
should reminds us all of the dangers - to taxpayers as well as public
resources - of indulging polluters. Desalination
Operation Producing Water Again By
NEIL JOHNSON The Published:
Apr 10, 2007 On
Monday, the plant at The
amount of water coming from the plant is expected to increase until it
reaches the plant's capacity of 25 million gallons a day. The
$110 million plant was shut down in early June 2005 for repairs and has
been idle ever since. Once
the plant is running at its capacity with no problems, the company fixing
the plant will begin a 30-day test run to determine whether the repairs
were successful. That
test may begin this month or in early May. Once that is finished, the
plant is expected to supplement the area's drinking water supply with up
to 25 million gallons a day, easing the strain on other sources of fresh
water. The
desalinated water will be mixed with water from rivers and wellfields and
go to customers in Hillsborough, Pinellas and The
plant opened in 2003 but never ran properly. Ultrafine membranes that
filter salt from the sea water clogged too quickly, driving up costs and
requiring frequent cleaning. A
lawsuit over the $48 million in repairs is pending. Suit
may entangle new golf course Tuesday,
April 10, 2007 "The
Water Management District in April 2006 said they were drawing a line in
the sand and not giving anymore water from the Everglades," said The
But
just as the course is nearing completion, the final step of putting sprigs
of grass into the dirt is in jeopardy. First
came the water hazard as drought conditions forced a planting delay. The
county had hoped to salvage the season by inserting the sprigs along just
18 holes once the rain starts. The other nine could be finished later. But
now the legal threat may pose an even bigger handicap. "The
later we start sprigging in the summer means less growing time as we move
into fall - and cooler temperatures and less sunlight," said John
Chesher, director of county capital improvements. If
the legal dispute isn't resolved quickly, the taxpayer-financed project
could grow even more costly. Its total tab, including interest, already
rivals that of Donald Trump's lavish Trump International Golf Club. If
the course can't be planted this spring, the county might have to end its
$7.6 million contract with Malphrus Construction, which was to finish the
course this year, said County Administrator Bob Weisman. He couldn't
estimate how much the challenge might add to the project's expense. "If
we have to terminate the contract, it's not going to get any
cheaper," Weisman said. LaHart
filed the challenge on behalf of Clewiston outdoorsman Peter Bryan Garcia.
The course sits next to a natural area where he often kayaks, she said.
Other state environmental groups were reviewing the issue and may join the
suit, she said. A
state administrative judge will hear the case. The
challenge asserts that the county failed to meet the basic requirements
for taking water from the Biscayne Aquifer, the region's shallow source of
fresh drinking water, and the water supply for the The
county didn't make a concerted effort to use other water sources, such as
reclaimed water or the deeper Floridan Aquifer, the challenge asserts.
Plus, the county failed to show that its wells wouldn't damage nearby
wetlands, or that its plans to mitigate that damage would be sufficient. "We're
asking for the district to either place more stringent conditions on the
permit and comply with the obligation to force the county to seek
alternative water supplies rather than allowing them the cheap, easy
alternative," LaHart said. The
permit gives the county permission to take nearly 1 million gallons of
fresh water a day from the Biscayne Aquifer, with a maximum limit of 209
million gallons a year. Water
regulators approved the permit on March 15, the same day it imposed strict
water use restrictions on the public to cope with the worsening drought. The
course puts a manicured finish on a 500-acre tract of land that was home
to a county shell rock mine. It originally was supposed to evolve into a
campground for recreational vehicles. But as gated communities grew ever
closer to the site, the West Boca Community Council lobbied County
Commissioner Burt Aaronson for something that would serve the local
neighborhoods rather than outsiders. The vote to make the site a golf
course passed with unanimous commission approval - and no discussion of
the cost or the environmental impact - in 1998. "I
really don't understand why another golf course is necessary in Opposition
To Istokpoga Diversion Mounts By
Douglas Carman of Published:
April 10, 2007 LORIDA
— As of Monday, a spokesperson from the South Florida Water Management
District said the plans to take water from "It's
a planning issue, not necessarily an implementation issue," said
Missie Barletto, a spokeswoman for SFWMD. As
water supplies to the south run dry, SFWMD is still waiting for the
approvals. Most businesses and residents near the lake, however, are
already up in arms. "I
don't want to see them drop the water.... I think the property taxpayers
should have something to say." said John Wood, owner of the Lorida
Bait and Tackle shop. "We're
very unhappy about it," said Sebring Estates resident Donna Tucker,
whose husband John regularly fishes on the 27,692-acre lake. Her
neighborhood has as almost as many boat trailers as cars sitting in the
driveways. With
the uncertainty over whether or not the Army Corps would accept SFWMD's
request, Highlands County Tourism Director Jim Brantley measured his
reaction. "Let's
not try to over-react until we know this will happen. Most of us are just
talking in hypothetical terms," he said when asked about the
potential impact the lake's lowering would have on a July tournament. The
tourist council helped sponsor and organize five bass fishing tournaments
on the lake for this year, with July's being the first of the multi-day
contests. Barletto
said that SFWMD has received two phone calls and three e-mails concerning
the pending action on Istokpoga. Draining
An Economy Brantley
estimated that the two-day tournament in July would attract 100 anglers
and generate $50,000 in revenue for local businesses. If
the lake was brought down to 36.5 feet, 18 inches below its level on
Monday, Brantley said this could potentially force the county to cancel
the tournament if it were to stay at that level by that time. Again,
however, he hoped for the best. "There
are some unknown factors that have more to do with the weather than
anything else. If we get some hard rains, it could come back up and not
affect the tournament at all," he said." Wood
at the bait shop saw it with a bit more urgency. "It'll
keep people from fishing," he said. "It slows down enough when
the tourists leave and go Istokpoga
And The Okeechobee Situation Barletto
said the current levels of Since
the 2001 drought, farms on the southern half of the basin, which includes
the land in Highlands and Glades counties between Istokpoga and
Okeechobee, tapped the canals leading to Okeechobee's
historical average surface elevation is 14.23 feet. This time last year,
it was at 14.30 feet. If the level drops below 10, the pumps supplying the
southern half of the basin might fail, and the water may need to come from
other sources. Currently,
Okeechobee's surface level is at 10.09 feet above sea level. This,
Barletto said, is why SFWMD wants to divert up to 18 inches of Istokpoga's
water, which would bring it from its current elevation of 38.08 feet down
to 36.5 feet. That is a foot below the minimum level normally allowed for
the lake. But
when will they draw the water? Barletto said that depends on the Army
Corp's response. And
when will they make their decision? "I
asked that question and the answer was a resounding 'huh?'" Barletto
said. Luis
Alejandro, a hydraulic engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers in It
Might Go Down Even Further The
reason why, Alejandro said Monday afternoon, was in part because they are
now waiting for an amended request order from SFWMD, which would include a
different amount of water to be drained. As they wait, they cannot give a
time frame for when the diversion would begin, assuming they approve it. "We
need to know the details for what the action is," Alejandro said.
" Barletto
confirmed that SFWMD might draw more than the 18 inches in the original
request. "We're still calculating what the eventual lake level might
be," she added. For
an diversion request, Alejandro said that an environmental assessment
could take anywhere from a week or two up to six months. Push
to drop manatees from endangered listing stirs debate Sun
staff writer The
Will
preserve be hurt by new homes near Melissa
Patterson Dream
downtown now includes 25-story office towers Tuesday,
April 10, 2007 The
plan now will go to state planners in Also
by September, the specific zoning rules, which are basically the inner
gears that make the watch-face function, are expected to be approved after
being written over the next few months. The
main goals of the new master plan include attracting new office towers, as
tall as 25 stories, linking CityPlace and While
building heights would be increased, developers would be allowed to build
only the amount of square footage they're allowed to build now. The
vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell opposed, saying there
were too many unanswered questions about the plan's potential
consequences. Commissioner
Ike Robinson wondered how the plan would preserve the Northwest
Neighborhood when the area already has been gutted of so many of historic
structures. Comments
from developer representatives and a few residents Monday made clear that
the plan and the zoning rules are far from settled. The
remarks showed that developers will continue to press for greater
development rights. One attorney pushed for his client's property to be
included in an area that would allow two extra stories of height by using
incentives, although city planners say that would be bad for the adjacent "It's
going to require more extensive conversation," Mayor Lois Frankel
said. Josh
Long, a planner who represents developers in the city, suggested
developers be given greater incentives to preserve more open space;
otherwise, the city will get only "the minimum." City
urban designer Ana Maria Aponte said there are incentives for open space;
it's just a matter of using them more effectively. But
city planners were directed to consider Long's proposal. A
few residents asked for even more intense development rights. Susan
Stechnij, a resident of the "How
long will it take for development to happen there?" Stechnij asked. The
intention of planners is to preserve the neighborhood's character. Paul
Krasker, an attorney representing developers, said a new interest in
daring building types, with tower features and other elements, may mean
irregular building styles unfit for office buildings. "When
the pendulum swings the other way, it's going to be just as bad,"
Krasker said. "I hope we can meet somewhere in the middle." West
Palm commission ignores staff, OKs tall condos Tuesday,
April 10, 2007 Planners,
in recommending denial, said the "overwhelming mass and density"
of the project would be out of character with the surrounding buildings,
particularly the two-story condos next to it. But
commissioners approved the project, called The Presidential, granting
three exceptions to development rules. One of the exceptions was to allow
69 units per acre even though the limit is 32 units per acre. The
vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell opposed and Commissioner
Jeri Muoio absent. The
country club, on Presidential Way, wanted the project approved so it could
sell the land and use the money to improve a struggling golf course. Commissioner
Ike Robinson, who represents the district, said the club residents'
concerns were critical to him. He also noted that planners have said the
building could be 12 stories tall even without waivers of rules, which he
said would create similar problems as an 18-story building. "The
residents themselves have agreed that they can live with it,"
Robinson said. "We have to balance staff and residents, and this is
one time that I'm going to err on the side of the residents." Mitchell
said she understood the country club's problems but said commissioners
have to "do the hard job once in a while of saying no." "I
don't think this is good public policy for us to change the density in
order to accommodate that," she said. "It will have
ramifications further down the road." In
approving the project, the other three commissioners also turned down a
request from Planning Director Charles Wu to force the developer to do a
traffic study once the project is completed and commit to making road
improvements if necessary to accommodate excess traffic. "If
we have traffic problems getting in and out of that area," City
Administrator Ed Mitchell said, "it's on our dime." Shutters
may no longer be optional A
bill would require homeowners to buy storm protection in order to get any
type of building permit. By
TOM ZUCCO and JENNIFER LIBERTO A
bill passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Monday
proposes that starting Jan. 1 coastal homeowners who need a building
permit for any reason must also buy hurricane shutters. And
even if homeowners have no work planned, they may still have to shop for
shutters. The
bill also would require that those same coastal homes will not be eligible
for coverage under state-backed Citizens Property Insurance unless they
have shutters. The
bill's sponsor, Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, said matching grants of up
to $2,500 are available through the My Safe Florida Homes program,
"and $2,500 should more than cover cost of shutters." But
numbers provided by the Florida Alliance For Safe Homes FLASH, a nonprofit
that promotes disaster preparedness, showed that $2,500 is about the
average cost for only the cheapest protection - temporary panel shutters. Far
less expensive plywood is not an acceptable protection under the My Safe
Florida Homes program, said a program spokeswoman. The
bill has at least one more committee stop before it reaches the Senate
floor. It also lacks a companion bill in the House. Gov.
Charlie Crist said he had not heard about the shutters requirement until
Monday. "But it certainly sounds wise," he said. "It sounds
like a smart thing to do." The
Senate also unveiled in a separate bill Monday its own round of fixes to
the special session legislative package, which included a few of the same
fixes that have drawn criticism in the House. The
bill removes some consumer protections for those businesses that purchase
commercial property insurance. For example, the state's consumer advocate
would lose the ability to review and give a grade to commercial property
insurers. Also, the bill changes provisions that force companies to pay
claims within 90 days of receiving them to apply only to residential
policies, not commercial policies. When
Sen. Ted Deutch, But
what drew most attention Monday was the proposal to tie the purchase of
hurricane shutters to building permits and Citizens policies. During
the special session, the Legislature had already strengthened building
codes in the wind zones, requiring all new construction be built with
protective coverings on every window and door. This
bill would go even further, forcing more existing homes to meet the same
requirements. Citizens,
by far the largest property insurer in coastal areas, insures about
240,000 homeowners in the The
affected area includes nearly the entire The
region does not include Shutters
can cost anywhere from about $2,000 to more than $25,000, depending on the
number of windows and type of protection. And forcing homeowners to buy
them could present a financial burden for many. The
counter-argument, Posey said, is that That
led to massive rate increases and policy cancellations, a problem
lawmakers tried to address in January by allowing Citizens to compete with
the private market, and insurance companies greater access to the
state-backed reinsurance fund. But
both measures also placed the state at far greater risk for losses should
several major storms hit the state this year, and instead of premiums
being lowered an average of 24 percent, the average savings are about 11
percent. "We
have the perfect storm set up for the economic future of this state,"
Posey said during the meeting. "If the people of this state make a
commitment to harden their property to the best of their abilities,
hurricanes will not be a major threat and the hurricane crisis will be
solved." "This
is an issue of insurability," added Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
"It's a piece of legislation that will do more to reduce rates than
anything we did in special session. "This
calls for personal responsibility." House
insurance expert Rep. Don Brown, R-De Funiak Springs, said he understood
the idea of requiring homes insured by the state-run insurer to meet
stronger building codes, because all insurance policyholders subsidize
Citizens customers to some extent. Requiring Citizens policyholders to
meet mitigation standards reduces the financial risk for all Floridians. However,
he didn't fully understand the idea of forcing other homeowners to buy and
put up storm shutters without first figuring out what other types of
vulnerabilities they have. Brown says that's why he's a major proponent
for home inspections to pinpoint the best way to strengthen homes. "If
the roof is going to come off anyway, just saying, 'They must put shutters
on,' is ... well, let's just say they need to rethink that," Brown
said. Times
staff writer Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler contributed to this report.
Tom Zucco can be reached at zucco@sptimes.com
or (727) 893-8247. What's
next County
staff says reject Springhills CINDY
SWIRKO Sun
staff writer The
massive Springhills development should not be approved as proposed because
of traffic it will create and the construction of too much retail space,
according to |