I sense we are on the verge of a historical opportunity here. We can
fulfill Central Florida's destiny of becoming the center of Florida.
But, I'm getting ahead of myself . . .
South Florida is in trouble.
If you think real estate is expensive here, check out South Florida.
People spend so much for housing, they have to sit home every night and
order pizza, hoping the delivery guy isn't casing the joint while
waiting for his money.
The cost of living is so bad cops want 15 percent more for looking the
other way.
Drug kingpins have replaced AK-47 automatics with single-shot 22s to
save on ammo.
O.J. has stopped looking for the real killer and is moving back to
Brentwood.
Zoning officials are demanding a 20 percent increase in graft, sometimes
30 percent if the project involves submerged land.
Banks no longer are taking applications from people listed by the
coroner's office as dead, even if they did vote in the last election.
The housing bubble may pop in Orlando, but down there it is going to
explode like a North Korean firecracker. Buying South Florida real
estate is like investing in an egg that's rolling off the counter.
People once feared getting murdered in Miami. Now they fear their
adjustable-rate mortgages.
Business can't find employees, even white-collar professionals, because
of the cost of living. This means companies have to pay more as they
face rising property taxes and skyrocketing hurricane-insurance
premiums. Many are bailing out.
Even Office Depot reportedly is considering moving its headquarters out
of Delray Beach.
So what should we do about this here in Central Florida?
Kick them while they're down.
We begin by going after Office Depot. We then draw up a list of other
companies paying average salaries of at least $50,000 a year and make
phone calls in the middle of the night.
We go after every medical research institute like it's a fumbled
football in an SEC game. We make Scripps come crawling back.
Orlando: Where a house is worth almost as much as you pay for it.
Orlando: Close enough to the beach. Far enough from the storm surge.
Orlando: One heck of an airport.
Orlando: Our mayor has only been indicted once.
Orlando: We have a real downtown, with swan boats and everything.
Imagine, if you will, stepping out of your $4 million penthouse condo,
eating a $400 meal, going to a Broadway show and then taking a relaxing
stroll, hand-in-hand with the one you love, to an empty but fully
renovated football stadium.
Orlando: City of goobers?
I think not. Imagine a medical research complex at Lake Nona featuring
the Burnham Institute, a new VA hospital, a state-of-the-art Nemours
children's hospital, a medical school and a University of Florida
research facility.
Orlando: Did I mention the $500 million commuter rail?
Orlando: More buzz than any city in America.
South Florida: Nowhere to go but down.
South Florida: Old news.
Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.
Vero Beach developer buys Venice RV park
James B. Cain, a Vero Beach real estate developer who has a growing appetite for RV parks, has bought the Myakka River RV Resort in Venice for $3.1 million.
The park, off Tamiami Trail on the banks of the Myakka River, has long catered to senior citizens looking for a laid-back lifestyle. Cain has no plans to change the orientation of the park, says Nancy Scanlon, the new manager. He just wants to upgrade it.
"He buys parks in need of a face-lift and TLC and makes them nice," Scanlon said.
Cain said he bought a park in Hillsborough County four years ago and he is trying to buy another one in Georgia. His goal is to buy parks throughout the southeastern United States.
"I just love this business," Cain said. "The people who come to these parks are nice folks."
To complete his deal in Venice, Cain received a $2.5 million loan from Intervest National Bank. The Myakka River RV Resort was formerly owned by the Venice Real Estate Holding Co., which bought it in 1998 for $1.4 million.
The 77-lot park boasts a newly remodeled clubhouse, a heated swimming pool and a private picnic island. It sits on 25 acres of land, but most of that is wetlands and only about seven acres are usable.
"Although we are not one of those hectic, fancy theme-oriented resorts, we do still have some fun," the park's Web site claims. "Depending on the time of year, we have Pancake Breakfasts, Bar-B-Q's, Potluck Dinners, Bingo, Crafts, Art Classes, Group Outings and Card Nights."
Company buys facility
CR Investments of Sarasota, a limited liability company based in Guayana, Puerto Rico, has bought an assisted-living center in Sarasota -- The Grand on Beneva -- for $3.8 million.
CR Investments received a $3.2 million loan from Firstbank Puerto Rico Miami Agency to complete the deal.
"They're an excellent company," said Dennis Wagner, whose Cocoanut Creek firm will manage the 44-bed center for CR Investments. "We did our first assisted-living project with them five years ago. We've done seven so far."
Wagner, the president and chief executive of Senior Living Management, says that the assisted-living industry became overbuilt by the late 1990s, but the cycle is coming around again.
"Demand is now somewhat caught up with supply," he said. "Some markets are dragging. But on the whole, we're having better times."
The Grand on Beneva, at 7130 Beneva Road, was formerly owned by Vincent and Marcus Delgato. They bought the land for $313,700 in 1993 and built the 31,697-square-foot structure three years later.
Buildings raise vacancy rate
The addition of the Plaza at Five Points to Sarasota's skyline helped push the overall office vacancy rate in the city to 3.4 percent in August from 2.9 percent at the beginning of the year, statistics compiled by the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County show.
The Plaza at Five Points was responsible for the slight increase because just over 11,000 square feet, or 12.6 percent, of the tower's 87,680 square feet of office space remain empty.
Meanwhile, six of downtown Sarasota's 26 other office buildings saw their vacant space decline by 14,278 square feet during the eight-month period.
But the gain was more than offset by six other buildings, which saw their pool of unfilled space increase by 15,831 square feet. Downtown Sarasota has a total of 2.5 million square feet, and 84,568 square feet is vacant.
Osprey car wash sold
A New Jersey couple paid $1.6 million for the Osprey Car Wash, 738 South Tamiami Trail. To complete the deal, Joseph and Kathleen Manfredo borrowed $1.28 million from Grand Bank NA and another $1 million from the former owner of the business -- Universal Storage Corp.
"I'm going to try to buy a car wash in Florida every year for the next 10 years," said Joe Manfredo. "I like full service car washes because they don't take a lot employees to operate."
Manfredo runs a commercial cleaning business in Lawrenceville, N.J., which caters to schools and owners of office buildings. It employees nearly 1,500 people.
Given Florida's low unemployment rate, Manfredo said he did not want to get into anything as labor-intensive down here.
The 53-year-old businessman, who owns a house on Longboat Key, has tapped one of his nephews to run the car wash in Osprey and is going to leave his children to run his business in New Jersey. His plan is to travel back and forth every 10 days to make sure both operations are running smoothly.
Universal bought the two-acre parcel on which the car wash sits in 1988 for $189,000 and spent about $164,000 to build the car wash in 1997.
Property Tax Relief Ideas Carry A Price
Published: Oct 8, 2006
TAMPA - A boom in property values has shown Floridians the dark side of good fortune - rising property taxes. Now Florida is experiencing the beginnings of a tax revolt.
State legislators, county commissioners and city council members are hearing the howls of property owners socked by double- and triple-digit tax bill inflation.
In response, Democrat Jim Davis and Republican Charlie Crist, candidates for governor, have made proposals for property tax relief.
Both proposals, if enacted, would provide at least some relief, but neither seems likely to win complete acceptance from the Legislature.
Crist's proposal targets homeowners.
First, he would allow counties the option to double the homestead exemption that applies to an owner-occupied residence. The state currently exempts the first $25,000 of a property's value from taxation.
Crist also would allow homeowners to transfer the tax discount they get under the Save Our Homes amendment when they move.
The amendment applies only to property with a homestead exemption and limits increases in the taxable value of property to 3 percent per year, regardless of how much the market value goes up.
Currently, when a home is sold, the taxable value reverts to the market level, and the taxes on it go up. Crist would allow homeowners to transfer the limit on valuation from one home to another.
Crist doesn't say exactly how or whether the resulting cut in revenue to local governments, $2 billion or more, would be made up.
Davis aims for a broader-based but likely more controversial solution.
He would cut by $1 billion the level of taxes the state requires counties to impose to pay for public schools, called the "required local effort." The state would make up the difference.
Davis doesn't specify how, but he refers to repealing tax breaks passed by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Legislature that Davis says benefit relatively few people - sales tax cuts tailored for specific industries, and the intangibles tax on large investment and savings portfolios.
Striking A Balance
Both plans have advantages and drawbacks, say legislators, local government officials and tax analysts. The main disadvantages, according to those experts:
•Crist's plan applies only to homeowners, which could increase the inequity between them and owners of nonhomestead property - rental, commercial or vacation properties. That inequity already is helping fuel the tax revolt.
•Davis' plan depends on the Republican-dominated Legislature reversing tax breaks it enacted - in effect, raising taxes - a slender chance at best.
The main advantage of Crist's plan, said Harvey Bennett, spokesman for the nonpartisan Florida TaxWatch, is that doubling the homestead exemption as Crist proposes is overdue.
If the exemption had been adjusted for inflation during the 25 years since it was last increased, Bennett said, it would be worth $50,596, almost exactly what Crist proposes.
But "to do homestead and nothing else is not the answer," he said, because of the inequity in taxation between homestead and nonhomestead property caused by Save Our Homes.
Under Save Our Homes, the owner of a long-occupied home often pays only a fraction of the taxes paid by the owner of a similar recently sold home on the same street, or by owners of commercial or rental property with the same market value.
Crist says homeowners are trapped because buying a new home would eliminate the Save Our Homes discount they've built up, drastically increasing their tax bills. Critics say making the discount transferable would increase the inequity.
Property owners complaining at local government budget hearings "are the ones who've just bought new houses, commercial property owners, and owners of rental properties - not long-term homeowners," Florida Association of Counties spokeswoman Kristin Vallese said.
"One man's tax relief is another man's burden," she said. "It's like squeezing a balloon - you push in one place, it will pop out somewhere else."
Proposals to increase the exemption and make it transferable failed during the last session.
Instead, Bush ordered a commission to study changing the property tax system, citing the inequity problem - "a differential tax burden has developed" because of Save Our Homes, he said in establishing the commission.
State Rep. Trey Traviesa, R-Tampa, said there will be substantial House support for a portability bill.
"It will liberate a lot of wealth that middle-income families in Florida have," freeing them to buy new homes, he said.
Traviesa acknowledged that the effect on owners of nonhomestead properties "is going to be the debate," but he said the Legislature probably would seek middle ground - "some balance between what Charlie Crist proposes and extending Save Our Homes to everybody."
Disproportion And Timing
Davis' plan, meanwhile, faces a doubtful future.
"His whole tax scheme is based on the Florida Legislature raising taxes. That's absolutely unfeasible," said state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.
TaxWatch sees some merit in the Davis plan: By lowering state-required local school taxes, "all property owners would have benefited proportionally," Bennett said.
But state Rep. Fred Brummer, R-Apopka, former House finance and tax committee chairman who is retiring because of term limits, said Davis' plan also poses an equity problem. Save Our Homes provides disproportionate savings to people with the most expensive houses, he said, and an across-the-board cut would give the most relief to those who need it least.
Brummer noted that 85 of the 120 state House members are Republicans. Davis "may as well leave [his plan] by the back door where the waste receptacles are," Brummer said. "Where's he going to get support for it?"
Timing is another difference.
Allowing the local option to double the homestead exemption would require a constitutional amendment, which wouldn't go on the ballot until 2008. If it passed, individual counties would then have to act, so the relief could be some time away.
Making Save Our Homes exemptions portable, on the other hand, could be done quickly by the Legislature. The Legislature also could enact a plan like Davis' at any time.
Bennett said a 60-day legislative session isn't the time to hash out the complex issue.
Rather, he said, lawmakers should turn to the commission, which includes 25 citizens appointed by the governor, the House speaker and the Senate president, to study all Florida tax and budget laws and make recommendations on them.
But lawmakers feel an urgent need for action because they were slow to pick up on the property tax crisis hitting Florida homeowners, Brummer admitted.
He blamed himself.
"The crisis a year ago wasn't quite as evident as it is today or as it was in the spring," Brummer said. "But I should have seen it coming."
Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com. Reporter Michael Fechter can be reached at (813) 259-7621 or mfechter@tampatrib.com.
THE PLANS
Charlie Crist
•Give counties the option to double the homestead exemption to $50,000. This would take effect no earlier than 2010.
•Allow homeowners to transfer Save Our Homes tax exemptions when they move.
Jim Davis
•Cut the "required local effort" property taxes that the state requires counties to impose for education funding. Legislature may have to rescind other tax breaks to make up the difference.
Savings To Taxpayers/
Cost To Government
Crist plan: At least $2 billion
Davis plan: $1 billion
Who Would Benefit
Crist plan: Homeowners
Davis plan: All property taxpayers
Hundreds Protest Insurance Industry, 'Crazy' Rate Hikes
Published: Oct 8, 2006
NEW PORT RICHEY - Residents from at least three counties met in front of the West Pasco Government Center Saturday to let off steam about rising homeowners insurance.
Bernadette Guida, a 10-year New Port Richey resident, was among several who raised their hands during an informal poll of people who have seen a 300 percent increase or more in their annual bill.
Guida's State Farm insurance bill for her 1,100-square-foot home on the east side of U.S. 19 has increased from $500 annually to $3,100 in the past three years, she said.
"It's crazy, and something has to be done," said Guida, who works overtime whenever she can to pay for insurance. "I just want to be part of the crowd, letting lawmakers know we're tired of the insurance companies gouging us."
The nonprofit group Homeowners Against Citizens organized the rally, its first since forming this year after a similar protest in Tallahassee. Roughly 200 people showed up; most were from Pasco County, but others came from Hernando and Pinellas counties.
Some voiced their outrage on handmade signs, and a few wore shirts bearing their woes: "I just paid my homeowners insurance, and all I have left is this lousy T-shirt," read one shirt, which identified its wearer as a "Desperate Homeowner."
Although the group's primary beef is with Citizens Property Insurance, the state's insurer of last resort, its members and those at Saturday's rally are directing their ire at the state insurance industry as a whole.
"This is a wake-up call," said Nicole Deg, a New Port Richey resident who helped form the group, which claims a membership of about 800. "We want to show unity; we're all different, young and old. But we're all here to tell our government we're not going to take this anymore."
Plenty of political candidates and supporters were on hand at Saturday's rally to shake hands and solicit votes. Deg and other organizers, though, said they had wanted to keep the rally neutral and invited local, state and national leaders of both parties to participate.
Commissioners from Hernando and Pasco counties showed up, along with one state lawmaker.
Explaining what she and her colleagues have done to help frustrated homeowners, Pasco Commissioner Pat Mulieri said the county recently hired Jacksonville lawyer Tim Volpe to help press Citizens for lower rates. Volpe was successful in getting residents of Monroe County some relief from the insurance company.
Even some politicians vented about their insurance problems. Ann Hildebrand, another Pasco commissioner, said her homeowners insurance had been canceled twice - once by Citizens.
State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said the citizens group has the attention of lawmakers in Tallahassee. He apologized on behalf of the Legislature and said a special session needs to be called to deal with the insurance issue.
"We haven't solved it, and we're all to blame," Fasano said.
Reporter Lorie Jewell can be reached at (727) 815-1084 or ljewell@tampatrib.com
Insurance relief is the outcry at Pasco rally
By MOLLY MOORHEAD, Times Staff WriterAbout 200 people hear the call for reform from others who are frustrated over skyrocketing rates.
Published October 8, 2006
NEW PORT RICHEY - Jerry and Lisa Murphy moved from New York 10 years ago because Florida, they thought, was a place they could afford to live.
Their ballooning homeowners insurance bill has them wondering if that's true anymore.
The Murphys brought three of their four children to a rally over insurance rates Saturday at the West Pasco Government Center, joining about 200 people - many of them political candidates and their supporters - to cry out for reform.
"People with families and the elderly people in this state - they're killing us," Jerry Murphy, a 45-year-old mechanic, said of the insurance companies.
Murphy said his annual premium with a private company started at $400 on his three-bedroom house off Madison Street. After several nonrenewal notices from different insurers over the years, he ended up with Citizens Insurance Corp. and a notice that his bill for next year will be $4,400.
"It just doesn't stop," Murphy said.
Citizens, the state-run insurer of last resort, was a lightning rod for criticism Saturday, with speakers spearing it with labels such as boondoggle, disaster and money-sucking nightmare.
Ginny Stevans, president of the group Homeowners Against Citizens that organized the rally, said increases in Citizens rates prompt increases by private companies.
"It's become a ladder effect, and nobody can catch up," Stevans told the crowd.
State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said he will push for legislation that requires companies that provide automobile and life insurance in Florida to also write homeowner policies.
Fasano, who is not up for re-election this year, also offered an apology.
"We haven't solved it," Fasano said. "We are all to blame."
At least a dozen campaigns were represented at the event, from Pasco County Commission to Florida governor. Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Max Linn told the crowd the system is broken and change in leadership is the answer.
That message rang true to Phil and Phyllis Tropea, retirees from Palm Harbor.
They saw their insurance bill jump from $1,440 to $2,400 - and they feel lucky.
"It's not as bad as some other people," said Phil Tropea, who sells real estate to make ends meet.
His answer: new leadership.
"The officials, whether they're local or state officials, all seem to think they're the employer," Tropea said. "We need to knock out all the incumbents."
The crowd thinned after about an hour. The rally ended with the singing of the national anthem.
Stevans said she was pleased with the turnout.
"We need more people, though," she said. "We need every Floridian. They're only going to listen to masses."
Constitutional amendment controversial
If approved, future amendments will need 60 percent of the vote.
OCALA - Amendment No. 3 is likely the most controversial change to the Florida Constitution that voters will consider Nov. 7.Urban arch preservation Stuart, Fla.
Placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature, the lawmakers seek to get a majority of the state's voters to amend the constitution to require that future amendments need at least 60 percent of the vote to pass.
Proponents, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, have formed a political action committee, Protect Our Constitution, to champion the proposal. Christine Fuhrman, director of initiatives for the committee, points to controversial amendments, like approving the "bullet train," which voters later repealed; and outlawing the confinement of pregnant pigs. Those are the kinds of things that should not have been added to the state Constitution.
"The process has basically been hijacked by special interest groups, big money with deep pockets, out-of-state groups," Fuhrman said. "We think it [the constitution] has a for sale sign on it."
But opponents of Amendment No. 3 note the similarities between Protect Our Constitution, which has more than $2 million in funding, and the deep pocket, special interest groups the political action committee says it is fighting.
Powerful business interests have made the vast majority of contributions to the chamber committee. That includes $300,000 from the National Association of Home Builders, $100,000 each from Publix Supermarkets, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Florida Association of Realtors, and $75,000 from United States Sugar Corp. The Foundation for Preserving Florida's Future, a registered nonprofit that opposes the Hometown Democracy initiative that would allow citizens to vote on major development applications instead of elected officials, has pumped $250,000 into the political action committee. Major banks and for-profit power companies also have contributed.
"I think people need to understand where this amendment came from and who put this on the ballot," said Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause Florida. "It is the Legislature and deep pocket special interest groups which are trying to restrict the amendment process. I guess they don't trust the voters. They say they're trying to protect the Constitution, but really they're trying to protect their chokehold on the Legislature."
Dianne Wheatley-Giliotti, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, noted it is already an arduous process to get a voter-initiated amendment on the ballot. This year, it required at least 611,000 signatures from registered voters in at least 15 of the states' 25 congressional districts and Florida Supreme Court review.
"It's just taking power away from the people," Wheatley-Giliotti said of Amendment No. 3. "It suggests that the voters do not know what they're doing when they pass amendments, and I think the voters do know what they're doing." Also, the League of Women Voters election guide notes that, since 1976, the Legislature has put 53 proposed amendments on the ballot, while voter petition drives have only led to 27. This year, the only citizen led initiative on the ballot is Amendment No. 4, which would require the state to put more tobacco lawsuit settlement money toward youth education programs on the effects of smoking.
Common Cause Florida and the League of Women Voters both say the amendment process is vital to voters, because unlike some states, Florida has no "statutory initiative process." That process allows voters to petition to introduce proposed legislation if no legislator is willing to sponsor it.
"We support having an initiative process for people, allowing them to advance ideas in Florida if for one reason or another the Legislature does not act on things people feel is important," Wilcox said.
If it passes, Amendment No. 3 will not change the current law requiring two-thirds of voters to approve any amendment that creates a new tax or fee.
Christopher Curry may be reached at chris.curry@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4115.
NO. 3 : CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE XI, SECTION 5
(Legislative)
Ballot Title:
REQUIRING BROADER PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS
Ballot Summary:Proposes an amendment to Section 5 of Article XI of the State Constitution to require that any proposed amendment to or revision of the State Constitution, whether proposed by the Legislature, by initiative, or by any other method, must be approved by at least 60 percent of the voters of the state voting on the measure, rather than by a simple majority. This proposed amendment would not change the current requirement that a proposed constitutional amendment imposing a new state tax or fee be approved by at least two-thirds of the voters of the state voting in the election in which such an amendment is considered.
Source: http://elections.co.lake.fl.us/
As land-boom boasts went, the 1925 headline was only mildly preposterous: "Stuart Bigger Than Miami in 10 Years," it sang.
A cross-state shipping canal was in the works, and Stuart, about 100 miles north of the city it hoped to surpass, sat at the eastern terminus. It envisioned becoming a thriving commercial hub and built the Stuart Welcome Arch, a proud gateway on the old road into town, to embody that dream. "Atlantic Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico," its bronze lettering proclaimed.
But Stuart never quite lived up to its promise, and the stucco arch - actually domed towers connected by a crossbeam - suffered one indignity after another. Someone stole its lettering in the 1940s, and soon after, a hurricane toppled its wooden crossbeam.
The arch was repaired, but mangled again when a car smacked its east tower in 1976.
When a garbage truck sent its replacement beam flying in 1998, it seemed all but finished.
But the Stuart Welcome Arch is soon to be reborn, even though Stuart, population 15,000, remains off the beaten path, a magnet mostly for refugees from Miami seeking open space. The county is spending $235,000 to restore the arch, a rare case of preserving something old and understated in a state that favors novelty and flash.
"The love for this arch has existed since the day it was built," said Julie Preast, a resident expert on the arch who has searched through piles of old documents and clippings about it. "They could have knocked it down in '49 or '76, but they didn't. Once you have a landmark, people want to keep it."Blown away by the cost
From Maine to Texas, coastal homeowners are being hit as never before. This time the damage is being done not by devastating hurricanes but by huge insurance bills.
Premiums running two, three or even 12 times higher than last year are raising cries of price gouging from consumer advocates, although the insurance industry insists that it's only protecting itself against future risk. Given the $57 billion tab the industry paid after the wrath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, that view should have some credence. Then again, property and casualty insurers reported total profits of $43.2 billion last year.
Once again, we are struck by the seemingly contradictory situation of heavy losses in one part of the country and heavy profits overall. But, since insurance is all about the business of risk, the industry contends there is no other way to set premiums.
In any event, unexpected increases in premiums are causing some property owners to seriously question the wisdom - not to mention affordability - of living on the seacoast. That's as it should be.
Coastal dwelling is a highly prized lifestyle, but its volatile costs in the event of natural disaster should not be subsidized by inland property owners or by government-run insurance programs fed by tax dollars. Too often states or the federal government have succumbed to the entreaties of real estate developers to help insure property in flood plains near rivers or in hurricane zones along the coast.
This does not mean that insurance companies should be free to gouge customers. The industry must be closely monitored to ensure that it is not taking undue advantage of homeowners.
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteNavy will hear public concerns about sonar
By GREGORY PIATT
The Times-Union The Navy will have a public meeting in Jacksonville on Nov. 7 to discuss issues concerning an environmental study it is preparing on how it conducts sonar training off the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.The Jacksonville meeting is one of seven in states where the Navy normally operates off the coast conducting mine warfare, antisubmarine warfare and active sonar training exercises.
The meeting will be at the Ramada Inn Mandarin, 3130 Hartley Road, between 5 and 8 p.m.
The environmental study will look at how and where the Navy trains in those areas and if it is environmentally safe to do so, especially at certain times of the year, said Jim Brantley, a Navy spokesman from the Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.
The study is part of a Navy-wide review of its sonar and potential consequences to the marine environment, he said.
Brantley said the study is separate from the one that was conducted previously on the three proposed East Coast sites where the Navy wants to construct an underwater active sonar range. The Navy is expected to choose between the waters off Jacksonville, North Carolina or Virginia for the range.
Written comments are accepted and can be sent to: Atlantic Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Attn: Code EV21 (Atlantic Fleet Sonar PM), 6506 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23508-1278, or fax (757) 322-4894.
greg.piatt@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4169
Local woman wants Florida to be wild about wildflowers
City sued over handling of land bidding
You know the saying: As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
It applies to wildflowers as well.
At least, that's part of the reason Joanna Booth wound up in the vanguard of the new Florida wildflower industry. She had the example of her father, the late Chuck Salter.
"I definitely draw a parallel with what Dad was doing with the native-plant industry in the 1970s and wildflowers," Booth said. "Upsy Daisy was at the beginning of our being aware of the native plants around us."
Longtime Tallahasseeans will remember Chuck Salter as one of the members of the whimsically named Upsy Daisy Plant Uplift Society. The other two members were from this newspaper: the late editor Editor Malcolm Johnson and a now-retired city editor, Paul Wills.
The three men were enthusiastic botanists who spent weekends tramping around the North Florida woods. In the early 1970s, the trio organized a series of community "digs" to rescue native plants about to be bulldozed away by construction of Interstate 10.
There were a total of 15 digs, which attracted an estimated 40,000 participants - including famed journalist Charles Kuralt, who filmed one of his "On the Road" segments at a dig. More than 100,000 trees and shrubs were hauled away - and thousands of native dogwood, sweetgum and crabapple trees, plus native azalea, rhododendron and chokeberry bushes still thrive in Tallahassee yards three decades later.
"You name it, (the diggers) saved it," said Gary Henry, executive director of the Florida Wildflower Foundation. "The plants are all over town now - and no one would know they were dug up in the woods."
Salter, who died in 2002, followed up on that success. A retired military officer and forester, he turned his pine-tree farm near Madison into a native-tree-and-shrub nursery. Salter pioneered the commercial sales of native plants and became a mentor to businesses that followed, including Tallahassee's popular Native Nurseries. After his death, his oldest child, Booth, took over his Salter Tree and Herb Farm. And recently, she has branched out into a new native-plant industry: wildflowers.
Wildflowers are, well, wildly popular in Florida. The Department of Transportation plants them on highway medians. The Department of Environmental Protection and water-management districts plant them along retention ponds and water banks. Civic and gardening groups landscape public areas with them. Wildflowers protect the soil while providing visual beauty.
But for years, most planted wildflowers in Florida have been imported: They were purchased from other states, such as Texas and California, because Florida had a paucity of commercial wildflower growers.
Importing raised issues. Non-native wildflowers don't prosper as well as native plants and run the risk of becoming invasive predators (see also: kudzu, Chinese tallow trees, Japanese climbing ferns). Importing plants costs more, and some questioned the appropriateness of beautifying with non-native plants when Florida is rife with natural wildflowers.
So Florida officials set out to correct the situation. In 2000, the Florida Legislature approved a Florida Wildflower automobile license plate, the proceeds of which are used for grants to state growers to raise wildflowers commercially. Last year, wildflower tags ranked 22nd in sales among the 104 styles of Florida license plates and raised $600,000, almost all of it spent on grants.
One of the chief aims of the state initiative is to raise wildflowers for seed. Henry said container wildflowers run about $3 apiece, while "10 pounds of seed can cover a mile eight feet wide."
Booth is one of the state-encouraged growers. In 2005, she received a $15,000 grant from the Florida Wildlife Foundation to grow the pastel-colored Phlox pilosa. This year, she received a $25,000 grant to grow the increasingly rare Phlox nivalis. She also received a $5,000 grant to plant Phlox pilosa in three public areas in Madison.
Booth is already marketing four or five types of wildflower seeds at several Big Bend locations (see www.saltertreeandherbfarm.com), and ultimately hopes to market a dozen types of wildflower seeds.
"Right now we're in a situation of trying to attract more growers, which is a twist," she said. "Normally, people try to create a demand for their product, but now a product is being created to meet a demand that already exists."
Raising wildflowers has rejuvenated Booth, 57, who lost her taste for nursery operations during a seven-year stint in Kentucky raising traditional garden plants. A longtime Tallahassee massage therapist, she reluctantly agreed to take over her father's farm after his death but was determined to take it in new directions.
The wildflower program provided the spark. She revels in the subtle beauty of the wildflowers, the daily battles with wildlife who feast on them - and the opportunity to follow her father in spreading enthusiasm for Florida's native plants.
"This fledgling industry is beginning to take off because of the interest and support of the public for wildflowers," she said. "Wildflowers are beautiful; they just make people feel good."
A 112-acre tract of property in Wakulla County has landed the city of Tallahassee in court.
Lynn Artz is suing the city, claiming that it unfairly cut her out of the bidding process to buy the property off Lawhon Mill Road, which borders her home near Medart. Artz wanted to keep the land undeveloped.
On Aug. 23, the Tallahassee City Commission approved selling the land to Wakulla County surveyor J. Thurman Roddenberry for $268,000. The deal with Roddenberry, who also is a defendant in the lawsuit, closed Thursday, just hours before Artz' motion was filed.
Artz learned of the sale about two weeks ago when she called the city's real estate department to check on the status of the property. She was stunned to learn of the deal.
She said she first contacted the city about buying the parcel two years ago. She continued regular communication with the city's real estate department, making an initial, above-appraisal offer of $250,000 and asking to be notified when the property was put up for bid. In a February e-mail, the city's Steve Taff assured Artz he would send her a copy of the contract to bid on when it was ready. He never did.
Taff declined to comment.
Awaiting word from Taff, Artz said she didn't know to look for legal notices about the property. And she was not notified in writing as a nearby property owner of the city's intent to sell, as City Commission policy requires.
Last week, she offered $300,000 for the land, but city officials decided to go ahead with the Roddenberry contract.
"I didn't have a fair chance. I've been trying to obtain this property and was trusting that the city would treat me fairly in the process, but that didn't happen," Artz said. "I'm just trying to do what I can to right the wrong and to stop what's proceeded unfairly."
City Attorney Jim English said he doesn't know why Taff failed to keep his promise. He'll argue at a Nov. 8 hearing that the sale was properly noticed. But he said he's sorry for what happened to Artz.
"I am personally concerned communication wasn't kept up with Mrs. Artz like I would have liked it to have been," English said. "We'd still like to find a solution."
At an emergency hearing Friday before Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, Roddenberry, whose investor group now has title to the land, promised to do nothing with it until after the court date.
In 1988, the city bought about 3,000 acres in Wakulla County to swap with the National Forest Service for federally owned land Tallahassee wanted for airport expansion. About 1,000 acres were left over, and in 2001 the forest service said it was not interested in any more of the property, so the city began selling it off. The 112-acre piece is one of the last remaining parcels, city officials said.
Roddenberry said he bought the land with developer Walt Dixon and real estate agent Tim Jordan as an investment to either resell quickly or possibly trade for a National Forest Service-owned parcel. If neither of those options works, he plans to subdivide it for homes.
Roddenberry said he was sorry for the fuss and wondered what Artz is trying to accomplish with her lawsuit. He said he didn't know she wanted to bid on the land.
"I'm willing to sell her the land," he said. "I'd be willing to work with anybody ... hopefully we can get this settled without going to court."
Free speech could go down to the buzzer
Palm Beach Post Columnist
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Might there be a siren in the future for the Martin County Commission?
I can see it now: All five county commissioners are given push buttons on their armchairs to use during regular meetings any time a citizen appears before them and says something they don't agree with.
Citizen (standing before microphone): "I think it's ridiculous that my taxes are so high and here you are giving your employees a big raise and I'm going to name every one of you that I think is over- paid ..."
"WOOP-WOOP-WOOP ... EEE-OWWW, EEE-OWWW, EEE-OWWW ..." goes the siren as commissioners desperately press their armchair buttons to block the speaker's words.
Sure, it's far-fetched.
But this is the Martin County Commission we're talking about.
Let's review how we've gotten to this point:
Commissioners in recent months have banned residents from criticizing individual county employees, including themselves, after sometimes raucous citizens pour on the complaints during parts of the meetings devoted to public comment.
So the public can comment, but only in ways the commission approves.
Now, for contrast, comes this week's episode in the free-speech drama.
It's commissioners' meeting, not yours
Commissioner Doug Smith decided to use his public-speaking ability during the meeting to endorse a candidate running for the 16th Congressional District.
That prompted a resident who saw Smith on the county's TV channel to get in her car and drive to the commission so that, in the interests of equal time, she could counter with an endorsement of the opponent running for the same seat.
Commissioners reluctantly allowed her to speak, while moaning about the precedent this could set for endorsements-gone-wild during working meetings.
The county attorney said that commissioners have greater leeway to speak because it's their meeting. They can regulate speaking, he said, as long as it's not based on the content of what the resident is saying.
Hmmmm. This could get tricky.
I see lawsuits in the future.
Perhaps a buzzer to drown out unpermitted comment would be problematic - unless residents could sit in the audience and press their own buttons every time a commissioner says something deemed inappropriate.
Could you imagine how noisy things would get?
How about enforcing existing rules?
To cut down on the insanity, a First Amendment attorney also could be present, and each time a siren sounds incorrectly, he could press his own button to disable it, thus assuring that free-speech rights have not been unfairly trampled.
Then again, if the commissioners are going to be super-sensitive to criticism and don't want to interrupt speakers when they go over the line, there are some alternatives that don't involve buzzers.
Might they want to consider cutting the weekly public comment period from twice a meeting to once?
That would still allow them to get their work done without the public interfering too terribly much.
They could enforce the rules they already have, such as limiting speeches to three minutes and cutting off anyone who becomes obviously abusive, and they could require members of the public to put their requests in writing before speaking.
Or, if that doesn't suit them, they could just resort to the buzzers.
Think of it: Elected officials everywhere could follow Martin County's thin-skinned lead and the free-speech-blocking alarm would sound across the land:
"WOOP-WOOP-WOOP ... EEE-OWWW, EEE-OWWW, EEE-OWWW
It's our time: South Florida all washed up
By Mike ThomasPublished Orland Sentinel
October 8, 2006
Clean up expressway authority
A St. Pete Times Editorial
Published October 8, 2006By opening their own investigations, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Transportation can shed light on whether decisionmaking at the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority was merely shady or downright illegal. Last week's move by the two federal agencies comes on the heels of a state auditor general's inquiry into the agency's billings. But no one needs to wait for criminal findings to begin mopping up the mess. Troubleshooters brought in to clean up the agency need to be clear about what reforms are needed. The governor should consider putting a fresh board in place, and the community should rethink whether the agency has any purpose left.
A criminal inquiry is the logical next step after months of disclosures of questionable billings, improper contacts between authority officials and vendors, and the agency's almost innate mental block to open government and ethics laws. Rhea Law and Fred Karl, two Tampa lawyers recruited to help the authority repair its image, need to be direct about the agency's management problems and how it plans to correct them. When the authority's director decides to meet privately with a bidding vendor, something is rotten from the top with a public agency's ethical code. Law and Karl need to right the ship and let a reconstituted agency make its own case for survival.
Meanwhile, the current board clearly needs to go. The majority disgraced itself by voting in August, without public discussion, to overturn a professional ranking and change legal counsel. These members were so tone-deaf about the political fallout that it took an embarrassed Gov. Jeb Bush, who appointed them, to order his general counsel to investigate. The governor has better things to do than babysit an agency that builds toll roads. He and the residents of the Tampa Bay area deserve appointees who are up to the job, at least who do not demean public service.
After all, this whole idea of preserving the authority needs to be rethought, anyway. Even its name - expressway authority - is anachronistic in a region where political and business leaders finally see that mass transit, including intercity rail, must play a larger role in managing growth. Rather than police a '60s-era highway board, the community should engage in a debate that's more forward-looking: What role should expressways, trains and buses play in a region with 3-million-plus people? What neighboring counties should be included as we map out our transportation plan? And who could best manage this system: government, the private sector or a combination of the two? These investigations will provide the public with answers about whether any crimes were committed, but the broader question about the authority is its relevance. And we can kick that around right now.
A glimpse of two places and their growing pains
A St. Pete Times Editorial
Published October 8, 2006Call this a tale of two traffic-conscious cities.
We'll start in New Port Richey, where nearly every front-burner issue confronting the city is tied to its long-term commitment to redevelopment.
It has ambitions for higher-income residents living downtown and walking to shop or dine at current and future businesses. It advocates neighborhood improvements and is still seeking someone to devise a suitable way to make use of the historic Hacienda building. It wants the proposed Railroad Square to become a pedestrian friendly district to bring outsiders into downtown.
All of it is part of the effort known as redevelopment in which existing, developed parcels are improved by refurbishing the current structures or by knocking them down and building anew. The local government so embraced the formula that it approved a 30-year citywide redevelopment plan as a way to enhance the tax base because of limited annexation opportunities.
So, now it is curious to see New Port Richey's City Council opposing redevelopment elsewhere.
Yep. Council voted 5-0 last week to oppose redeveloping 25 acres that had been a lumberyard and car lot on the southwest corner of State Road 54 and Grand Boulevard, south of the city.
The redeveloped lots would "bring with them a crime element that would have a negative impact on the quality of residential life in the neighboring and adjacent communities," the council thundered in a resolution to Pasco County commissioners.
The new enterprise, the resolution said, "will negatively impact the local businesses in the Main Street and Grand Boulevard downtown area of New Port Richey simply by siphoning retail business away from them."
Ridiculous, right?
Except the redeveloper is Wal-Mart and the site is to become a 190,000 square-foot supercenter. Neighbors are opposed.
City Council, smelling a political winner, jumped on the bandwagon and announced its opposition, citing, among other things, rising crime rates and higher traffic counts. It did not hear from Wal-Mart or consult a traffic engineer, criminologist or economist before approving the resolution.
Neighborhood concerns about two-lane Grand Boulevard are understandable. But, the same gripes coming from the city are hypocritical. The city-financed downtown improvements of the 1990s included the strategy of reducing the number of traffic lanes on Main Street in order to slow motorists and encourage them to take note of downtown's offerings.
We also are at a loss to think of a downtown business that will compete against a Wal-Mart Supercenter. There is no downtown grocery, other than two convenience stores, and the few speciality shops in the downtown corridor aren't likely to have inventory comparable to a discount retailer. The biggest loser just might be another member of the Wal-Mart family, Sam's Club, at U.S. 19 and Trouble Creek Road.
Of course, this city isn't the only government concerned about redevelopment's effect on traffic.
Across the county sits Dade City where an empty storefront that formerly housed a Radio Shack is being renovated into a Beef O'Brady's restaurant and sports pub. It is on Seventh Street, the main-north-south route through downtown. The Historic Pasco County Courthouse sits nearby.
The County Commission's reaction to this new venture in the county seat? They put up new signs along Eighth Street reserving seven parking spots for themselves and their staff.
In other words, downtown shoppers including chicken-wing chomping Little Leaguers and their voting parents take a back seat to commissioners' convenience.
It is an insult to downtown merchants to reserve the parking spaces five days a week when commissioners meet in Dade City just one day a month.
The spots are on land owned by the county, so it is within its rights to snag the parking. But, here's an idea. Cover the reserved signs on the 21 of the 22 workdays each month that the commission isn't meeting at the courthouse.
By doing so, commissioners won't seem so arrogant. They also can demonstrate to New Port Richey they value intergovernmental cooperation when it comes to redevelopment.
Reach C.T. Bowen at bowen@sptimes.com or at 727-869-6239.
C.R. council to examine plan
By MIKE WRIGHTCrystal River may be one step closer to creating a foundation that oversees a Kings Bay protection and development plan.
The city council, on Monday, will review a $56,500 consultant’s proposal for a three-phrase effort to conduct a feasibility study, seek grants and develop a vision for the project.
The idea came about last spring when city resident Don Hess suggested a foundation be created to raise tens of millions of dollars for a plan along the bay to protect it from high-rise resort development.
Council members balked at the idea because the original suggestion would create a foun-dation that was totally separate from council oversight.
Still, council members and city leaders thought the idea had merit. In April, the council directed staffers to seek proposals from professional consulting firms to develop the non-profit foundation.
The city received no responses; however, the consulting firm of GiftCounsel.com/Avatar Co. had offered to assist the foundation in obtaining grants from a variety of sources.
According to information in Monday’s council agenda, Avatar’s proposal comes in three phases:
n Work with the staff and others to develop a draft vision for the draft vision of the pro-ject that would define the scope and dimension.
n Introduce the vision to the council, gain input and produce a council-approved project vision; then apply for the nonprofit status for the foundation.
n Conduct a financial feasibility study; identify and recruit potential foundation mem-bers; quantify the potential for grants.
In all, the proposal would cost $56,500. The report from City Manager Andy Houston said the consultant’s original scope was broader with a cost of $71,000.
If approved, funds would come from the city’s contingency accounts.
The council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall.
By JIM ROSS, Times Staff WriterFor the time being, everything will remain as it is.
Published October 8, 2006INVERNESS - The Tompkins Street shopping center in downtown Inverness - longtime home to Connors Office Supply, Accent Travel and Cockadoodles Cafe - has been sold for $2-million to a St. Petersburg woman and her family.
The tenants will remain the same and no major changes are planned at this time.
The strip center is on Tompkins between Seminole and Pine avenues. It faces the new Inverness Government Center.
Constance "Connie" Connors, the seller, declined comment through a spokeswoman at the family office supply and equipment store. Her late husband was Walt Connors, the former court clerk, educator, coach and businessman who died last year.
Linda Davey Rahdert and her family are the new owners. She was away Friday. But her husband, George, said during an interview that the family is excited about this venture.
The Rahderts have adopted Citrus County as their second home. They split time between their St. Petersburg residence and a home in southeast Citrus.
"The chances for Inverness to really take form as a center of government and commerce and industry are terrific, and we're excited to have a part to play in that," Rahdert said.
Rahdert is an attorney. His St. Petersburg law firm represents the Times in First Amendment issues.
The Rahderts have supported the rebirth of downtown St. Petersburg. "I see in Inverness some of the same potential, albeit on a different scale," George Rahdert said.
Inverness City Manager Frank DiGiovanni said he looks forward to working with the Rahderts.
"We're pleased to learn the new owner is familiar with downtown redevelopment. That's important," he said.
The second phase of the city's downtown refurbishing is underway. Crews are planting trees, installing benches and streetlights and building wider sidewalks. Similar redevelopment has been going on for years.
DiGiovanni expects the new owners will invest further in their property. According to county property records, the center was built in the 1950s. Its assessed value, for tax purposes, was $931,300 in 2005 - a 37 percent increase over the 2004 assessment.
Preservation finds place at Crackerfest
New exhibits turn focus to state's native plants, wildlife
BY REBECCA ADAMUS
FLORIDA TODAYAt a festival celebrating the lives of crackers, the lifestyle of Florida pioneers rubbed elbows with a message about protecting those natural spaces where the crackers once roamed.
Cracker describes the backwoods country folk who cracked corn to make a meal used in their diet. They lived off the land in Florida's forests and swamplands.
Compared with previous years, organizers Saturday said twice the number of visitors passed through Erna Nixon Park to learn about the traditional cracker lifestyle through music, storytelling and exhibits on Florida's native wildlife and plants. The number of exhibits also doubled this year, and they spoke to a common theme of wildlife and plant preservation.
"People are interested in preserving things like natural lands," said Mark Knowles, park supervisor. "We have such growth that people don't want it to become what it's not. It's better to include the native plants that are there and still be able to build a nice house."
To that effect, the Native Plant Society sold plants, tomatoes and peppers, and the Florida Solar Energy Center touted alternative energy resources.
Crackers often used Florida's native animals for food and other basic necessities.
The Treasure Coast Herpetological Society brought along native snakes, including Beavis, a Florida pine snake that volunteer Tommy Bell kept wrapped around his neck while big-eyed kids approached with trepidation.
Not too many were interested in holding Beavis, but Bell did get several to stroke Beavis far away from its swishing tongue.
"He does get aggravated and he hisses," from time to time, Bell said.
While local musician Chris Kahl sang songs in the pavilion, Melbourne resident Maryann Leigh sat with friends and painted an empty clay bowl.
"Empty Bowls" is a Brevard County Parks and Recreation program.
The bowls made at the festival will be fired and added to a collection of other bowls to be sold next month at a benefit to raise money for Daily Bread, a Melbourne soup kitchen.
Marjorie Seifert's favorite part of the festival was the cracker music and its distinct twangs and rhythms. One of her favorites was a song dedicated to mosquitoes.
"You feel like you're sitting on a log out in the woods," she said.
Contact Adamus at 242-3618 or radamus@flatoday.net.
River Level Dips; Dry Season Nears
Published: Oct 8, 2006
BROOKSVILLE - The "Little Big River" is lower than normal for this time of year, and one expert says it could be reduced to a trickle by the end of the dry season.
The Withlacoochee River, known for drastic changes in water levels that prompted its American Indian name, is unusually low considering the end of the rainy season is near, according to data from the U.S. Geological Service and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
By spring, "it's going to be pretty much a trickle if we don't see a tropical storm or above-normal rainfall in the dry season," said Eric Oglesby, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin, which monitors USGS data.
The reason, officials say, is not just less than normal rainfall in Hernando County, but also in Polk County's Green Swamp area, the source of the 157-mile-long Withlacoochee that flows north from the swamp to its terminus in Yankeetown.
"The problem is the rainfall hasn't been that consistent," said Michael Molligan, spokesman for Swiftmud. "We haven't had the kind of rain this summer that just blankets the area."
That means the Withlacoochee, which would normally be swollen this time of year with summer rain, looks more like a river shrunk by months of Florida winter.
The USGS monitors stream flows by gauging the level in feet from the river bed and also in the flow's cubic feet per second.
A gauge on the river at Croom on Friday showed a flow of 32 cubic feet per second. That's not far from the lowest flow recorded: 18 cubic feet per second in 2001, when the state was suffering through the end of a three-year drought. By then, the Withlacoochee had been reduced in some spots to a dry riverbed between puddles.
For the sake of perspective, the median for that gauge is 573 cubic feet per second.
The water level at Croom on Friday was 1.39 feet. That's just shy of the second-lowest record of 1.1 feet in 1981.
At Trilby, the flow is 26 cubic feet per second. The record there is 11 cubic feet per second.
Oglesby said the southern portion of the state has received higher than normal rainfall, but from Polk County north to the Panhandle, averages are well below normal.
"I've been here 11 years, and it's the first time I've seen that without a hurricane or tropical storm coming across and swamping a portion of the state," Oglesby said.
Swiftmud is composed of all or portions of 16 counties from Levy County in the north to Charlotte County in the south.
The district is divided into three regions. The northern portion of the district, which includes Hernando County, received 32 inches of rain through September, 14 inches below normal.
The central portion of the district, which includes the Green Swamp, is 8 inches below normal.
If a hurricane or tropical storm doesn't show up to drench the area, there could be a chance for relief this winter, Oglesby said. A weak El Nino is forming in the Pacific Ocean. The warming of the waters there usually means wetter than normal winters for Florida.
"It's a weak El Nino, so it's hard to determine if it's going to have much of an impact, though," Oglesby said.
Corrine Berry, co-owner of Nobleton Canoe Outpost near the Lake Lindsay Road Bridge, said the river near her business rose in the past 90 days or so but is dropping again.
In spring, the outpost had to stop renting its pontoon boats because the river level was low enough that Berry feared inexperienced customers would strike stumps, rocks or even the bottom.
Berry and her business partner, Marsha Warner, would usually be able to rent the boats in summer but didn't this year because the river didn't rise enough.
Still, business is good as the outpost starts its busy season, Berry said. Lower river levels enable customers to see more fish, turtles and other wildlife as they pass over in canoes and kayaks.
As Cemeteries Fill, Space Is Truly the Final Frontier
ORLANDO -- The 1,000 people moving to Central Florida every day need not only a place to live but also, eventually, a permanent place to rest.
To make room, city cemeteries are tearing up roads, using digital mapping, stacking graves and going vertical with granite cubbyholes for cremated remains in an effort to squeeze out every bit of space for their growing populations.
As cemeteries fill up and run out of room to expand, their directors are looking for alternatives. Spiraling land costs and regulations have made expansion too expensive. So the growing popularity of cremation is allowing cemeteries to make better use of the limited space they already have.
In 2004, 50 percent of Florida's deceased were cremated. That was up from 45 percent five years earlier. The figure is projected to bloom to 58 percent by 2010, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
Noting the trend, municipal cemeteries across Central Florida are taking another look at their grounds for the nooks and crannies too small for a casket but big enough for an urn.
Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery is encouraging residents to find a tree on the property and inquire about a space in its shade for the cremated remains -- cremains, in the industry's parlance -- of a loved one.
Cemeteries are increasing the number of cremains that can be placed in a standard burial plot -- Winter Park went from two to five last year. Longwood allows as many as six urns to be added to a standard burial plot where there is already a body buried.
Longwood also has budgeted money to add a columbarium, where cremains are placed in their own marked niche in an aboveground structure, to its cemetery. Winter Park added one in 1994.
"As the different generations take hold, they have different beliefs," said Roger Leggatt, Winter Park's cemetery chief. "This generation is not as into burial."
There's less hassle to cremation, and it's less expensive and more flexible, said Leggatt, who has been with the city for 27 years. When he started, there were 10 to 12 burials a month. Now there are that many cremations and one or two full burials, he said.
Showing off the polished granite of Palm Cemetery's columbarium, a neatly landscaped area of several eye-level structures with 12-inch cubicles on both sides for urns, Leggatt said, "This is the wave of the future."
That wave hasn't reached Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery.
Don Price, cemetery sexton, said he looked into a columbarium but decided that the maintenance costs were too high and the demand for full burials remains strong at the city's historic cemetery.
Price estimates that about 70 percent of his interments are full burials.
"The older generation, they haven't embraced cremation yet," he said.
Landmark gives way to project
Sweetwater's torn down for NASA Blvd. realignment
BY LINDA JUMP
FLORIDA TODAYFor Mary Anz, it's the memory of dancing cheek to cheek with her husband, Joseph, in the Garden Room on their 50th anniversary.
For Colleen Leger, it was her mother's smile as she placed her engagement ring on her daughter's finger one Valentine's Day.
For others, it was feeding the koi, eating lobster at the annual lobsterfest or sharing a first meal after saying "I do."
Sweetwater's Restaurant created happy Brevard memories since 1980. Now the restaurant will be a wan smile as drivers come to an improved intersection where Ellis Road and NASA Boulevard meet Wickham Road.
The state transportation department has completed a design to create a uniform intersection by curving NASA northward. Right-of-way work begins in 2008 with construction starting in 2009.
During the past two weeks the restaurant, closed with financial problems and deteriorating since 2003, made way for the realignment.
"We go out to other restaurants like Bella's or Friday's, but we still miss Sweetwater's," said Adz, 75.
The restaurant was popular with senior citizens and snowbirds, said Mike Noyd, manager of Hightech Hi Fi next door. "People daily ask what happened to it and what it will be now."
Noyd said busloads of seniors from Barefoot Bay and Sebastian were staples for the restaurant. Organizations held weekly and monthly meetings there, including the Platinum Coast Republican Women's Club Federation.
The restaurant was the place to be on Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. The Sundowner specials and "dreamer" salads were topics of conversation.
"We went at least once a week, but never missed Valentine's Day," Leger said. The most memorable was when her mother passed on the engagement ring she received from William Schaeffer. "They were planning to be married, but he died."
As a hostess in the restaurant, Leger said most customers requested a view of the manmade pond filled with koi and a slow-moving paddle wheel.
"Now it's gone. It's kind of sad,"she said.
Contact Jump at 409-1423 or ljump@brevard.gannett.com.
Living, working and playing in the same South Florida place is appealing to more people, and stores are tuning in to the trend
ewalker@MiamiHerald.comAda Portillo is tired of trekking 45 minutes from her West Miami-Dade County neighborhood just to eat a nice dinner. After she moves into her downtown condo next summer at Met Miami, she won't have to. The restaurants, a movie theater and a grocery will be right there.
Portillo is part of a growing group of South Floridians buying into a lifestyle that allows them to live, work and play in the same area. It's a concept that new urbanists have preached for years but has been slow to catch on here, where suburban sprawl and strip shopping centers have long ruled.
''Where I live, it's very pretty,'' said Portillo, 46. ``But there's no life at all.''
Not anymore. The way we shop is undergoing a huge transformation. Mixed-use development -- combining stores, restaurants, condos and offices -- is all the rage. The trend is most obvious in the eastern corridor, an area once largely avoided by many national retailers but now in an unprecedented building boom. Instead of building out, developers are going up, as in New York and Chicago.
You see it everywhere from The Shops at Midtown Miami to Young Circle in Hollywood, Mary Brickell Village in Miami to Las Olas Riverfront in Fort Lauderdale. In the city of Miami alone, there's almost 1.5 million square feet of retail space under construction and 5.7 million square feet proposed, despite a slowdown in the condo market. If all eventually gets built and filled with tenants, that would be more than 26 times Miami's existing retail space.
''It's going to be like living in Midtown Manhattan,'' said Marcos Campuzano, 39, who is buying a condo at one of the area's biggest urban developments, Midtown Miami, where Target has its grand opening today. ``It's just so convenient.''
In many ways, we're coming full circle after decades of building out to the Everglades. Now, we're re-creating the type of urban environments that developed naturally in major metropolitan areas.
`IDENTITY OF THE CITY'
''It's about creating places that people want to be a part of, that become a destination,'' said William Voegele, a regional director of development for Forest City, which is building the Village at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. ``It's the place where the mayor gives the State of the City address or they hold the local art festival. It becomes the identity of the city.''
Industry experts say it's a trend that had to happen. With land prices spiraling out of control and very little vacant undeveloped land available, developers have to make the best use of limited space. Combining residential, office and retail on one site helps make projects financially viable.
''You need the residential interaction to get the quality retailers,'' said Don Hall, attorney for Boca Developers, which seeks to convert the Las Olas Riverfront into a mixed-use project.
Like Las Olas, many mixed-use projects will come from renovating existing retail centers that have struggled or whose prime real estate can handle more development.
Others involve changing the way property is used. Developer Jeff Berkowitz plans to turn the former Ford of Coral Gables auto lot into Gables Station, eight stories of retail and offices. One of Coral Gables' first completed projects, the Village of Merrick Park, stands on a former city equipment yard.
START OF A TREND
''We're just at the beginning of a trend that's going to go on for a long time,'' said Michael Beyard, senior resident fellow for retail and entertainment with the Urban Land Institute. ``It reflects the maturing of our cities. We're really seeing a generational shift in retail that's as important as the introduction of the suburban shopping mall.''
Society is also fueling this shift. Baby boomers are empty-nesters now, so they are willing to trade the big house in the suburbs for convenience. The lifestyle also appeals to time-strapped young professional who can't stand the daily traffic jams.
For years, Lisa Schiller lived on Brickell Avenue and worked just a stone's throw away in downtown Miami. But that all changed a year ago, when her law firm, Rice Pugatch Robinson & Schiller, consolidated its employees in its Fort Lauderdale office.
The single 42-year-old woman has curtailed her workouts and social activities to make up for the hours each day spent behind the wheel of her Porsche 911, a car she used to love and has grown to despise. Schiller has had enough. She put her Brickell condo up for sale, and she's shopping for a place to rent on Las Olas Boulevard.
Schiller can't wait for the day when she can walk to her office, the courthouse and her favorite dining spots. ``I cannot take it anymore. It's affecting my life. Now I understand why people have road rage.''
Planners argue that these urban living environments are getting people off the roads because they can find all the amenities they want in their own neighborhood. A selling point for projects like Downtown Dadeland and Met Miami is accessibility to Metrorail.
''This is what everyone my age really wants,'' said Dean Friedland, 23, who is buying a loft at Met Miami and expects to take Metrorail when he starts law school next year at the University of Miami. ``We were raised in the suburbs, and that's why we want to get out of there.''
Integrating public transportation and creating environments that encourage walking will be key to the success of mixed-use developments, said University of Miami architecture dean Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.
''For years, everyone said that nobody will walk in South Florida,'' Plater-Zyberk said. ``But that's changing.''
LATENT DEMAND
Even before the recent condo boom created the opportunity for new retail in Miami-Dade's urban core, the market void was already there. Thousands of residents from Miami Beach to Morningside and Brickell Avenue have long been starved for convenient access to many large national, big-box stores.
Count lawyer Jonathan Neuman in that group. Since moving to the Design District in 1999, he and his wife have had to trek to Aventura just to visit a Bed Bath & Beyond.
That's all about to change with this week's opening in Midtown Miami. Target will be joined by Circuit City, Linens 'N Things and Marshalls, all scheduled to open by next month.
Also coming soon: Ross Dress for Less, Loehmann's and West Elm.
''A lot of people are going to be really happy to have that stuff close by,'' said Neuman, 36. ``Frequently, we just go without stuff because we don't want to make the trip. It's an all-day hike to go to Aventura, especially with all the construction on Biscayne Boulevard.''
Two other proposed big-box developments in the downtown area -- City Square and Bayview Market -- could move the market from void to glut. Bayview announced last week that it secured Lowe's, and competition for retail tenants is sure to begin heating up.
Also, in South Beach, Berkowitz is moving forward with Fifth & Alton, a three-level development with six levels of parking. Tenants are expected to include Best Buy, Staples and Publix.
Building these projects in urban settings is more time-consuming and expensive, particularly because of soaring construction and land costs. Parking garages alone can add as much as $30,000 or $40,000 per space to a mixed-use development.
Dan Herman, senior vice president of development for Developers Diversified, says cost is one reason the Midtown Miami project wouldn't have happened if not for about $170 million in government subsidies.
''It was too much of an economic burden,'' Herman said. ``Tenants have a threshold of how much they can pay. Just because it costs more to develop doesn't mean they can afford to pay it.''
While retailers and restaurants are buying into ''true mixed-use projects,'' like Midtown Miami and Mary Brickell Village, experts say the prospects are not too encouraging for the ground-floor retail that is part of almost every condominium.
Much of that space is poorly designed to accommodate the needs of national retailers, and comes with potential parking problems and little walk-by traffic, retail brokers say. That's why local, service-oriented retailers are likely to fill those spaces.
`AN AFTERTHOUGHT'
''It's not working,'' said Jeremy Larkin, president of NAI Miami, a local retail brokerage firm. ``They're being driven by the residential component, and the retail is an afterthought.''
To make more small streetfront retail successful, one industry expert suggests that property owners need to coordinate efforts.
''If we're ever going to be a great city, then all the developers need to hold hands and have a commitment to a merchandising plan,'' said Lyle Stern, whose Miami Beach firm, Koniver Stern Group, has been doing the leasing in many of Miami's urban projects. ``No higher-caliber restaurant or clothing store wants to jump in without knowing who their neighbors are going to be.''
Some retailers also still need assurance that there is enough of a market to support them. With the recent housing slowdown in South Florida, retail brokers say that luring tenants has started to become more difficult. Potential tenants are waiting to see who is going to be living in those condos before they commit to a project.
`LET'S HOLD OUT'
''When a market is very hot, sometimes a retailer will compromise a little on the basic criteria,'' said Mickey Finkle, managing director for Koniver Stern Group. ``But if the market cools down, they step back and say let's hold out for what we want best.''
That is likely to mean that not every proposal will end up with tenants -- at least right away. And mixed-use projects not yet out of the ground are likely to be delayed until the condo market regains strength.
But for shoppers like Portillo, a single mother, more mixed-use development can't come soon enough. Once she moves in to her Brickell condo, her 12-year-old son can do the shopping at Whole Foods -- without leaving the complex.
Portillo certainly won't miss the couple of hours she spends daily dropping Christian off at school and driving to work at an adult living facility she owns in Miami. ``This is going to be so much better for me.''
Council hopefuls give views on growth
Candidates for 3 seats on the Volusia County governing body spoke out at forums on Saturday.
Denise-Marie BalonaSentinel Staff Writer
October 8, 2006
DeLAND -- When Volusia County officials voted to kill a study for a controversial expressway linking Sanford to New Smyrna Beach, the 4-3 decision reflected the county's go-slow approach on growth within its environmentally sensitive middle.
Now three County Council seats are up for grabs, and voters will have a chance to not only let county officials know their stance on this issue but also to decide the fate of the hundreds of thousands of acres in unincorporated Volusia.
Two of the three seats available belong to council members who supported the road study -- District 1's Dwight Lewis, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits, and Jack Hayman of District 3.
Preserving growth is definitely the buzzword in Volusia this election season, and voters could follow the lead of Lake County, where residents last month replaced two longtime pro-growth incumbents with slow-growth advocates.
Lewis, Hayman and Bill Long, who sought re-election to his District 5 post but was ousted in the primary, all voted against urban-growth boundaries, for which residents have shown overwhelming support.
Three pairs of council candidates faced off in poorly attended political forums Saturday in Daytona Beach and DeLand, along with legislative hopefuls and candidates running for county or circuit judge.
They had only minutes to touch on topics such as land preservation, improving water supplies and proposed amendments to the county's home-rule charter.
They didn't talk about the road. But most spoke in favor of amendments that will be on the ballot Nov. 7 that seek to give the county control over all or most of unincorporated Volusia for 10 years or forever, depending on the amendment.
Community activist Barbara Herrin, Hayman's opponent from New Smyrna, was the most vocal in her opposition to the road that she said could spur intense development.
"If I'm on the council, I will fight it every step of the way," Herrin said Saturday morning outside the Daytona Beach forum. "It's an absolute abomination."
Hayman, in a telephone interview Saturday night, said he opposes a road that cuts through the county's center. He voted simply to study the matter, he said.
District 1 candidates Andy Kelly, a businessman who serves on the Soil and Water Conservation District board, and Charles Paiva, a former DeLand city commissioner, said they wouldn't support the road and would vote for both slow-growth amendments.
Former longtime council member Pat Northey would vote against the road and supports both amendments, too, she said, while her opponent in the District 5 race, former longtime Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk, said he would not support any of the seven charter amendments. He also wants the controversial road to relieve congestion on Interstate 4.
He told voters Saturday that the county doesn't need to keep all the 434,000 or so acres of that preservation area.
Judy Moore, president of the local League of Women Voters, which hosted the forums, said she isn't sure residents would send a true message with their votes. So many people don't understand the charter amendments, or the six amendments to the state constitution that people will vote on next month, she said.
"When you're faced with 13 ballot questions and we're all so busy . . . how do they have time to be good citizens?" Moore asked. "I hope they have time to understand."
Masiarczyk was frustrated that more people didn't turn out.
"The apathy is rampant," he said. "We can't get our message out because people won't come out."
Denise-Marie Balona can be reached at dbalona@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7916.
Florida Finally Trying To Solve Red Tide's Breathtaking Riddle
Published: Oct 7, 2006
Florida is finally getting serious about red tide research with an increased funding commitment that comes none too soon.
The toxic algae blooms are becoming more common and persistent, wreaking havoc on the environment and the economies of coastal communities. As you read this, red tide is fouling Pinellas beaches with the smelly carcasses of dead fish.
A new study brings even worse news. Beyond its unpleasant carnage, red tide poses a serious threat to people with breathing problems. A study led by Mote Marine Laboratory on Longboat Key found the toxin can affect such beachgoers before they ever step foot on the sand and that the effects can last for days.
Worse, scientists say the toxin can ride the winds and affect people with respiratory problems farther inland - as much as a few miles away.
These findings are not good news for the owners of hotels, shops and restaurants along the Gulf of Mexico, who have lost untold tourist business in recent years because of the dead marine life that lines the water's edge.
Red tide is an economic scourge to our region, yet until recently state leaders have devoted too little attention to its eradication. As a result, severe and prolonged outbreaks have become an almost annual affair.
Longtime Florida residents will tell you the incidence of red tide is far worse than during the summers of their youth, though documentation is unavailable to know for sure. Many people suspect pollution is to blame for its virulent spread - a reasonable assumption, given that the nutrients in runoff are known to feed algae growth.
Fortunately, the state is starting to face down the microscopic threat in a bigger way. The Legislature provided an impressive $5 million for research this year, compared with $1 million to $2 million in recent years.
Kumar Mahadevan, head of Mote, the state's lead research agency on red tide, says the enhanced funding will allow scientists to focus more vigorously on unraveling red tide's mysteries. Among the questions to be answered:
What causes the algae, which is always present in small amounts, to suddenly multiply? The blooms usually begin far offshore and are detected only after they spread.
Is pollution or other human activity making red tide, which has been around for eons and occurs throughout the world, worse? If so, what can be done to minimize the outbreaks?
What can be done to neutralize its deadly effects without causing environmental harm? Clays, bleaches, copper sulfates, ozones and other materials have been tried with varying effects.
Does red tide have any benefits? One study suggests its properties may be helpful in the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
Mote scientists, who invented a sensor to detect the presence of red tide, are partnering with the University of South Florida's Marine Science Department to study its spread.
The research may not lead to red tide's eradication, but with any luck, future discoveries will make the scourge less devastating to our marine life, beachgoers and economic vitality.
Lessons From Orlando
Published: Oct 7, 2006
TAMPA - So how did Orlando beat Tampa to the punch?
Both cities set out 15 years ago with the same goal in mind: build a rail system that offers an alternative to congested roads.
Orlando achieved its goal. Tampa has not.
In short, Orlando succeeded by adapting. When local politicians rejected a tax increase to fund a rail system, the plan's backers turned to powerful allies in Washington and at the Florida Department of Transportation.
"The difference was the DOT embraced the project," said Ed Turanchik, a former Hillsborough County commissioner who headed Tampa's rail effort. "They know how to get things done."
As they renew the push to land a rail line, Tampa's rail backers say they will consider how Orlando won the day.
Announced two months ago, Orlando's plan is far different from the one initially proposed. Orlando's backers changed their proposal from a light-rail network focused on the city and its tourist base, to a commuter rail system designed to move workers from the suburbs to downtown Orlando.
The move was pivotal and helps explain why Orlando's plan flourished while Tampa's floundered.
Getting to that point took six years.
Rail in Orlando was thought to be dead in 1999 when an Orange County commissioner changed his vote at the eleventh hour to doom the city's $660 million light-rail proposal.
By a 4-3 vote, commissioners voted against funding a plan to connect Orlando's tourism hub to its downtown, even though $330 million in federal funding was promised.
Smarting from that defeat, U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, a longtime rail advocate, decided to push for a larger system, a regional rail line on existing tracks.
The idea had support at the state DOT. The department was seeking alternatives to congested Interstate 4 and the CSX rail line ran parallel to the highway.
By backing the broader commuter rail plan, the state could demonstrate to federal transit officials it was committed to finding more than one solution to I-4's congestion. That, in turn, could further its aim to attract federal dollars to widen the highway.
On a practical level, DOT leadership helped ensure that state and federal funding would follow.
Just as important, giving the project over to state engineers and planners insulated it from the political in-fighting and shifting support that arose when politicians were asked to fund light rail in Orlando.
"The DOT is nonpolitical so we were able to take that away," said Tawny Olore, project manager for the DOT district that includes Orlando.
Switching Tracks
Suburban politicians didn't like light-rail because it was costly and narrowly conceived.
Unlike commuter rail, which is powered by diesel engines and can run on CSX tracks, the light-rail system required its own tracks and a right-of-way big enough for its electrical power source.
As initially proposed in the mid-1990s, the project's intention was to move people from the downtown to International Drive, the city's tourist hub.
"It was labeled as a tourist train," Mica said.
Political fighting dogged the project for years.
Suburban politicians couldn't sell the idea as beneficial to their constituents, who were more interested in getting to work.
Support from businesses wavered because they were being asked to shoulder the cost, too, while wondering whether the project would help their bottom lines.
All of that changed in 2000 when the plan shifted to a regional commuter rail system. The plan was nearly $200 million less than the light-rail one.
Its local costs could be spread among four counties and, Mica said, commuter rail "had more benefit to the politicians and their constituencies, so it had a better following."
Mica's support, meanwhile, was unflagging.
While the DOT negotiated with CSX to buy 61 miles of track, Mica, a ranking member of the House transportation committee, was meeting with officials from the Federal Transit Administration and helping to shepherd the project through the committee, which recommends which projects to fund.
The federal government has agreed to pay half of the Orlando system's $475 million price. The state will pay a quarter and the four counties will pay the other quarter.
The first phase, a 31-mile segment, will serve 10 stations and link Volusia County to Orlando. Service is set to start in 2009 - just as the DOT begins a major reconstruction of I-4 in southwest Orange County.
"In the ashes of our light rail project something needed to be done, and the help we got from Congressman Mica was critical," said Harry Barley, executive director of Metroplan Orlando, the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. "He's a very strong transit proponent and is very influential."
Commuter rail is just the start. Mica and other rail backers say that once trains start rolling the public might want the service expanded.
"Once they get used to it and find it works, and look around and see there is not enough space to build more highways, they will start asking for more rail lines," said Mike Snyder, executive director of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority.
Looming Costs
Rail backers in Tampa initially wanted a regional rail system, but after a yearlong study the plan was pared down to a single route, Tampa to Lakeland, because it was determined that was an easy first step.
But that project faltered when local politicians couldn't decide whether to back the project financially. Politicians from Pasco and Pinellas counties started to ask whether it made sense for them to give money to the project.
"It was the easiest thing to do, but there was no mechanism for funding," Turanchik said.
Next, backers turned their sights toward light rail. They wanted electric train cars running from downtown Tampa to the West Shore business district and University of South Florida.
The political rancor started anew. Politicians in suburban areas couldn't fathom spending millions on a rail project that wouldn't directly benefit their constituents.
What ultimately sank light rail in Tampa was the looming question of whether to ask voters to support a half-cent increase to the sales tax to fund the proposed $1.4 billion system.
On several occasions Hillsborough County commissioners were asked to commit to funding the light rail idea, and each time they refused.
The light-rail plan, developed by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority in 2002, was officially pulled from federal funding eligibility in 2005.
The county lost its chance to get $700 million toward the cost of building the system.
Given rail's contentious history, Turanchik, who championed rail in several forms since the early 1990s, said the best move now is to follow Orlando's lead and try to involve the DOT in a leadership role.
"I don't think rail transit will happen here without strong state support," he said. "They're in the business of moving people."
Turanchik and others say they had sought DOT leadership in the early 1990s, when they pushed for a regional rail line, but never got it.
"They just kept pushing it back to us," he said.
That was 10 years ago, when Florida's population was 14 million. Now it's 18 million, and DOT officials view rail as an alternative means of moving people, DOT spokesman Steve Homan said.
"There is a place for rail alternatives, in addition to highway projects," he said. "Everybody still has a love affair with their cars, but there is recognition also that there is not a major metropolitan area in the country that is not building a rail alternative. We're going to expand I-4, but we're going to fill up I-4."
Weeks after jubilant rail backers in Orlando held a news conference to unveil their plan, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio proposed creating a regional commuter rail network that uses existing CSX tracks, along with some new tracks, to link Tampa, Lakeland, Brooksville, Bradenton and St. Petersburg.
At this point, she said, she's reaching out to build support for the idea.
Given the DOT's role in helping Orlando, she said, one of her calls might soon be to the state agency. After all, the DOT was able to diffuse jurisdictional squabbles before. It might be able to do so again.
"It makes sense if the DOT can play a large role," she said. "That might be a way for us to go."
Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at rshopes@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7633.
Historic preservation rules may face changes
By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff WriterWith doubts about several provisions in the current ordinance, the historical advisory board wants suggestions for improvement.
Published October 7, 2006
LECANTO - With their former chairman raising questions, the members of the county's Historical Resources Advisory Board plan to take a closer look at the ordinance that gives them their authority.
Tom Franklin told the board Wednesday that he didn't believe in the ordinance recently approved by the County Commission.
"I'm very much in favor of historical preservation," he said. "I'm equally concerned about property rights."
The ordinance gives the historical board the job of determining which properties in the county are historical and when a property identified as historical can be demolished.
Franklin's argument is that the board could force a property owner to hold onto an old structure because it has been labeled as historical, even if renovating the building is a financial hardship on the property owner and not renovating it presents legal liabilities.
For the property owner, the only appeals process from the board's decision would be to go to court, according to Michele Lieberman, assistant county attorney.
Franklin pointed out that hiring a lawyer to fight such a decision was also costly.
Citrus County's historical board is still in the process of developing rules on how to make its decisions and is using the rules already in place in Mount Dora as a model.
The board put that task on hold until its next meeting in an effort to answer the questions about the ordinance.
Franklin argued that, in a town like Mount Dora where everything is kept to a historical flavor, someone buying property would know that there would be constraints on how that property could be used.
"In Citrus County, the ordinance applies to the unincorporated areas of Citrus County" and a buyer may not realize that an old structure in a rural area is listed as historical in the county's 1987 survey.
Franklin was chairman of the board until his term ended last month. He chose not to seek another term because of his opposition to the ordinance. While he questioned the ordinance from the podium Wednesday, historical board member David Arthurs asked Franklin, "How did we get into this in the first place?"
"We were trying to get the designation of certified local government," Franklin said.
That designation, if accomplished, would give the county extra opportunities to receive grants and other incentives to preserve aspects of the community's history.
Franklin also said that when the ordinance was first discussed, board members made it clear they didn't believe the county had the staff or time to make historic preservation a priority.
And they also didn't want the responsibility for making decisions about who could tear down old buildings and who must preserve them, Franklin said.
Arthurs said he also didn't know that the ordinance as it was eventually written carried that kind of responsibility. He even questioned whether the board had seen the final draft before it went to the County Commission.
Lieberman told the board that the ordinance had been reviewed at their level.
Board member Richard Clay said he remembered the board's discussion of the proposed ordinance and he said they talked about accepting it even though it didn't "have as much teeth" as some had hoped.
Franklin said he accepted the responsibility for not reading the proposal as carefully as he should have but urged the remaining members of the board to take the opportunity to make changes to the ordinance.
According to Lieberman, the county also wants to make some changes to the ordinance including one that would streamline the process of approving demolition of properties that post a safety threat.
County officials are dealing with one such property in the Floral City area now. That site, the old Lighthouse Pub, which is on the historical survey, has been examined by county public safety officials after citizens complained about the safety of the structure.
The board will hear more about that case at a future meeting.
The board agreed to allow Lieberman and other county staff members to bring a draft of changes in the ordinance to the next meeting. HRAB members themselves will also submit their ideas for what might be changed to improve the document.
In other action, the board also agreed to switch gears on a previously-approved project to archive old copies of the Citrus County Chronicle in the possession of the Citrus County Historical Society.
In the last fiscal year, the County Commission approved $5,000 for the project. The plan was to record the newspaper pages on microfilm.
But Wednesday Carla Summer, archiving consultant for the Historical Society, told the HRAB that microfilm is being phased out and documents are now being recorded digitally.
That work is done at no cost by the University of Florida but there would be other expenses to the county, Summer said.
The HRAB agreed to pursue digital archiving and asked the Historical Society to bring a cost analysis on the process not just for newspapers but also for other written artifacts in the society's vault.
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com
Martin rethinks fluoride amid health angst
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 07, 2006
STUART — After weeks of appeals from residents, Martin County commissioners on Tuesday will discuss whether they want to revisit their decision three years ago to inject fluoride into the county's drinking water.
Commissioners voted 4-1 in March 2003 to start fluoridating water. But because it took time to get grants and hire a contractor to build the injection system, the county doesn't plan to start putting fluoride into the drinking water at its Jensen Beach and Tropical Farms water plants until early next year, Utilities Director John Polley said.
But Commissioner Lee Weberman said that at the urging of residents such as engineer Pat Arena, he will ask commissioners Tuesday whether they want to reconsider that decision. Weberman, who voted for fluoridation, said he thought the county had been putting it in the water since the 2003 decision.
"There's been enough people who have expressed interest in this issue that we should at least talk about it and see if anything has changed," Weberman said.
Arena has spoken against fluoridation at county commission meetings for more than a month.
He said any fluoride can cause cancer and pointed to a recent study by the National Research Council of the National Academies that suggests fluoride can weaken teeth and damage bones.
The American Dental Association and U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona support fluoridation, citing studies that show it can prevent tooth decay, according to their Web sites.
But Arena said studies suggesting fluoride strengthens teeth are really propaganda promoted by businesses that want to get rid of their stockpiles of fluoride, a byproduct in the manufacture of aluminum products and fertilizers.
"This has been a coverup since 1956," Arena said. "The fact is it's a cancer-causing agent and big bucks are keeping it moving. You're talking about probably the biggest fraud our government has ever done to us."
Anti-fluoride movements are common.
This year a Wellington councilwoman urged her village to reexamine its practice of fluoridation. Last month the city council of Del Rio, Texas, voted to stop fluoridating its water after 16 years. Last year in Arkansas, residents helped to defeat a bill that would have required nearly every water provider in the state to fluoridate.
Weberman said the county's health care task force recommended fluoridation in 2002, and unless he sees some new information he still supports fluoridation. It cost $201,000, including grant money, to build the county's fluoridation equipment.
Polley, the utilities director, said the level of fluoride that would be in the county's water, about 0.7 milligrams per liter, follows state Health Department guidelines and is below maximum safe levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Stuart also plans to start fluoridating its water in January. Dave Peters, Stuart's assistant director of public works, said the city's water will be safe.
"It's always been an emotional issue," Peters said. "But most scientific agencies, if not all, support fluoridation, and that's the city's position."
Lake O dike fix could devour homes
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 07, 2006
The house Roy Goodson's father built 50 years ago perches over the Herbert Hoover Dike toe ditch like a little green heron hungry for dinner.
Civil engineers say the ditch is a threat to the dike's integrity, a place where sand can slip unseen from its foundation, allowing "pipes" and leaks to erupt.A new plan calls for filling the ditch, placing a gravel berm atop it and installing a concrete wall at the dike's highest point. That should enable the dike to withstand a 935-year storm, engineers think.
But making the dike safer will probably require extending its footprint outward by an estimated 40 to 50 feet, said Les Bromwell, a state-hired civil engineer who has reviewed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' latest plan.
That would mean Goodson's family home - in a place called Sand Cut - would have to be demolished. No one yet knows how many similar homes and businesses may have to be taken and moved, or how much it will add to the $300 million refurbishment project. There may be hundreds of homes nestled up against the 70-year-old dike.
"My dad built this house," Goodson said Friday about the home that's halfway between Canal Point and Port Mayaca. "My mom lives here. She's 94 years old. That would be devastating to her."
The previous plan to shore up the dike had been approved before Hurricane Katrina caused New Orleans' levees to fail, killing hundreds.
New post-Katrina guidelines say public safety must take precedence over other considerations. Designs must have "redundancy," or back-up safety elements. They should be resilient and upgradable, too.
An external review that found the dike posed a "grave and imminent danger" to the 40,000 people who live near Lake Okeechobee has added a sense of urgency. The corps has decided that the most vulnerable points, including an old quarry near Pahokee, should be fixed right away.
A contractor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now filling the ditch from Port Mayaca to Sand Cut, said Stephen Duba, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Jacksonville engineering division. Plans for a smaller wall in the forward slope have been stopped, in favor of the new design, he said.
The ditch behind the home where Goodson's mother, Callie Terrell, still lives will be filled in a matter of weeks, Duba said.
Meanwhile, civil engineers are drawing up specifics for the new refurbishment plan, including recommendations for how much private land should be bought around the lake. It's possible railroad tracks and roads may need to be moved, the engineers said.
The South Florida Water Management District will be charged with buying the property that's needed.
"People were living in limbo not knowing what could happen when the next big hurricane came. So now we have a fix," said Ruth Clements, director of land acquisition and management for the district. "It's not going to be easy, but we're going to try to make it as painless as possible."
Once the corps gives the district its recommendations, the water management district will work quickly, she said. Money earmarked for other projects may be shifted to the dike.
There will be a series of community meetings, presentations, and face-to-face conversations, she said.
The district won't just buy people's property, it will make sure the payment enables them to move. At a time when there's a dearth of affordable housing, that could prove a formidable challenge.
"When people realize we're willing to pay a fair price and work with them, it may be a blessing," Clements said. "We have to make sure they're in no worse condition than they were to begin with."
That's not quite how things worked in the 1950s, Goodson said, when his parents were forcibly removed from their previous home next to the dike, to make way for the dredging of the L-8 Canal.
"I don't remember it, but the family says they basically just put them out and threw their stuff by the side of the road," he said.
The family moved to a rented home in Pahokee while lawyers worked on a settlement. Eventually, his parents were given the land between the dike and the railroad tracks on the north side of the L-8. His father built the home a little at a time, as the children kept coming, 11 in all.
It was a magical place to grow up, Goodson said. They'd fish in the lake, and watch adults trap alligators to sell their hides.
That his mother could be forced out again leaves Goodson heartsick.
"Put yourself in our position. The work should be done on the lake side of the dike," he said. "Purchasing land on this side of the dike is a waste of money."
Lobbyist Bills Draw Scrutiny
Published: Oct 7, 2006
TAMPA - A growing number of Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority board members are questioning thousands of dollars in charges by their lobbyist.
John Beck's company has billed the expressway authority to attend fundraisers for political candidates and to help people gain authority board appointments, The Tampa Tribune reported this week. He has also billed for thousands over the past seven years to participate in the transportation networking and trade group TEAMFL, or Transportation and Expressway Authority Membership of Florida.
Board Chairman Thomas Gibbs said he wants to find out whether the TEAMFL expenses were justified. Board member James Hargrett, a former state senator, said the fundraising billings appear "a little abusive." And Tom Scott, a board member and Hillsborough County commissioner, called many of the billings "outrageous."
The board on Sept. 25 voted to continue Beck's contract but have the authority's executive director, Ralph Mervine, negotiate a monthly or annual retainer fee. Scott, who voted against continuing the contract, said he will ask the board to reconsider the contract at its meeting Monday.
He has asked repeatedly since August for the board to put Beck's contract up for competitive bid. On Friday, for the first time, another board member - Don Skelton, a Florida Department of Transportation district secretary - said he supported sending the contract out for bid.
Scott said this week the situation "has escalated to the point where the authority has been paying [Beck] for work that the board doesn't know anything about."
"That's just outrageous, man," Scott said. "That's just outrageous."
Authority spokesman Mathias Bergendahl on Friday said Beck's past activities, documented in monthly invoices, had been reviewed and approved by the authority's staff and its former outside legal counsel, Ruden McClosky.
"Given this review," Bergendahl said, "the board had no reason to question the invoices or payment of these activities."
Bergendahl said Beck Consulting Group was being paid to attend the TEAMFL meetings held this week in Tampa.
Representatives of other tax- and toll-funded transportation agencies said they do not pay their lobbyists for political fundraising activities or to attend TEAMFL meetings.
About $60,000 in invoice items show Beck and his associates planning or attending TEAMFL activities. That includes about $24,000 for items listed as solely TEAMFL activities and about $36,000 in charges that contain references to other lobbying tasks.
Beck refused to answer questions Friday when a reporter approached him at a TEAMFL meeting.
"I'm busy," Beck said.
Invoices From Fundraisers
Questions about Beck's company arose in August over a controversial bid process for an outside legal services contract. Beck talked to one of the four bidders at the request of board member Robert Clark Jr. and billed the authority for the meeting. He later said he met with all the firms applying for the job.
Since then, Beck's invoices have been reviewed by the authority's in-house lawyer and its interim outside general counsel. The state auditor general also is reviewing his billings as part of a top-to-bottom audit of the authority.
Gov. Jeb Bush requested the audit last month after investigating the bid process for the legal services contract. The governor's inquiry found no criminal wrongdoing, but Bush's top lawyer said there was the appearance of impropriety surrounding the bid process.
The authority hired Beck in 1999, agreeing to pay his company $175 an hour in a contract it did not put out for bid. The authority has paid Beck's company at least $1.2 million.
His monthly itemized invoices include thousands of dollars in billings for lobbying Bush's office about appointments to the authority's governing board. The governor appoints four members to the seven-member panel.
The invoices also include several charges for attending meetings related to fundraisers and attending fundraisers for Republican political candidates in state and U.S. races. Beck's firm, Beck & Barrios, also gave contributions to candidates.
One item, for June 19, 2001, includes "attend Senator Sebesta's fundraiser." That invoice item included six tasks, totaling eight hours, for which Beck billed $1,400. No specific amount was cited for the fundraiser.
Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, won his state Senate race in 2002. Beck & Barrios gave him a $250 check on June 22, 2001, and a $250 check on Oct. 25, 2001.
Beck invoices in early 2003 include several items about a visit by U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who leads the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Young's chief of staff, Michael Anderson, confirmed that Young visited Tampa, where he met with local officials about the area's transportation needs. Anderson said Young also attended a fundraiser in Tampa, though Anderson couldn't remember who organized it.
The billing items from Beck mentioning Young and the fundraiser included other lobbying tasks, totaling about $1,443.
On one of the items, for March 10, Beck billed to meet with the representatives of several road building companies, "re: Young fundraiser."
Beck also wrote a $1,000 check that Young's campaign committee received March 20.
Gibbs Unaware Of TEAMFL Billings
In addition to billing for fundraisers, Beck's company has billed the authority to participate in TEAMFL.
Created in 1997, TEAMFL holds quarterly meetings in which its members network and talk about toll road and transportation industry developments. Members include transportation agencies and road building companies.
Bergendahl said Beck's involvement in TEAMFL is to "generate interest and gain support for future projects, encourage companies to bid on expressway authority projects, and facilitate groundbreaking public-private partnerships."
He said that Beck continuously briefs staff on TEAMFL meetings and that his involvement also had resulted in presentation opportunities for Mervine. He did not elaborate on those opportunities.
Authority Chairman Gibbs sits on the TEAMFL board and attended this week's meeting in Tampa, along with Beck.
Told of Beck's billings for TEAMFL meetings, Gibbs said, "You're telling me something I was unaware of." He asked to see copies of the invoice so he could review the charges, but he said he would be too busy with TEAMFL meetings through Friday to meet to look at documents.
"It will all work out," Gibbs said before ending the conversation. Hargrett said he met with TEAMFL officials while serving in the Senate, but he said he had heard little of the organization since joining the board in 2004.
Hargrett and Gibbs, who were both appointed to the board by Bush, voted Sept. 25 to continue Beck's contract at the hourly rate for now. The vote came after interim outside general counsel Rhea Law told the board it could save a considerable amount of money by paying a set monthly retainer and limiting the scope of Beck's work.
The board did ask that Beck's contract be renegotiated, and Hargrett said those discussions are continuing. Skelton said Friday that he expects the authority's staff to come back to the board with a date to hold a workshop to discuss the scope of Beck's contract.
Skelton declined to discuss whether specific charges were appropriate but for the first time said that Beck's contract should be competitively bid.
No More 'Smelly Payments'
Clark, who joined the board in 2003, said he was concerned about the payments for attending fundraisers. "That sounds like a no-no to me."
Representatives of the major transportation authorities across the state say they don't pay their lobbyists to participate in political fundraisers or to help people gain board appointments. And they don't pay them to attend TEAMFL meetings.
Miami-Dade Expressway Authority lobbyist Yolanda Cash Jackson said she attends fundraisers, but "not on behalf of the expressway authority."
The authority's lobbying team, which includes Jackson, receives a set fee of up to $151,500 a year. "We all participate in fundraisers for other clients, but I have never been asked to attend a fundraiser on behalf of the expressway board," she said.
"I'm sure our lobbyists do fundraisers," said Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority spokesman Bryan Douglas. "But none are paid for by the expressway authority or done at the expressway authority's request." The authority pays its lobbyist a monthly retainer of $14,500, which adds up to $174,000 a year.
"We need to stay neutral," said Jacksonville Transportation Authority spokesman Mike Miller. The authority pays $96,000 a year for an outside lobbying team to focus on state and local issues, he said.
Helping one candidate over another is not "the most beneficial way for us to operate," he said. "We have to work with whoever is elected."
Hargrett said anyone representing a public agency needs to have some discretion.
"We need to make sure whatever is spent in the name of the authority is representative of what a public agency ought to be involved in," he said. "If you are heavily involved in fundraisers and with public money, that sort of smells, and I intend to make sure we don't approve any smelly payments going forward now that it has been brought to my attention."
Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915 or jallman@tampatrib.com.
Pipe plan still needs $1
million
Project would reduce untreated water in river
Project would reduce untreated water in river
OCALA - Marion County still needs just over $1 million to retrofit a
portion of a drainage pipe in an effort to reduce the amount of untreated
water landing in the Silver River.
In an update Thursday to the governing board and land committee of the St. Johns River Water Management District in Lady Lake, Marion County Clean Water Engineer Gail Mowry outlined the project, which initially started in 2004.
The plan for the county's portion of the 60-inch pipe includes designing a gravity diversion structure to drain runoff into a lined wet pond with overflow going into a dry retention pond to treat water before it flows into Half Mile Creek, which feeds the Silver River.
Mowry explained that the county is opting for the gravity diversion instead of a pump station to not compound existing flooding problems near the intersection of State Road 35 and State Road 40.
The project is a partnership between Marion County, the city of Ocala, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Greenways and Trails.
The price tag for the county's portion of the project is $2.8 million. The Legislature has provided $206,400 and the county set aside $722,000 to help cover the cost. The county has applied for $450,000 from the water district and another $390,000 from DEP.
According to Mowry, a formal letter seeking the $1 million shortfall from FDOT is scheduled to go out next week.
"We are not sure how much we will get but we are looking for a significant amount from them," Mowry said.
A portion of the funding will be used to identify and preserve tree islands and clear exotic plants from the 60-acre property needed to install the system and create retention ponds.
As for funding from the water management district, Dave Fisk, associate executive for the agency, said he expects the request from Marion County to be ranked very high. Grant funding awards are expected to be announced by the governing board at either the November or December meeting.
Fisk said the agency looks favorably at projects that are ready to go, and he noted that the water district has known about this project for two years.
Fisk said the project is a little larger than others they have worked with, requiring more cooperation from a variety of agencies. He said the strong support from DEP and the local legislative delegation is helpful to funding chances.
Clay Albright, governing board secretary of the water management district and local developer, thinks the county's plan is a good one. "There could not be a better high priority project than this one," he said.
He said while drainage systems of the past were designed to quickly get rid of runoff, the new system will hold the water and treat it before it goes into the river.
Albright said it will help correct the more than 40 years of degradation to the Silver River.
"I'm glad all the players are at the table to get this done. . . it's vital to do this."
Harriet Daniels may be reached at harriet.daniels@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4125
In an update Thursday to the governing board and land committee of the St. Johns River Water Management District in Lady Lake, Marion County Clean Water Engineer Gail Mowry outlined the project, which initially started in 2004.
The plan for the county's portion of the 60-inch pipe includes designing a gravity diversion structure to drain runoff into a lined wet pond with overflow going into a dry retention pond to treat water before it flows into Half Mile Creek, which feeds the Silver River.
Mowry explained that the county is opting for the gravity diversion instead of a pump station to not compound existing flooding problems near the intersection of State Road 35 and State Road 40.
The project is a partnership between Marion County, the city of Ocala, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Greenways and Trails.
The price tag for the county's portion of the project is $2.8 million. The Legislature has provided $206,400 and the county set aside $722,000 to help cover the cost. The county has applied for $450,000 from the water district and another $390,000 from DEP.
According to Mowry, a formal letter seeking the $1 million shortfall from FDOT is scheduled to go out next week.
"We are not sure how much we will get but we are looking for a significant amount from them," Mowry said.
A portion of the funding will be used to identify and preserve tree islands and clear exotic plants from the 60-acre property needed to install the system and create retention ponds.
As for funding from the water management district, Dave Fisk, associate executive for the agency, said he expects the request from Marion County to be ranked very high. Grant funding awards are expected to be announced by the governing board at either the November or December meeting.
Fisk said the agency looks favorably at projects that are ready to go, and he noted that the water district has known about this project for two years.
Fisk said the project is a little larger than others they have worked with, requiring more cooperation from a variety of agencies. He said the strong support from DEP and the local legislative delegation is helpful to funding chances.
Clay Albright, governing board secretary of the water management district and local developer, thinks the county's plan is a good one. "There could not be a better high priority project than this one," he said.
He said while drainage systems of the past were designed to quickly get rid of runoff, the new system will hold the water and treat it before it goes into the river.
Albright said it will help correct the more than 40 years of degradation to the Silver River.
"I'm glad all the players are at the table to get this done. . . it's vital to do this."
Harriet Daniels may be reached at harriet.daniels@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4125
City engineer talks about
need for tax
|
OCALA - City of Ocala Engineer Bruce Phillips told Rotarians on Thursday
that, if the 1-cent sales tax for roads is not passed by the voters on
Nov. 7, money will likely have to come from property taxes.
"The only other source is ad valorem, and nobody likes that," he said when asked what would happen if the proposed tax failed to garner voter approval. He said there would be no new road construction unless another funding source is found. Gas taxes do not generate anywhere near enough to meet the needs, he said.
Phillips' presentation to the Silver Springs Rotary Club at the Holiday Inn Silver Springs is one of several being offered around the community by city and Marion County staff to give voters information and persuade them to vote in favor of the seven-year, 1-cent tax.
The 10-year road-project costs total $843 million. Estimated impact fee collections amount to $334 million, leaving road projects an estimated $509 million in the red.
Even the seven-year tax will not cover all the needs. The proposed tax is expected to raise $398 million over the seven years, leaving a $110 million shortfall for the 10-year plan.
"We have the list of all the roads going to be done and cost estimates," Phillips said. All the money would be used for transportation expenses. About $6 million a year would be used for maintenance, about $3 million for the county and $3 million for the city.
Growth is putting pressure on the need for roads, he said. There are an estimated 80,000 vested residential lots, which means those lots can be developed regardless of the impact on roads or other infrastructure.
Phillips said Marion County's 2000 population was 258,000. Three years from now, it is estimated to grow to 350,000 and, by 2020, to 433,000 people.
At the same time, road construction costs are escalating.
Since 2003, excavation costs have risen 210 percent, asphalt has gone up 65 percent, concrete has increased 160 percent and rebar for concrete jumped 208 percent, Phillips said.
The cost per mile for a four-lane road is now $6.35 million, he said.
Because a sales tax is paid by everyone, the cost of the roads is spread throughout the community and not simply paid by property owners. And, he estimates that out-of-county residents will pay approximately 20 percent of the tax.
Not everyone shared Phillips' enthusiasm for the tax.
Former Ocala Police Chief Morrey Deen opposed the tax. He said the city had a millage rate set aside for roads.
In the early 1990s, the city levied 3/4 mill for road repaving projects. That money has since been shifted to paying for bonds, Deen said.
Phillips said the city and county signed an agreement whereby the city would reconstruct three county roads: Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. north of U.S. 27, Fort King Street and Lake Weir Road; the county would reconstruct Northeast Seventh Street, County Road 200A and southwest/northwest 60th Avenue.
The city is paying the bonds for those road projects with the 3/4-mill dollars.
Deen said there also was state grant money for roads that is being missed because there is industrial zone plan.
Phillips said he is only aware of the state's Office of Trade, Tourism grants and there have to be specific projects identified for those.
Deen also complained about the cost of roundabouts to which Phillips replied that they are less costly than traffic signals.
"What does a stop sign cost?" Deen shot back.
But fellow Rotarian Rock Gibboney supports the tax.
"We can't afford to be like other states and have a state income tax," Gibboney said. "We have 40 years of no planning. That's been the problem. I am definitely supportive."
Susan Latham Carr may be reached at susan.carr@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4156.
"The only other source is ad valorem, and nobody likes that," he said when asked what would happen if the proposed tax failed to garner voter approval. He said there would be no new road construction unless another funding source is found. Gas taxes do not generate anywhere near enough to meet the needs, he said.
Phillips' presentation to the Silver Springs Rotary Club at the Holiday Inn Silver Springs is one of several being offered around the community by city and Marion County staff to give voters information and persuade them to vote in favor of the seven-year, 1-cent tax.
The 10-year road-project costs total $843 million. Estimated impact fee collections amount to $334 million, leaving road projects an estimated $509 million in the red.
Even the seven-year tax will not cover all the needs. The proposed tax is expected to raise $398 million over the seven years, leaving a $110 million shortfall for the 10-year plan.
"We have the list of all the roads going to be done and cost estimates," Phillips said. All the money would be used for transportation expenses. About $6 million a year would be used for maintenance, about $3 million for the county and $3 million for the city.
Growth is putting pressure on the need for roads, he said. There are an estimated 80,000 vested residential lots, which means those lots can be developed regardless of the impact on roads or other infrastructure.
Phillips said Marion County's 2000 population was 258,000. Three years from now, it is estimated to grow to 350,000 and, by 2020, to 433,000 people.
At the same time, road construction costs are escalating.
Since 2003, excavation costs have risen 210 percent, asphalt has gone up 65 percent, concrete has increased 160 percent and rebar for concrete jumped 208 percent, Phillips said.
The cost per mile for a four-lane road is now $6.35 million, he said.
Because a sales tax is paid by everyone, the cost of the roads is spread throughout the community and not simply paid by property owners. And, he estimates that out-of-county residents will pay approximately 20 percent of the tax.
Not everyone shared Phillips' enthusiasm for the tax.
Former Ocala Police Chief Morrey Deen opposed the tax. He said the city had a millage rate set aside for roads.
In the early 1990s, the city levied 3/4 mill for road repaving projects. That money has since been shifted to paying for bonds, Deen said.
Phillips said the city and county signed an agreement whereby the city would reconstruct three county roads: Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. north of U.S. 27, Fort King Street and Lake Weir Road; the county would reconstruct Northeast Seventh Street, County Road 200A and southwest/northwest 60th Avenue.
The city is paying the bonds for those road projects with the 3/4-mill dollars.
Deen said there also was state grant money for roads that is being missed because there is industrial zone plan.
Phillips said he is only aware of the state's Office of Trade, Tourism grants and there have to be specific projects identified for those.
Deen also complained about the cost of roundabouts to which Phillips replied that they are less costly than traffic signals.
"What does a stop sign cost?" Deen shot back.
But fellow Rotarian Rock Gibboney supports the tax.
"We can't afford to be like other states and have a state income tax," Gibboney said. "We have 40 years of no planning. That's been the problem. I am definitely supportive."
Susan Latham Carr may be reached at susan.carr@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4156.
City says no to road
takeover
Subdivision not yet
built
BY LINDA JUMP
FLORIDA TODAY
It's too soon for the city to take over five roads in the 117-lot Sloneridge subdivision, council members say.
Maybe the roads should be maintained by homeowners, instead.
Developer Eastwood Park Investments, Inc. has asked the city to accept maintenance on Roble Road, Nando Avenue, Pasto Circle, Paquita Circle and Waycross Road.
But council members are wary of taking over roads in residential developments because of the legacy of the bankrupt General Development Corp., which founded Palm Bay and then abandoned it with few modern services.
"There is no benefit to us to take over those roads," said Councilman Pat Woodard. "We have enough on our plate right now."
The city maintains 860 miles of roadway. Woodard said once the $23 million Sloneridge subdivision is built out with homes, the added tax base could help pay for the maintenance of those roads, and the council might reconsider.
Only Councilwoman Donna Brooks voted in favor of the takeover request.
"In the preliminary and final plans, it was always communicated that we would take over the roads. We need to honor that commitment," she said.
There are about a half-dozen homes under construction.
City Manager Lee Feldman said it will cost an estimated $70,000 to resurface the 6,200 linear feet of roads in Sloneridge. "It is not expected that any major maintenance will be required for at least 7 to 15 years," he said.
Contact Jump at 409-1423 or ljump@brevard.gannett.com.
WaterColor Inn meets standardThe state Department of Environmental Protection launched Energy Efficient Week Friday by welcoming the St. Joe Co.'s WaterColor Inn to the Florida Green Lodging Program.
The voluntary program provides the state's lodging industry with technical assistance and encourages motels and hotels to adopt cost-saving "green" practices that conserve energy, reduce waste and protect natural resources.
The WaterColor Inn, which has installed several environmentally friendly features, is the first facility in Walton County and the first St. Joe Co. property to become certified in the program.
Energy Efficient Week, which runs through Oct. 11, encourages Floridians to invest in energy-efficient products and get some relief from sales tax for approved products and appliances of up to $1,500. For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit www.floridagreen lodging.org.
Wiregrass talks ask what is affordable
By CHUIN-WEI YAPThe county and attorneys for the development have stalemated over a definition and on how much money the project must contribute.
Published October 6, 2006
WESLEY CHAPEL - Negotiations on a major permit for the proposed Wiregrass development are bogging down over the issue of affordable housing.
A multimillion-dollar gulf is opening up between Wiregrass' attorneys and the project's regulators on what each side believes should be set aside for affordable housing in Wiregrass.
The emphasis on affordable housing comes as part of Pasco's comprehensive plan amendments approved last month. Home prices have skyrocketed, and developers are now required to set aside obligations for affordable housing. Regulators are still discussing how much.
Wiregrass attorneys want to pay Pasco $250,000, believing this would meet their obligations, according to paperwork filed in September.
But Pasco officials say a more likely obligation is $5-million.
"Did it make you laugh?" Pasco community development director George Romagnoli quipped, referring to Wiregrass' proposal. "That goes nowhere toward meeting the needs of the community."
The bumpy negotiations have already delayed one aspect of the 5,000-acre development. Officials for the Shops at Wiregrass recently announced they would push back the launch date of their mall from the end of 2007 to the end of the first quarter in 2008.
Wiregrass attorneys, Tew & Associates, believe they would need to provide affordable-housing funding for only seven households in the development. Wiregrass is proposed to have 12,000 homes.
Regulators are working to change the method for calculating affordable housing.
Wiregrass' developers based their proposal on what the county currently provides in home buyer assistance per family.
But this proposal does not take into account other factors, such as future needs, or the fact that Pasco cannot help more families than it does, because its funding is currently capped by the state.
"A better indication would be what percentage of Pasco households should be helped," Romagnoli said. "It would be seven or eight figures that (Wiregrass developers) would have to contribute."
County officials believe Wiregrass can do more, and an internal e-mail among Pasco staff laid out what may be a more realistic option.
Matthew J. Armstrong, of Pasco's long range planning division, pointed out in the Sept. 21 e-mail that $250,000 would buy just one house in Wiregrass, if at all.
"They are proposing 12,000 new homes," he wrote. "A contribution of $250,000 to Pasco represents less than 0.04 percent of (Wiregrass') potential profit."
Based on population projections up to 2025 and Wiregrass' share of new Pasco homes, Armstrong suggested that 6 percent of Wiregrass' homes be set aside as affordable housing units.
On Thursday, Armstrong said regulators are meeting to discuss a new formula that may be applied to calculate such affordable housing obligations.
"It may be $5-million that Wiregrass would need to pony up," he said, stressing that this is a tentative estimate.
Wiregrass is not the only development expected to meet these obligations on affordable housing. All projects in the pipeline, including Bexley Ranch, Pasco Town Centre and Epperson Ranch, would have to deal with it.
Chuin-Wei Yap covers growth and development in Pasco County. He can be reached at (813)909-4613 or cyap@sptimes.com.
Blame builders, developers for housing costs
St. Pete Times Letter to the EditorPublished October 6, 2006
Re: Falling housing prices
It is correct to place partial blame on the boom and slump of the housing market on speculators entering and departing the housing market. This is true in our marketplace, but a large part of the blame should be put on the builders and developers of new construction.
The major national builders over the last few years have raised prices, cut corners in construction quality and pocketed huge profits. They charge unreasonable prices for upgrades and then use corrupt appraisers to reach the overrated value. They also offer to pay buyers' closing costs, which are inflated above the norm, built into the price and not refunded to the buyer if he chooses not to use their lender. This is often up to 3 percent of the purchase price.
As the market deflates, we will watch the builders lower prices to a more reasonable level, and those who bought new construction will be stuck with homes they paid too much for and will have to wait years to recoup their initial investment. Then who is to blame? The builders, the homeowner or the lender who should have closely monitored the appraisals as the real estate market was changing?
What recourse do the new homeowners have? They paid inflated prices for their new homes, used the builders lender who did not police the values of the homes they financed and used appraisers that would reach the inflated values using unacceptable appraisal methods, used the builders' insurance company who will be dropping them in the next two years and will be watching as their neighbors buy the same house for less money. I foresee these people as the next wave of foreclosures.
Are there any attorneys out there that see this as a class-action suit?
Susan Horan, Horan Realty Group New Port Richey
Insurance costs driving people out
I wish we could tell which candidate is really trying to do something about our insurance problems. It all sounds good in these opponent-bashing campaigns, but who is really telling the truth? Our insurance was $488 in 2000 and $2,400 last fall. I can't wait for the sky to fall this billing period.
I think it was Will Rogers who once said, "The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."
I think insurance falls into that category. I just read where some banks are giving interest-free loans to low-income people to pay for insurance. Hooray for those banks. Our representatives in Florida should be so thoughtful. There are many families out there who are trying to eke out a living and afford a home of their own. Why should they be penalized?
We and many of our friends are seriously looking out of state for housing, and every real estate agent we have associated with has said we aren't alone. They are inundated with house hunters for the same reason. Something has to be done and soon.
Donna Herrick, Port Richey
LPA
creates special designation
Joshua Davidovich
Staff Writer
In addition to rural and urban, Lake County's comprehensive plan will now include a third land-use designation, "special area."
The category was created specifically for the Mount Plymouth-Sorrento area, though other unincorporated communities may sign on as well.
The Local Planning Agency is still struggling to finish the plan so it can be sent to the Lake County Commission. LPA members were hoping to continue work Thursday on the future land use map, the linchpin of the plan, but instead got stuck on what designation to give Mount Plymouth-Sorrento, which has city-like densities in a rural area.
"Neither one is a direct fit," board member Keith Schue, who championed the separate designation, said. "There's no way to try and force-fit it."
The designation will allow other unincorporated villages, such as Yalaha and Ferndale, to grow without running up against the restrictions that would come from a rural designation.
The designation brings the LPA full circle from August, when it did away with a historic village designation that would have accomplished similar goals.
"Sometimes things work out that way," said Wayne Bennet, director of planning and development services for the county.
Board member David Jordan called those original designations "Trojan horses" that would allow developers to invade rural areas of the county.
Unlike most unincorporated areas, Mount Plymouth-Sorrento acts a pseudo-city, with a county-appointed board that drafts and governs land use designation within the community. Other unincorporated communities would have to go through a similar process to gain their own protections, something Fred Cranmer of Ferndale says might not be possible for smaller communities.
Cranmer said the closest thing Ferndale has is the nonprofit Friends of Ferndale, which elects officers and acts as a voice for the community. He said the informal organization would not be able to operate under the Sunshine Law.
"We need to have an alternative way to go through this process," he said.
The LPA will convene October 19 to discuss what those alternatives might be. A meeting Oct. 9 was canceled, and the agency has a Nov. 3 deadline to submit its plan to the county. The board remained optimistic, though members admitted the Oct. 19 meeting may last late into the evening.
Nin-Hai Tseng | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 6, 2006
mmoeller@hernandotoday.com
Buy this home, get first year’s taxes free!
TAMPA -- The Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday it has a new, more
robust plan to fix the aging 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake
Okeechobee, but the agency can't say how much the project will cost or
when it will be completed.
The new concept was developed with the help of an independent review panel that found flaws with the corps' original repair plan. One analysis said the earthen barrier bears "a striking resemblance to Swiss cheese" and could fail in another major hurricane.
Concerns were heightened last year when Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans' levee system. A recent study said a major dike failure could irreversibly damage the Everglades, contaminate South Florida's drinking water supply for millions of people and threaten up to 60,000 residents.
The new design calls for a berm on the outer edge of the dike to decrease erosion caused by water seeping through the wall. A new cutoff wall would be built through the middle of the dike and should provide additional stability and repair existing damage, said Stephen Duba, chief engineer in charge of the project.
Dike construction began in 1932 after thousands of people died when the lake overflowed in hurricanes in 1926 and 1928. By 1970, the corps had reinforced the entire shoreline with muck, sand and shell fragments piled up to 35 feet high. But the dike has still leaked.
Construction using the new design criteria could start next spring.
Earlier estimates put the cost of the project at $300 million spread over 25 years. On Thursday, the corps said revised cost and time estimates were still in the works.
Perry police are investigating whether project developer Chuck Olson punched project opponent Rick Causey in the face at a meeting last week at the Perry Elks Lodge. Olson, 61, denies the incident occurred and police are looking for a witness among the more than 100 people in attendance.
"If it did happen, I'm sure somebody saw it," said Perry Police Lt. Vern Clark.
The meeting was meant to bolster local support for the project, which would bring six condominium and hotel towers as high as 25 stories to 525 acres near Dekle Beach. The project would mean filling more than 100 acres of wetlands and digging a 36-acre access channel through a state sea grass preserve.
J. Crayton Pruitt, a retired St. Petersburg heart surgeon who owns the land, said he believes the lingering environmental questions won't derail the project.
"So far no one has said anything indicating that we're not going to get approval," he said.
The Suwannee River Water Management District has twice given Pruitt an extension to answer questions before it makes a recommendation on his environmental permit. He now has until Nov. 22 to answer more than 100 questions, including some about a Port of Manatee dredging project in Manatee County that was used to show that sea grass restoration can work.
Salt Springs environmental consultant Roy "Robin" Lewis said the port project shows sea grass can be restored in one place to make up for it being damaged in another. But Lewis has joined an environmental group's lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Protection, which charges the state is allowing shipping berths to be used despite restoration work being incomplete.
The port project has shown the difficulty in restoring sea grass, said Glenn Compton, director of the ManaSota-88, a Nokomis-based environmental group that is part of the lawsuit.
"Sea grass mitigation is at best an art," he said. "It's not an exact science."
Even as those questions remain, Pruitt is moving forward in negotiations with Taylor County commissioners. The commission is scheduled Oct. 17 to discuss Pruitt's offer to give the county ownership of a 30-acre property on the site for county services as well as a planned public boat ramp.
One commissioner, Clay Bethea, attended part of the meeting in which the alleged fight occurred. Bethea said in a written statement that he "heard what sounded like one person striking another" and then looked to see Causey off-balance and Olson moving backward.
Bethea declined to answer other questions, saying he might be asked to testify.
Causey, 60, a retired soil scientist who lives in Dekle Beach, told police he refused Olson's demand to leave the meeting and was subsequently punched in the jaw. Clark said he's investigating the case further before sending it to the state attorney for possible prosecution.
Olson said he engaged in shoving, but no punch was thrown. A Treasure Island developer, he has faced legal issues before. He pleaded no contest to two cocaine-related felonies in 1993 and was sentenced to 10 years' probation, but was allowed to finish the sentence early.
He said those problems are in the past and he believes the project will move forward, despite questions about whether restoration work would be effective.
"If you do it properly, it can be done," he said.
The development would bring more than 1,400 hotel rooms and condos to an area touted as the least-developed coast in the country. It would include stores, restaurants, a waterside amphitheater, a helicopter pad and a marina with 374 boat slips.
Boaters would have Gulf access via a 2-mile long, 100-foot-wide channel cut through the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve. Lewis said the developers would make up for the damage by restoring seagrass scars sliced by propellers and conducting education efforts with boaters to prevent further destruction.
"There will no net loss of seagrass in this project," he said.
Lewis was a consultant on the Port of Manatee project, before quitting in 2003. He said the project's sea grass restoration work wasn't being done according to his specifications, causing problems in its effectiveness.
He said he believes Magnolia Bay's proposed sea grass restoration will be different.
"The bottom line is if you do it right, it works, and if you don't do it right, it doesn't work," he said.
The water district, in its letter to Pruitt, cited a report by Lewis that found that the port's sea grass restoration project "largely failed at a cost of $6 million." The district will not accept the restoration of prop scars as mitigation for the channel dredging, according to the letter.
"Any given prop scar has the potential to revegetate naturally with no further action," the letter said.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also sent letters expressing concerns about the project. The Fish and Wildlife Commission questioned whether damage to the sea grass and wetlands could hurt manatees, commercial and recreational fisheries and shorebirds.
The project would fill 100 acres of wetlands, including 35 acres of coastal marsh. Environmental consultant Beverly Birkitt said proposals to restore wetlands are still being completed, but will result in wetlands that better circulate water.
"It will actually be left in better condition after the project than before the project," she said.
Causey began his opposition to the development because of concerns about its environmental impact. He said the alleged fight with Olson has helped convince locals who were unsure about the project.
"The ones that were on the fence about the project . . . have fallen off on our side," he said.
Nathan Crabbe can be reached at 352-338-3176 or crabben@gvillesun.com.
Sentinel Staff Writer
October 6, 2006
Only a year ago, officials proposed buying a slice of waterfront to preserve a swath of wetlands and a distinctive bluff overlooking the St. Johns River.
But the prime real estate proved too pricey. Local officials on Thursday were embracing a new vision for the property -- a members-only cluster of luxury living with DeBary's first yacht club and scores of multimillion-dollar homes.
The proposal popped up at Wednesday's City Council meeting, where developers enticed council members with plans to extend sewer lines, pave Fort Florida Road and generate a property-tax windfall.
Representatives of St. Johns Partners LLC are proposing to develop 110 acres of a 330-acre site and carve a multimillion-dollar project out of the secluded backwoods.
"We think that this idea of a private yacht club is a way to protect the river and also to allow many people to have use of that river," Joe Krzys, a partner with the group, told council members Wednesday.
Krzys, who lives in Naples, could not be reached Thursday for comment. Calls to others in the group were not immediately returned.
The project is to include a marina, a private island dedicated to recreation, stretches of boardwalks overlooking the river, 220 acres of preserved wetlands, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a private yacht club.
"This is a magnificent piece of land," Krzys told council members. He said his group planned to preserve as many trees as possible and "develop around the environment."
The site is just north of Meadowlea-on-the-River mobile-home park near Konomac Lake, where area residents have complained about sewer problems, dirt roads and growth.
The exact number of homes is unknown. But as many as 275 single-family homes could be built on the 110 acres deemed developable, according to Council member Patrick Fulton. The remaining 220 acres would be preserved under the plan.
Neighbors said Thursday they are warming up to the new project because of the offer to pave Fort Florida Road and extend sewer lines.
"I don't have a problem with them building a yacht club. That's the beauty of living by the river. That's why we're so protective of it," said Gertrude DeSantis, president of the Meadowlea Improvement Association. "And 300 neighbors is better than 600."
The project is proposed to span two properties -- one owned by William Eagan and the other owned by Murphy Investment Group, records show.
The county's Volusia Forever advisory board last year looked into buying the properties to preserve them, but the combined price -- $16.6 million -- was too steep, said Doug Weaver, the group's director of land acquisition and management.
After watching Wednesday's 15-minute presentation about the development plan, city officials said they liked what they heard.
"It looked very, very good," Mayor George Coleman said. "I think it'll bring in a lot of new taxes, which would be good for the city. It seems like it would be a great development."
Residents -- even development opponents such as Mark Meister -- seem to agree.
"I was pretty impressed myself because they were talking about million-dollar homes," said Meister, who saw the presentation. "We need something down here in DeBary, and there's really nothing down here -- except little old Meadowlea."
Fulton described it as an "eco-development" and a good fit for DeBary's future.
"It's such a nice project and the density is not going to be overwhelming," Fulton said. "If they're telling us the way it really is -- million-dollar homes, preserving the environment -- then this is going to be really good."
Yacht club, pricey homes pitched on river
Tanya Caldwell can be reached at tcaldwell@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7910.
Joshua Davidovich
Staff Writer
In addition to rural and urban, Lake County's comprehensive plan will now include a third land-use designation, "special area."
The category was created specifically for the Mount Plymouth-Sorrento area, though other unincorporated communities may sign on as well.
The Local Planning Agency is still struggling to finish the plan so it can be sent to the Lake County Commission. LPA members were hoping to continue work Thursday on the future land use map, the linchpin of the plan, but instead got stuck on what designation to give Mount Plymouth-Sorrento, which has city-like densities in a rural area.
"Neither one is a direct fit," board member Keith Schue, who championed the separate designation, said. "There's no way to try and force-fit it."
The designation will allow other unincorporated villages, such as Yalaha and Ferndale, to grow without running up against the restrictions that would come from a rural designation.
The designation brings the LPA full circle from August, when it did away with a historic village designation that would have accomplished similar goals.
"Sometimes things work out that way," said Wayne Bennet, director of planning and development services for the county.
Board member David Jordan called those original designations "Trojan horses" that would allow developers to invade rural areas of the county.
Unlike most unincorporated areas, Mount Plymouth-Sorrento acts a pseudo-city, with a county-appointed board that drafts and governs land use designation within the community. Other unincorporated communities would have to go through a similar process to gain their own protections, something Fred Cranmer of Ferndale says might not be possible for smaller communities.
Cranmer said the closest thing Ferndale has is the nonprofit Friends of Ferndale, which elects officers and acts as a voice for the community. He said the informal organization would not be able to operate under the Sunshine Law.
"We need to have an alternative way to go through this process," he said.
The LPA will convene October 19 to discuss what those alternatives might be. A meeting Oct. 9 was canceled, and the agency has a Nov. 3 deadline to submit its plan to the county. The board remained optimistic, though members admitted the Oct. 19 meeting may last late into the evening.
Planners see east Lake as
special blend: Urban-rural
Mount Plymouth and Sorrento may get their own land-use rules.
Nin-Hai Tseng | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 6, 2006
TAVARES -- When it comes to future growth, the neighboring communities
of Mount Plymouth and Sorrento could receive their own special land-use
rules, an advisory board recommended Thursday.
The Local Planning Agency voted to recognize the complexities of the roughly 7,000 acres of east Lake by proposing to acknowledge both rural and urban characteristics in determining how the community should grow.
The Local Planning Agency voted to recognize the complexities of the roughly 7,000 acres of east Lake by proposing to acknowledge both rural and urban characteristics in determining how the community should grow.
Cunty staffers had proposed categorizing the two unincorporated areas
as either "rural" or "urban."
However, some said that would be an oversimplification because plans for
Mount Plymouth and Sorrento allow denser developments in some places and
sparser growth in other parts.
"This area is unique," said Jeanne Etter, a member of the
Mount Plymouth-Sorrento Planning Advisory Committee that spent almost
three years planning for the area's future.
That panel, which was created by county commissioners, gave residents
instead of only planners a critical say about what their communities
will look like.
Members of Etter's committee seek to preserve the rural charm of Mount
Plymouth and Sorrento.
They want wide sidewalks, tree-lined streets, outdoor cafes and no
big-box developments, which typically sprout in growing suburbs.
The Local Planning Agency's idea for the Mount Plymouth-Sorrento area
could be applied to other parts of the county such as Yalaha and
Ferndale.
The recommendations are among dozens of proposals being considered for
inclusion in the county's overall growth plan, which is being updated.
The Local Planning Agency's recommendations will be sent to county
commissioners, who have the final say.
Pressure is mounting to complete updates to the growth plan.
At Thursday's meeting, advisory board members were expected to discuss
the centerpiece of the plan: the future land-use map showing which lands
will be developed and preserved.
Members said they will continue the discussion at the next meeting
scheduled for Oct. 19.
Nin-Hai Tseng can be reached at nhtseng@orlandosentinel.com or
352-742-5919.
Indialantic couple seeing
green
New home will feature
Earth-friendly materials
BY SHAWNA S. KELSCH
FOR FLORIDA TODAY
The color green is one that frequently comes to mind when describing one aspect of Florida: lush green palm trees; hues of blue-green ocean; green turtles.
If a West Melbourne couple has their way, the word will also find its way into construction and development vernaculars when describing earth-friendly (and hurricane-hardy) building practices.
The idea came about after Mark Baker, a licensed home reconstruction expert, and his longtime partner, Nonnie Chrystal, began exploring ways to rebuild the Indialantic home of Mark's 74-year-old mother, Betty Baker-Farley.
After two hurricanes and black mold made her 2,024-square-foot home uninhabitable, the two began researching ways to rebuild the home using Earth-friendly materials that resist mold and could withstand harsh beachside conditions and hurricane-force winds.
"Our research enabled us to meet Mike Myers, considered by many in the building industry as the 'grandfather' of green building practices," said Chrystal, who attended a seminar on green building practices at which Myers was a keynote speaker.
Working with Myers, the two discovered a whole new universe of terms and ideas that could help turn a house from a concrete structure to a "True Green Building," which affords the homeowner a voice in the consumption of energy, efficient practices for heating, cooling and protecting a home against the elements as well as environmental output of materials.
So instead of building a solid block building, Baker and Chrystal began contacting product manufacturers of green building supplies to create a plan to rebuild the home into a "Near to Zero Energy Home."
The building's wood frame package, for example, will consist of Bluwood, a chemically treated hardwood that protects against mold fungus, rot fungi and wood-ingesting insects, including Formosan termites.
This tenacious termite causes more than $1 billion in damage annually in the 12 or so Southern states where it is found, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said Charles Morando, president of Wood Smart Solutions in Boca Raton, parent company of Bluwood.
The home also will employ two dozen or more other green products, including solar and vertical wind technology components, energy star efficient appliances and special paints and roofing materials. Monitoring systems will be installed to track energy efficiency, Chrystal said.
The couple's goal is to meet or exceed building practice standards as outlined in the Building America Project guidelines, as well as the National Association of Homebuilders, the U.S. Green Building Coalition's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the Florida Green Building Commission and others, she said.
Murando, whose mold-resistant Bluwood was featured on ABC's "Extreme Home Makeover/Home Edition" on Oct. 2, is happy to be participating.
"We're excited to help educate the public about our product and about furthering the initiatives of the Green Building movement," he said.
Additionally, the Department of Energy is considering the home -- which has been dubbed the Florida Showcase Green Envirohome -- as a demonstration project for a new vertical wind technology unit that will generate power to the house at an estimated one-10th the cost of solar technology with five times the output.
"Once the home is completed, we'll open it to the public for tours so they can come see what this is all about and learn how to use these technologies to help protect the Earth and reduce energy costs," said Baker, who will handle all the construction himself.
Lake Worth debuts farmer's market
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 06, 2006
LAKE WORTH — After 10 years of developing West Palm Beach's GreenMarket into a countywide success, Peter Robinson wanted something new, something different.
The Lake Worth resident found that something at the bottom of the Lake Worth beach dune in an empty parking lot usually reserved for recreational vehicles.
Now, each Saturday morning until April, the once barren black asphalt will be filled with about 35 vendors selling anything from bread and cheese to roses and garden art.
City commissioners unanimously approved allowing Robinson to operate his Oceanside Farmer's Market on a one-year trial basis. Commissioners will vote again next year on the market location, depending on possible construction at the beach.
Robinson will kick off the market's opening day at 7 a.m., with a new line up of farm-fresh produce, seafood, pastries, herbs, coffee, tea and juices.
But there are a few things visitors won't find at the market along State Road A1A and Lake Avenue.
"I don't allow crafts and junk in it," Robinson said. "I always do a pure market, that's just who I am."
As the former executive director of the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, Robinson transformed the European-style market from eight vendors to a roster of more than 60 before he left last year.
"He did a wonderful job here," West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel said.
Although the oceanside market is expected to draw crowds from Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Manalapan, Hypoluxo and Lantana, Frankel said she's not concerned that it will take away from the GreenMarket.
"I don't see that as a problem," Frankel said. "There's a lot of competition a lot of places, but there's been a lot of following here."
Mayor Marc Drautz, who met Robinson at the GreenMarket, said he was surprised how much response the Lake Worth market has had before its opened.
"We don't know how big he is going to get," Drautz said.
Robinson has added a few new features such as upscale vendors. He also will have demonstrations from well-known chefs and charity fund-raisers.
Chef Adam Parker of The Blue Swan catering and Aramark corporate dining will demonstrate at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. how to make a chilled golden goose gazpacho with jumbo lump crab salad.
"What I try to do are things that are exciting and taste really good," Parker said.
Parker also will do a live demonstration for the market's "Savor the Flavor," a celebrity chef event to benefit Hospice of the Palm Beaches on Oct. 14
At the fund-raiser visitors can sample foods and drinks from the kitchens of The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida Culinary Institute, The Ocean Club Beach Resort as well as Lake Worth's own Java Juice and the Taco Lady.
"I really want to make community involvement strong," Robinson said. "That's what a successful market is to me."
Tom Ramiccio, president of the Greater Lake Worth Chamber of Commerce, said he's looking forward to a farmer's market coming to town.
"It's going to bring those people who otherwise wouldn't have visited," he said. "A part of our lifestyle is our events and this is just going to be another feather in our hat."
Slumping real estate market offers incentives
By MORGAN C. MOELLERmmoeller@hernandotoday.com
Buy this home, get first year’s taxes free!
Buy this home, get a free car!
Buy this home, get the second one free — OK, so maybe it hasn’t gone that far, but in a slumping real estate market, some sellers are willing to do whatever it takes to grab a buyer’s attention.
Lennar Homes is giving away a new Ford Mustang with the purchase of certain models as part of their “Everything’s Included” special. Meanwhile, sellers around the county are throwing in other incentives, like free property taxes for the first year, in hopes of attracting buyers.
Gary Budek, president of the Hernando County Association of Realtors, said people are trying to come up with unique ways to sell their homes in a market that’s slumping.
“We’ve seen a lot of different unique incentives being offered,” Budek said. “The bottom line is you have to be very competitive in today’s market.”
Some sellers are advertising a bonus — as much as $10,000 in some cases — to whoever sells the home in hopes of luring Realtors, he said.
Woody Marr, of Keller-Williams, said incentives like that are usually used to get someone to the door. But more often than not, it’s not the incentives that sell a home, he said. It’s the price.
One of Marr’s customers was trying to sell a home for $289,000. It sat on the market for six or seven months. The customer asked Marr how to get rid of the property. Marr suggested he knock it down to $234,900. The house sold in three days.
“The true factor is price, price, price,” Marr said. “When the price of the home meets the value, the home will sell.”
Problem: Sellers want more money for their homes than today’s market allows, Marr said. In some cases, ironically, an overpriced home can actually work in favor of neighbors who are also trying to sell their homes. If there are two identical homes and one is $40,000 more than the other, which are you going to buy? Marr asked.
The way Gary Schraut, of Coldwell Banker, Schraut and Associates, sees it, nothing is free. Not the free oil changes a car dealership offers, and not the free incentives offered with the purchase of a home. The seller has to recoup it somewhere, he said.
That said, nothing would surprise him as far as special offers go, and it’s actually a pretty good marketing technique, he added. But in the end, he agrees with Marr and Budek: it’s the price that sells.
“The key is in the price of the home, not what they’re offering to give away for free,” Schraut said.
A different take on real estate
While some sellers are trying to entice Realtors with bonuses and extras, Flat Fee Realty is doing just the opposite. Flat Fee Realty charges 4 percent commission with a 1.5 percent rebate of the commissioned price if the listing agent sells the home.
The program was started in an effort to save people money.
“No one really has a whole lot of money,” said Sharon Hagner, office manager at Flat Fee Realty. “... Basically, the broker set this up in an effort to alleviate some of the people’s stresses.”
Real estate commissions typically range from 4 to 6 percent. However, services may vary. Hagner said Flat Fee Realty offers full services at 4 percent.
Many of Flat Fee Realty’s customers are senior citizens who are looking to relocate to a home where they can get more assistance. The seniors usually need every penny they can get, she said.
Although the rate is great for the seller, some Realtors shy away from the properties because the commission is so low, Hagner said. She refers to it as “shopping commissions.”
“I think that they look into the multiple listing, and, I have heard this from several people, they say ‘Well, I don’t know if I can afford to show yours,’” Hagner said.
But she believes if the house is priced right and the proper advertising is in place, professionalism will win out and the property will sell, she said.
The market forecast
Though the slashed prices and turtle-like market may make it seem inevitable, the real estate market will not crash, by Schraut’s account. In 2008, the baby boomers will start retiring — arguably the most educated, early retiring group the world has ever seen and in the largest numbers, Schraut said.
“Taking that into consideration, I don’t see a housing market crash,” Schraut said.
Schraut predicts housing prices will remain flat for the next two to three years, but as long as people continue to buy and sell (and they are at this point) the real estate market will be stable, he said. There was very little appreciation in the ‘90s, and the county’s market continued to see activity, he said.
“So can you have a good real estate market while prices stay stable? Yes, you can, because we had a good real estate market through that entire time frame,” Schraut said.
Budek, president of the local Realtors association, said the market right now is in line with what Realtors saw in 2002 and 2003.
“We are seeing the market stabilize well at this point,” he said. “... Properties are still selling. They’re not selling like they were for the past year and a half because the market has changed all over the country.”
With interest rates remaining “stable,” his predictions are in line with Schraut’s.
“Appreciation will slow in most markets, but the market will still be active,” he said.
Reporter Morgan Moeller can be contacted at 352-544-5229.
Judge hears challenge of DeBary rezoning denial
DELAND -- No ruling was reached Thursday in
a developer's bid to rezone a 278-acre parcel in DeBary for a planned
600-home subdivision.
Empire Cattle Inc. is suing to overturn the DeBary City Council's
denial in March of the company's application to rezone property south of
Fort Florida Road and west of Barwick Road, in the city's southwestern
section. The company wants to build townhomes and single-family homes.
In a hearing Thursday at the Volusia County Courthouse, DeBary attorney
Dan Langley said the city had legal grounds to deny the developer's
request to rezone the tract. In rejecting Empire Cattle's bid, council
members in March said 600 homes were too many in an area containing
wetlands and property in the 100-year flood plain.
Langley also cited overcrowded schools, inadequate flood protection and
narrow roads as factors in the council's decision.
But Empire Cattle attorney Mark Watts argued the council's ruling was
not based on facts and evidence presented at the March rezoning hearing.
He said the number of homes per acre proposed for the development is lower
than the number allowed on the tract under the city's comprehensive plan.
Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson said she would spend a few days studying
the case before making a decision.
Development with
97 townhomes, possible pool given 1st OK
HIGH SPRINGS – A neighborhood with 97 townhouses and a
development that mixes homes with commercial properties may soon be in
store for High Springs.
The development of townhouses, on 13 acres of land on U.S. 441 near Boat
Ramp Road, was granted a conditional use permit Sept. 28, and that will
allow the developer to begin preliminary work on the development.
City Planner Christian Popoli said that although the site, which is zoned
for commercial use, could have up to 156 units, the developer instead
requested a permit for 97 units.
“It does have the potential to be a nice development,” Popoli said.
Also, City Manager Jim Drumm said, the development would be on city water
and sewer systems, which would decrease the environmental impact.
Gary Grunder, who represents the developer, said that
some questions are still being evaluated, such as whether the development
will have a pool, whether the streets will be public or private and
whether the community will be gated.
These issues will be addressed before the development is built, he said.
Before starting to build, a final plat permit must be approved.
The other development, which is proposed to be a mixture of homes and
commercial space on 43 acres on U.S. 441 near Northwest 222nd Street, was
granted a land use change from industrial to the less intense
classification of commercial.
Drumm said that the decrease in land use intensity would be good for the
site, which is considered one of the gateways into High Springs.
Many years ago, he said, the city decided to put industrial businesses on
the fringe of the city. But as the city grew, he said, the inner core grew
outward and now what used to be the fringe is closer to the core.
By changing the land from industrial use to commercial,
he said, the commissioners could correct that problem.
Grunder, who represented this developer as well, said that the development
is just in the beginning stages of planning.
Before anything could be built, the zoning of the land also will have to
be changed before the developer can even begin the process to apply for a
permit to begin the building process.
“The intention is to put a multi-family complex in the back and more of
a retail, commercial area in the front,” Grunder said.
Sides square off in height
debate
BY JESSICA RAYNOR
FLORIDA TODAY
One side worries about decreased development. The other fears high rises will choke the city's character.
About 100 residents attended a public forum Thursday night to debate a proposed 35-foot limit on building heights in Titusville
Titusville River Watch, which originated a referendum on the issue, decided at the last minute to attend the forum in Titusville City Council chambers. It had planned to refrain from participation because of pending litigation, but it no longer is involved in the litigation.
Save Titusville's Future -- the group organized to oppose the amendment -- attended in force, with some wearing T-shirts promoting saying "no" to the charter amendment.
Marilyn Crotty with the Institute of Government at the University of Central Florida moderated the forum, assuring the audience of her neutrality.
Reva Harris of Save Titusville's Future, said the amendment severely limits what a landowner could do with his or her property. She also warned of potential lawsuits.
"I just want to say that our city is at a critical crossroads," she said. "Will Titusville grow and prosper according to citizens' needs? I feel like we are failing our citizens if we don't provide growth opportunities."
Deborah Andrews, the Ponte Vedre Beach attorney for Titusville River Watch, said the amendment would not limit development, pointing to Jacksonville Beach as an example, and property owners have the opportunity to defend its vested rights.
"Common sense and experience show you, if there's money to be made, the businesses will come," she said.
Crotty then took questions from the audience, ranging from whether the charter amendment would prevent businesses from coming to Titusville to the issues of vested rights and annexation.
But most questions centered on one issue: would the amendment promote or limit sprawl, which would put pressure on public services.
Opponents say yes. Developers would have to build out rather than up, taking up more land and thus requiring more infrastructure.
"It does not comply with the downtown master plan, or the U.S. 1 corridor study," Harris said. "This is in essence a hijacking of planning. What it does encourage is sprawl."
Proponents say no. The city already has provisions in place to prevent sprawl, Andrews said. "The city has to stop the sprawl part," she said.
After the question and answer period, members of the audience asked the panel questions.
Members of the audience also posed questions.
One proponent took issue with comments made that the River Watch group misrepresented the charter amendment by saying it affected only the riverfront. She said the people she talked to knew it affected the entire city and were pleased with that.
"They said 'thank you, thank you, thank you,' " Paula Slater said. "We came here because we liked the beauty, the nature the trees. Very few said, no I don't want it. We had tourists saying don't let them ruin your beautiful city."
John Evans of Titusville said that voting for the amendment would prohibit growth and keep Titusville from becoming a vibrant, healthy city.
"It really boils down to what you want to see," he said. "If you want to see 30 years of stagnation, then vote for this amendment."
Contact Raynor at 360-1016 or at jraynor@brevard.gannett.com.
New plan for dike leaves
questions
A $300 million plan to strengthen the dike around Lake Okeechobee will be overhauled, but important questions remained unanswered.
cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
A $300 million plan to strengthen the dike around Lake Okeechobee will be overhauled, but important questions remained unanswered.
cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
New plan for Lake Okeechobee dike overhaul leaves questions
After criticism from state consultants and an internal review, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scrapped its $300 million plan for shoring up the aging dike around Lake Okeechobee.
The agency unveiled a more ''robust'' design on Thursday that would better withstand hurricanes and high water, but it also would cost ''significantly'' more -- in large part because it would require buying residential backyards and other private properties in the shadow of the earthen levee ringing Florida's largest lake.
While Corps leaders could not estimate how much the work might cost or when it might be completed, they called it a top priority to upgrade the structure that protects more than 40,000 people -- particularly after last year's harsh lesson from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
''Public safety trumps everything else. It's impossible to put a value on human life,'' said Stephen Duba, the Corps' district engineering chief, in a conference call with reporters. ``I don't see any crack in the commitment by the Corps of Engineers or Congress to pursue this project.''
The 70-year-old, 143-mile-long Herbert Hoover Dike has long leaked, but concerns over its integrity intensified in the wake of Katrina, which overwhelmed a faulty levee system and flooded New Orleans.
In May, a panel of engineering experts hired by South Florida water managers issued an alarming report pronouncing the dike a ''grave and imminent danger,'' prompting Gov. Jeb Bush to urge immediate federal action.
The massive levee was built after hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 swamped Belle Glade and surrounding towns, drowning 3,000 people. Though a football-field wide at its base, the levee was constructed to 1930s standards and consisted of uncompacted sand, peat and fill, much of it dredged up from the lake.
While the Corps initially defended the safety of the dike and its repair plan, the agency halted the first leg of work in July after problems developed in getting a cement-like ''cutoff'' wall dug into the dike to properly harden. The Corps also said it wanted to complete a technical review prompted by the state report.
Now, after scrutiny by 11 engineers, nine from the Corps and two from the South Florida Water Management District, the Corps has overhauled its plan.
Though repairs will take decades to complete, the technical experts echoed state leaders in calling for a faster schedule.
Paul Grosskruger, commander of the Corps' Jacksonville-based district, called repairs his ''top priority.'' Work could begin again by February, Corps officials said.
While the new repair plan has not been finalized, the agency intends to adopt a key change advocated by state consultants -- moving the ''cutoff'' wall up to the crown of the dike, where it would protect more of a structure that has been weakened from internal erosion. The Corps already is discussing lowering lake levels to reduce water pressure and damaging seepage.
The plan also calls for what Duba called the ''primary line of defense'' -- a new reinforcing berm on the landside toe of the dike. That would require buying up an undetermined but potentially large amount of private land around much of the lake.
George Horne, a district deputy director who took part in the review, said state water managers were happy with the changes and committed to acquire land as quickly as possible.
Duba defended the Corps' original repair scheme, saying the new blueprint did not reflect deficiencies but rather tougher Corps guidelines adopted in the wake of Katrina.
But a 65-page technical report the Corps also released raised numerous questions about inadequate risk assessments and contractor oversight to the unaddressed impact of wind-blown water overtopping the dike.
''The design restraints seem more concerned with minimizing small inconvenience to the local residents than overall safety,'' commented one reviewer, George Sills, a Corps levee and dam expert.
Duba said the plan would not meet Gov. Bush's call to rebuild the earthen levee to the higher standards of a dam, designed to withstand a severe, 1-in-10,000-year flood or hurricane -- a change he said would require congressional approval.
With a low lake level, the Corps considers the dike safe for now, but heavy rains or a hurricane could change that, Duba said.
''I'm not going to sugar-coat the condition of the dike,'' he said. ``I can just tell you we're doing the best we can.''
Corps Has New Plan To Fix Dike, But No Cost
The new concept was developed with the help of an independent review panel that found flaws with the corps' original repair plan. One analysis said the earthen barrier bears "a striking resemblance to Swiss cheese" and could fail in another major hurricane.
Concerns were heightened last year when Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans' levee system. A recent study said a major dike failure could irreversibly damage the Everglades, contaminate South Florida's drinking water supply for millions of people and threaten up to 60,000 residents.
The new design calls for a berm on the outer edge of the dike to decrease erosion caused by water seeping through the wall. A new cutoff wall would be built through the middle of the dike and should provide additional stability and repair existing damage, said Stephen Duba, chief engineer in charge of the project.
Dike construction began in 1932 after thousands of people died when the lake overflowed in hurricanes in 1926 and 1928. By 1970, the corps had reinforced the entire shoreline with muck, sand and shell fragments piled up to 35 feet high. But the dike has still leaked.
Construction using the new design criteria could start next spring.
Earlier estimates put the cost of the project at $300 million spread over 25 years. On Thursday, the corps said revised cost and time estimates were still in the works.
Corps embraces aggressive dike fixes
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 06, 2006
An old limestone quarry north of Pahokee is one of the Herbert Hoover Dike's most vulnerable points and should be a priority as the 70-year-old dike is reinforced, a new study has found.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it will totally revamp a $300 million project intended to make the dike safer, after an unusual second technical review called for a more aggressive — and more costly — approach.
Some reviewers said public safety had taken a back seat to convenience and cost when the reinforcement plan was first authorized in 2000.
"The design restraints seem more concerned with minimizing small inconvenience to the local residences than overall safety," one reviewer said.
Under the old plan, the corps started by shoring up sections of the dike with the least complicated landownership.
Work began in an area around Port Mayaca, a section that paradoxically was deemed less likely to breach. Construction problems forced a halt to the work there.
Under the new plan, the most vulnerable spots on the 143-mile dike should be the focus, even if land has to be acquired, the technical review said.
The most vulnerable areas include quarries and water management structures, especially those near towns, and areas that have leaked badly in the past.
The sea change follows the New Orleans levee disaster after Hurricane Katrina and a "grave and imminent danger" warning issued in May by a state-hired panel of experts who looked at the risk of dike failure.
Following that report, Gov. Jeb Bush called on the corps to improve the dike to meet dam standards, which would mean it could withstand a 10,000-year flood event.
Col. Paul Grosskruger, the corps' new district commander, said a team of in-house experts took a second look in July. A larger team of experts met in September to add comments.
"I was really proud when I heard they came up with a consensus for a design concept," Grosskruger said. "It was a concept sketch that we're now evaluating to make sure we can incorporate it into a tangible design."
The experts recommended that the trench on the outside of the dike, a design that economized on land, be abandoned in favor of a wider gravel berm. The berm would fill in a ditch around the perimeter of the dike and extend past it, allowing water to pass through but preventing the sand and silt that made up the dike from escaping.
The plan for a second line of defense, a cutoff wall designed to block leaks in key areas, should be changed, the experts said.
The wall should be lengthened and moved to the crest of the dike. That way, it could be upgraded if further studies deem Bush's dam standard necessary.
"When they looked at the current design, they looked through the lens of the lessons we learned from Katrina," Grosskruger said.
A list of 12 "lessons learned" from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was issued by the corps in August. It dictates that projects with "high loss of life potential" undergo continuous review and be changed and improved as new information arises.
"The design we had before tried to minimize the conflicts with private property ownership," said Nanciann Regalado, the corps' district chief of corporate communications. "Now we don't care, in that we're going to go with the land acquisition plan that gives us the greatest public safety. That's something that I think you're going to see across the country now that we've seen what an event like Katrina can do."
The existing dike is nothing more than a pile of sand, silt and dirt that's about 35 to 45 feet high, wide as a football field and 143 miles long, tracing the perimeter of Lake Okeechobee. About 40,000 people live in its shadow, including residents of Port Mayaca, Canal Point, Pahokee, Belle Glade, South Bay and Clewiston.
The corps is spending about $2 million a year to plug the leaks that erupt.
At the moment, the lake is at 13.3 feet above sea level, about 2 feet below the surrounding community, said Stephen Duba, chief of the corps' engineering division.
"That's a very safe lake level on the dike that doesn't constitute any hazard," Duba said. "I can't tell you Herbert Hoover Dike is going to be safe till the end of next year. I can't tell you what's going to happen to the end of this hurricane season. I can just tell you we're doing the best we can."
Repairs according to the now-rejected plan have been under way since December around Port Mayaca, but they haven't gone well, the engineers acknowledged. Sand "windows" pockmark the more than mile-long concrete cutoff wall installed under a $19.5 million contract. Work is stopped.
"The wall as it exists today is not what we were looking for as a final product," Duba said, adding that it's an improvement on what was there.
The engineers had no estimates of how much revamping the plan will add to its $300 million total cost, saying study is needed. Complicating matters, it will require the purchase of private land around the dike.
Meanwhile, additional analysis is under way to look at how the dike will perform in intense storms. That will consider whether additional measures such as adding a lengthy emergency spillway or shoring up the project to dam standards are needed, Duba said. Those determinations should be finished in May, he said.
In Pahokee, Mayor J.P. Sasser said he had full confidence in the corps. Before the dike was built, a deadly hurricane in 1928 killed more than 2,500 people. Nothing like that has happened since, he said.
"I just can't get worked up into worrying about the dike," Sasser said. "We see the Army Corps maintaining it all the time. I just have confidence in their abilities."
Tension mounts over Taylor development PERRY - The Magnolia Bay resort and marina proposed on the Taylor County coast has brought allegations of flying fists, as questions remain about the project's environmental impact.Perry police are investigating whether project developer Chuck Olson punched project opponent Rick Causey in the face at a meeting last week at the Perry Elks Lodge. Olson, 61, denies the incident occurred and police are looking for a witness among the more than 100 people in attendance.
"If it did happen, I'm sure somebody saw it," said Perry Police Lt. Vern Clark.
The meeting was meant to bolster local support for the project, which would bring six condominium and hotel towers as high as 25 stories to 525 acres near Dekle Beach. The project would mean filling more than 100 acres of wetlands and digging a 36-acre access channel through a state sea grass preserve.
J. Crayton Pruitt, a retired St. Petersburg heart surgeon who owns the land, said he believes the lingering environmental questions won't derail the project.
"So far no one has said anything indicating that we're not going to get approval," he said.
The Suwannee River Water Management District has twice given Pruitt an extension to answer questions before it makes a recommendation on his environmental permit. He now has until Nov. 22 to answer more than 100 questions, including some about a Port of Manatee dredging project in Manatee County that was used to show that sea grass restoration can work.
Salt Springs environmental consultant Roy "Robin" Lewis said the port project shows sea grass can be restored in one place to make up for it being damaged in another. But Lewis has joined an environmental group's lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Protection, which charges the state is allowing shipping berths to be used despite restoration work being incomplete.
The port project has shown the difficulty in restoring sea grass, said Glenn Compton, director of the ManaSota-88, a Nokomis-based environmental group that is part of the lawsuit.
"Sea grass mitigation is at best an art," he said. "It's not an exact science."
Even as those questions remain, Pruitt is moving forward in negotiations with Taylor County commissioners. The commission is scheduled Oct. 17 to discuss Pruitt's offer to give the county ownership of a 30-acre property on the site for county services as well as a planned public boat ramp.
One commissioner, Clay Bethea, attended part of the meeting in which the alleged fight occurred. Bethea said in a written statement that he "heard what sounded like one person striking another" and then looked to see Causey off-balance and Olson moving backward.
Bethea declined to answer other questions, saying he might be asked to testify.
Causey, 60, a retired soil scientist who lives in Dekle Beach, told police he refused Olson's demand to leave the meeting and was subsequently punched in the jaw. Clark said he's investigating the case further before sending it to the state attorney for possible prosecution.
Olson said he engaged in shoving, but no punch was thrown. A Treasure Island developer, he has faced legal issues before. He pleaded no contest to two cocaine-related felonies in 1993 and was sentenced to 10 years' probation, but was allowed to finish the sentence early.
He said those problems are in the past and he believes the project will move forward, despite questions about whether restoration work would be effective.
"If you do it properly, it can be done," he said.
The development would bring more than 1,400 hotel rooms and condos to an area touted as the least-developed coast in the country. It would include stores, restaurants, a waterside amphitheater, a helicopter pad and a marina with 374 boat slips.
Boaters would have Gulf access via a 2-mile long, 100-foot-wide channel cut through the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve. Lewis said the developers would make up for the damage by restoring seagrass scars sliced by propellers and conducting education efforts with boaters to prevent further destruction.
"There will no net loss of seagrass in this project," he said.
Lewis was a consultant on the Port of Manatee project, before quitting in 2003. He said the project's sea grass restoration work wasn't being done according to his specifications, causing problems in its effectiveness.
He said he believes Magnolia Bay's proposed sea grass restoration will be different.
"The bottom line is if you do it right, it works, and if you don't do it right, it doesn't work," he said.
The water district, in its letter to Pruitt, cited a report by Lewis that found that the port's sea grass restoration project "largely failed at a cost of $6 million." The district will not accept the restoration of prop scars as mitigation for the channel dredging, according to the letter.
"Any given prop scar has the potential to revegetate naturally with no further action," the letter said.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also sent letters expressing concerns about the project. The Fish and Wildlife Commission questioned whether damage to the sea grass and wetlands could hurt manatees, commercial and recreational fisheries and shorebirds.
The project would fill 100 acres of wetlands, including 35 acres of coastal marsh. Environmental consultant Beverly Birkitt said proposals to restore wetlands are still being completed, but will result in wetlands that better circulate water.
"It will actually be left in better condition after the project than before the project," she said.
Causey began his opposition to the development because of concerns about its environmental impact. He said the alleged fight with Olson has helped convince locals who were unsure about the project.
"The ones that were on the fence about the project . . . have fallen off on our side," he said.
Nathan Crabbe can be reached at 352-338-3176 or crabben@gvillesun.com.
DeBary likes ritzy plan
Tanya CaldwellSentinel Staff Writer
October 6, 2006
Only a year ago, officials proposed buying a slice of waterfront to preserve a swath of wetlands and a distinctive bluff overlooking the St. Johns River.
But the prime real estate proved too pricey. Local officials on Thursday were embracing a new vision for the property -- a members-only cluster of luxury living with DeBary's first yacht club and scores of multimillion-dollar homes.
The proposal popped up at Wednesday's City Council meeting, where developers enticed council members with plans to extend sewer lines, pave Fort Florida Road and generate a property-tax windfall.
Representatives of St. Johns Partners LLC are proposing to develop 110 acres of a 330-acre site and carve a multimillion-dollar project out of the secluded backwoods.
"We think that this idea of a private yacht club is a way to protect the river and also to allow many people to have use of that river," Joe Krzys, a partner with the group, told council members Wednesday.
Krzys, who lives in Naples, could not be reached Thursday for comment. Calls to others in the group were not immediately returned.
The project is to include a marina, a private island dedicated to recreation, stretches of boardwalks overlooking the river, 220 acres of preserved wetlands, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a private yacht club.
"This is a magnificent piece of land," Krzys told council members. He said his group planned to preserve as many trees as possible and "develop around the environment."
The site is just north of Meadowlea-on-the-River mobile-home park near Konomac Lake, where area residents have complained about sewer problems, dirt roads and growth.
The exact number of homes is unknown. But as many as 275 single-family homes could be built on the 110 acres deemed developable, according to Council member Patrick Fulton. The remaining 220 acres would be preserved under the plan.
Neighbors said Thursday they are warming up to the new project because of the offer to pave Fort Florida Road and extend sewer lines.
"I don't have a problem with them building a yacht club. That's the beauty of living by the river. That's why we're so protective of it," said Gertrude DeSantis, president of the Meadowlea Improvement Association. "And 300 neighbors is better than 600."
The project is proposed to span two properties -- one owned by William Eagan and the other owned by Murphy Investment Group, records show.
The county's Volusia Forever advisory board last year looked into buying the properties to preserve them, but the combined price -- $16.6 million -- was too steep, said Doug Weaver, the group's director of land acquisition and management.
After watching Wednesday's 15-minute presentation about the development plan, city officials said they liked what they heard.
"It looked very, very good," Mayor George Coleman said. "I think it'll bring in a lot of new taxes, which would be good for the city. It seems like it would be a great development."
Residents -- even development opponents such as Mark Meister -- seem to agree.
"I was pretty impressed myself because they were talking about million-dollar homes," said Meister, who saw the presentation. "We need something down here in DeBary, and there's really nothing down here -- except little old Meadowlea."
Fulton described it as an "eco-development" and a good fit for DeBary's future.
"It's such a nice project and the density is not going to be overwhelming," Fulton said. "If they're telling us the way it really is -- million-dollar homes, preserving the environment -- then this is going to be really good."
Yacht club, pricey homes pitched on river
Tanya Caldwell can be reached at tcaldwell@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7910.
Tests confirm Intracoastal algae bloom
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- George Eick Jr. enjoys
eating breakfast beside a window overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway,
but the stench from the rose-colored water probably doesn't add to the
scenery.
At first glance the Riverside Drive resident said the stinky water,
smelling similar to rotten fish, appeared bright red.
"I thought maybe something had died and it was blood," he
said, mentioning the water later turned pink.
As it turns out, something is dying in the water, said Jennifer Wolny,
a research scientist for the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St.
Petersburg. Tests confirmed Thursday that the suspected bacteria and algal
bloom known as trichodesmium erythraeum has washed inshore and is stinking
up the area through its decay.
When it's alive, it appears golden in color and is often compared to
sawdust floating along the water's surface, but as it decomposes it
stinks, turns purple to pink and fades away.
The algae, common to the west coast of Florida, probably won't affect
fish, but could pose a threat for people with sensitive skin, Wolny said.
"It's not uncommon for people who come in contact with the water to
have (inflammation of the skin), especially when the bloom is that
thick."
About four years ago, the same form of trichodesmium irritated bathers
along New Smyrna Beach and caused a massive fish kill. But Wolny said it
doesn't always cause fish to die, though it is possible depending on how
much oxygen is sucked up by the bacteria breaking the cells down.
Fish pulled out of the water should be safe to eat, she said, because
the toxins released by the algae are not found in the tissue.
While many residents who have lived in the area for decades have never
seen anything like it, the bloom has been lingering around here for at
least a couple of weeks -- making it as far as Holly Hill.
U.S. Coast Guard station officials in New Smyrna Beach have reported
seeing the sawdust-looking bloom about one mile offshore while many
residents have seen it near Riverside Park under the high-rise South
Bridge. One area biologist has also spotted it near the town of Ponce
Inlet.
Wolny could not speculate when the rosy bloom would disappear because
she is not familiar with the area's geography, but said it depends on the
current and winds that probably drove it here.
"I don't know how fast the water moves through, but its very
unlikely that its going to grow and fester because it's so decayed right
now and not reproducing," she said. And that's good news for Holly
Hill resident Denise Girard, who has been meaning to open the windows for
over a week since she recently returned to the city from a conference in
St. Petersburg.
"I got back and it was so beautiful," she said about the
cooler weather along her riverside home. "(But) there was no way;
it's just too nasty."
Earlier this week it smelled like dirty diapers, but it seems to be
getting better each time the tide rolls out, she said.
Article published Oct 6, 2006
In other action:
The Manatee County Commission on Thursday also:
Endorsed
plans for a 372-lot attached housing development at the northwest
corner of State Road 64 East and Cypress Creek Boulevard. The
project will also have a 105,660-square-foot car dealership.
Approved
plans for a 4,441-square-foot day care center and two office
buildings at 3631 Tallevast Road.
Postponed
until December a scheduled discussion about a proposed industrial
park at the northwest corner of U.S. 301 and Tallevast Road.
Manatee endorses homes, offices on land near
I-75
By FRANK GLUCK
MANATEE COUNTY -- Braden Woods resident Ed Berardi has measured sound
levels at his home near Interstate 75 with an electronic device, and he is
not crazy about what he learned.
His conclusion? The noise is tolerable, but things are likely to get much
worse.
River Club Park of Commerce, a development slated for a strip of land at
I-75 between State Road 70 and Linger Lodge Road, is set to dramatically
change the landscape.
Plans call for 325,000 square feet of commercial space, 95,450 square feet
of offices and 500 housing units. County commissioners said they like the
plans, and approved the homes and offices Thursday. The commissioners will
vote on the commercial component at a later date.
That's bad news to Berardi, who said the vacant land and its
soon-to-be-cleared trees offer something of a buffer.
"It's my intent to make sure their profits don't come at our
costs," Berardi said.
But for the county, the deal has been hard to pass up. River Club Park
will be adjacent to Interstate 75, an unattractive location for many home
builders.
Developers this year also sweetened the pot by agreeing to turn over 173
acres of Manatee River wetlands in exchange for being allowed to destroy 6
acres of degraded on-site wetlands.
The pristine greenery farther north, at the confluence of the Manatee
River and the Gamble Creek, supports a wide variety of plant and animal
life, said Charlie Hunsicker, county environmental lands administrator.
The addition will create 420 contiguous acres of intact wetlands and
uplands, the largest in the county, Hunsicker said.
"It gives us some of the best nursery habitat we have in the
county," he said.
County commissioners on Thursday endorsed all but the commercial
component, which includes the 6-acre wetlands, of River Club Park.
Developers plan to submit their plans for that before the end of the year.
Applications for building permits for the housing could go out as soon as
next week, said the project's land attorney Patricia Petruff.
Commissioners said they don't consider noise an issue. New buildings
should act as a better buffer than the trees, they said.
Tollway Agency's Ability In Doubt
Published: Oct 6, 2006
TAMPA - Councilman Shawn Harrison asked Thursday that city officials talk with other agencies about taking over a road project from the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority.
With the expressway authority's future uncertain, Harrison is worried about the authority's ability to build a 3.1-mile, east-west connector toll road.
The road would link Tampa Palms to Interstate 275.
"The expressway authority is going through a lot of issues," Harrison said. "We're all queasy about the project and its survivability."
The state auditor general is reviewing the expressway authority in relation to a controversial competitive bid process for outside legal services. The bids were tossed out after Gov. Jeb Bush called for an investigation.
The FBI and U.S. Department of Transportation's inspector general also are reviewing the agency.
With the agency undergoing so much scrutiny, Harrison wants the city to consider partnering with Florida's Turnpike Enterprise or the county to build the road if the expressway authority ceases to exist or is otherwise unable to build the road.
The city cannot create or operate a toll road on its own but can team up with an agency that is allowed to under state statute, city attorney David Smith said.
"We just need to have back-up plans," Harrison said.
The New Tampa project, which has been talked about for at least 15 years, is among Harrison's priorities.
Mathias Bergendahl, a spokesman for the authority, said the agency is proceeding as planned with the project. Bids are due Oct. 26.
Bergendahl declined to comment further, saying he didn't know the specifics of the council's conversation.
Bids for the east-west road project were due in September, but the authority extended the deadline when one of the bidding contractors asked for more time.
Smith is expected to update the council in a month on the outcome of the bid process and on whether the city has had conversations with other agencies about building the road.
The turnpike authority initially planned to build the toll road but bowed out when the price escalated.
The expressway authority plans to have private companies build and operate the toll road, a first for the state.
Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.
Who will work the fields?
By HELEN ANNE TRAVISThe strawberry harvest is months away, but new immigration policies and a worker shortage in California have farmers asking the question.
Published October 6, 2006
PLANT CITY -- Rows of black plastic stretch across the fields of eastern Hillsborough County. The plastic, affectionately called black mulch by farmers, marks where 8,000 acres of strawberry plants will soon blossom.
The black plastic glimmers like water in the afternoon sun. In their tractors lumbering across the fields, farmers prep the land.
This year, in addition to the usual worries about fickle weather and a fluctuating market, Hillsborough County farmers are concerned about farm labor shortages.
Stricter border enforcement kept many Mexican workers out of California this year, according to the New York Times. Unable to harvest their crop in time, California farmers watched tons of pears ripen to a smelly mess.
It may also mean headaches for Hillsborough County farmers, who typically employ 8,000 to 9,000 migrant workers, most of whom are Mexican.
"I would be surprised if we don't have problems too," said Chip Hinton, executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. "At one time, farmers only had to worry about Mother Nature and the market. Now there are so many influences on their ability to survive that occur outside their fence posts."
It's a concern for farmers when immigration issues and border security get wrapped in the same red tape.
"What's really driving this thing is homeland security," said Gary Wishnatzki, a Plant City produce broker and strawberry farmer. "But I don't think they are going to find too many terrorists out in the fields picking strawberries."
Congress is divided in dealing with the immigration issue.
"The House is focusing on border enforcement only, while the Senate is focusing on combining border enforcement with legal channels for workers to be in the States," said Douglas Rivlin, communications director for the National Immigration Forum in Washington, D.C.
Billy Simmons, a fifth-generation farmer in Plant City, just wants a practical guest worker program.
"If they just shut down borders and not take into account the guest worker situation, there's going to be problems," said Simmons, who usually employs 85 workers during the peak of the harvest.
Simmons was already short of workers to lay the black plastic that insulates strawberry plants' roots.
He had about half of the normal turnout. They worked harder and longer than usual, "but we got the job done," Simmons said.
Carl Grooms, a third-generation strawberry grower in Plant City, began planting Monday. He needed 50 workers, and on Monday just enough of them lined up outside his farm. But during the peak of the season, he needs as many as 400 workers.
"If the workers don't show up, the crops won't get picked, period," Grooms said.
Florida produces about one-sixth of the nation's strawberries, most of which are grown in the Tampa Bay area. Strawberries sales topped $232-million in 2005 - 32 percent of Hillsborough County's total agriculture volume, county figures show.
Florida has a unique niche when it's too cold to grow strawberries elsewhere. In the winter, Florida farmers can get as much as $18 for a flat of strawberries. But by spring, California berries fill grocery shelves, ousting local berries and reducing the farmers' payment to as little as $3 a flat.
Eighty acres of the land that Grooms tends were owned by Fred Futch. Futch grew sick of the industry and sold his farm in September 2005. He traded life on the farm for a 34-foot recreational vehicle and traveled more than 13,000 miles this summer with his wife, Linda.
A lack of workers was one reason Futch left farming.
"Any of them that are good people that came over to work, they'll go to town and get a job, and you can't blame them," Futch said.
Dave Moore, executive director at Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry Inc. in Wimauma, says that many of the workers he sees are switching to other industries.
"With decreasing amount of acreage available for fields, many are transitioning into construction, service industries and hospitality," Moore said.
The school system is seeing the normal number of migrant children right now, said Juan Seda, a district resource teacher with the county's Migrant Education Program.
Simmons said the real effect, if any, of the labor shortage on the county's farmers will be seen during the peak of the picking season this winter.
To offset the potential labor deficit, Wishnatzki is looking into machinery to reduce his need for workers. The machine would act like a conveyer belt, moving picked strawberries across the field.
Helen Anne Travis can be reached at 661-2439 or htravis@sptimes.com.
Local farming company to receive statewide awardLAKE WALES - A Lake Wales-based company will be among the honorees Oct. 13 when Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson presents awards to three agricultural operations in recognition of their leadership in promoting progressive environmental practices.
The 2006 Commissioner's Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards will be presented to Lightsey Cattle Co. of Lake Wales and two other companies during a breakfast ceremony at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting in Daytona Beach.
The awards program is now in its 13th year and has recognized a total of 41 winners.
"The Ag-Environmental Leadership Award program spotlights the environmentally innovative farming practices of our state's growers and ranchers," Bronson said. "Nominees for the awards come from different parts of Florida's agricultural industry, but they all share a commitment to protect and preserve Florida's resources while continuing to provide agricultural products for our people."
In addition to Lightsey Cattle, this year's winners are Riverview Flower Farm in Riverview and Tampa Wholesale Nursery in Dover.
Nominations for the awards were received earlier this year by a screening committee composed of scientific and technical experts with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which selected the finalists. The three winners were then selected from the group of finalists by a selection committee made up of representatives from The Nature Conservancy, the state's Water Management Districts, the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida Cattlemen's Association, the Florida Dairy Association, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida's Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Forestry Association, and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.
Lightsey Cattle Co.
For 12 generations the name Lightsey has been associated with cattle ranching. Since the 1850s, in Central Florida, there have been six generations who have worked the land, each passing down to the next not only their property, but also their values and traditions.
But in today's development-driven climate, ranching families like the Lightseys are forced to make tough decisions that will affect future generations. At a time when many farms sell to developers, the Lightseys have been working to protect and preserve their piece of Florida. For them, the land, the family, and the ranching way of life are interwoven.
"Stewardship is more than just stewardship of the land," said Layne Lightsey, co-owner of Lightsey Cattle Company. "It's really stewardship of the family too. In order to have stewardship of the land, you have to have stewardship of the family. ÔHow am I going to take these values to the next generation?' ÔHow am I going to take this love for the land to the next generation?' And they literally have to grow up with it and learn it just like I did. And that's what we've tried to accomplish for our family."
Owned and operated by brothers Layne and Cary, Lightsey Cattle Company is made up of four separate ranches - Tiger Lake Ranch and West Lake Wales Ranch in Polk County, the XL Ranch in Highlands County and Brahma Island in Osceola County. The Lightseys also lease five other ranches where they raise cattle.
Though the operation is spread out over three counties, when it's time to work the cattle, the extended family gathers at the Tiger Lake Ranch. The hard work leads to lunch, where they catch up on family business. Working the cattle is truly a family operation. On these days, Cary and Layne's wives, children and grandchildren all do their part.
"I think that's the most important part is to have a wonderful lifestyle, to be able to raise your children in clean wholesome fun, and working hard," said Marcia Lightsey, secretary and bookkeeper of Lightsey Cattle Company. "They had their share of chores. There was never a dull moment around here with their show animals and just doing their chores on the ranch. But it really helped them develop into who they are today and the way they're raising their children."
The Lightseys raise about 5,400 head of cattle, but only 50 percent of the ranch's income comes from its cow/calf operation. That hasn't always been the case, though; for decades the family relied primarily on ranching to pay the bills. But when Cary and Layne' father, Doyle Lightsey, died at an early age in 1973, the family was saddled with a huge estate tax. Although they had always been a cattle family, the Lightseys realized it was time to diversify. Their initial solution was to open up their pristine Brahma Island to guided commercial hunting. Working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Lightseys helped develop criteria for guided hunting that is now the standard for Florida for hunting preserves throughout the state.
The venture proved very successful. Not only did the guided hunts pay
down the ranch's taxes, they helped to control wildlife populations on
Brahma Island. The Lightseys continued to diversify. They planted 540 acres
of citrus groves at the Tiger Lake Ranch. They turned to truck farming,
timber harvesting, and sod and seed production as well. In an effort to
utilize more of the ranch's resources, they started harvesting palmetto
berries for nutraceutical purposes. And when the Audubon Society and Sierra
Club asked to observe the ranch's pristine natural landscapes and abundant
wildlife, the family began giving ecological tours of the property, offering
the public a chance to see an untouched piece of Florida history.
LAKELAND - Standing behind a crowd of citrus growers, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced Thursday that the citrus industry would see up to $100 million in compensation for canker.
This is the final round of funding that will be given to Florida citrus growers who lost trees and livelihood during the citrus eradication efforts undertaken before Jan. 10, 2006.
"This will bring light to the end of the tunnel," Johanns said. "We don't want our industry to die with the disease. We want to learn how to live with it."
Johanns said he looked forward to bringing in new resources, such as education and technology to help combat canker and greening.
Due to the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, the airborne disease spread so heavily in Florida that it was determined in January 2006 that canker eradication was not working. The practice of destroying trees within 1,900 feet of an infected tree was stopped.
In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided provisions to nursery and grove owners, with compensation for trees that were destroyed under the program before Jan. 10.
After the monetary announcement was made, there were big smiles and thank-yous from people within the Florida citrus industry, telling Johanns how grateful they are for the additional funds.
Now, total funding made available by the USDA is up to $636 million.
"Secretary Johanns never wavered from his understanding of the tremendous financial hardship placed on the state's citrus growers," said Michael Sparks, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Florida Citrus Mutual.
U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Bartow, praised the Secretary for paying attention to Florida citrus.
"Florida citrus is on the map," Putnam said. "This is on the secretary's radar screen."
Million Dollar Mansions
By GARY PINNELLgpinnell@highlandstoday.com
SEBRING — So, what do you get in a million-dollar house? Solid gold faucets? “No,” said Shelagh Byatt, who owns Indigo Builders of Lake Placid Inc. She builds a couple of million-dollar houses each year.
“Gold faucets would deteriorate in no time at all,” she said, enunciating each vowel in British style, but with an East African accent. “Because of the chlorine in the water.”
Let’s take a step back. Million dollar houses? In Highlands County?
Yes. The Multiple Listing Service currently shows seven houses in Sebring and Lake Placid – none in Avon Park – from $1.15 million to $1.49 million.
“Eighty percent of my clientele are $1 million weekend homes,” said Bill Brantley, who owns Brantley Construction in Lake Placid. They’re mostly in two subdivisions, Lake June Pointe and South Bear Pointe, both gated communities on Lake June in Winter.
There are lots of million-dollar mansions on the Florida coasts, of course, but when did that trend start in Highlands County? And why?
Byatt and Brantley have two different answers.
Byatt has clients who built mansions in Lake June Pointe. They include a draftsman, a decorator, an artist and a world traveler. They wanted living rooms – museums, if you will – which show their collections.
Brantley’s answer is simpler: “They’re on the lakes.”
Sue Clark, a real estate broker associate at C.S. Edwards Realty in Lake Placid, agrees.
“Five houses sold for more than $1 million last year,” she counted from the Multi-List. “Four were on the lakes.” And of the seven Multi-List properties for sale today, six are on the lakes, and two are on acre ages.
Like one for $1.3 million in Lake Placid: “Totally awesome custom built home,” the Multi-List describes. “Floor-to-ceiling river rock fireplace, red oak floors, 22’ ceilings, 3-zone A/C. Owner has upgraded living area and horse areas. 36 X 96 barn. Numerous horse runs and pastures, 5 wells, gated electric entrance. Office could be 6th Bedroom.”
Avon Park’s close-but-no-cigar entry is a 1927 This Old House for $995,000: “on an acre of land with 120 ft. of lake front ... huge master bedroom & formal dining room both overlook the lake.”
When did this millionaire trend start?
About two years ago, Brantley, Clark and custom builder Mike Bevis estimate, when coastal properties soared over $5 million. Coasties could sell their ocean mansions, build something new on a lake, and have $4 million left to pay the insurance and tax bills.
“Everyone’s found Highlands County these days,” Byatt said. The price of land has tripled, but compared to the coasts, it’s still reasonable.
Brantley estimates there are now 100 $1 million-houses in the Lake Placid area alone. The lots at Lake June Pointe and South Bear Pointe are $500,000. Add a 3,500 square-foot house at $150 per square foot, and you’re there.
In Sebring, the $1 million homes tend to be on Lake Jackson and Lake Charlotte, with a few in Golf Hammock and Sun ‘N Lake golf course.
Those who can’t afford a mansion have a question. Why would anyone pay $1 million for one house?
“It’s the location it offers,” Clark explained. “It’s because of where it is, on the lake or out in the country, and they want to have a nice home at the same time.”
And there are those luxury appointments – a 22-foot ceiling in the $1.67 million, 6,000 square-foot, mustard-colored stucco Bevis is building for Arlan Sapp of Mark Inc., 40 feet from Lake Regency. It’s got Travertine stone tile from Spain, inside and out. Black granite cabinet tops were fitted on the spot. The cherry doors are from Argentina.
There’s a 15x30 foot pool with a waterfall in the front courtyard. The master suite has its own sitting room overlooking the man-made Lake Regency Woods, room-sized closets with their own furniture, a white soaking tub, and a shower that’s so big and manly, it doesn’t even need a door – the water won’t spray that far.
Oh, and there’s a separate guest house next to the pool – in case Kato Kaelin drops in.
And why does Sapp want it on the Parade of Homes? “So I can sell 10 of them,” he replied with a grin. But he was serious, of course, about getting people out to see his new subdivision.
But is a home really worth $1 million?
“They have massive kitchens, the creme de la creme of kitchen appliances,” Byatt said. “They have great big huge bathrooms, the size of a routine master bedroom in a normal house. They have glass sinks that sit on a pedestal.”
“You’ve got to respect the fact that you’ve got to listen to what people want,” Byatt said. “In a community of 55 and over, or anywhere really, even if they have to pay for it, they want to be given the option of adding a few more features.”
VICTIMS OF REAL ESTATE BOOM
Property owners contest giant hikes in tax bills
Thousands claim appraisers overvalued homes
CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- When John Pizzi moved to Charlotte from the high-priced real estate market of Washington, D.C., he thought he could get a home for a steal.Now he thinks he might be better off moving back.
Only eight months after Pizzi bought his Englewood home for $450,000, county property appraisers valued it at $540,000 -- a 20 percent increase.
Pizzi says the county appraisers are acting unrealistic and unfair.
"Something's a little out of whack," he said. "I wish the county would give me $540,000 for the house. I'd sell it to them tomorrow."
Pizzi has filed a protest, joining thousands of property owners in Southwest Florida who hope to convince county officials they erred in determining how much the homes are worth.
The real estate boom of 2005 -- which raised property values in some counties as much as 50 percent -- has left Floridians not protected by the state's Save Our Homes constitutional amendment facing massive bills for property they say isn't worth nearly what the government wants to charge in taxes.
In Charlotte and Sarasota counties, nearly twice as many property owners have filed petitions contesting their property assessments this year as in previous years.
In Manatee, the number has grown about 40 percent.
Some of those 2,200 owners are facing as much as a 1,000 percent increase in their annual property tax bills. Those with such huge hikes most likely own undeveloped land near a canal or lake or agricultural land rezoned commercial or residential.
In hearings that start as early as this month, they hope to persuade officials to revaluate their property value and find errors in the market mathematics.
It's hard to beat city hall
It is unlikely most angry residents and business owners will see a change to their property values, however.
The county boards assigned to deal with protested cases typically side with the government unless there is proof of a gross mistake, such as the data being entered incorrectly, said Charlotte Property Appraiser Frank Desguin.
Cases are usually reviewed before the hearings and some are dropped before they ever go before a magistrate.
"We just want to make sure it's right," Desguin said. "We're not going into a hearing with a value we don't think we have proof to support."
Most people who file protests simply don't understand how the system works, property appraisers said.
Under Florida law, property appraisers are required to value property at the price it would sell on the real estate market as of Jan. 1 of that tax year.
The value is determined by a database of sales of similar homes in a neighborhood.
If the database shows that four two-bedroom, modest homes in an area sold for $400,000 in 2005, the county appraiser decides all similar houses in the area are also worth $400,000.
But since property assessments are based on the value on Jan. 1, they do not account for dips in the real estate market after that date.
It doesn't matter that the $400,000 home might not sell for even $350,000 today.
The process leaves county property appraisers frustrated and flooded with complaints.
"We had a very robust market," said Sarasota County Property Appraiser Jim Todora. "People see their tax bill and they're thinking August, they're not thinking January."
One sticking point is that sometimes officials have to decide the value of a home when there are no comparable sales in the area. In that case, they must pull sale prices from nearby neighborhoods, a rule Placida's Melissa Knight says is unfair.
Knight's family, which once owned much of the land near the Boca Grande Causeway, is facing a 36 percent increase in the assessment of its property this year although Charlotte appraisers admit there have been no sales of similar property in the area.
"They're so inconsistent," Knight said. "They're just picking and choosing."
Adding to the problem is Florida's Save Our Homes tax break, which protects full-time residents by capping property tax increases at 3 percent a year.
Snowbirds and commercial property owners are not protected by the law and thus shoulder a heavier tax burden whenever property values go up. And full-time residents who move within the state also aren't protected.
"There's no way you can paint the property appraiser as the bad guy," Todora said.
More revenue for counties
Local governments say they also cannot solve the problem, although for the most part they have been riding the property tax wave and could feel the effects as they prepare budgets next summer.
Sarasota and Charlotte counties -- sitting on about $60 million in budget windfalls due to the property value hike -- did take some conservative steps recently to reduce the property tax rate.
But Manatee officials refused to reduce the rate -- despite taking in $128 million in new taxes -- because they fear 2006's property values may be the best they will ever see and they should take advantage of it.
Those not protected by Save Our Homes will pay most of that cost.
Local officials argue that counties can never cut taxes enough to make up for something as large as a 1,000 percent increase in property taxes.
Even if taxes were set so that local governments only took in as much money this year as they did in 2005, it would only make a small dent in the problem, said Charlotte Budget Director Ray Sandrock.
"Unfortunately, we don't make individual rates for individual people," Sandrock said.
The only real way to solve the problem is for Florida lawmakers to change how property is valued or taxed -- an issue gaining momentum during the 2006 election season.
Seldom does a Florida candidate make a campaign stop without proposing to do something about the property tax situation. Proposals range from doubling the $25,000 exemption for homeowners to allowing full-time residents to keep their Save Our Home tax savings even if they move.
But taxpayers such as Arcadia resident Thomas Knight aren't waiting for the politicians. Knight has hired a private appraisal company to look at his Punta Gorda rental property.
He has had the home on the market for three years and hasn't been able to sell it for even $240,000.
But his tax bill says the home is worth $302,000. The private assessment came in at $260,000.
"The tax man is shutting everything down," Knight said. "I don't want to own any property in Charlotte County any more. We might as well work for the government."
Developments
are scaled back Tallahassee and Leon County have scaled back proposals that could allow
more high-rise development - at least for now.
Local planners say their proposals to allow up to 50 residential units
per acre - or buildings possibly up to 20 stories high - around the
universities and some of the city's busiest intersections would have helped
prevent urban sprawl. But state planners objected because they said the
proposals don't plan for increased traffic that could result.
"The real problem obviously is the roads," said Fred Goodrow, a
supervisor in the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department.
The overall proposals would change the "mixed-use" designation
for more than 28,000 parcels covering more than 41,000 acres across the
city. Redesignating the parcels helps protect neighborhoods and prevents
sprawl by concentrating new development in urban areas, local planners said.
State planners in August didn't object to the proposed changes on 39,525
acres, including redesignating some areas as residential.
But they did object to redesignating 1,034 acres near Florida State
University and Florida A&M University as "university
transition."
They also objected to redesignating four "activity centers"
covering 687 acres. They would have been adjacent to Governor's Square mall,
Tallahassee Mall, the I-10 and Thomasville Road area and the intersection of
Capital Circle Northwest and Tennessee Street.
The two proposals would have allowed more than twice as much development
as is allowed now under their "mixed use" designation. Rezoning of
the property, with possible height limitations, still would be required.
The Florida Department of Community Affairs said more development could
increase traffic on already-clogged state roads.
The Legislature last year changed state law to require that roads,
schools and water be planned or available for new development.
"We support the idea of getting development in the right places -
compact development in urban areas," said Susan Poplin, acting regional
planning administrator with DCA. But she also said planners need to find
solutions to the road problems.
In response, the local planners dropped their proposal to create the new
activity centers. The new "university transition" area still is
proposed, but there would be no increase in the 20 units per acre that is
now allowed.
Planners may propose more density next year after the city and county
address the state's road concerns, Goodrow said.
They may propose creating a district around the universities where buses
and walking will be encouraged. More mass transit and bike paths also could
be encouraged along major roads to handle future traffic.
"We have to be able to serve as much of the new population and
people who live here now" with mass transit, Goodrow said. "We
can't do that if we have growth dispersed all over."
A joint public hearing and vote to adopt growth policy and map changes
was rescheduled after a majority of county commissioners failed to attend
Thursday's meeting. County Commissioners Bob Rackleff, Ed DePuy and Jane
Sauls were present, but Commissioners Bill Proctor, Cliff Thaell, Tony
Grippa and Dan Winchester were absent. Four city commissioners were present,
but Commissioner Allan Katz did not attend. The public hearing and vote has
been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 11 in the City Commission Chambers in City
Hall, 300 S. Adams St. For more information, call 891-8600.
Planners worried about traffic
Developer will make rezoning case again
By ANDREW MEACHAMPublished October 6, 2006
SEFFNER: A developer will make a case to a zoning hearing master who has already rejected a rezoning request for single-family homes.
ClearPlan Development wants to rezone 6 acres west of Taylor Road and south of U.S. 92 from agricultural to residential. The developer plans to put 58 homes on 22 lots.
Both the Planning Commission and the county's Planning and Growth Management staff recommended against the proposal in August.
The Planning Commission argued that the project did not provide a proper transition between multifamily units to the north and suburban development with large lots to the south.
County staff found that the proposed density allowing up to nine units an acre was too high for the area.
In recommending against ClearPlan, a zoning hearing master ruled that the development was compatible only with an 8-acre development to the north, but incompatible with custom homes and rural areas to the east, south and west.
The developer came before the County Commission in September but asked for another appearance before the zoning hearing master. That meeting will be held Oct. 30. PETITION 06-1342
RIVERVIEW: KB Home is seeking a rezoning on 6 acres west of U.S. 301 and south of Cone Grove Road from agricultural rural to planned development.
The developer proposes to build up to 18 houses on the site. The project would be an expansion of the adjacent 160-home Medford Lakes development to the south, separated only by a wetlands conservation area.
The site contains several wetlands. The Environmental Protection Agency and several other agencies have reviewed the proposal without objection.
Surrounding elementary, middle and high schools currently lack the capacity to accommodate more students, according to a county staff report. Developers should build apace with increased school capacity, the report stated.
The request by KB Home goes to county commissioners on Nov. 14. (PETITION 06-1522)
RIVERVIEW: Property owners Dawn and Albert Carapella want to rezone 2 acres at 10760 Bloomingdale Ave. from agricultural residential to office retail.
A previous owner applied in 2005 for multifamily rezoning as part of a 14-acre tract before withdrawing that request.
The Planning Commission has recommended against the proposal, saying that the surrounding residential use makes the site incompatible for office retail.
The request goes to the County Commission on Nov. 14. (PETITION 06-1386)
Andrew Meacham can be reached at 661-2431 or ameacham@sptimes.com.
'Hyatt Project' developers closer to breaking ground
By MIKE DONILAThey have paid $2.4-million for permits to build the luxury condo-hotel and public garage in Clearwater.
Published October 6, 2006
CLEARWATER - Construction could begin soon on a major beach project that includes hundreds of upscale condo-hotel rooms and a 400-space public parking garage.
Mayor Frank Hibbard said developers with Aqualea Resort and Residences - a Hyatt project - paid the city more than $2.4-million Thursday for construction permits.
The fee, which is required under a contract the city has with developers, will help cover stormwater issues and the city's Beach Walk project.
The permits expire within a year once they're acquired. In that time, developers must build the project's foundation.
The city and developers have gone back and forth for more than three years as the project changed hands, trying to work out the details. Initially they were supposed to break ground in March, but earlier this year, current owner of NJR Development asked the city for a nine-month extension, promising to break ground by Dec. 31. At the time, officials with the development said they needed to tweak their construction plans.
If the project doesn't begin by Dec. 31, it would have to be scaled back by 209 rooms, according to an agreement NJR has with Clearwater.
City leaders say this particular project - one of several major developments proposed for busy S Gulfview Boulevard - is especially important because it includes public parking spaces.
By next year, construction crews are going to begin eliminating more than 500 spaces as they make way for Beach Walk, a revitalization initiative that includes walkways, plazas, greenery and fountains.
"We could not go forward with Beach Walk without the Hyatt commencing construction - they go hand in hand," the mayor said.
Residents have publicly questioned whether the resort would ever get off the ground. But other than the initial delay, developers have pretty much been on schedule with their plans, city leaders say.
NJR Development President Neil Rauenhorst bought the rights to what has been dubbed the "Hyatt Project" in February 2005 for $18.5-million.
Where the old Glass House Apartment Hotel and the Beach Place once stood, Rauenhorst plans to build a 150-foot tall building that includes two pools - one on the eighth floor and another on the roof, according to his initial proposal.
The project will take up about 2 acres and include air-conditioned cabanas near the main pool deck, a spa, a poolside grille and a restaurant.
The tower will include 250 condo-hotel rooms and 18 condominiums and the overall project will cost at least $120-million.
Initial plans were to sell the condo-hotels for between $500,000 and $2-million each, and the residences for $2-million to $5.5-million.
The project could take about 30 months, but city leaders say they think it will take only about a year to finish the parking garage.
Rauenhorst did not return calls seeking comment.
David Hooks, whose marketing firm represents the Aqualea Resort and Residences, recently told the St. Petersburg Times that response to the project from buyers "has been pretty good."
He said the company has "sold over $40-million in product," despite a soft market, but Hooks didn't know how many rooms overall were sold.
Hooks could not be reached Thursday.
Losing landmark, gaining parking
By Times Staff WriterThe building that once housed a popular Clearwater restaurant, closed in 1990, is razed Thursday.
Published October 6, 2006
CLEARWATER - Demolition of the former Siple's Garden Seat restaurant, a part of Clearwater's history since 1920, began Thursday as bulldozers started work to make way for a parking lot.
In its heyday, the restaurant was one of the city's most popular dining spots, known for its roast duckling, chocolate rum pie and grand view of Clearwater Harbor.
It was named the No. 1 restaurant in Florida 10 times by Florida Trend magazine.
"I had my last wedding reception there on Oct. 26, 1979," recalled Myra Chandler Haas, a longtime Clearwater resident and retired journalist. "It was my favorite place. Arthur and I went there often. I always dressed up because it seemed to call for it. There was an atmosphere and a graciousness about it."
The wooded property overlooking the harbor was the homestead of the Boyd family until 1920 when Mary Boardman turned it into a New England-style tea room and called it the Garden Seat.
Her daughter, Eleanor Siple, took over the business on Druid Road in 1955.
It was in continuous operation until 1990 when the Morton Plant Hospital Foundation purchased the building and property for $2-million from Richard and LaVerne Siple. The Siples gave back $1-million to the foundation.
The hospital, across the street from the restaurant, renovated the building and used it for its educational programs.
"We stopped using it this year because of its declining condition," said hospital spokeswoman Beth Hardy. It would have cost-prohibitive to renovate it, she said. "We felt the property was best suited to fill our parking needs."
The bill for the project is $125,000, she said, and the new parking lot will open this fall.
Dunnellon council delays
decision on tree cutting issue
City attorney to look into tree cutting issue
City attorney to look into tree cutting issue
DUNNELLON - The Dunnellon City Council on Wednesday postponed making a
decision about whether an out-of-state developer was illegally cutting
trees along the Rainbow River to make way for a 450-home subdivision.
Instead, the council agreed to put the issue in the hands of its lawyer, asking him to help council members decide whether Rainbow River Ranch was following its city tree removal permit, or preparing sites for construction.
About 100 area residents at the city workshop complained the developer was going far beyond the permit, which allows only for the removal of underbrush, dead trees and exotic plants. Residents and members of a local environmental group, Rainbow River Conservation Inc., said the developer was clear-cutting lots and an area around Blue Cove, preparing for a boat ramp.
"This man is not a good developer, and we have to protect [the land]," said City Councilwoman Mary Ann Hilton. "I have a request to stop this man from doing any more cutting.
"We saw a mess there. By the time the Southwest [Florida] Water Management District gets in, [and stops it] it will be a worse mess."
Both Hilton and Rainbow River Conservation leader Burt Eno were issued trespassing warnings by police recently for going onto the 260-acre site, where the pair took photos of cut trees.
Hilton's wait for the water district might be a long one. While district officials cited some violations, such as using heavy equipment instead of only hand tools, the water agency said there were no significant problems.
"The clearing of underbrush and selected trees by hand crews was considered acceptable and appears to comply with local ordinances," said district senior field technician Matt Mills in an e-mail to city officials.
Dunnellon Community Development Director Diana Murack said her site visit also led her to conclude the city's land rules were being followed.
In addition to the tree permit, the city also requires the developer to follow Dunnellon's tree ordinance. The ordinance requires the developer to leave at least 16 trees per acre but allows him to cut trees up to 24 inches in diameter. It does not allow him to cut any cypress.
City lawyer Ted Schatt was not at the workshop, but city officials said he should have an opinion by Monday's regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Rainbow River Ranch owner Gerald Dodd said in a telephone interview with the Star-Banner that residents' complaints were just the latest attempt to stop the subdivision. The feud has been going on for the past two years.
"To us, this tree cutting is not an issue," he said.
Meanwhile, the tree cutting can continue.
Fred Hiers may be reached at fred.hiers@starbanner.com or 352-867-4157.
Instead, the council agreed to put the issue in the hands of its lawyer, asking him to help council members decide whether Rainbow River Ranch was following its city tree removal permit, or preparing sites for construction.
About 100 area residents at the city workshop complained the developer was going far beyond the permit, which allows only for the removal of underbrush, dead trees and exotic plants. Residents and members of a local environmental group, Rainbow River Conservation Inc., said the developer was clear-cutting lots and an area around Blue Cove, preparing for a boat ramp.
"This man is not a good developer, and we have to protect [the land]," said City Councilwoman Mary Ann Hilton. "I have a request to stop this man from doing any more cutting.
"We saw a mess there. By the time the Southwest [Florida] Water Management District gets in, [and stops it] it will be a worse mess."
Both Hilton and Rainbow River Conservation leader Burt Eno were issued trespassing warnings by police recently for going onto the 260-acre site, where the pair took photos of cut trees.
Hilton's wait for the water district might be a long one. While district officials cited some violations, such as using heavy equipment instead of only hand tools, the water agency said there were no significant problems.
"The clearing of underbrush and selected trees by hand crews was considered acceptable and appears to comply with local ordinances," said district senior field technician Matt Mills in an e-mail to city officials.
Dunnellon Community Development Director Diana Murack said her site visit also led her to conclude the city's land rules were being followed.
In addition to the tree permit, the city also requires the developer to follow Dunnellon's tree ordinance. The ordinance requires the developer to leave at least 16 trees per acre but allows him to cut trees up to 24 inches in diameter. It does not allow him to cut any cypress.
City lawyer Ted Schatt was not at the workshop, but city officials said he should have an opinion by Monday's regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Rainbow River Ranch owner Gerald Dodd said in a telephone interview with the Star-Banner that residents' complaints were just the latest attempt to stop the subdivision. The feud has been going on for the past two years.
"To us, this tree cutting is not an issue," he said.
Meanwhile, the tree cutting can continue.
Fred Hiers may be reached at fred.hiers@starbanner.com or 352-867-4157.
Probe of city might be widening
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 06, 2006
WEST PALM BEACH — City Attorney Claudia McKenna and City Administrator Ed Mitchell testified before a grand jury this week as part of state prosecutors' inquiry into city conduct.
Mayor Lois Frankel also was subpoenaed, but not asked to testify. Her subpoena sought her telephone records and a copy of her calendar for this year, McKenna said. Those records have been turned over to prosecutors, she said.
Mitchell said his appearance lasted about 45 minutes and that McKenna's lasted about three hours. Mitchell said he was told he might be asked to testify again.
Neither McKenna nor Mitchell, who appeared before the grand jury on Wednesday, would say what they testified about.
But before she appeared before the grand jury, McKenna said she talked to State Attorney Barry Krischer and was left with the impression that the inquiry involves whether there is "an ability to assert undue influence somewhere in the process" in West Palm Beach.
"They're looking at whether you have to pay to play," she said.
That indicates that the probe's scope might have broadened. Krischer's spokesman, Mike Edmondson, first described the inquiry as an examination of "property dealings and relations" between city commissioners and those with whom they do private business, mainly to see if conflicts exist.
State prosecutors decided to convene a grand jury after Frankel approached Krischer over transgressions by former City Commissioner Ray Liberti. He has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and obstruction of justice for using his official position to try to get two businesses to sell at below-market rates to his chosen buyers.
After those revelations surfaced, it was disclosed that he had a business relationship with Republic Properties Corp., the former developer of the planned $120 million city hall and library complex, City Center. The city killed its contract with Republic after that was revealed.
In June, the city gave prosecutors a list of the 319 business entities that have done business with the city since Jan. 1, 2003, plus a list of city vendors and the companies involved in the City Center project and a downtown waterfront overhaul.
Among those entities is a company owned by John Sansbury, whose property was annexed into the city in 2004 at the same time City Commissioner Jim Exline held his real estate license with Sansbury's realty firm. Exline pursued a real estate deal as a Sansbury associate six months before the vote and received commission from Sansbury on another deal six months after the vote. But when he voted, Exline didn't disclose his relationship with Sansbury.
Prosecutors won't say whether the grand jury is examining that situation. All five city commissioners said they haven't received subpoenas.
Since June, the city has turned over other information, including a list of all the business entities that competed to work on the City Center and waterfront projects, McKenna said. The information also includes a list of the people on the selection committees that chose Republic for the City Center project.
Mitchell said his impression was that the grand jury proceedings wouldn't wrap up any time soon.
"I think it's going to be a while."
Sarasota has eye on North Port planning
North Port officials are wary of what Sarasota County has in mind.
By JOHN DAVIS
SARASOTA COUNTY -- Sarasota County could be knocking at North Port's door
and looking for a hand in planning the county's most sprawling and
undeveloped city.Areas inside North Port city limits remain on the table while the two governments haggle about how to team up to plan what the county will look like in years to come and how to get newly developed areas the water, roads and fire protection they need.
Sarasota County brought North Port and Venice to the bargaining table by threatening to hold a countywide vote that would put the county in control of future development formerly rural areas the cities might annex in the future. But now that all sides are talking, the county is looking at more than future annexations -- it's looking inside North Port's existing boundaries.
"You can't draw a line at this point," said Sarasota County assistant attorney Gary Oldehoff. He was speaking of areas the county is interested in helping to plan inside and outside North Port's city limits. The line between the county and city "in some instances and under some subjects will become either blurred or will almost become unnecessary."
County commissioners say that growth in North Port and Venice is costing Sarasota County money because the county has to keep up with road repair, emergency services and other obligations as the cities continue to pile people into subdivisions the county hadn't planned on.
In North Port's case, there could be tens of thousands of people moving into massive developments carved into former pastureland during the next decade. The city rambles for 104 square miles along the Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto county lines and includes 80,000 platted lots.
County Commissioner Shannon Staub was surprised that city land is being discussed, but she said that a broad first discussion made sense.
"It might be something certainly to look at," she said. "It's not telling each other what to do. It's understanding the impacts."
Fighting over planning powers hasn't started yet, but North Port officials are wary of the scope of talks so far.
"What they said was very broad from my perspective," said North Port City Manager Steven Crowell of Wednesday's talks. "It was very broad."
The situation is familiar ground for North Port and the county -- the two gave up on joint planning in 2003 because they couldn't agree on future annexations by North Port and how much say the county should have.
The 2003 talks ended after a year. This time, North Port, Venice and the county have but 90 days to come up with planning deals, a task that North Port attorney Rob Robinson called "herculean."
If talks fail to produce an agreement by Jan. 4 on how much, when and where development should occur, the county plans to hold a referendum vote next year.
The ballot measure would allow the county to control whether rural lands annexed by the cities could be rezoned for urban development.
The next step is for Venice, North Port and Sarasota County to submit maps that show what areas they think should be planned jointly.
Agency To Hold Hearing On Mall
Published: Oct 5, 2006
WESLEY CHAPEL - The future of the Cypress Creek Town Center was cast into question Wednesday when the state Department of Administrative Hearings agreed to consider a challenge to the project's pending environmental permit.
No hearing date had been set as of Wednesday afternoon.
The challenge by Bob and Shirley Jones, whose property is across Cypress Creek from the 510-acre mall site, was filed with the Southwest Florida Water Management District on Sept. 25 - one day before the agency was to consider the regional shopping center's final development permit.
Water agency officials ruled Tuesday that the Joneses' challenge had merit and asked for the administrative hearing, according to agency documents.
In their challenge, the Joneses say the Richard E. Jacobs Group of Cleveland failed to entertain alternative designs - including parking decks - that would reduce the mall's potential harm to the creek. They also say the project could cause the creek to flood their property.
Cypress Creek runs along the western and southern edge of the mall property. Environmentalists argue Jacobs' project will ruin the creek, which feeds the Hillsborough River and Tampa's drinking water.
"Once that happens, it's hard to have the same water quality you had before," said Ralf Brookes, the Cape Coral attorney representing the Joneses.
Jacobs officials say they're taking ample precautions to protect the environment.
Under the company's 2004 development deal with Pasco County, the mall site will include largely untested "low-impact" tools, such as porous pavement, to reduce the amount of pollution leaving the property. The project will also have larger-than-normal retention ponds to hold more storm runoff for a longer time to reduce pollution.
The water district and Jacobs spent a year debating the designs for the project's stormwater management system. In July, the agency ruled Jacobs met its requirements even without the low-impact features.
Jacobs Vice President Tom Schmitz has repeatedly said the company won't build parking decks because they don't make financial sense.
The pending challenge is the Joneses' second attempt to thwart Jacobs' project.
The couple sued Pasco County to overturn the 2004 rezoning that allowed the mall to go forward. The last effort failed after a circuit court judge ruled the couple didn't prove they would be harmed by the mall project.
Brookes said he thinks the Joneses will have a better chance of getting a ruling in their favor this time. The circuit court ruling was based on a three-minute comment at a county commission meeting, Brookes said.
"Now, we'll be able to have experts talk as long as we want," he said.
Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com.
Come Help Or High Water
Published: Oct 5, 2006
DADE CITY - Henry Clayton tore down the walls of his home in 2004 after tropical storms Frances and Jeanne filled nearby Tank Lake and flooded his and six other houses in Hickory Hills.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency told Clayton he could rebuild on the concrete slab of his original home - if he raised the foundation 4 feet. Two years and $280,000 later, Clayton, his wife, Toni, their two children and seven pets are moving into their new home.
At the same time, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is promising to pay Pasco County half the cost of removing sediment and vegetation from Tank Lake to prevent future flooding. The $300,000 project is coming too late for Clayton, but it is necessary, he says, to keep others from suffering his family's fate.
"What they are doing with this money is exactly what this neighborhood asked the county to do in 2003," Clayton said this week. "This would have avoided flooding in 2004. It would have avoided my having to get a new home. It's too late for me, but it needs to happen, so it this won't happen again."
A retired nurse, Clayton is among a group of residents pushing the county to find a long-term solution to flooding near Tank Lake. The county in 1987 commissioned a study of the Duck Lake drainage basin, which includes Tank Lake, but recommendations from that study were determined too costly and none were implemented, said Michele Baker, the county's program administrator for engineering services. The recommendations included removing sediment and vegetation from Tank Lake.
A Basin 'Of Special Concern'
In 2004, tropical storms Frances and Jeanne dumped heavy rain over Pasco County, filling Tank Lake. Clayton and other Hickory Hills residents dug into their own pockets to install pumps to try to keep rising Tank Lake from draining into their neighborhood.
The county pitched in, installing pumps to direct water through narrow culverts in a rail bed dividing the lake, but officials were concerned about flooding homes downstream, so the pumps were only moderately effective.
County officials have designated Duck Lake a basin "of special concern," requiring builders in the area to dig much larger retention ponds to keep flooding from getting worse. Those measures have pleased residents, but they still are pushing for a long-term solution. That is taking time.
"Unfortunately, we had to study [the basin] again," Baker said.
The recent study showed that Tank Lake sits in more or less a closed drainage basin, meaning rain water that falls into the lake or filters from upstream becomes trapped when the lake fills. The two narrow, high culverts in the rail bed are the only paths for water to flow to the Withlacoochee River, Baker said.
Residents have asked the county to dig more culverts in the rail bed, but Baker said that is impractical. Studies showed that if the river floods, water in Tank Lake flows backward, putting the residents of Hickory Hills at further risk.
"When the river is up, this drainage system doesn't work," Baker said.
Options: Fix, Buy Or Dig
The latest Tank Lake study showed the county has a few options for Hickory Hills: to make minor improvements and risk continued flooding, to buy residents out and allow "natural" flooding to occur or to dig a retention pond upstream to trap water before it reaches Tank Lake.
The county must conduct another study before digging an upstream retention pond to determine if the pond will prevent flooding, and if so, how much the project would cost, Baker said. It is likely that buying the flood-prone homes in Hickory Hills would prove less expensive than a retention pond, Baker said, considering the county paid $12 million to dig Geiger Pond to correct flooding near Zephyrhills. None of the Hickory Hills residents has, however, expressed interest in selling.
A Short-Term Fix
Removing sediment and vegetation and fixing collapsed culverts, as is now planned, will help, Baker said, but it will not prevent flooding in the event of a big storm. The work is slated to start this winter and continue until March.
"It is not a solution to their overall flooding problems," Baker said. "We are trying to identify a place upstream and find out if it is more cost-effective to dig a big hole or to buy residents out. Ultimately, we will have to have that conversation again, even though the residents are not interested in selling."
The county has never exercised eminent domain - forced takings - to move residents from flood-prone areas, and there are no plans to do that in Hickory Hills, Baker said. The county could, however, offer to help residents raise their homes as Clayton has or make other improvements to prevent flooding.
"It could be a matter of people choosing to live in a flood-prone area," she said. "Although it is a big area, there are a small number of people."
The Challenge Of Growth
Billy Ward, a resident of Moore Drive, said he is hopeful about the sediment removal project but thinks growth in Pasco has compounded problems and should be kept in check.
"I think the project should have been done a long time ago," he said. "The study Swiftmud did back in 1987 showed it should have been done at that time. With all the building Pasco County is going through, it is applying extra drainage and water problems in the area. You don't want to stop anyone from building, and of course you want the county to grow, but they have to be more diligent about where they allow people to build."
After Frances and Jeanne, water crept into the Claytons' home and up the drywall, threatening to rot the frame. Clayton stripped the walls in the hope of rebuilding on the same frame, but all that had to be torn down. Because the home was more than half destroyed, FEMA informed the Claytons they would have to raise the foundation to keep the house from flooding again.
New House, New Mortgage
The Claytons' original home was assessed at about $180,000, although an appraisal Clayton paid for put its value at $240,000, he said. Clayton does not know how much the tax bill will be on the new home, but it is likely to be much more than the original house, which was protected under a state law that limits yearly property tax increases on primary residences to no more than 3 percent or the cost of inflation.
"It's essentially the same as the previous house, with some design changes, but it's new," Clayton said. "It's nice on the one hand, but my old home was on a 15-year mortgage mostly paid for. Now I have a 30-year mortgage just starting."
Flood insurance covered about a third of the cost of rebuilding. The loan does not include the cost of refurbishing a swimming pool.
"It was FEMA's rules and regulations that said I had to tear it down," Clayton said. "On the other hand, they are going to pay very little of the cost."
Nonetheless, Clayton is happy about the county's plans to clean up Tank Lake.
"I really think if they simply do what they have outlined to do, it won't flood again," he said.
Settling In
The Claytons' new two-story, four-bedroom home, which is comparable to the old, presumably will not flood, because it is set above the floodplain, Clayton said.
The Claytons are committed to staying at Hickory Hills. They love their 44-acre property and the neighborhood of widely spread, spacious homes. The family had to do some "careful adjusting" to afford the new house. Henry Clayton is retired, and Toni works as a staffing specialist for the Pasco County School District. The couple's children, Emily, 16, and Eric, 15, are in high school, and the family has three dogs and four cats.
The pets have made adjustments, too. During the time the Claytons were unable to live in their home, they rented a house down the street. The dogs and a kitten, Booger, came with them to the rental home. The other cats, Squirt, Kobu and Spaz, inhabited the grounds of the original home, squeezing through gaps in the frame, curling up on the hearth or in other familiar corners. Clayton returned to feed the cats and pick up the mail each day.
During the reconstruction, Kobu and Spaz converted to outdoor cats. Squirt, meanwhile, had a serious run-in with a raccoon.
"He decided he liked the indoor life," Clayton said.
Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.
Contamination ties up park deal
By DAVID DeCAMPBecause of a communication breakdown, county officials didn't know some land had been tainted.
Published October 5, 2006
HUDSON - Earlier this year, Pasco County officials thought they had a deal that would lead to the creation of a large waterfront park overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Pasco would drop its claim to part of the Sun West Mine near Hudson if the mine's owners handed over 21 acres to combine into a county park. County commissioners unanimously approved the deal in May.
Unknown to top county officials involved in the deal, however, tests showed that parts of the new land and its groundwater had been contaminated with 22 times the state-allowed levels of arsenic and at least five times the state-allowed levels of a low-risk pesticide. A cleanup was ordered to remove oil-stained soil, old batteries and tires.
County officials are now negotiating to get a different slice of land, arguing that Sun West should have told them the original tract was tainted. But the violations were first documented in state Department of Environmental Protection files more than three months before the commission approved the deal.
And that documentation came from the county's own hazardous waste inspector.
County Administrator John Gallagher said he and other officials were unaware of the county's own inspections.
"I've been here 10 years. I didn't know the division existed," said deputy chief county attorney Barbara Wilhite, who handled the deal.
Officials with Pasco and Sun West said a replacement tract of 26 acres could be sliced around the contaminated property south of Race Track Road along Old Dixie Highway.
Sun West Acquisitions spokeswoman Honey Rand said the pollution was limited to a small piece of the mine. The new tract under consideration is uncontaminated, she said. The old tract would not be used by the public.
Gallagher said he is awaiting the DEP's signoff before the county accepts the new property. But Gallagher and Wilhite had no explanation for the communication breakdown with the county's own inspector.
"Of course it bothered me," Gallagher said, adding sarcastically, "No - I wanted to take $3-million and a piece of contaminated land for a park."
"A better question might be, 'Why did the property owners not inform me?' " Gallagher asked.
The answer from Sun West: "At this point, I really don't think it matters," Rand said, noting the dispute should be resolved soon.
The deal came out of Sun West Mine's 2003 bankruptcy case. As part of a related settlement, Pasco would give up rights to 915 acres at the mine, and Sun West Acquisitions would give the county 21 acres and $3-million to develop a park.
Combined with 289 acres the county already owns, the land would become a park with lakes, boat access and possibly a restaurant, snack bar or bait shop. For Sun West, the deal also could clear the way for a 2,200-acre development with a resort.
In January, the DEP sent a complaint to Pasco's hazardous waste division about leaky drums at Sun West's maintenance yard, which is part of the 21 acres.
Pasco inspector George Jancaitis found 10 violations and ordered the company to correct them. According to his reports to the DEP, 560 tons of used oil, 97 tons of waste tires and 29.33 tons - a standard dump truck load - of petroleum-stained soil were taken away by March.
Authorities required soil and water tests, too. Sun West's consultant's report, finished in March, showed that high levels of arsenic and the pesticide, Bromacil, had been found at the site.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not consider that pesticide a health risk, but some environmental groups suspect that it causes cancer. A state report suggested the contamination was caused by a spill, not overapplication of the pesticide.
After the cleanup, the consultant reported in June that arsenic levels remained above state limits, but were lower than before. Bromacil was essentially undetected.
But none of this information made it to the county officials who crafted the agreement for the 21 acres.
Jancaitis sent his information to the DEP via e-mail. The e-mail was addressed only to DEP officials. He told the Times Wednesday he could not comment without a supervisor's approval.
On May 30, the DEP closed its investigation, although it noted that the "site will need to be assessed, etc."
On July 25, Wilhite and top officials discovered the contamination through a county-hired consultant, according to the court filing. The review came during the county's "due diligence" as it prepared to close on the land, Wilhite said.
The consultant found "significant historical on and off-site environmental concerns," the report said.
On Aug. 16, the county asked the court to hold off approving the deal until Sun West fixed the problems.
The rationale: Sun West knew or should have known about the environmental damage. And it never told the county.
Changes to plan should require a supermajority
St. Pete Times Letter to the EditorPublished October 5, 2006
Changes to the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan deserve a 4-1 (supermajority) vote for approval. Those who want to keep it as is (a 3-2 simple majority) are looking at it from the negative side. I cannot see anything so important as a change to the comprehensive plan passing by only one vote.
In my earlier pingpong-playing days, the game goal was 21 points, but you had to win by two points. A 21-20 game was not over. You could not win by one point. You had to continue until someone won by two points.
The U.S. Supreme Court, with its many 5-4 rulings, is a travesty. How can it be fair when only one vote makes it the law of the land for many millions?
One way of avoiding this is to have an even number of members on any committee, board, etc. Some organizations have this. I was once on a committee that had six members. A 3-3 vote on a motion failed (because of a tie), thereby requiring a 4-2 vote to pass. This made the actions much more acceptable.
In life we learn that if the consensus is 50-50 (or close to this) the issue is too divisive, splits us in half and should be rejected. A two-thirds/one-third margin is much more acceptable at any level of leadership.
And in this case, 80-20 is much more acceptable than 60-40.
John Karpiscak, Spring Hill
Gov. Bush, Cabinet approve $50 million wilderness purchase
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet have approved the purchase of about 4,570 acres of wilderness for $50 million, despite the governor's concerns that the price tag was too high.
The Joshua Creek Conservation Area, about seven miles from the University of Central Florida, will nearly double the Little-Big Econ State Forest and preserve rare scrub terrain and dense wetlands, officials said.
The property's current owners, Land South Hunters of Polk County, are getting $17.7 million more than what they paid for the land in March. Bush had questioned whether the land's development potential justified its price.
The state will pay half the cost, and the other half will be split between the St. Johns River Water Management District and Orange County.
The property owners initially asked for $63 million, but agreed to the state's $50 million counteroffer because they wanted the land preserved, said Brian Philpot, a partner with Land South Hunters.
Cabinet votes to buy 4,600 acres of wildernessVote unanimous despite expense
After voicing serious concerns about the purchase price, Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet voted unanimously Tuesday to spend $25 million to buy nearly 4,600 acres of wilderness in eastern Orange and Seminole counties.
Known as the Joshua Creek property, the $50 million deal has been controversial since Bush raised questions last month about owner Land South Holdings of Mulberry charging $17.7 million more than it paid for the property in March.
''I'm interested in value,'' Bush said. ''It only emphasizes the necessity of being good stewards of Florida's financial resources.''
Under the deal approved Tuesday, the state will split the $50 million cost with the St. Johns River Water Management District. The state Division of Forestry will manage the property for recreational use.
With its hidden creeks feeding the middle of the St. Johns River, the roughly seven-square-mile Joshua Creek property is considered vital for preserving the St. Johns and Econlockhatchee rivers. Virtually untouched, it is highly prized by hikers and canoeing enthusiasts.
''It's a keystone piece in that ecosystem,'' said Charles Lee, director of advocacy for Audubon of Florida. Lee urged Bush and the Cabinet to close the deal.
Two appraisers put the difficult-to-price value at between $57.7 million and $63 million. The Division of State Lands ordered a third study to confirm the appraisals, division director Eva Armstrong said.
But Bush and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher expressed doubts about the accuracy of the appraisals, noting that it reflected a value for a developer to make money on the property. The current zoning is for agricultural use, and existing Orange County regulations would allow only 10-acre ranch-style lots on the property.
''We're paying $285,000 per lot,'' Gallagher complained.
But Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen Castille said the appraisals were sound. Bush and Gallagher were swayed, but they urged division staff members to consider looking more closely at the way the state appraises land for environmental purchase.
''It's hard to determine the value of large purchases,'' Land South Holdings head Brian Philpot said after the vote. ''It's a tough time right now. Florida land prices have gone absolutely bonkers.''
Bush and the Cabinet also unanimously approved the $2.3 million purchase of nearly 80 acres to add to the Brevard Coastal Scrub Ecosystem preserve near the Indian River Lagoon. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will manage the land and open it only for limited recreational use, including environmental education.
Wetlands Stamp to Make Debut Today
A new Florida wetlands stamp will debut in southwest Florida today before
going nationwide a day later.
The United States Postal Service will have a dedication ceremony at the Naples Zoo to kick off its "Nature of America: Southern Florida Wetland" commemorative stamp series, the Naples Daily News reported.
The stamps depict 21 plants and creatures that live in the Florida Everglades.
New policies
boost spring safeguardsThe United States Postal Service will have a dedication ceremony at the Naples Zoo to kick off its "Nature of America: Southern Florida Wetland" commemorative stamp series, the Naples Daily News reported.
The stamps depict 21 plants and creatures that live in the Florida Everglades.
Concern over nitrogen led to revisions
Wakulla County has approved growth policies that are intended to protect springs and groundwater from development and septic tanks.
Concerns about increasing nitrogen at Wakulla Springs led to the policies being adopted Monday. The nitrogen is feeding weeds and algae that are choking the springs.
The Wakulla County Commission unanimously approved policies requiring setbacks from some sinkholes and springs. New developments also must use advanced septic-tank systems that reduce nitrogen seeping into the groundwater.
State officials heralded the Wakulla County Commission's unanimous vote Monday. They said Wakulla became the first county in the state to adopt standards to protect springs.
"This is by far the strongest protection in the state of Florida," said Richard Deadman, environmental administrator at the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
The proposal offered in June was required as part of an agreement in 2004 to resolve a state legal challenge against a development along the Leon County line.
"Performance-based" septic tanks will be required in new developments and as replacements for older, malfunctioning tanks, Deadman said. They cost about twice as much as conventional systems, which now cost between $4,000 and $5,000.
Wakulla County, he said, also will launch a septic-tank-inspection program.
Some critics said the proposal was weakened in June when the commission accepted Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce recommendations. DCA in August objected to the proposal while state officials also praised the county for striving to protect its springs.
DCA objected to excluding homeowners with financial hardships from the septic-tank requirement. The state later agreed to the exemption as part of a compromise that requires the county to seek grant money for those with hardships, Deadman said.
The department also objected because the county didn't require 100-foot setbacks from all sinkholes, only those that have direct connections to the aquifer. The adopted compromise requires any development of more than one acre to do a geologic assessment to determine if there is an aquifer connection, Deadman said.
DCA also wanted a 35-percent open-space requirement for new developments. The state accepted Wakulla County's proposal to require 20 percent because many zoning categories already require more than that, Deadman said.
The measure now goes to the state for approval. An affected citizen also can file a legal challenge to block it.
Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park supports the measure even though the policies may need strengthening in the future, said Madeleine Carr, the group's vice president.
Commissioner Howard Kessler, who cast the only vote against the proposal in June, said Tuesday that he hopes the measure will be strengthened to provide broader protection for sinkholes.
"It is a lot better than what Wakulla County had," he said. "It is a step forward for the whole process."
SEPTIC TANKS: All new septic tanks must be "performance-based" providing reductions in nitrogen. Old septic tanks that malfunction must be replaced with the performance-based tanks. The county must seek state funding for homeowners who seek exemption for "financial hardship."
SINKHOLES: Development must be set back at least 300 feet from larger springs, 150 feet from spring runs and 100 feet from sinkholes or other geologic features with direct connections to the Floridan Aquifer. Planned-unit developments must provide an equivalent level of protection and buffers that are at least 50 feet.
OPEN SPACE: The policies require at least 20 percent open space in new developments. A state official said many Wakulla County zoning categories require more than 20 percent open space.
Water, land fight could
escalate
West Melbourne,
Melbourne in tiff
BY MEGAN DOWNS
FLORIDA TODAY
West Melbourne will seek a "heavy hitter" to help fight the city's water and land battles with Melbourne, the city council decided Tuesday.
Although council members and City Attorney Karl Boehn said litigation should be a last resort, the city will search for a law firm that specializes in water and annexation issues.
"We have to be prepared and take proactive steps to show that we are not going to lie down," said Councilman Duke Salberg, who brought the request to the council. "All we have to lose is our city's future."
The city's quarrel with Melbourne began when more than 1,000 acres of land west of Interstate 95 became potential housing site targets for both cities. Brevard County is mediating negotiations between the cities, but Boehn said if the issues are not resolved within the next 30 to 60 days, West Melbourne's legal team will have to "take it to the next level."
The next round of negotiations with the county is scheduled Oct. 17.
All council members supported the move.
"We need to combat the hostile takeover of our city that I think is being attempted," Councilwoman Virginia Blanchard said.
Since 1968, West Melbourne has relied on Melbourne for its drinking water supply, buying and consuming nearly 1.5 million to 2 million gallons a day. The current contract says Melbourne must give West Melbourne as much water as it can consume, Boehn said.
Palm Bay engineers recently sent West Melbourne a water proposal, offering to sell the city 500,000 to 1 million gallons a day. A joint study being paid for by Palm Bay and West Melbourne is examining potential models and costs. West Melbourne also is receiving proposals from engineering firms to provide a model of the city's water system.
The council also debated the purchase of unincorporated property near Lake Washington that could serve as the future site of a water plant. If the council approved a plant, it could take up to 10 years to develop the system.
But some council members said they believe the city with a population of 15,000 is unprepared for such a massive undertaking.
"We need to restore our borders and make sure we can expand our city before we spend time buying property that we can or cannot use," Councilwoman Jan Lieson said.
Contact Downs at 987-8257 or mdowns@brevard.gannett.com
Tollway chief: 'No-build' remains an option
By Terry WittThe chief executive officer of Florida’s toll road agency said Tuesday he was sorry if he was misunderstood at the Citrus County Commission meeting last week and left the impression the “no-build” alternative for Suncoast Parkway 2 was no longer in play.
Christopher L. Warren of the Florida Turnpike Enterprise said county commissioners always have the option of stopping the Suncoast Parkway 2 toll road project though Citrus County, and he said that means the no-build alternative is always active.
“There is always a no-build alternative and it’s always controlled by the county commission,” Warren said in a Chronicle interview.
Warren was responding to comments by County Commission Chairman Gary Bartell in Tuesday’s Chronicle Editorial Board meeting. Bartell said Warren told commissioners the no-build alternative was dead at the Sept 26 meeting.
Bartell said he learned Friday from turnpike spokeswoman Joanne Hurley and from Warren that the no-build alternative was indeed alive. If the project were found to be economically or environmentally unsound, FTE would not build the project. The agency would adopt the no-build alternative.
Bartell said Warren should have made that clear at the commission meeting.
“I’m not going to accuse anyone of anything, but they could have been a little more forthright,” Bartell said.
In the meeting, Warren said FTE was scrapping its partially completed Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study and replacing it with a similar 8-year-old Suncoast 2 project study that had been completed but never used. The agency needed county commission approval to switch to the old study. Commissioners approved the request 4-1.
Warren told commissioners a 27-mile highway route for Suncoast Parkway 2 had been selected during the old study, but the preferred alignment would have to be reevaluated by FTE to determine if changes were needed.
Warren told the Chronicle on Tuesday that even with an approved alignment, commissioners retain the power to kill Suncoast Parkway 2 at any point. He said that is apparently where the misunderstanding occurred.
“If at any time, the county commission says stop the project, we would stop,” Warren said.
Bartell said he was aware the commission’s support of Suncoast 2 was important. However, he has a hard time believing the agency would stop the project if it were half constructed. However, Warren said the commission can indeed halt the project at any time.
Warren said he approached commissioners last week because he needed approval to switch to the old study. Local approval of the project is one of the political pillars on which the project must be built, and only county commissioners can provide the local support.
Cost kills plan for area ethanol plant A national push to increase ethanol production has caused costs for a proposed plant in White Springs to rise, killing the project.Jacksonville-based Gate Petroleum proposed building a plant to produce 50 million gallons of the gasoline additive each year. R.B. "Buzz" Hoover, president of the company's ethanol subsidiary, told Hamilton County commissioners Tuesday the project is being scrapped.
The plant would have been one of the first producing ethanol in the state. Hoover said an increasing demand for equipment to make the fuel has caused costs to rise substantially.
"It's not a question of the location being a problem, it's the fact that the ethanol business is so overheated right now," he said.
The regional chapter of the Sierra Club opposed the plant over concerns about its environmental impact. The decision allows White Springs to maintain a focus on ecologically oriented tourism, said Steve Williams, a local river guide and member of the chapter's executive committee.
"We're appreciative of whatever circumstances brought about this change," he said.
The estimated $160 million project was proposed on 90 acres north of White Springs. Hamilton County officials had pledged infrastructure improvements and tax breaks for the plant, which company officials said would create 48 jobs.
Nancy Oliver, director of the county's Office of Tourism and Economic Development, said she was disappointed by the news.
"We felt that it would be a good partnership and definitely be a benefit to the county's economy," she said.
The White Springs plant would have made ethanol from corn brought by rail, burning wood to fuel the process. While advocates say ethanol is a cleaner fuel that helps wean the country off imported oil, critics say the environmental costs of growing and transporting corn offsets those benefits.
Ethanol until recently had largely been produced and used in the Midwest, but production and use is starting to increase in Florida.
While there are no ethanol plants in the state now, Tampa-based U.S. EnviroFuels is moving forward with plans to build ethanol plants at the ports of Manatee and Tampa.
In September, the University of Florida started fueling some of its vehicle fleet with ethanol. Last month, a Tallahassee station became the first in the state to sell an 85 percent ethanol blend to the public.
Hoover said Gate would re-consider building the plant or using ethanol from another source if it became economically feasible.
"If there's a reliable supply and an attractive price, we're certainly willing to use ethanol," he said.
Nathan Crabbe can be reached at 352-338-3176 or crabben@gvillesun.com.
Perennial peanut holds promise
By David Palmer
Floridan Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Farmers from north Florida and neighboring states
arrived in Jackson County looking for some specific answers about a unique
crop: the perennial peanut.
A primitive peanut plan that produces very few seed in contrast to the
common peanut, the perennial is native to South America but works well in
the soil found in Jackson County and the surrounding region, said Dr. Ann
Blount, an associate professor at the North Florida Research &
Education Center in Greenwood.
A research arm of the University of Florida, the research and education
center is a valuable source of testing and research for farmers. Tuesday's
focus at the annual Peanut Field Day addressed establishing and
maintaining the plant.
Despite the overall dryness of the year, some of the farmers reported
successes with the plant.
Ron Rehberg, who is making his first venture into growing the perennial,
said his plants are established. Nonetheless, he was looking for guidance
on weed control when he arrived at the field day.
A team of experts were on hand to lead a tour of the test grounds and
offer information. In addition, the setting was an opportunity for farmers
to trade experiences.
The perennial, with its low seed yield, becomes an excellent source of hay
for horses and goats, said Doug Mayo of the research and education center.
"This is the type of hay you would see an individual, who owns a
horse or two, buy at a store," Mayo said.
Blount also said the perennial is known as "Florida's alfalfa"
because of its similarities to alfalfa as an animal feed. Crude protein in
the perennial ranges from 13 to 20 percent.
Once the farmer gets the perennial established, weed control becomes a
critical factor. True to its name ? perennial ? only a one-time planting
is needed for the crop.
According to information published by the research center, commercial
plantings of perennial peanuts are 20 to 30 years old at this time. The
plant develops an extensive root system to extract moisture and nutrients
from a large volume of soil.
The visiting farmers received some important news concerning weed control
Tuesday from Kevin Morgan, director of agricultural policy for the Florida
Farm Bureau Federation.
The herbicide cadre can be used for weed control with the perennial.
"It's important because only a limited amount of herbicides can be
used with the perennial," Morgan said.
Morgan said the matter had to be researched extensively before the
announcement could be made.
"This will be a big help for the farmers," he added.
Florida Housing Market To Cool
Published: Oct 4, 2006
WASHINGTON - Housing prices, slumping after a five-year boom, are projected to decline in more than 100 of the nation's metropolitan areas, with Florida, the Northeast and California among the areas hardest hit.
The forecast by Moody's Economy.com, a private research firm, presents one of the starkest views yet of the housing slowdown that has been gathering force in recent months. The West Chester, Pa., forecasting firm projects that the median sales price for an existing home will decline in 2007 by 3.6 percent, which would be the first decline for an entire year in home prices since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg market was not among the 133 metropolitan areas that the research firm thinks will suffer price declines, although several Florida cities appear on the list.
The nation's second-biggest decline in housing prices is projected to occur in the Fort Myers area, a fall of 18.6 percent from the peak in the final three months of last year to a low point for prices projected for the second quarter of 2007.
Housing prices are expected to fall about 14 percent in the Sarasota-Bradenton and Naples-Marco Island areas, the report said, and South Florida declines are expected between 5 percent and 6 percent.
Not all parts of the country will experience price declines. The report said Texas, the Southeastern states other than Florida and much of the Midwest Farm Belt should be immune from price declines, although price increases are expected to be modest.
The report said the most vulnerable areas for price declines were those regions where red-hot markets attracted speculators known as flippers, who purchased homes in hopes of selling them fast for a quick profit. Such speculators have invested in many parts of Florida in recent years.
"Housing's downturn has turned even more dramatic with the rapid flight of the flipper from the market," the report said. "These investors have gone from sending home sales and prices shooting higher to driving sales and prices lower."
The forecast is included in a 195-page report, "Housing at the Tipping Point," which The Associated Press obtained before its general release scheduled for today. The report projected that 133 of the nation's 379 metropolitan areas would suffer price declines. Those metropolitan areas with declining prices account for nearly one-half of the value of the nation's stock of single-family homes.
The price declines represent a contrast from the past five years, when low mortgage rates pushed sales to five consecutive annual records and prices in the hottest sales areas skyrocketed.
Some analysts are worried that the slowdown could become so severe that it could drag the country into a recession, much as the bursting of the stock market bubble in 2000 led to the 2001 slump.
The housing report said the biggest percentage price decline will be in Danville, Ill., where prices have fallen 18.7 percent from the peak in the second quarter of 2005 to a low-point in the first three months of this year. That setback occurred because of layoffs in autos and other manufacturing industries, which depressed the local economy.
The 133 areas with slumping prices are concentrated in Florida and California and the Northeast corridor from southern Maine to south of Washington, D.C., as well as boom areas of Nevada and Arizona and some depressed sections of the Midwest, such as Detroit.
Of the areas with falling prices, 72 were forecast to hit their low point by the end of this year with the rest seeing a trough for prices in 2007, 2008 or even as late as 2009.
Even in areas that have hit a low point for prices, a rebound is not expected to occur quickly.
"Prices are going to go down and stay down for a while. It will take at least a couple of years to work off the excesses of the last decade," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com and the principal author of the report.
The report described the current environment as a "correction" and not a "crash" but it cautioned that there were risks that could make the slowdown more serious.
A big threat is that the fall in home prices could have a significant effect on consumer spending. The so-called wealth effect pushed consumer spending higher during the housing boom as soaring home prices made homeowners feel more wealthy and more inclined to spend. But falling home prices could have the reverse effect and depress consumer spending.
Developer
wants to force ballot measure
ORMOND
BEACH -- Local developer Bray & Gillespie says it has more than double
the number of signatures it needs to force a ballot measure aimed at
overriding building height limits and preserving development flexibility.
Bray & Gillespie has more than 6,000 signed petitions, well over the
2,800 required by law, said Doug Kosarek, senior vice president of Ocean
Waters Development, which is owned by Bray & Gillespie.
But the company doesn't have immediate plans to turn in the petitions and
have them officially checked for valid signatures. Bray & Gillespie
plans to continue gathering signatures, and might not turn in its petitions
before the Nov. 7 election, when voters will decide on a ballot question
asking voters to cap building heights at 75 feet.
Ranch plans to add 8,000 homes
Despite a soft real estate market, Lakewood Ranch pitches two huge developments north of S.R. 70.
By FRANK GLUCK
EAST MANATEE – Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is looking past the current soft
housing market and proposing two massive developments that could bring more
than 8,000 new homes to Lakewood Ranch.Both developments are slated for open pastureland northeast of the intersection of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and State Road 70, near the stalled hockey arena project.
The 8,100 new homes would add to the roughly 6,000 already built in Lakewood Ranch, and were part of the Ranch's original master plan that extends over 30 years and could lead to development of 7,000 acres.
SMR officials have said they are starting to supplement their ongoing growth in housing with an increased focus on commercial and retail space in an attempt to make Lakewood Ranch a self-sustaining residential, commercial, employment and entertainment hub in Southwest Florida.
The two projects -- details of which were filed recently with county planners -- illustrate SMR's confidence in the long-term growth of East Manatee and continue the developer's northward march toward State Road 64.
Most of Lakewood Ranch's existing 6,000 homes are to the south between S.R. 70 and University Parkway.
Preliminary construction is expected to start some time next year; full build-out isn't expected until 2019.
The two projects will be located on more than 2,200 acres, and bring more than 8,100 homes and 3.5 million square feet of office space to the sprawling Lakewood Ranch project.
The projects will wrap around one of the Ranch's most notable landmarks -- the partially built hockey arena.
Officials with SMR, the developer of Lakewood Ranch, are undeterred by the suddenly squishy local housing market or the uncertain future of the arena.
"We don't see that people are going to stop moving here," said Lakewood Ranch spokeswoman Sondra Guffey. "There's no research, no studies saying people aren't going to keep coming to Florida."
The largest of the two projects, with the decidedly un-catchy name of "Northwest Sector," will bring 4,446 mostly single-family homes, 305,000 square feet of retail and office space, a 120-bed assisted living facility and a 10-acre park.
The 1,519-acre Northwest Sector would add to a huge expansion of northern Lakewood Ranch already in the works.
An adjoining 700 acres slated for mixed-use development, a project known as "Lakewood Centre," encircles the proposed arena.
Unlike other Lakewood Ranch projects, Lakewood Centre is taking a more "urbanist" approach by situating homes amid commercial and retail centers.
Lakewood Centre will offer 3,675 homes, mostly multi-family units, and 3.2 million square feet of commercial and office space. About 300 hotel rooms are also expected, though a hotel brand has not been determined.
The Manatee County Planning Commission must still review Northwest Sector, and a traffic impact analysis is still under way.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to review the proposal next month, and the County Commission looks at it in December, said Commissioner Joe McClash.
McClash said he is waiting for the completion of the pending traffic analysis from developers to fully assess the projects. But he said projects of that size would definitely have an "enormous" impact on local traffic.
County planners are still reviewing Lakewood Centre.
Lakewood Ranch was started in 1994 on the 30,000-acre East Manatee land holdings of the Schroeder family and the Uihlein family, founders of the Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee
Article published Oct 4, 2006
Naples firm says it decided "not to move
forward" with the plan for a town center along U.S. 41. BY ZAC ANDERSONDeveloper ditches Murdock deal
PORT CHARLOTTE -- Citing "market conditions," Naples-based Stock
Development pulled out of a deal to develop a controversial town center near
State Road 776 and U.S. 41.
Charlotte County has worked for years to get this close to breaking ground
for Murdock Village, proposed to create a focal point for an area that has
never had a downtown.
It is the second time a developer has dropped out of the Murdock project.
Now the county plans to gauge the interest of the other two developers who
made bids to build the mix of shops, offices and homes.
The news from Stock came Tuesday in a letter to the county from company
President Brian Stock.
"Unfortunately, due to market conditions, we have made the business
decision not to move forward with Murdock Village," he wrote.
Stock did not elaborate and was not available for comment.
County administrator Bruce Loucks said he wasn't surprised that contract
negotiations with Stock fell apart. Stock had sought financial concessions
from the county.
"On a big project like this, you usually end up going through one or
two developers until you find one that fits," Loucks said.
The county had been working for the past five months to reach a development
agreement with Stock after spending years -- and going $93 million in debt
-- acquiring land through eminent domain for the project designed to be a
"downtown" focal point.
The county pays $14,000 a day in interest on the loan.
In January 2005, national home builder Lennar Corp. pulled out of the
Murdock project, citing impatience with the county's muddled process.
Stock was chosen this year from among three bidders in a competitive
selection process.
But the decision was not unanimous. Commissioners Tom D'Aprile and Matt
DeBoer voted against awarding the project to Stock.
"My sixth sense told me this wasn't going to work," D'Aprile said
Tuesday. "Their financing was not really up to par as far as I was
concerned."
Commission Chairman Tom Moore said he was surprised by Stock's withdrawal.
He said the commission would decide how to proceed with Murdock Village,
which has been proposed as a mix of shops, offices and homes with a town
center, at the next meeting.
"Do we go with who was second?" Moore wondered. "That's what
our legal department will tell us."
The two other companies that submitted proposals to build the 1,200-acre
project are Babcock Ranch developer Kitson & Partners and Ohio-based
Forest City.
D'Aprile said he favored Kitson.
"The man stands behind what he says," D'Aprile said.
Although Stock cited the weak real estate market as a reason for not
continuing with Murdock Village, county officials said they do not believe
the downturn will discourage other large developers.
"The big boys have the financial strength to withstand market
changes," Moore said.
Loucks said the county had nearly completed a development deal when Stock
pulled out. He said the deal could be used with the next developer.
"This is not a huge setback," he said. "We still have a very
viable project."
A Stock spokeswoman declined to comment on the company's decision Tuesday.
Delray building ban in historic districts to end
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
DELRAY BEACH — City commissioners refused to extend a moratorium that is preventing many property owners from building in the city's five historic districts.
City staff asked commissioners Tuesday to tack on another 90 days to the six-month moratorium, which is set to expire Oct. 18.
Last month, REG Architects Inc. of West Palm Beach revealed ways the city could tighten its building guidelines, including examples of construction designs that would be compatible with the homes in the districts. Historic Preservation Planner Amy Alvarez said staffers need more time to sort through those suggestions so they can bring each before the commission for formal approval.
Commissioners said six months should have been enough time.
"I'm disappointed that staff was not able to comply with what was clear direction of the commission," Commissioner Jon Levinson said.
The moratorium started in April after city officials and residents voiced concerns that developers were demolishing historic homes and replacing them with what many have nicknamed "McMansions."
Since April, the demolitions allowed have been only those buildings deemed unsafe by the city and the only new construction was 2,000 square feet or less. Because of the moratorium, Alvarez said the city turns away at least one property owner a week wishing to build or demolish on their land.
One property owner is Craig Valvo, who owns land in the historic Marina District. He said the moratorium is costing him $1,000 a day to keep the land he eventually plans to build on.
"It is completely unfair that I bear this cost while a governmental organization decides what it may, or may not, want to do," Valvo wrote in a letter to the city.
Vice Mayor Rita Ellis, a supporter of the six-month moratorium, said she could not support the extension request.
Commissioner Brenda Montague, also an original supporter, agreed with Ellis and said that an extension would overstep the city's bounds and that the city needs to respect property rights.
City Attorney Susan Ruby said those requesting to build or demolish in the historic districts will follow the city's current guidelines once the moratorium expires.
Suburban school districts on the grow
By JOHN CARTER Once sparse tracts of land in both counties are filling with homes. And
they're homes with enough school-aged children to make administrators and
planners to see big dollar signs - as they worry about where the money will
come from to pay for future school operations and, in particular, school
construction.
And the flood of students comes at a time when facilities planners are
battling on two fronts - against unprecedented population growth and
shrinking capacities resulting from the Class Size Amendment.
Even Nassau County, relatively resistant to the population boom choking
some counties, is feeling the class-size pinch.
"When a recent phase of the class-size restrictions kicked in, we
lost 1,600 seats - snap - just like that. And they were gone, on paper
anyway," said Nassau County schools Superintendent John Ruis.
Classroom additions are planned for nine Nassau schools, all set to begin
as soon as possible.
Both St. Johns and Clay counties are building schools and have aggressive
plans to add in the near future. But the problem at least in Clay County is
finding the means to pay for them. Right now the county doesn't have the
money to sustain its school building projections, according to school
officials.
That won't be a problem in St. Johns.
Over the next five years, St. Johns will expand Julington Creek
Elementary and build five elementary schools, two middle schools, a K-8
school, two high schools and a ninth-grade center at Bartram Trail high
School, said David Toner, the school system's executive director of
facilities and operations.
The construction will be funded by the district's capital outlay budget
aided by development of regional impact agreements with major developers and
educational impact fees on new residential development that produce
additional revenue for school construction.
St. Johns' and Clay's 20-year projections are even more staggering.
St. Johns anticipates it will need 53 new schools by 2026 to educate an
estimated 74,000 students. Currently there are 35 schools and a student
population of 25,000.
Clay has a seven-year plan that calls for construction of seven
elementary schools, a junior high school and a high school but needs to come
up with a plan to pay for them.
Twenty-year projections for Clay County show the district will need
another 25 schools on top of the existing 37 to serve an anticipated 55,500
students by 2026, said Mike Elliott, the school system's assistant
superintendent for support services.
Its student population is now 32,000.
Clay Superintendent David Owens led the fight in 2003 for a half-cent
sales tax over 20 years to fund school construction, renovation and
technological improvements. But voters rejected the referendum.
Owens is still convinced the district needs the tax and says he may again
propose a sales tax for school construction. If asked today, he said, the
public would likely support it.
"In Clay County we are pupil-rich and property-poor compared to
surrounding counties," Elliott said.
With few big businesses and many residents working in neighboring
counties, Elliott fears the county won't have the tax base to keep pace with
school growth. Even educational impact fees are not enough to close the gap.
He's also doubtful the gap can be significantly closed by a change in state
law aimed at forcing developers to ensure the school district can
accommodate the new students their developments will bring.
The district is already more than $116 million in debt from school
construction and needs more than $360 million for new schools and upgrades
at existing schools over five years.
"Based on today's trends, we will not have the funds to keep
pace," Elliott said.
He said Clay draws on a $9 billion tax base compared to $22 billion in
St. Johns. Clay also has a higher percentage of students in portable
classrooms than any other Florida county because of the difficulties of
financing school construction, he said.
For example, the OakLeaf School, which opened in August, was supposed to
be a junior high. Because of demand, it was converted to a K-8 school with
all the K-5 students in more than 50 portable classrooms behind the
brand-new school.
"Some teachers and students love the portables, having their own
space," said Jim Connell, the district's director of facility planning
and construction. "Others hate them. Most say they're ugly. I've often
heard our Clay schools described as 'trailer parks.' "
In Clay's seven-year plan, two proposed elementary schools and a junior
high cannot currently be financed, Elliott said.
"We need them right now," he said, "but just don't have
the money."
Though the future promises a steady steam of students filing into St.
Johns County as well, Superintendent Joseph Joyner acknowledges the
challenge, but seems assured his district's plans are and will remain
"financially feasible."
He said Toner and his team are doing a good job of planning for
tremendous growth.
Joyner and Toner said a voter-approved bond issue in the 1980s and
foresight have led to good financial prospects for the district despite
rapid growth and class-size restrictions.
"Sure, we're in the water up to our necks," Toner said. "A
wave or two goes over our heads, but we have the footing to get our heads
above water again. We keep a financially feasible plan always in focus and
find a way to get there."
john.carter@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4539 St. Johns By 2026, the district projects a need for 53 new schools in
addition to the 35 existing schools to serve an estimated 74,000 students.
Over the next five years, the district plans to expand Julington Creek
Elementary, build five elementary schools, two middle schools, a K-8 school
and two high schools. Anticipated cost: $340 million.
Clay By 2026, the district projects a need for 25 schools on top of the
existing 37 to serve an anticipated 55,500 students. Over the next five
years, the district plans to build five elementary schools, one junior high
school and one high school. Anticipated cost: $360 million.
Nassau The district now has 16 schools with no immediate plans for new
schools. The district's five-year plan calls for classroom additions at nine
schools, all expected to begin soon. The $34 million plan also proposes
building, converting or expanding some media centers, cafeterias,
auditoriums and multipurpose rooms. Projections: For 2010-16, the district
anticipates building three elementary schools; for 2016-26, the district
anticipates building two elementary schools, three middle schools and two
high schools. There is no current cost estimate.
Source: Clay, St. Johns, Nassau county school districts
--------------------------------------------------
The Times-Union
Like their metropolitan cousin to the north, St.
Johns and Clay counties' school districts are struggling to keep pace with
the need for new schools. But not because of a shifting population like
Duval County has experienced- but because of sheer growth.
--------------------------------------------------
Looking at their futures These are the projections for new school growth in
suburban First Coast counties.
Federal expressway inquiry puzzles some
By MICHAEL VAN SICKLER, Times Staff WriterPublished October 4, 2006
TAMPA - As word spread Tuesday about a federal probe into the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, some board members were surprised that Washington was involved.
Despite allegations of possible conflicts of interest, ethics violations and questionable billing, Expressway Authority officials noted they don't spend tax money or federal grants.
So why are the FBI and the U.S. Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General conducting an investigation?
FBI and Transportation Department officials won't comment.
But John Fitzgibbons, a former federal prosecutor, said it's not all about the money.
The FBI frequently looks into public corruption cases. For instance, the agency investigated one of the most prominent local corruption cases - the Hillsborough County Commission bribery scandal of the 1980s - that did not involve federal money.
If investigators believed the U.S. mail was used to deliver fraudulent material, that also could spark interest, said Fitzgibbons, a Tampa lawyer.
If federal money was used improperly, Fitzgibbons said, that would give the Justice Department authority to investigate.
Officials point out that tolls pay for projects such as the $420-million elevated lanes of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. Of the tax money the agency does spend - and pays back - most of that comes from the Florida Transportation Department.
"The agency gets no direct federal funds, period," said Marty Stone, its planning director.
While Stone said the Expressway Authority hadn't directly received federal money, he said he wasn't sure if it had indirectly received funds.
Some federal money could have been mixed with the $7-million in state funds the Expressway Authority received for a proposed road linking Interstate 4 and the Crosstown, Stone said.
Yankeetown currently in search of zoning official
By Mike WrightThe Yankeetown town council moved closer Monday night to hiring a zoning official to handle code complaints and process the Izaak Walton development application.
The council voted 3-0 to advertise for a part-time zoning official and a planning consultant to advise the official on complicated big-ticket projects, such as the Izaak Walton resort and marina proposed by Izaak Walton Investors LLC.
Meanwhile, Izaak Walton architect Peter Spittler asked he be allowed to give the council and town a formal presentation of the development, similar to one he pitched last week the Levy County Tourist Development Council.
Yankeetown councilwoman Dawn Clary suggested Spittler ask to be included on a future agenda.
Councilman Larry Feldhusen explained Tuesday in an interview that while the council has a three-member quorum, the recent resignations of two council members and the mayor leaves it with no means to call a special meeting. Only the mayor can do that, and the council doesn’t have enough members to appoint a mayor.
The council should have its full five-member slate after the town’s regular Oct. 31 election.
Spittler asked to give the presentation because he said the plans have changed considerably since February.
Feldhusen said it made better sense to him to have the updated application package, which includes about 1,000 pages of documents, be ready for public review before the presentation.
“Pete gave us a dog and pony show earlier in February. Everybody saw it,” Feldhusen said Tuesday. “After that, everything kind of went under wraps for months.”
Confusion Surrounds Impact Fee Cutoff Date
By CHRIS BUTLERcbutler@highlandstoday.com
SEBRING - Builders hoping to beat the clock on impact fees in Highlands County may instead face a few surprises after the start of the new year.
Any new building applications submitted after Jan. 1 are subject to impact fees.
But given their lengthy approval process, Highlands County commissioners Tuesday grappled with whether those who submit applications on or before Dec. 31 are also subject to the fees.
County officials previously indicated Dec. 31 is the cutoff date for anyone hoping to avoid paying impact fees. But the county may not grant building permits to those people until after Jan. 1, meaning they would also have to pay impact fees.
“The question before us is what constitutes a a completed application?” Highlands County Commission Chairman Bob Bullard asked.
The answer could mean a difference of tens of thousands of dollars for any one developer.
Highlands County Administrator Carl Cool said he’s encouraging as many developers as possible to have their applications in before Dec. 1. That way the county can approve all building applications before the end of the year.
But the exact wording of the impact fee ordinance may conflict with county commissioners’ earlier statements – they said anything submitted on or before Dec. 31 is exempt.
Bullard said many developers could feel duped.
“There’s going to be many false perceptions about what’s going on. A strict reading of this ordinance gives us the power to collect even more revenue from impact fees. People are going to say that we’re trying to create as many opportunities to get even more money from them,” Bullard added.
He also said the county should resolve the matter or else find itself embroiled in a lawsuit.
“If there’s a conflict regarding the ordinance we passed and the commitment we gave the residents of this county then we need to change the ordinance. I’m not changing the commitment I made,” Bullard said.
Bullard and other commissioners said they always assumed someone would be available to approve applications before Dec. 31, the same way postal workers usually work late on April 15, the IRS tax deadline.
County staff are already fielding at least one concern on the matter.
“One gentleman has already told county engineers that he doesn’t want to pay impact fees for his subdivision, but he’s so far behind in his paperwork that he won’t make it in time,” Cool said.
He said anyone submitting an application on Dec. 31 still has plenty of other issues for the county to resolve, such as site plans and other zoning issues.
Commissioner C. Guy Maxcy was especially concerned about developers possibly missing the impact fee cutoff date.
“A lot of builders are going to get a lot of their plans kicked out and the (county) engineers need to be blamed for that,” Maxcy said.
Cool had his own response.
“Well if a person is diligent they shouldn’t bring this to us the last week of December,” Cool said.
Cool said the county will send out letters to builders clarifying the issue.
He said he plans to present commissioners with a resolution to the problem at next week’s meeting.
State Road 64 worries delay hearing
STAFF REPORT
Commissioners delayed a hearing on Central Park until Dec. 2.
In addition to the 800 single-family homes, Central Park plans call for 150,000 square feet of commercial space on 372 acres southeast of a future intersection of 44th Avenue East and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
Traffic concerns also prompted commissioners to delay consideration of the Rosedale Addition project until November.
Plans call for 306 single-family lots and a golf course on 237 acres west of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and south of a future 44th Avenue extension.
Publix halts most food donations to area charities
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Publix grocery stores have slammed the pantry door shut on tens of thousands of poor and hungry people in Palm Beach County.
After years of supplying the bulk of all donated food in the county, local store managers began turning away charities last week, saying they no longer could give away truckloads of meat, fruits and vegetables.
Breads and cakes remain on the table, according to an e-mail sent to all store and department managers Sept. 28. The e-mail also suggested certain theme candies are OK. "After Easter, donating Easter candy to the local school" is acceptable, Regional Director Richard Rhoads wrote.
Although the policy is new to charities that have frequented Publix's back doors for years, it is 10 years old, spokeswoman Anne Hendricks said.
She said some local managers followed the rules, but others, guided by "their very big hearts," donated meat and produce that were dated but not yet bad.
Their generosity flew under the company radar until recently, when Rhoads reiterated Publix policy in the e-mail, Hendricks said.
Publix also is talking to store managers in two other Florida communities where pantries were collecting meat and produce despite the ban, Hendricks said.
Publix's concern rests with donating items that can spoil.
"This food is not something we would feel comfortable selling to our customers or putting into the mouths of anybody without knowing the proper time and temperature controls were in place," Hendricks said.
Many of the organizations retrieving donations report they do not use refrigerated vehicles, but often volunteers driving their own cars.
"Publix has the best interests of the residents of Palm Beach County at heart, and they support lots of other food programs," said Tracey Lamport, who co-founded the Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance.
"Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, we're just going to have to find a way to replace this food supply, because it is significant. They do supply the lion's share of protein and vegetables," Lamport said.
Ask the folks at Palm Beach Harvest.
Palm Beach Harvest is a nonprofit organization with the sole purpose of gathering surplus food. It supplies more than 80 agencies in the county with food for the needy. In business for 10 years, the organization gets 91 percent of its food from 20 Publix stores, Executive Director Deborah Morgan said.
Those agencies feed about 35,000 clients a year through food pantries, kitchens and hot-meal deliveries, Morgan said.
The Salvation Army's Center for Hope is among them.
"We're providing meals and serving food to 155 residents three times a day. Eighty-five are homeless individuals who live here, get counseling and eventually get work and back on their feet," director Sheila Smith said.
Publix was the center's main source of meat and fresh produce, Smith said. And though the center doesn't use a refrigerated truck, Smith noted that the Publix is nearby and the food goes straight into a commercial-grade refrigerator.
"We're not in crisis today. Two weeks down the road we likely will be," Smith said.
So will the Jesus And You ministries in Riviera Beach, which takes hot meals to the homeless.
"The Publix gave us a week's warning they would no longer be giving us anything but bread," said Jimmy Felder, who runs the organization and picks up from four Publix stores weekly.
That will be a problem for the program, which runs entirely on donations and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner to 40 or 50 people each meal, about 400 people a week, Felder said.
Joanne Szaja, executive director of Boca Helping Hands, echoed the sentiments of many.
"We love Publix. They have been so philanthropic for so many years, and we hope we can get this resolved," Szaja said. "If we don't, I don't know if my hot meal program will survive."
Szaja's program feeds young families and retirees. "Paycheck-to-paycheck people," she said.
They come from 24 churches, from the county's 211 referral hot line and by word of mouth.
Hendricks said the chain is not indifferent to the charities' plight.
"It's extremely unfortunate," she said. Publix is committed to helping the community, she said, and not only donates food but also "millions and millions and millions" of dollars to charity food providers from Key West to Vero Beach.
Since last week, Publix officials, members of the Community Food Alliance and various charities have tried to come up with a solution. A resolution may be near, Hendricks said Tuesday night.
But the pinch already has been felt. Szaja had to dip into cash reserves to buy salad and canned fruit.
"I can't do it without Publix," Szaja said. "It's such a shame to think that food will be thrown away
Stewards of the land
COOKS HAMMOCK - Frank "Red" and Olive "Ollie" Schulte have four grown children, two who find snakes repulsive and two others who find spiders repugnant. Those wildlife aversions whittled the pool of potential familial heirs for the Schultes' 2,481-acre Lafayette County ranch to zero.In order to keep the ranch from being subdivided and developed, the Schultes began looking around for others who might want to inherit the historic property, especially someone or some group that would make sure the property remained ranch-like and intact.
The couple believe Chief Osceola likely made one of his last camps on the property before being captured under a controversial truce offer. When the Schultes bought the first of two large tracts that now make up the ranch, they said it looked a lot like it had in Osceola's era.
"We carved this out of the wilderness," Red Schulte said.
The couple, now in their 70s, began looking for someone to pass the property along to several years ago because if they died without a plan for the ranch, "We could see chaos coming."
The couple eventually zeroed in on the Suwannee River Water Management District as a potential guardian of the property. The district was a government agency they watched grow from a legislative idea in the 1970s to a fully functioning agency that regularly bought and routinely managed large tracts for public use but in their near-native condition.
The $6.5 million deal took 18 months to get down on paper and get signed by all the agencies and people involved. Under the deal that closed on July 26, the Schultes will continue to live on 70 acres of the ranch, along with their 13 horses and 17 mules, as long as they want.
A nonprofit Florida corporation, R.O. Ranch Inc., was created by the water district and the Schultes and will oversee and manage operations on the ranch. The ranch is in the southeastern corner of State Road 51 and Lafayette County Road 357. It abuts the 20,909-acre Steinhatchee Springs Wildlife Management Area.
"We've been trail riding all over the country and we have seen all different levels of trails and we know that we want the best here, the most interesting, so that people will want to come here," Schulte said.
The hands holding the reins of day-to-day operations belong to Ron Clayton, a veteran at ranch management.
Clayton, 57, is a former mule skinner or mule driver. Hewas a trail boss and rodeo cowboy whose previous management experience has all been in the southwestern states, primarily around the Grand Canyon.
"We spent our time out there trying to grow things and people here are trying to beat things back," said Clayton, who is also learning to deal with several different types of fauna as well.
"These love bugs are very impressive. We have also been warmly received by the mosquitoes, ticks and redbugs," Clayton said.
In 2004, Clayton was inducted into the Grand Canyon Hall of Fame for Community Service by the Grand Canyon Pioneer Society and the National Park Service. He was known at the Grand Canyon as the "Dean of the Mule College" but what he prefers to talk about is the program he established to make it possible for those with disabilities to make the journey down the canyon.
"I'm proud that I was there to help put the first wheelchair tracks in the bottom of the Grand Canyon," Clayton said.
The first stage of the ranch's renovation to a public-use property is to cut trails and install facilities for day use and trail rides. The second phase will involve developing a campground and indoor arena. In all phases, Clayton said, he wants to find ways to make the property accessible to those with disabilities.
The water district and R.O. Ranch Inc. are close to hiring a planning and design firm to create a master plan for the ranch with a timeline that includes a groundbreaking on the project in the middle of next year.
Karen Voyles can be reached at 486-5058 or voylesk@gvillesun.com
Tallevast residents frustrated
Pollution, industrial park plans irk southern Manatee community
BY CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELL
At a meeting Monday night, residents railed and pleaded with state Reps. Bill Galvano and Frank Peterman Jr. to question state environment officials on why they have ignored conflicting data.
Residents also said they needed help in their fight against The Forum, a 37-acre industrial park proposed for the northwest corner of U.S. 301 and Tallevast Road that they fear will tear their community apart and spread pollution farther.
County commissioners will vote on the project Thursday.
"We are a historic community; we've been here for over 100 years," said Wanda Washington, vice president of the community group FOCUS. "It's going to completely tear the community apart."
The plume of contamination at Tallevast was originally believed to cover about 50 acres.
On Sept. 26, Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials approved Lockheed Martin's newest survey showing the plume covered more than 200 acres. Residents have until Oct. 21 to appeal the decision.
Three reviews of Lockheed's data by environmental consultants questioned some of the conclusions of Lockheed's survey. One report suggested that the survey had not revealed all the polluted areas.
The contamination of soil and ground water was left behind by the former American Beryllium Co. plant, which for nearly 40 years built parts for nuclear warheads under contract with the federal government.
Lockheed bought the site in 1996 and shut down the plant. It later sold the property, but not before discovering soil and ground-water pollution on and around the site. In 2000, Lockheed notified county and state officials of the pollution.
But the residents of about 100 homes, many of whom relied on well water, were not told of the problem until nearly four years later.
Manatee County officials are also waiting to see if the survey will be challenged.
If not, the county will proceed with a plan to set up a overlay district to prohibit the digging of wells and put tighter controls on construction in areas known to be polluted.
In April, plans for a Tallevast Overlay District were postponed after residents from Whitfield complained that property values would plummet if they were associated with Tallevast.
The district has been renamed the Aquifer Restoration Overlay District.
The Rev. Charles McKenzie, a regional director of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said he hopes the politicians who attended Monday's meeting at the Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in the heart of Tallevast will do more than listen.
"This community feels that it has been somewhat abandoned, and with the effort to put in the industrial park, they feel stepped on again."
Toll way Authority Under FBI Scrutiny
Published: Oct 3, 2006
TAMPA - The Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's inspector general and the FBI, an authority board member said.
Special agents last week spent two hours interviewing Hillsborough County Commissioner Tom Scott, an authority board member who has been an outspoken critic of actions by the authority since August.
"I was invited to talk with the FBI, and I can confirm they are looking at the expressway authority," Scott told The Tampa Tribune on Monday, "but I cannot give you any further details that would hinder their investigation."
Scott refused to say what the two investigators specifically asked him during his meeting. He confirmed the two agencies involved and said that he is not a focus of the probe.
The expressway authority, which receives federal and state transportation dollars, has been at the center of controversy for more than a month after the competitive bid process for its outside legal counsel. The bids were disqualified in September after Gov. Jeb Bush called for an investigation by his top lawyer, Raquel Rodriguez, into the authority's bid practices.
She concluded that no laws were broken but there was the appearance of impropriety.
'Top to bottom' Audit Necessary
The governor's investigation also determined the need for a "top to bottom" audit by the state's auditor general, specifically looking at how much money the authority spends on its contracts for legal and lobbying services.
The audit began last week and is continuing, audit manager Jim Dwyer said Monday. He refused to say whether he or his office had been contacted about the federal probe.
Carol Michalik, spokeswoman at the FBI's Tampa field office, refused to confirm the investigation.
David Barnes, spokesman for DOT's inspector general's office, said he had no information about the investigation.
Fred Karl, a former Florida Supreme Court justice and state legislator who was hired recently by the authority as a consultant, said Monday that he was not allowed to talk about the investigation. "I'm sorry, but I can't discuss that with you," Karl said, referring questions to the authority's public relations spokesman, Mathias Bergendahl.
Bergendahl issued a statement late Monday from Rhea Law of Fowler White Boggs Banker, the authority's interim outside legal counsel.
"We are not in a position to comment on any contacts or reviews that are under way," Law said, "and do not want to create any speculation about the expressway authority or the results of any review."
Law was hired as interim counsel after Bush's investigation recommended the authority end its contract with Ruden McClosky, one of the four firms that applied for the general counsel job. Ruden McClosky and its lawyer Steve Anderson had held the general counsel contract for nine years before the bids were sought.
Law's firm was not a bidder for the authority's general counsel contract.
The law firm of Gray Robinson won the contract despite being ranked second behind Ruden McClosky. The authority's executive director, Ralph Mervine, and its paid lobbyist, John Beck, met with applicants, including Gray Robinson, for the job before the contract was awarded. Mervine, who was on the selection committee with Scott, had dinner with a lawyer from Gray Robinson days before final interviews.
Beck - who said he met with three of the applicants at the request of authority board member Robert Clark Jr. - billed the authority for time spent meeting with lawyers at Gray Robinson.
Anderson said Clark was targeting his job as the authority's general counsel because he twice challenged Clark's ethics as a board member.
Clark said that he asked Beck to meet with any applicants about their bid packages. He also made the motion to change the bid rankings and to place Gray Robinson first.
Clark Not Contacted By FBI, He Says
Clark said Monday that he has not been contacted by federal agents.
This isn't the first time the federal Transportation Department's inspector general has looked at the expressway authority.
Two years ago it investigated a complaint about Clark's vote on the use of concrete or steel on a new project. Clark owns Tampa Steel Erecting Co. In January 2004, he voted with other board members for a consultant to prepare a preliminary steel design for a bridge connecting the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway with Interstate 4.
The Florida Department of Transportation took over the project from the expressway authority.
The federal Transportation Department's inspector general took no action and closed the inquiry more than a year ago.
Clark said Monday that he was questioned then but that he has heard nothing about a recent inspector general or FBI investigation. "Nobody has talked to me about that," he said.
Clark joined the board in 2003, just a month after negotiating a contract to sell $366,000 worth of steel to a contractor working on the expressway's elevated lanes. Anderson advised Clark to nix the deal, citing a potential conflict of interest, but the sale went through. There was no conflict, he has said.
Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at jallman@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7915.
FBI joins expressway inquiries
By MICHAEL VAN SICKLER, Times Staff WriterThe state Auditor General's Office started an audit. Now a member of the authority confirms FBI and U.S. DOT inquiries.
Published October 3, 2006
TAMPA - The FBI and the U.S. Department of Transportation are conducting a criminal investigation into the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, an agency board member confirmed Monday.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Tom Scott, who sits on the seven-member board, said he spoke with investigators from the two federal agencies last week for more than 90 minutes.
"I was invited to meet with them and they are looking at the Expressway Authority," Scott said. "But I can't disclose the content of their questions in order not to hinder their investigation."
Neither the FBI nor the DOT's Office of Inspector General would confirm the investigation.
The inspector general's office frequently conducts criminal investigations with the FBI in cases of alleged waste, fraud or abuse in transportation agencies and projects, said spokesman David Burnes.
State lawmakers created the Expressway Authority in 1964 to build toll roads in Hillsborough.
A once obscure agency, the Expressway Authority came under greater scrutiny in 2004 when its key project, the elevated lanes of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown, encountered serious construction problems.
The criminal inquiry is the third investigation into the agency since late August, when details emerged about possible conflicts of interest, violations of ethics and public record laws, and questionable billings by lobbyists.
An investigation in early September by Gov. Jeb Bush's general counsel found no laws were broken, but it concluded that enough questions were raised to warrant a state audit of what the agency pays in legal and lobbying fees.
The state Auditor General's Office began an audit last week that will review Expressway Authority finances.
Rhea Law, the agency's interim legal counsel, said those investigators have requested billing records dating as far back as 2001.
Law would not say whether the FBI and the U.S. DOT are conducting a third inquiry.
Later, after Scott confirmed he had spoken with FBI and DOT officials, followup questions to Law were referred to Expressway Authority spokesman Mathias Bergendahl. He e-mailed a response from Law late Monday that did not acknowledge the investigation.
"(We) do not want to create any speculation about the Expressway Authority or the results of any review," Law wrote. "As results are forthcoming, they will be shared with ... the public."
This isn't the first time federal officials have looked into the Expressway Authority.
In June 2004, Santos Ramirez, a special agent with the DOT's Inspector General's Office, asked the Expressway Authority for information about a possible conflict of interest involving Bob Clark, a board member who owns Tampa Steel Erecting Co.
At issue was whether Clark could vote on materials to be used in projects that could benefit his company.
Steven Anderson, the Expressway Authority's legal counsel at the time, wrote an opinion urging Clark to abstain from votes that determine which materials will be used in road projects.
In an interview Monday, Anderson said Ramirez called him in 2004 and asked for the opinion about Clark. He said Ramirez asked other questions about Clark but Anderson would not disclose what they were.
The U.S. Department of Transportation wouldn't confirm that Ramirez is working this case. A call to his downtown Tampa office was not returned.
It was another opinion that Anderson wrote about a possible conflict involving Clark that ignited the current round of investigations.
The governor appointed Clark to the board in 2003. At the time, the Expressway Authority was completing a purchase of $366,000 from Clark's steel company.
Anderson flagged that purchase as questionable. More than three years later, on Aug. 28, Clark and four other board members, all appointed by Bush or one of his employees, voted to fire Anderson without a public discussion.
Board members Gwen Miller and Scott voted to retain Anderson.
When the law firm of Gray Robinson, which has strong ties to Bush, won the contract replacing Anderson, Scott claimed it was political payback.
A possible criminal inquiry could look into allegations that Expressway officials unlawfully steered the legal services contract to Gray Robinson.
It also might look into the billing practices of lobbyist John Beck, who met with Gray Robinson attorneys before the vote.
Beck's partner, Cynthia Henderson, a former top official in Bush's administration, double-billed the Expressway Authority last year for about $1,000.
On Monday, Beck's firm reimbursed the agency another $5,731 after it acknowledged it had overbilled again this year.
Other board members said they had not heard about the FBI investigation.
"I haven't heard anything. Let me know when you hear something," Clark said.
"I don't have any comment on an FBI investigation," said former state Sen. James Hargrett, D-Tampa. "I have not been contacted."
Miller, who said revelations about Beck's double billings should result in his termination from the authority, said she didn't know about the FBI inquiry, either.
"Nobody has called me or anything," she said. "I wasn't aware the FBI was involved until today when you told me."
Times staff writers Rebecca Catalanello and Janet Zink and researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Michael Van Sickler can be reached at mvansickler@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3402.
Increase in population, impact fees collide
DELTONA
-- As populations grow all across Volusia and Flagler counties, so have
impact fees for new homes. Some, like the parks fee given initial approval
by Deltona on Monday night, have almost tripled.
But in what the interim city finance director says is his "humble
opinion," Deltona's proposed new impact fees are still not enough to
pay for the city's expanding facility needs, such as its sewers and roads
projects.
"The budget just takes care of operating expenses," Bob Clinger
said. "Impact fees are never sufficient to pay the total bill."
Of the impact fees for new homes that increased unanimously on first
reading Monday, fire and rescue went from $143.69 to $214.49; parks went
from $433.18 to $1,069.44; and law enforcement went from zero to $116.30.
The fees are only paid by growth and new construction, and cannot be used
toward anything other than expansion, like Deltona's budgeted $3.5 million
public safety complex to house fire and Volusia County sheriff's deputies.
Salaries, for example, must come out of the general fund budget.
The transportation impact fee has not been finalized, but Clinger expects
the old rate of $502.33 to triple or even quadruple with the Normandy and
Fort Smith boulevards upgrade set to begin.
Deltona's rates are still low considering its size, in comparison to the
rest of Volusia and Flagler counties. For example, according to the Flagler
Homebuilders Association, the impact fees for a new Palm Coast single family
home are $1,159.02 fee for parks, and $179.37 fee for fire and rescue
services.
Port Orange has the highest parks fee in Volusia County at $1,525 -- and
its population is about 30,000 less than Deltona's 86,000.
The fees are a good way of knowing what people in a city are interested
in, Clinger said. "I hate to rain on their parade, but somebody's got
to pay for it," he said.
Big, hard-hitting fees can be a shock to new-home builders and
businesses. That's why the Port Orange fee will be implemented over a period
of time, said Greg Blose, director of government affairs for the Volusia
Homebuilders Association.
Blose's job is to review impact fee studies with cities and address
concerns about realistic fees. For example, he said Holly Hill reduced its
park fee by about 25 percent after a four-hour discussion this year. The
original fee of nearly $1,000 included the cost of riverfront land the city
just bought, and Blose thought the new park inflated the fee unnecessarily.
"We don't try to hustle cities," he said. "It's kind of a
give and take."
For several years after Deltona incorporated in 1996, the city did not
impose impact fees, much like the city of DeBary. Impact fees would not be
possible if the population stayed stagnant. But Clinger says that is
unlikely in Volusia's biggest and fastest growing city.
"If nobody comes here, it stays the way it is year after year, but
that's not the case in Central Florida or anywhere in Florida," he
said.
Cities search for sources of water
Robert SargentSentinel Staff Writer
October 3, 2006
Clermont and Minneola may have to pump in water from other parts of Central Florida to augment the increasing thirst for development in coming years.
The two cities, among the fastest-growing in Lake County, are looking for alternate water sources to offset some of the hundreds of millions of gallons they pull each year from underground supplies.
They recently proposed drawing from nearby Lake Apopka to provide irrigation for homes and businesses. Apopka in west Orange County already is working on similar plans.
If approved, the combined withdrawals from the three cities would take as much as 34 million gallons a day -- or more than half of the 51 million gallons that Lake Apopka flushes downstream each day to the Harris chain of lakes in north Lake County. But experts with the St. Johns River Water Management District argue that the system likely would not be able to handle those withdrawals without potentially serious environmental effects.
So last week district officials met with representatives of Minneola and Clermont to share other ideas. Those include pumping water along lengthy pipelines from the Kissimmee, Withlacoochee and St. Johns rivers -- all distant sources that could be too far away and far too costly to reach.
"My first thought is, how could it be cost effective from such a distance?" said Clermont City Manager Wayne Saunders, who thinks several governments and utilities probably would need to share the cost burden. "If it is a regional effort with a lot of players, it may be something to look at."
Hal Wilkening, the district's resource-management director, agreed that pumping water in from long distances would be costly. He also said it could take years for the cities to implement those plans.
"Any of these projects would take a lot of planning and coordination," Wilkening said.
He said utilities in north Lake already are considering withdrawals from the St. Johns River to meet demands. However, a more likely idea for the south part of the county may still come from Lake Apopka.
The district has encouraged the idea of tapping into Lake Apopka for years, although officials say they are still trying to determine how much could be withdrawn without hurting the giant lake and other bodies of water downstream in the Harris chain.
The district initially may allow less than 5 million gallons -- water that may come from a large area of former farms the agency owns north of the lake itself. Apopka may get to use some of the rain runoff typically pumped off that property.
Wilkening suggested the land also could be used to collect large amounts of stormwater during rainy months. The water then would be available to local utilities during drier months, he said.
The district is studying which areas along the lake's north shore would be most suitable to store water. Marc Walch, a utility consultant for Minneola, said that idea is something the city could aim for.
"It sounds like a doable plan," Walch said.
The Floridan Aquifer, the primary underground supply of water, is used in most parts of the state. But now many governments are looking at lakes and rivers as alternatives because of concerns that groundwater may not be enough to meet growing demands in coming years.
Clermont -- Lake's most populous city -- has more than doubled in size during the past six years and now has about 22,000 residents. Minneola has grown 73 percent during the same period, to more than 9,400 residents.
Robert Sargent can be reached at rsargent@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5909.
St. Lucie to discuss replacing two wetlands
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
FORT PIERCE — St. Lucie County and PGA Reserve officials still haven't resolved the knotty problem of ensuring 490 acres of upland habitat are preserved, but the two sides will discuss other issues including destruction of wetlands at tonight's county commission meeting.
The Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council has suggested no more building permits be approved until two wetlands are created to replace two that were destroyed during construction of the project.
"The wetlands should be replaced in similar size, species composition, function and value," planning council Executive Director Mike Busha, wrote in a memo to county officials.
He also recommends the developers monitor traffic on Commerce Center Parkway between Reserve Boulevard and Glades Cut-Off Road.
The road will have to be widened to four lanes when traffic reaches a certain level, he said.
Building permits could be withheld until the road is widened if county commissioners go along with Busha's recommendation.
County commissioners could incorporate the recommendations in a new development order that will be sent to the state Department of Community Affairs for review.
The county finally appears ready to also submit a 2004 development approval to state officials.
That would settle court action filed recently by the developers to require the county to submit the development order. That approval said the 490 acres had been preserved, something the county now disputes.
The developers and county officials are still negotiating how to preserve the uplands. Some preserve area has been identified, but there's no guarantee it will be safe forever.
The 490-acre figure was agreed upon in the early 1990s when The Reserve was approved, but the land has since been partitioned among two major landowners and hundreds of individual homeowners.
That makes it difficult to be sure none of the owners will destroy preserve areas, county officials said.
Developments will get reused water
Essentially recycled and treated wastewater, reused water is for irrigation purposes only, but it also could be used in industrial processes and decorative fountains.
After sewage treatment, filtering and further treatment for safety, reused water is more than fit for irrigation, city officials say.
"Everybody should be using reuse," said Assistant City Manager Dale Smith. "We almost meet drinking water standards with our reuse."
Reused water systems are supported and encouraged by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and are being used or implemented by many Central Florida communities.
Swiftmud is the agency that regulates water-pumping capacity for city and county governments in west Central Florida.
Providing reused water "is a great way to diversify your water profile," said Anthony Andrade, Swiftmud's project manager and senior water conservation analyst. "It's a great way to invest in your future."
Since 1991, Winter Haven Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2 has served some city residents and city-owned properties, such as cemeteries and the public Willowbrook Golf Course, with reused water.
On average, the city pumps 881,895 gallons of reused water to customers daily. The plant has a permitted pumping capacity of 1.7 million gallons per day, though it is designed to pump 3.4 million gallons per day.
With Winter Haven staff working to get Swiftmud approval for a permit that allows higher overall water pumping capacity, city officials say it is essential to conserve drinking water.
"The city's basic usage is irrigation, and that's where most of your potable (drinking) water is lost," said Terry Carver, the city's wastewater division director.
Though many people may be apprehensive about pouring water that came from a toilet onto an expensive lawn, Smith said the reused water is perfectly fine after treatment.
"There is a assumption that our reuse water is a wastewater and the city is just trying to look to some place to dump it," Smith said. "That's really not the case. We aren't trying to get rid of it as a byproduct; we're actually wanting to use it in place of city potable water."
Beyond conservation, reused water contains nutrients that should decrease the need for fertilizer.
"I think the biggest push now is, instead of us sending (wastewater) to a stream that someone downstream is pouring it out ... we're able to utilize it ourself," Carver said.
As part of its reused water master plan, the city is preparing to expand Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 on Pollard Road to make more use of reused water.
Currently plant No. 3 pumps reused water for use on some crops, but water from that plant does not serve residents. Plant expansion will include converting its treatment process to advanced water treatment so more new developments can be served by reused water. New reused water lines will have to be extended to these developments.
For fiscal year 2006-07, the city staff has allocated $2.5 million in sewer impact fees and $22 million in bond proceeds for plant No. 3 modifications and improvements. But even with this conservation, an end to water worries aren't guaranteed.
Swiftmud's Andrade said running out of reused water is common. He said if reused water is metered, it takes the wastewater from two to three homes to provide enough water to irrigate the lawn of one home. If the reused water is paid for on a flat rate, which typically leads to more water use per home, it can take the wastewater flows from four to five homes to irrigate one home.
Winter Haven uses a metered distribution system.
Carver, the wastewater division director, said the city has only once used up all of its reused water capacity.
"It has to get pretty dry for that to happen here," Carver said.
If wastewater division employees see the amount of reused water running low, city customers are asked to limit usage. If the amount gets too low, employees say the city would have to restrict irrigation use of reused water to certain days.
"Thank goodness for reuse, but at same time probably the day's going to come when we won't have enough reuse, and that's a good problem," Smith said.
After an hour breathing the algae's toxin -- called brevetoxin -- asthmatics and others with lung ailments need about five days to gradually recover, according to a study released this week and led by Mote Marine Laboratory.
Researchers seemed most surprised that the decline in lung function among those sensitive to the blooms begins before they ever reach the sand.
"Asthmatics are coming to the beach with symptoms," said Barbara Kirkpatrick, an environmental health scientist with Mote.
She said people leaving the beach to evade red tide need to go farther inland than scientists once thought. Kirkpatrick recommends a few miles.
"I think we're going to have to change our public health message from what it's been," she said.
News of those findings came at a two-day seminar highlighting results from several studies about the human health effects of harmful algal blooms.
The broader health impacts of red tide are still unclear. While the blooms can cause severe problems for those with breathing disorders, they seem to have little impact on extremely fit people such as lifeguards. Researchers say that some lifeguards who spend hours on the beach during red tide showed no ill effects.
What scientists want to learn is how long-term, low-level exposure might affect people.
The seminar at the Selby Foundation was a first-of-its-kind gathering of Florida public health officials and researchers from around the country who study the health effects of harmful algal blooms, or HABs.
Many more questions are on the minds of HAB researchers, especially about red tide.
Kirkpatrick said she still wants to know whether the airborne toxin can bypass air-conditioning systems and be carried indoors and how far inland low levels of brevetoxin go undetected by monitoring equipment.
People sensitive to red tide show symptoms during a bloom even when monitoring equipment doesn't detect the toxin.
Researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute studying the effects of red tide on dolphins found that toxins in the fish they eat tend to concentrate in the guts of fish, not the muscle.
It is likely the reason dolphins that eat whole fish can die and people who eat just muscle do not seem to suffer.
Still, researchers want to know whether there might be undetected ill effects from eating contaminated fish.
To answer that question, Mote just got the OK to begin looking at Sarasota emergency room visits for stomach and intestinal problems during red tides. A similar study focusing on respiratory ailments found a 54 percent jump in ER visits by coastal residents complaining of breathing problems during red tide blooms.
Another red tide study released during the seminar showed that brevetoxin can pass from female rodents to their unborn offspring.
Researchers at the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., say they don't know whether the toxin can cause harm to fetuses or not, but they found that the offspring of pregnant rodents get 6 percent to 7 percent of the toxin their mothers absorb.
The results came from mother mice and rats that got nearly 3,000 times the dose of brevetoxin that a person would be exposed to after an hour on the beach during a bloom.
The Florida Department of Health hosted the meeting, the aim of which was to share results from HAB health studies by eight institutions paid for by a three-year, $3 million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant.
A main concern among the more than 50 scientists and others who attended the gathering was that research money pales in comparison to the questions they have about the human health effects of HABs.
Some said it could take a public outcry to bring the kind of research money that will answer questions critical to protecting public health.
Andrew Reich, coordinator of the Aquatoxins Program with the Florida Department of Health who organized the conference, said the CDC found enough money to continue studies through October 2007.
Scientists at the meeting acknowledged that reports about the harmful affects of HABs could hurt tourism and development.
But Lora Fleming, a professor at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine who worked with Kirkpatrick on the beach study, said the message is too important to keep under wraps.
"If you don't warn people, you leave yourself open to legal problems," she said. "And it's immoral."
Cathy Zollo writes for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Oil-drilling
debate ends in stalemate WASHINGTON - Despite record-setting gasoline prices this summer, members
of Congress returned home this week to face constituents with nothing to
show for months of talk about opening up new areas to drilling.
Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on legislation that some said
would ease the pain at the pumps by boosting domestic production of oil
through increased drilling in federal waters off the U.S. coastline.
After months of hearings and debates, lawmakers were unable to resolve
stark differences between drilling bills passed by the House and Senate.
''The whole offshore-drilling debate showed just how gridlocked and
at-odds Congress is,'' said Athan Manuel, director of lands protection for
the Sierra Club, one of the nation's leading environmental groups.
The House bill would have ended a 25-year moratorium on offshore drilling
and opened nearly the entire U.S. coast to exploratory drilling, leaving it
up to coastal states to decide whether rigs could go up within 50 to 100
miles of their shores.
The much narrower Senate version would have carved out an
8.3-million-acre parcel in the Gulf of Mexico, far from any land, for new
exploration and production.
''We would have loved to see them come to agreement,'' said Michael
Kearns, a spokesman for the National Ocean Industries Association, which
represents more than 300 companies involved in the offshore oil and
natural-gas industries.
On a positive note, Kearns said, many members of Congress came to realize
this year that the Outer Continental Shelf is an ''underutilized resource
that can be safely explored.''
Some lawmakers hope Congress may come back to the issue after the Nov. 7
election.
A lame-duck session is widely expected, and lawmakers who pushed for
expanded drilling offshore are predicting a last-minute compromise.
''We will not rest until something truly meaningful is achieved,''
several House members, including Rep. Richard Pombo, chairman of the House
Resources Committee, said in a joint statement. ''We have gotten very close
to working out the differences between our bill and that passed by the
Senate.''
Other lawmakers aren't so optimistic.
''I'm hopeful, but I don't get the sense that it's going to happen this
year,'' said Sen. Mel Martinez, an Orlando Republican who helped broker a
deal to keep rigs far off Florida's coast. That deal cleared the way for
passage of the Senate's drilling bill.
With no agreement in place, U.S. offshore-drilling policy will proceed as
scheduled, leaving in place bans that prohibit rigs from going up off most
of the U.S. coast, except in the central and western Gulf of Mexico and
parts of Alaska.
The Minerals Management Service is considering a five-year production
plan that would open new areas to exploration. Those areas are off the
Alaska coast and, for the first time, the Virginia coast.
House, Senate fail to reach compromise
Complaints grow about tree cutting
By Jim HunterThe city of Dunnellon was still getting complaints Monday about tree cutting on some property along the Rainbow River, although the city continued to discount them. The complaints started late last week, prompting city and regional water district officials to look into them.
Mary Ann Hilton, a city council member, said members of the Rainbow River Conservation group and some others were still complaining that the owner of the property proposed for the Rainbow River Ranch had illegally cut trees along the river, but the city manager and the water district continued to say Monday that upon inspections they had not found any violations in the work done.
City Manager Ed Ericson said Monday that Gerald Dodd, the owner of the 258-acre property, had obtained a permit that included removal of brush and selective cutting, as well as trimming and removal of dead trees to enhance and improve the shoreline along the river. He said the city’s code inspector would visit the site again today to see if any additional work was in violation.
Hilton charged that clear-cutting had taken place and that she saw at least five or six trees of 18- to 20-inch diameter felled on the property, but Ericson said the work that had been done and observed by himself and the city inspector was allowed by the permit.
He said the allegation of clear-cutting was unfounded.
“If I thought for a moment they were even close to being in violation of the code,” Ericson said, “we would shut them down.”
Members of the Rainbow River Conservation had initially complained last week that the work along the river was illegal and began sending out photos. They have accepted explanations that there have not been permit violations.
The project manager for the proposed Rainbow River Ranch, Mark Penfield, said late last week that no work had been done in violation of the permit and that opponents of the proposed development were only trying to make the owner look bad.
Hilton charged Monday that some cutting and vegetation removal had been done within what she would term the high water line of the river, but Southwest Florida Water Management officials said Monday afternoon after a third inspection that its personnel had not found any violations of wetlands regulations.
Water district spokesperson Michael Molligan said tree-trimming and bush-clearing operations had been observed, but nothing that would require a permit for work in wetlands.
Hilton charged some work had been done after inspectors had been on the property and they hadn’t seen what those who were complaining had seen. Ericson said he didn’t believe that was so but would dispatch the code inspector one more time.
To Ericson’s contention that the work done was legally allowed by the permit, she said she has tried to get the council to rewrite ordinances relating to tree removal and that the ordinances were “grossly inadequate” in the first place, resulting in internal inconsistencies in the city’s comprehensive growth management plan.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said Monday that it too had received complaints, but had not yet sent anyone to investigate. Pam Vasquez of the DEP Tampa office said her agency would be contacting the water district about its finding but could send out someone too, though it would confer with the water district first.
Ericson said the issue was on the agenda for the city council meeting Wednesday, but he didn’t expect lengthy discussion.
County Tries To Head Off Utility's Push
Published: Oct 3, 2006
HOLIDAY - When it comes to potable water, Pasco County doesn't like competition, especially when it means losing potential customers.
So when a privately owned utility applied to the Florida Public Service Commission to expand its drinking water distribution area in Holiday, county officials stepped in this year to oppose the proposal.
New Port Richey-based U.S. Water Service Corp. wants to tie two of its smaller utilities - Holiday Utility Co. and Holiday Waterworks Corp. - into a regional utility serving several hundred customers.
County officials argue that the largely undeveloped tract between the two utilities, once a sprawling cattle ranch, is county territory.
"We believe that the county is better equipped than a private utility to service that particular area," County Attorney Joe Richards said.
The county has filed a motion to dismiss the application with the PSC, arguing that the utility is trying to encroach.
Richards said the county has long-term plans to expand service in the Holiday area and argues that it can provide water at a lower cost.
The PSC was expected to discuss the application today in Tallahassee, but the state regulatory agency pulled the item from the agenda after the utility withdrew its application.
Utility Wants 'To Work This Out'
Gary Deremer, president of U.S. Water, said he plans to resubmit the application and that the area in question falls under his territory.
"We would like to work this out with the county and come to some agreement, but so far we haven't been able to do that," he said.
U.S. Water manages about 400 water and wastewater distribution systems across the state, including several smaller utilities in west Pasco and Port Richey.
The dispute is the latest territorial squabble between the county and regional water suppliers, which for years have been vying for control of small private utilities that dot the landscape like feudal states.
Much of the county's drinking water is provided by Tampa Bay Water, which serves millions of people around Tampa Bay, including many in Pasco County.
But a sizable portion of Pasco's drinking water comes from small privately owned, and largely unregulated, distribution systems.
From mobile home to gated communities, these small utilities serve anywhere from a few dozen to a few thousand homes. Most were built far from municipal distribution systems, when the county was being developed from a rural outpost of citrus groves and cattle ranches.
It's A Property Rights Issue
County officials have pushed for years to tie small utilities into regional water systems amid complaints from customers about poor service.
In most cases, they've fallen short of that goal.
In a nutshell, the issue boils down to property rights.
Unless a private utility wants to sell, there's not much county officials can do about it.
In 2001, Pasco County Utilities Services, which pumps an estimated 20 million gallons of water a day to more than 100,000 residents, looked at buying more than a dozen utilities that responded to letters asking whether the franchises were for sale.
The county managed to acquire only three of them.
Meanwhile, regional companies such as U.S. Water have entered the local market in recent years, gobbling up many small utilities.
More than 350 utilities were selling drinking and wastewater services in the county in 2000, a figure that has shrunk to about 100.
Some have been absorbed by growing cities through annexation; many others have been bought out or absorbed by regional utilities.
Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.
Hickory Hill hearing options to be considered
By MICHAEL D. BATESmbates@hernandotoday.com
Florida statutes do not obligate county commissioners to respond to a state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) report critical of amending the comprehensive plan to allow the developer of Hickory Hill to build in Spring Lake.
However, the law does require the county board to take DCA’s observations into consideration as part of the overall adoption process, Assistant County Attorney Jeff Kirk said Monday.
Commissioners will discuss Hickory Hill today and consider hearing dates to discuss the DCA report, as well as another report which considers the development from the standpoint of regional impact.
The county has already scheduled a Jan. 17 public hearing on the reports. If the board wants to hold a public hearing earlier to discuss the reports, it would have to wait 60 days for the appropriate advertising period, placing the meeting sometime in December.
Hickory Hill representatives had pressed the county for an earlier hearing. However, at this time, it looks like the Jan. 17 meeting is the preferred date. Unless commissioners change it during today’s meeting.
“I think where we have it now in January is just right,” County Commissioner Diane Rowden.
Rowden said recently that the DCA report, coupled with a less-than-favorable recommendation from the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Committee regarding the development’s regional impact, is enough to make her want to end the Hickory Hill project before it goes any further.
“There were some very critical issues in the report,” she said. “You can’t easily change or just answer (those) and make it better.”
The DCA recommended county commissioners not adopt the proposed amendment and that the county provide a land use needs analysis to demonstrate whether there is even a need for that amount of development given the comprehensive plan’s projected
However, the developer, Sierra Properties LLC of Tampa, claimed the county failed to send the state all the data it needed to make a proper decision.
In a letter to the county’s deputy county administrator, Sebring Sierra, the company’s vice president of operations, said he was “very surprised and disappointed” that the urban sprawl, planning analysis and other data prepared at the county’s request “were not included in the package that was transmitted to DCA for their review and consideration.”
County Deputy Admin-istrator said he investigated Sierra’s allegations and found them baseless.
Meanwhile, Kirk said Monday he is continuing to work on drafting an ordinance requiring a supermajority vote of the county board on all comprehensive plan amendments.
A public hearing is set for Oct. 17 to formally adopt or reject that ordinance.
Hickory Hill, a proposed 1,750-home subdivision with three golf courses in Spring Lake, needs a comprehensive plan amendment to change the land use in that rural area.
It is still unclear whether the new ordinance would be retroactive to include Hickory Hill and other current projects facing comprehensive plan amendments.
Reporter Michael D. Bates can be contacted at 352-544-5290.
Florida Joins in Ivory-Billed Mania |
The search for the elusive, nearly mythical ivory-billed woodpecker has
now spread to Florida.
In case you missed it, scientists from Alabama and Canada published a
research paper recently that presented evidence that ivory-billed
woodpeckers may be foraging along the Chocktawhatchee River west of
Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle.
This paper was much more cautiously worded than the paper published last
year that announced the rediscovery of the species, long feared to be
extinct, in a remote swamp in Arkansas.
The Arkansas report, which stated categorically that the woodpeckers were
there, has never been universally accepted because the evidence --
especially the photographic evidence -- is open to interpretation.
I do know that there is a group of people involved in the initial reports in
2004 who sincerely believe they saw an ivory-billed woodpecker.
Their convincing report led to the additional field work that produced the
evidence assembled by a team of respected scientists upon which the 2005
announcement was based.
That announcement was accompanied by a major press conference in Washington,
D.C. It was a pretty big deal.
There had been no accepted sightings of this species since 1944. Although
there was hope, many people assumed the ivorybilled woodpecker had joined
the Carolina parakeet and passenger pigeon on the list of extinct North
American species.
Perhaps the fact that this is an impressive bird -- the largest species of
woodpecker in North America -- had something to do with that.
When I was at the Smithsonian Institution last spring, I saw a display of a
stuffed ivory-billed woodpecker next to a stuffed pileated woodpecker, a
similar, somewhat smaller species that's still quite common.
The ivory-billed woodpecker was aptly named. The bill is large,
ivory-colored, unlike any woodpecker bill I'd ever seen.
It would be quite a thing to see one of these birds alive and well.
Even the doubters of the earlier reports are rooting for the continued
existence of these woodpeckers somewhere.
Meanwhile, the Choctawhatchee reports have elicited a variety of responses.
One was a plea from folks at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission and Audubon of Florida that was addressed to the large corps of
avid Florida birdwatchers.
They urged people to follow accepted birdwatching ethics.
That includes respect for wildlife, which means birdwatchers should refrain
from descending on the area in hordes, and if they find an ivory-billed
woodpecker, refrain from harassing the birds simply to get a better look, a
better photograph or some similar purpose.
Another part involves respecting property and respecting other birdwatchers
and other people who are working or pursuing other recreational pursuits
outdoors.
Second was a report I read in the Miami Herald about how the news that an
extremely rare endangered species may be alive and well in the Florida
Panhandle could affect plans by St. Joe Company, the largest private
landowner in Florida, for a massive development project in that part of the
state.
St. Joe's announced plans would convert one of the last rural areas of
Florida into a sea of rooftops. Setting aside additional land for endangered
species would undoubtedly affect those plans.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, raised
similar issues on the effects the woodpeckers' reported presence would have
on landowners following last year's announcement from Arkansas.
Perhaps it's too early for too much heavy breathing on either side.
The published evidence so far is tentative, though promising.
We shall see.
ANOTHER REDISCOVERY
Although not as dramatic as the rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker,
Tiger Creek Preserve near Lake Wales was the site of a similar find last
spring, according to Tricia Martin, director of The Nature Conservancy's
Lake Wales Ridge Program.
A pair of scientists verified the presence of a small beetle called the
Florida pygmy scarab, which was first discovered in 1878 and rarely was seen
since.
This beetle is on a long list of insects, which live in endangered habitats
such as the Lake Wales Ridge, that have been proposed for listing under the
Endangered Species Act.
So little is known about most of these species that formal listing may never
occur.
The only endangered species of insect in Florida is the Schaus' swallowtail
butterfly, which occupies a small area in the Florida Keys.
The good news is that many of these rare insects share habitat with other
species that are already protected and for which land has been set aside in
preserves.
In the case of the Lake Wales Ridge, it's not always a question of
rediscovering species that were feared extinct, but sometimes discovering
species that no one knew were there in the first place, such as the
Highlands tiger beetle.
That's even more exciting news.
Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com
or 863-802-7535.
Taking sides over height
Committees divided on
best path toward growth, Titusville's future
BY JESSICA RAYNOR
FLORIDA TODAY
Drive through Titusville and you see a city divided.
On the west side of U.S. 1, you see small restaurants and mechanics' shops, with tree-lined residential communities beyond. On the east side, you see tall condominiums on the river's edge mixed with parks, businesses and single-family homes.
In the middle are two groups battling over one question: Which side of the road is an example of smarter growth?
Titusville River Watch, a small, grassroots political action committee, thought limiting building heights to 35 feet would be the best way to preserve Titusville's future, and successfully placed a referendum question on the November ballot. Members say the amendment is a quality-of-life issue, something that will protect the essence of Titusville.
"This amendment if about the citizens of Titusville, all the citizens, no matter where you live in town," said Martha Jane Long, president of River Watch.
The political action committee, Save Titusville's Future, formed to fight the measure, holds a different view. Its members say the amendment is an ill-advised attempt by a special interest group to circumvent planning rules and create sprawl.
"Bottom line, if you limit heights of building you're going to stop development," said board member Michael Sayre. "You're going to kill Titusville's future."
Current code in most residential districts restricts building height to 35 feet, although master plan communities, the central business district and shoreline mixed-use districts are limited to 50 feet, said Courtney Harris, chief city planner. There are 35-foot restrictions in 68 percent of the city's total area.
According to the city, buildings that stand 35-feet tall include Wal-Mart and Target. Those that are taller include the Hampton Inn motel, J.C. Penney and Harbour Point.
Projects affected by new building restrictions could include the redevelopment of Miracle City Mall, a new hotel at State Road 50 and Interstate 95, and a condominium project on the river -- all of which would stand 35 feet and higher. Restricting projects such as these sends the wrong message to prospective developers, Sayre said.
"As a tenant, I'm going to have options," he said. "I'm going to go to another town that will welcome me with open arms."
That won't be the case, counters Laura Ward, a member of Titusville River Watch. Businesses can design to fit the community, she said.
"I feel like this (building restriction) creates a uniqueness that makes us a special place. And that creates demand,"she said.
Another concern about restricting building height is the possibility of sprawl. On a limited amount of real estate, you create density by going vertical, Sayre said. If you have to go horizontal -- what Sayre calls sprawl -- you're limited in what you can build at the same cost.
Ward said there's nothing to stop that phenomenon now, and that that's the purpose of the amendment -- to address the issue of smart growth and strengthen future planning.
That concern over planning combined with the perception that the City Council ignored city zoning and land use ordinances and approved an inordinate amount of inappropriate projects led Titusville River Watch to pursue the amendment.
That's not true, Sayre said. He said he's seen the City Council pass over projects that don't meet planning criteria.
And without vertical density, Sayre added, there would be fewer people and businesses to pay the cost of the city's operation, leading, often times, to tax increases.
That didn't happen in Cocoa Beach, which passed a charter amendment four years ago cutting the maximum height of new buildings from 85 feet to 45 feet. When the amendment finally took hold, after three votes and developers' challenges, the restrictions did not raise taxes or limit development, said A.J. Hutson, Cocoa Beach assistant city manager.
"Once the dust settled, there were no problems," he said.
Sayre says there is one difference: Cocoa Beach was already built-out, unlike Titusville, which still has room for growth.
Ward scoffs at any possible tax hike because of the amendment.
"Taller buildings mean more people, more people mean a greater demand on services," she said. "This results in higher taxes. Show me one huge city that has low taxes."
Opponents also worry about lawsuits. Developers, under the Bert Harris Act, have the right to sue and receive damages if they can show the municipality inordinately burdened their use of property.
In Jacksonville Beach, developers challenged height restrictions in lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages. They claimed the restrictions, placed in the city charter by citizen referendum, lowered property values. A judge ruled in two of the developers' favor, allowing them to build their condominiums.
Later, a judge ruled that the referendum, which developers called illegal because it changed the city's comprehensive plan without a city council vote, was legal and valid.
Growing pains a hot issue for Putnam voters
By DANA TREEN In District 2, Republican Mark Belas faces Democrat Chip Laibl for a seat
being vacated by Linda Myers, who is planning a race for the Florida House.
In the District 4 race, Republican J. Hernan Azula is running against
Democrat Ed Taylor for a seat vacated by Kevin Durscher, who chose not to
seek re-election.
Laibl and Taylor won primaries. Azula and Belas were unopposed.
Issues commissioners will face include the proposed development of
Mariposa, a 2,000-acre mixed-use development including 3,200 residential
units to be built on the county's boundary with St. Johns County. South of
Crescent City, an 835,000-square-foot Wal-Mart distribution center is in the
final stages of approval though impacts on traffic and surrounding property
owners remain open issues.
The county has also embarked on projects to privatize the landfill and do
computer mapping of the St. Johns River to decide how issues of access and
recreation along its banks can be addressed.
dana.treen@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4091
Mark L. Belas Putnam County Commission, District 2 Party: Republican Age:
60 Residence: Palatka Occupation: Dependency case manager for Children's
Home Society Education: Master's degree in pastoral and family counseling
Family: Married 24 years to Dolores Background: Born in Philadelphia. Moved
to Putnam County in 2002. Vietnam-era veteran, Army, 1966-69. Member of the
American Counseling Association. Life member of the National Rifle
Association. American Legion. Associate member of Fraternal Order of Police
What is your single top priority for Putnam County? My single top priority
for Putnam County is the availability of good-paying quality jobs. We need
to invite large corporations to consider building their businesses in Putnam
County and should assist those citizens who want to operate their own
business. Large corporations bring larger numbers of job availability, but
we must not forget the importance of small business ownership contributing
to the vibrance, individuality and financial stability of this area. We need
to motivate our citizens and invigorate our county. What is your vision for
Putnam County in the next decade? I really haven't heard the other
candidates' vision for Putnam County in the next decade. I'd like to think
they all see a similar picture, which, regardless of their party
affiliation, puts Putnam County as a financially healthy, stable, fun place
to be, while still maintaining its natural beauty and charm. The Putnam
County I see has at least two new "clean" industries, providing
scores of new, decent-paying jobs. I envision a place where the children
have places to go, near their places of residence, in which they can have
clean, fun, safe activities. I see an updated, ambitious, safe public
transportation system, with sufficient bus stops throughout the county. I
envision an up-to-date law enforcement presence, with good pay, modern
computerized facilities and a prison facility built for future estimates of
criminals. I see additional up-to-date [fire and rescue services]. I
envision a county with new shops and stores built all around the various
lakes of the various towns. I see additional slips for more boats in our
beautiful St. Johns River, with a boardwalk on each side of the river,
containing restaurants, shops, and other activities, such as a permanent
carnival for safe family fun, all year round. I see museums covering the
fascinating history of this region, to include the Civil War and the local
Native Americans. I envision new entertainment facilities, small in size,
yet big enough to allow local talent to share their talent with the citizens
of Putnam County and anyone who wishes to attend the shows. I also see
downtown areas of the various towns of Putnam County refashioned and
redesigned to make them attractive to tourists. How are the county's best
interests preserved when dealing with growth issues such as the Wal-Mart
distribution center in south Putnam and the Miraposa project on the St.
Johns County line? The Wal-Mart distribution center appears to be the one
issue most people want solved. My feelings are divided ... Wal-Mart has said
the trucks will be running late at night and into the morning hours, which
would not interfere with traffic. The citizens want the center away from
their houses. My feelings are the citizens can compromise by allowing for
the center and the 600 new jobs, but Wal-Mart can compromise by placing the
center in another location, farther from any residential areas. ... As for
the Mariposa Project ... it appears two of our local small rural roads,
Cracker Swamp and Yelvington ... could possibly be widened into major
highways, after the development is completed. ... I believe we must plan the
shape and picture of our area to preserve the new best interests of Putnam
County. We can retain the charm that makes Putnam County so endearing to its
citizens, while at the same time plan the new Putnam County for those who
will come, visit, spend their time and money here. ... How can
infrastructure improvements, including roads and utilities, be provided? The
simple answer to this complex problem is the use of the impact fee. I know
developers don't like paying impact fees, but the fee can be kept at a
reasonable rate. Besides, the developer usually passes on the cost further
up the line. To me, that's the only fair way to get the infrastructure built
without raising taxes on an already over-taxed citizenry.
Chip Laibl Party: Democrat Age: 49 Residence: Palatka Occupation:
Business owner Education: High school graduate Family: Married to wife,
Elizabeth, for 22 years. Son, George 12, daughter, Allyson, 9 Background:
Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council since 2000, current second vice
president. Past president two terms of Downtown Palatka merchants
association. Member Putnam County Recreation and Parks Board, Putnam County
Fair Authority, Executive Committee of Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
What is your single top priority for Putnam County? Primary job creation
What is your vision for Putnam County in the next decade? An expanded tax
base of 15 percent or greater through increased economic development while
preserving the county's rural values. How are the county's best interests
preserved when dealing with growth issues such as the Wal-Mart distribution
center in south Putnam and the Miraposa project on the St. Johns County
line? While there is always room for improvement, the county's land
development process preserves our natural resources and quality of life
while ensuring an economically vibrant and sustainable community for future
generations. How can infrastructure improvements, including road and
utilities, be provided? I advocate continued support of the infrastructure
needs of each of our municipalities while completing the infrastructure
components of the East Putnam vision plan. In addition, the development of a
master transportation plan that deals with current deficiencies and also
prepares us for future growth. J. Hernan Azula Putnam County Commission,
Distrct 4 Party: Republican Age: 62 Residence: Grandin Occupation: Sales
Education: Business administration, Universidad Nacional, Bogota Colombia
Family: Married Background: Former Palatka City Commissioner two terms; loan
officer at Atlantic Bank and First Federal for 11 years; supervisor of
Putnam County Circuit Court Department four year; sales at St. Johns
Chevrolet, Palatka Ford and Scruggs Motor Co. and manager of Starke Ford for
20 years; translator for more than 20 years for the court system and for law
enforcement agencies as needed. Past member of Palatka Jaycees, Crescent
City Rotary Club, Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council and active in
many civic projects throughout the year. What is your single top priority
for Putnam County? To provide the citizens of Putnam County with the best,
most informative government available. To train and develop a social
conscience among all county employees, to train them to serve the people, to
facilitate the citizens of Putnam County with assistance, help and
understanding of the issues presented before us. To restore the citizens'
confidence that the government works for them. What is your vision for
Putnam County in the next decade? Growth is inevitable in Putnam County, so
we need to make sure growth is compatible with our way of life, to provide
the best environment possible for growth, to preserve and make accessible
recreational areas for our citizens and future neighbors, to protect our
environment by bringing industries and jobs that are responsible, and
salaries that are fair today and for our future generations. ... We need to
be aware that in the next few years we will have an influx of many skilled
workers in the construction trade. We need to provide housing, entertainment
and recreation for those workers so the majority of these workers will stay
even after the projects are finished. Affordable housing is going to be on
high demand. ... How are the county's best interests preserved when dealing
with growth issues such as the Wal-Mart distribution center in south Putnam
and the Miraposa project on the St. Johns County line? The Comprehensive
Plan was designed and approved by the citizens of Putnam County, although it
is designed as a guideline; we should be conscious of the fact that before
we issue a variance or a change in the plan, we need the public input and
acceptance. It has to bring a great benefit to Putnam County. Negotiations
and preparations are vital before any changes are made. How can
infrastructure improvements, including roads and utilities, be provided? We
should investigate the possibilities of ways to provide the big bang for the
dollar. I would like to see a bond study for roads that should enable us to
build more miles of roads sooner, so the county will be able to maintain the
unpaved roads on a more timely basis. We need to work hard with Tallahassee
and the federal government to acquire grants to supplement the roads and
infrastructure vital for our future growth.
Ed Taylor Party: Democrat Age: 70 Residence: Interlachen Occupation:
Retired Education: High school Family: Married to Audrey for 47 years. Three
children, two grandchildren. Background: Union representative, International
Union of Elevator Constructors. Former office manager, United States
Elevator Co. in Jacksonville. Involved with numerous committees in Putnam
County, also president of Save Rodman Reservoir Inc. What is your single top
priority for Putnam County? There is more than one priority issue facing us,
but I will give you the most important one at this time. We must prepare
ourselves for some major growth in Putnam County. This is a rural county and
the majority of people that have moved here or have been raised here are
here because of the peace and quiet this county offers. Above all else, we
must protect our way of life, and our neighborhoods from getting destroyed
by growth. We must accept growth by being in a control growth pattern.
Presently, we are in a unique position in being able to do this before it is
too late. Businesses that are interested in coming into Putnam County should
be willing to become a partner of the county and work with us to help
protect our way of life. What is your vision for Putnam County in the next
decade? My vision for Putnam County in the next 10 years is that we will
have established a controlled growth pattern and allowed businesses to
prosper. We will have medium- to high-priced homes built on sufficient
acreage and not become cluttered with housing projects that people can talk
to their neighbor through their windows. We will have established water and
sewer throughout a big portion of the county and will have found a way to be
more efficient on our road paving procedures. We will have accomplished this
without raising taxes. How are the county's best interests preserved when
dealing with growth issues such as the Wal-Mart distribution center in south
Putnam and the Miraposa project on the St. Johns County line? Even though
Wal-Mart distribution center will bring much-needed, good-paying jobs to
Putnam County and will help the local economy, it is going to be located in
the wrong location in my opinion. The jobs and local economy are in the best
interests of this county. The Mariposa project is going to bring with it
paved roads, water and sewer and schools. This is in the best interest of
the county. How can infrastructure improvements, including roads and
utilities, be provided? Putnam County is presently spending all the money it
can afford on roads and utilities. There are two things that will improve
this. Number one, we must become more efficient in the way we are presently
handling this. Number two, impact fees are needed to offset some of the
burden on Putnam County taxpayers.
The Times-Union
Putnam County voters will select two new county
commissioners as the rural county faces unprecedented growth pressures and
questions about how to use resources such as the St. Johns River.
Most residents can't seem to stay put
A census update shows 62% of us have changed our addresses since 2000.
Babita PersaudSentinel Staff Writer
October 3, 2006
Central Floridians are on the move, with a U.S. census report out today showing that more than 60 percent of area residents have changed their addresses since 2000.
More than 460,000 residents moved into an apartment or a home in the region during the boom in real estate, when sales set records, new subdivisions opened with hundreds of units and waves of condominiums flooded the market.
The snapshot of changes in housing is part of the Census Bureau's 2005 update of the American Community Survey, which is replacing the "long form" of the 10-year census. Starting this year, the annual survey of about 3 million households will provide yearly data on communities of 65,000 or larger.
Among the other findings: The home-to-work commute for many in Central Florida exceeds the 26-minute state average, with drive times for those living in Seminole County averaging 26.5 minutes, in Lake 27.7 minutes and in Osceola, 31 minutes.
"People are moving away from the urban center, away from downtown," said Beverly Pindling, president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.
That includes Richard Cravens, 36.
He used to live close to downtown Orlando, in a condo. His commute to work: 12 minutes.
But he traded that all in for double the square footage in Winter Garden, buying a 2,000-square-foot house last year.
His commute now: 30 minutes.
"But I'm not sitting in traffic the entire time or stopping for traffic lights as I did when my commute to work was 12 minutes," Cravens said.
Real-estate brokers say many home buyers have been willing to take the trade-off.
"As long as people can hop on a major artery like the [State Road] 417 or the 408, they are OK," said Gary Balanoff, a real-estate broker with Re/Max. He has seen areas such as Geneva and Chuluota become more attractive to buyers.
Even though the real-estate boom peaked in 2005, value is still driving the market, said Rao Singh, an agent with Florida Choice.
He continues to see an influx of people from New York and California selling their homes for close to $1 million and moving into a 4,000-square-foot home for about half the cost in places such as Winter Garden or Ocoee.
"They are getting a deal," Singh said.
America's home-ownership rate is at a near-record 68.7 percent, the census found. The Orlando-Kissimmee market, at 59 percent, is below the national rate.
Some housing advocates warn that declining affordability will make it difficult for low-income owners to keep their homes. Homeowners in every state except Alaska spent more of their incomes on housing costs last year than at the start of the decade.
Housing costs are defined as mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and utilities. In Florida, the median percentage of income spent on housing was up 2.5 percent, to 22.1 percent.
"Families want to become homeowners, and they are willing to spend more to get there," said Jeffrey Lubell, executive director for the Center for Housing Policy, which advocates for affordable housing.
Among the other findings released today:
New Jersey had the highest monthly housing costs for homeowners, at $1,938.
West Virginia had the lowest monthly costs for homeowners, at $797.
Among America's 15 largest cities, San Francisco had the most expensive homes, with a median value of $726,700. Detroit had the least expensive, at $88,300.
Housing costs take out bigger chunk
BY LISA ARTHUR AND TIM HENDERSON
larthur@MiamiHerald.com
More than in almost any large U.S. county, homeowners in Miami-Dade pay more than they can afford for housing, according to new Census figures. Broward residents are not far behind.
High percentages of renters in both counties are also what federal guidelines call ''cost-burdened'' in housing, with Miami-Dade and Broward ranking No. 1 and No. 2 nationally among large counties with more than 100,000 rental units.
Affordability has become a bigger concern for South Florida residents and business leaders, say local pollsters. For the first time, housing and insurance costs register among the top five issues African Americans and Hispanics say they are concerned about, and in the top 10 for white non-Hispanics, said Dario Moreno, director of Florida International University's Metropolitan Center.
Moreno has documented the heightened concerns about housing costs in a number of surveys this year.
''I think you will see housing costs, including insurance costs, become one of the biggest political issues in Florida for the foreseeable future,'' Moreno said.
Business leaders are increasingly worried, too.
Spiraling housing and insurance costs during the past three years, combined with stagnant wages and a concentration of low-paying jobs in the hospitality industry, have eroded the edge South Florida long enjoyed in attracting businesses and workers looking for a sunny paradise with a reasonable cost of living.
''Things seem worse than a year ago,'' said Christopher Pollack, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. ``A year ago, people were just starting to realize what a problem this was becoming. . . . Not a lot has been accomplished as far as solutions.''
Housing costs across the nation increased in 2005, according to the new Census data.
The federal government says housing costs are burdensome if they top 30 percent of pre-tax household income. Nationally, 35 percent of homeowners with a mortgage had housing costs that topped that benchmark in 2005, an increase from 27 percent in 1999.
Monroe County had a higher percentage of homeowners with mortgages topping the benchmark -- 57 percent, up from 46 percent -- than any other county in the nation. Local economists warn that Monroe shows what Miami-Dade and Broward will become if something isn't done.
In Miami-Dade, 54 percent of homeowners with mortgages topped the benchmark, up from 35 percent in 1999. Miami-Dade ranked fifth nationally, behind Monroe, Monterey County, Calif., and the New York boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn.
In Broward, 49 percent of those with a mortgage topped the benchmark, up from 42 percent in 1999. Broward ranked 24th nationally.
The percentage of homeowners exceeding the benchmark increased in every state but one between 1999 and 2005. In Hawaii, it stayed the same at 39.7 percent.
Housing costs are defined as mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and utilities.
A larger percentage of South Florida renters also find themselves in the housing vise grip. In Miami-Dade, 64 percent of renters pay more than 30 percent of household income for housing costs, up from 51 percent in 1999. In Broward, 59 percent top the benchmark, up from 47 percent.
In Monroe, which has just more than 10,000 rental units, 62 percent of residents top the benchmark.
The housing data comes from the 2005 American Community Survey, a measure that is replacing the long form of the 10-year census. The survey of about 3 million households now provides yearly information on communities of 65,000 or larger.
In both Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the chambers of commerce are trying to chart the depth of the problem with surveys and have committees searching for solutions.
Moreno's team is conducting a survey of Miami-Dade chamber members. Chamber leaders say they already have anecdotal information from their members who say it has become more and more difficult to retain and recruit employees.
''A major, major attraction was that it was cheap to live here, a lot cheaper than other big cities and beautiful places,'' said Matthew Schwartz, vice chair of the affordable housing committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. ``Not anymore.''
Miami Herald staff writer Natalie McNeal contributed to this report, which was supplemented with material from The Associated Press.
Metro Orlando leads growth of
new-home loans for minorities
Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 3, 2006
Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 3, 2006
Orlando and a number of other Florida markets ranked among the nation's
top metro areas last year in the growth of new-home sales to minorities,
according to a new industry study.
A survey of federal mortgage-lending data showed that Metro Orlando ranked No. 8 overall, with a 52.2 percent growth rate, among metro areas that made more than 1,000 new-home loans to Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians.
A survey of federal mortgage-lending data showed that Metro Orlando ranked No. 8 overall, with a 52.2 percent growth rate, among metro areas that made more than 1,000 new-home loans to Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians.
In the "very-high-volume" loan category, for metro
areas that made more than 15,000 mortgage loans to minorities, Orlando
ranked first in the nation, according to the study by Genworth Mortgage
Insurance and Compliance Technologies.
Metro Orlando new-home loans to minorities surged from 19,267 in 2004 to
29,319 in 2005, the report found. The Tampa metro area ranked second
nationally, in the very-high-volume category, rising from 13,818 in 2004
to 19,642.
Six of the top 10 metro areas in the "high-volume" category
for minority home loans were in Florida. Ocala ranked No. 1 with a 90.4
percent growth rate; Lakeland was second at 87.9 percent; Cape
Coral-Fort Myers ranked third at 76.6 percent; Port St. Lucie-Fort
Pierce came in sixth at 53.7 percent; and Jacksonville was 10th at 51.5
percent.
"We were somewhat surprised" by the extensive showing of
Florida cities, said Ed Espinoza, a spokesman for Genworth Mortgage
Insurance. Part of the explanation, he said, is that minorities and
other home buyers see value in many Florida markets.
"You can buy a nice home at a reasonable price" compared with
many other U.S. cities, said Espinoza, who is from Los Angeles.
The pricey metro Los Angeles market, for example, did not rank among the
top 20 in growth of new-home loans to minorities, with the numbers
rising from about 64,000 to about 68,000, or 6.8 percent.
While Los Angeles made more than twice as many new-home loans to
minorities as Orlando, the Orlando area surpassed Los Angeles in growth
in raw numbers -- an increase of about 10,000 loans versus 4,000 -- as
well as in percentage terms.
In the very-high volume category, Orlando ranked second in growth of
mortgage loans for Asians and Latinos, and fourth for blacks, when the
categories are examined separately. By contrast, most metro areas showed
substantial growth for only one ethnic group, Espinoza said.
The report, released recently at a mortgage industry conference on
diversity in Washington, D.C., was prepared using data from the 2005
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
Immigration is contributing to much of the growth in new-home lending to
minorities nationwide, said Michaele Taliefero, managing director of
Compliance Technologies, a lending-compliance consulting business based
in Washington.
Jerry W. Jackson can be reached at jwjackson@orlandosentinel.com or
407-420-5721
How to buy organic without going broke
vnahmad@yahoo.com
It's a big, bright organic world out there. Organic apples and grapes glisten at Wild Oats, organic cereals intrigue at Publix, organic breads call out at Fresh Market. It seems like there's a new outlet selling a new organic product every month. You're not imagining it.
U.S. organic food sales have grown about 20 percent a year since 1997, according to Consumer Reports. Almost two-thirds of American consumers bought some type of organic food or beverage last year, presumably largely motivated by health concerns.
But are we getting what we pay for? Organic products typically cost 50 percent to 100 percent more than their conventional counterparts. A half-gallon of Publix skim milk rings in at $1.99, its organic Greenwise counterpart, $2.49. A grocery cart full of these little increases adds up at the checkout counter.
We talked to registered dietitians and American Dietetic Association spokeswomen Tara Gidus and Cynthia Sass to find out which organic items provide the most health benefits in exchange for their higher price.
Here's our aisle-by aisle guide to getting the most bang for your organic buck.
MEATS & SEAFOOD
Organic meats must be produced without antibiotics and growth hormones, both of which have been found to have negative residual effects in humans. Animals must also be fed organic feed, which cannot contain animal byproducts.
''We don't know if protein, vitamin or calcium levels of organically grown meats are higher,'' Sass says. ``But we do know that animals injected with antibiotics emit it in their waste and that these antibiotic residues end up getting into our water and end up contributing to antibiotic resistance.''
Gidus agrees, but adds that: ``The USDA has pretty tight regulations on hormones and farmers get huge fines if they go above them. I just don't think we know how big a difference organic makes.''
SPLURGE: On beef and poultry to reduce your risk of exposure to extra hormones, potential toxins in non-organic foods and unnecessary antibiotics.
DON'T BUY: Seafood because there is no standard USDA certification for it. Producers can label as they wish, and ''organic'' fish can easily contain contaminants like mercury and PCPBs.
PRODUCE
Consider spending the bulk of your organic budget in the produce aisle, where the USDA has found alarmingly high levels of pesticides in many conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Lab studies have found that pesticides can cause birth defects, nerve damage, cancers and other health problems, depending on toxicity and duration of exposure.
Because organic produce must be grown with a fertilizer free of pesticides, sewage and synthetic ingredients, it has lower pesticide levels than conventional foods.
This all sounds very alarming, but Sass cautions that: ``The risk of eating fruits and vegetables grown non-organically is less than the risk of not getting enough fruits and vegetables (five servings recommended daily).''
Whether you choose organic or conventional produce, make sure to wash it well and try to buy in season -- the shorter the shipping and shelf times, the fewer the pesticides used.
SPLURGE: On organics to replace the so-called ''dirty dozen'' of produce -- fruits and vegetables found in USDA studies to consistently have the highest level of pesticides. Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries make up the dirty dozen.
DON'T BUY: Don't spend the extra money on organic versions of these fruits and vegetables -- asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangoes, onion, papaya, pineapples and sweet peas -- because they were found to have the lowest levels of pesticides in USDA studies.
BOXED/CANNED/BOTTLED
Much of the organic difference in processed foods is found in the details -- read labels very carefully. For an item to be labeled ''100 percent organic'' 100 percent of its ingredients must be organic; for it to be labeled ''organic,'' 95 percent m*ust be organic; and for it to be labeled ''made with organic ingredients,'' 70 percent of its ingredients must be organic.
SPLURGE: On organic baby food, as children's developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxins. Baby food is also frequently made of condensed fruits and vegetables, so there's a risk of concentrating pesticide residues.
DON'T BUY: Breads, pastas, potato chips and cereals because, although they may have lower contaminant levels, they offer limited health value. Processing tends to wash away vitamins, so the more processed a food is, be it organic or conventional, the less nutritional punch it will pack.
''I haven't been convinced of a benefit for organic Rice Krispies,'' Gidus says. ``If people want to spend the extra money, they can go ahead, but there's been no proven difference at all in terms of vitamin or mineral content.''
Citrus Mining & Timber opposes rule changes
By Times Staff WriterThe firm challenges proposed changes to the comprehensive plan, including a new limit for residential development.
Published October 2, 2006
Citrus Mining & Timber, which is looking to develop 1,500 plus acres in northwest Citrus, is challenging some proposed changes to the county's comprehensive plan.
At issue: a rule limiting residential development to one unit per 20 acres within 5 miles of the Progress Energy nuclear power plant, and a rule concerning off-site mitigation for wetlands degradation.
The County Commission this year approved those comprehensive plan amendments and sent them to the state for review. The Department of Community Affairs recently announced its intention to approve the amendments.
That prompted Citrus Mining & Timber to file a formal challenge. The company wants an administrative law judge to hold a hearing and toss out the proposed amendments.
In May, after getting a thumbs down from the county planning board and multiple questions from government staffers, Citrus Mining & Timber withdrew its development plans for its land, which is north of the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
Company president Dixie Hollins asked commissioners to postpone their consideration of the plans and direct county staffers to help craft a development agreement for the Hollinswood Ranch project
It's out with Old Florida and in with the new
Southern Charlotte is changing
BY ZAC ANDERSON
CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- As a child, Angela Wilson often would sneak away from
the family farm on Burnt Store Road to bathe in a nearby hot spring.
The adventure required her to cross the road -- something her parents forbade -- and follow dirt paths that snaked through dense, marshy, underbrush replete with wild hogs, tortoises and wading birds.
On a recent afternoon, the 36-year-old Wilson looked across Burnt Store Road at the same land and saw a different picture, one that symbolizes the clash between the past and the future, Old Florida and new money.
Wilson watched bulldozers cross the land, reshaping the uneven ground into an expansive planned community, one of many planned south of Punta Gorda, in Burnt Store.
"I know change is inevitable, but I never imagined something like this," Wilson said in a smooth Southern drawl.
Much has been predicted about the impending wave of development along Burnt Store Road in southern Charlotte County, but until recently, there was little visual evidence of a boom.
That changed earlier this year when Lennar Communities began construction on Tern Bay, a golf course community that sits directly across the street from Wilson's family farm.
Tern Bay Phases I and II are among at least nine developments planned for the Burnt Store corridor, despite the recent downturn in real estate values. In all, more than 2,800 housing units are planned on 1,100 acres.
And that's just the beginning.
Developers own thousands more acres in the area. One of the largest, Bonita Bay Group, has yet to pitch its proposal for 950 acres in Burnt Store.
But even the promise of development has increased property values along Burnt Store Road and many long-time residents are cashing in, creating a domino effect as more and more small land owners sell out to developers.
That cascade means even more growth in the future, a prospect that excites some and angers others.
"If we wanted to live in the city, we would have," said Wilson's mother, Mildred Wells. "Now it looks like the city is coming to us."
The family decided to sell the 80-acre farm where they have grazed cattle for more than a century after they saw Tern Bay rising in a cloud of dust that blankets their home on a windy day.
Wells knows that Tern Bay's soon-to-be gated entrance, manicured lawns and upscale homes are a sign of things to come in Burnt Store.
Her neighbors, most of them small farmers with cattle, flower farms and orange groves, already have sold to developers.
"For Sale" signs like Wells' began appearing up and down Burnt Store Road shortly after Tern Bay started construction, according to Noreen McCarthy, a real estate agent who has worked in the area since 1997.
"Before, it was all just a bunch of plans," McCarthy said. "Now people can actually see the change coming and they realize the value of their property."
Burnt Store Road runs parallel to Charlotte Harbor, between U.S. 41 and the water. The land's close proximity to the water made it more and more valuable as other coastal areas became more crowded and expensive.
In 2005, property owners worked with Charlotte County to create the Burnt Store Area Plan, a blueprint for future growth in the 22,000-acre swath of land. The developers pressured the county to loosen restrictions that allowed for just one house on every 10 acres of land.
The plan did rezone the agricultural land to residential, and it established a system that forces developers to help pay to improve roads, sewers and drainage systems.
"It required the developers to look at the area as a whole and not just their individual projects," said Todd Rebol, an engineer for three developments in the Burnt Store area.
The plan was adopted in 2005. "It seems to be running smoothly," said Charlotte County planner Martina Kuche.
Improvements to the narrow and pot hole-ridden Burnt Store Road are a major component of the plan.
Last week, the county approved spending $39 million to widen the road from two to four lanes, a project partly funded by assessments on development in the area. It is set to begin in 2007.
Area residents have questioned why projects such as Tern Bay have been allowed to move forward before the road widening work begins in 2007.
Marianne Foss travels Burnt Store Road on her way to work. Last week, she and Wilson discussed the road's congestion while picking out a boxer puppy from Wilson's kennel.
"The road is already crazy," Foss said.
"When all this stuff goes in, the traffic will be unbelievable."
Traffic is one reason Wilson's family is moving. During peak traffic, she has waited a half-hour just to cross the road.
But the main reason her family plans to sell the farm is because they consider themselves country folk, evident in the calf-high rubber boots Wilson wears to do chores and the piles of old tools and tractor parts in a tin shed.
And Burnt Store Road is no longer in the country.
Lennar plans to build 1,800 housing units in Tern Bay alone, along with a 27-hole golf course and an elegant clubhouse, amenities that seem at odds with the cow pastures, orchard, vegetable garden and dog kennel across the street.
"We thought we lived in the woods until they turned the woods into a housing development," Wilson said. "But you can't stop progress."
The adventure required her to cross the road -- something her parents forbade -- and follow dirt paths that snaked through dense, marshy, underbrush replete with wild hogs, tortoises and wading birds.
On a recent afternoon, the 36-year-old Wilson looked across Burnt Store Road at the same land and saw a different picture, one that symbolizes the clash between the past and the future, Old Florida and new money.
Wilson watched bulldozers cross the land, reshaping the uneven ground into an expansive planned community, one of many planned south of Punta Gorda, in Burnt Store.
"I know change is inevitable, but I never imagined something like this," Wilson said in a smooth Southern drawl.
Much has been predicted about the impending wave of development along Burnt Store Road in southern Charlotte County, but until recently, there was little visual evidence of a boom.
That changed earlier this year when Lennar Communities began construction on Tern Bay, a golf course community that sits directly across the street from Wilson's family farm.
Tern Bay Phases I and II are among at least nine developments planned for the Burnt Store corridor, despite the recent downturn in real estate values. In all, more than 2,800 housing units are planned on 1,100 acres.
And that's just the beginning.
Developers own thousands more acres in the area. One of the largest, Bonita Bay Group, has yet to pitch its proposal for 950 acres in Burnt Store.
But even the promise of development has increased property values along Burnt Store Road and many long-time residents are cashing in, creating a domino effect as more and more small land owners sell out to developers.
That cascade means even more growth in the future, a prospect that excites some and angers others.
"If we wanted to live in the city, we would have," said Wilson's mother, Mildred Wells. "Now it looks like the city is coming to us."
The family decided to sell the 80-acre farm where they have grazed cattle for more than a century after they saw Tern Bay rising in a cloud of dust that blankets their home on a windy day.
Wells knows that Tern Bay's soon-to-be gated entrance, manicured lawns and upscale homes are a sign of things to come in Burnt Store.
Her neighbors, most of them small farmers with cattle, flower farms and orange groves, already have sold to developers.
"For Sale" signs like Wells' began appearing up and down Burnt Store Road shortly after Tern Bay started construction, according to Noreen McCarthy, a real estate agent who has worked in the area since 1997.
"Before, it was all just a bunch of plans," McCarthy said. "Now people can actually see the change coming and they realize the value of their property."
Burnt Store Road runs parallel to Charlotte Harbor, between U.S. 41 and the water. The land's close proximity to the water made it more and more valuable as other coastal areas became more crowded and expensive.
In 2005, property owners worked with Charlotte County to create the Burnt Store Area Plan, a blueprint for future growth in the 22,000-acre swath of land. The developers pressured the county to loosen restrictions that allowed for just one house on every 10 acres of land.
The plan did rezone the agricultural land to residential, and it established a system that forces developers to help pay to improve roads, sewers and drainage systems.
"It required the developers to look at the area as a whole and not just their individual projects," said Todd Rebol, an engineer for three developments in the Burnt Store area.
The plan was adopted in 2005. "It seems to be running smoothly," said Charlotte County planner Martina Kuche.
Improvements to the narrow and pot hole-ridden Burnt Store Road are a major component of the plan.
Last week, the county approved spending $39 million to widen the road from two to four lanes, a project partly funded by assessments on development in the area. It is set to begin in 2007.
Area residents have questioned why projects such as Tern Bay have been allowed to move forward before the road widening work begins in 2007.
Marianne Foss travels Burnt Store Road on her way to work. Last week, she and Wilson discussed the road's congestion while picking out a boxer puppy from Wilson's kennel.
"The road is already crazy," Foss said.
"When all this stuff goes in, the traffic will be unbelievable."
Traffic is one reason Wilson's family is moving. During peak traffic, she has waited a half-hour just to cross the road.
But the main reason her family plans to sell the farm is because they consider themselves country folk, evident in the calf-high rubber boots Wilson wears to do chores and the piles of old tools and tractor parts in a tin shed.
And Burnt Store Road is no longer in the country.
Lennar plans to build 1,800 housing units in Tern Bay alone, along with a 27-hole golf course and an elegant clubhouse, amenities that seem at odds with the cow pastures, orchard, vegetable garden and dog kennel across the street.
"We thought we lived in the woods until they turned the woods into a housing development," Wilson said. "But you can't stop progress."
Yankeetown resort: Boon or boondoggle?
By Mike WrightThe way Peter Spittler sees it, the folks in Yankeetown are getting one fine deal from his company’s planned development.
A classy waterfront resort, featuring public-access walkways along the Withlacoochee River, fine dining and wet/dry docks will add to the cultural ambiance of the quiet Levy County community.
The property alone will double the town’s tax base. Millions of dollars will feed to local merchants from visitors, not to mention adding to Levy County’s workforce.
Frankly, Spittler said, the only downside he sees is that tiny Yankeetown finds its spot on the map and some people might be uncomfortable with that.
“Yankeetown will not be the way it’s always been,” Spittler said.
Spittler is architect of Izaak Walton Investors LLC, the company planning a 180-unit complex of “fractional ownership” units, restaurant, bed and breakfast and marina on the site of the historic Izaak Walton Lodge.
Since the company announced its plans late last year, Yankeetown has plunged into a nightmare of political fallout. The town council that exists today wasn’t in place just six months ago. Some townspeople accuse the former mayor of negotiating with the developer behind their backs.
Larry Feldhusen, one of three council members elected in an August special election that Gov. Jeb Bush called, said the new council isn’t anti-development, but it is wary of the Izaak Walton plans.
“The drawings he showed me looked real pretty,” Feldhusen said of Spittler’s artist’s renderings of the development.
Feldhusen’s concerns zero in on the details of Spittler’s plans.
“We’re talking about a lot of density here,” he said. “I couldn’t tell from the drawings if there’s adequate parking provided for all the units. How much space is taken up with dockage? Looked like an awful lot of dock space.”
Spittler, who provided a slide presentation Thursday night in Bronson to members of the Levy County Tourist Development Council, said county, state and federal permitting agencies will make sure the project passes muster.
Spittler, who lives in Cleveland, said he understands that some Yankeetown residents and officials are worried about the unknown.
“I know there’s a lot of, I guess, defensiveness when change starts happening,” he said. The first slide pretty much said as much: “Izaak Walton Investors LLC is sensitive to the emotion associated with change.”
The project is, at the time, stuck in the small bureaucracy that exists, or doesn’t exist, in Yankeetown. The town is without a zoning official who, according to Spittler and Feldhusen, is responsible for approving a great deal of the Izaak Walton project.
Feldhusen said the council would like to hire a person or company with experience in permitting large-scale projects such as this one.
“We’re looking real hard at getting expert representation from private practitioners,” he said.
Developers want the town to try harder. Two weeks ago, they filed court papers asking a judge to order the town to process their development application.
Spittler said there is so much that Izaak Walton Investors can offer Yankeetown and Levy County. He said an economic impact study performed by a University of Georgia professor found, among other things:
n The three- or four-year construction process would provide at least 100 jobs, generating $2.9 million annually in disposable income to Yankeetown and the county.
n When completed, the resort and marina would employ 133 to 181 people in permanent jobs. Property taxes would generate $610,000 to $1.3 million annually.
“Yankeetown’s entire budget is about $600,000,” Spittler said. “That’s where the real benefit is.”
Plus, developers would build a package sewer plant to serve the resort. That plant could be used to aid Yankeetown when the community builds its own sewer plant, either alone or with neighboring Inglis.
Feldhusen wonders how Spittler will be able to get permits for a sewer plant in a flood zone. He also said it’s easy for Izaak Walton developers to make promises, but he hasn’t seen proof they can back them up.
“They’ve dangled some carrots out there, and I’m not sure if the carrots are of the legitimate nutritious variety or wax carrots that aren’t any good,” he said.
Yankeetown resident Mike Lineberger, who attended Thursday’s presentation, said he doesn’t think his small community is ready for the crush of people that a resort will bring.
“We have a town of 600 people. I can picture it bringing in a thousand people over a weekend,” he said. “It would be bad enough to have 200 households where people live here full time.”
While showing slides of Yankeetown from years past, Spittler suggested Yankeetown looks much the same. But he added: “There isn’t a whole lot of change, but the world has changed — and it’s closing in.”
Reports of disoriented turtle hatchlings spike in Broward
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Reports of disoriented sea turtle hatchlings along Broward County beaches have spiked this year after state and federal officials discouraged relocating their nests, experts said.
Thousands of green, loggerhead and leatherback turtles lay their eggs each year on Broward's beaches. The county had routinely relocated nests dug in brightly lit beaches to darker areas to protect the hatchlings, which instinctively crawl toward light upon leaving the nest.
But this year, state and federal officials emphasized reducing artificial light from hotels, condos, restaurants and streetlights instead of relocating the nests. Officials said moving the nests disrupted the little-understood dynamics of the natural nests and did nothing to help the turtles' survival.
Broward County officials have so far recorded nearly 400 reports of disoriented hatchlings this year, up from 134 in 2005.
"I've been pulling turtles out of storm drains all summer, or picking them off the road," said Karen Schanzle, a graduate student at Nova Southeastern University working in the county's sea turtle conservation program.
Lou Fisher, a marine biologist for the county, said some beaches remain too bright for sea turtles, and the nests should have been moved.
"I don't like the idea of losing nests in an area where I know they're going to disorient, and that's what we're doing now. They're not looking at Broward County and Dade County as special circumstances," he said.
But Robbin Trindell, biological administrator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said most hatchlings from such nests went the wrong way anyway.
"We just didn't see any benefits of the nests being moved," Trindell said.
New lighting ordinances have gone into effect in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fort Lauderdale and Hallandale Beach. Hollywood recently installed 117 turtle-friendly streetlights.
Trees show hurricane history Scientists at the University of Tennessee have discovered a new database containing records of dozens of previously undocumented hurricanes.That database is tree trunks.
By comparing two types of oxygen in the growth rings of longleaf pines, researchers have been able to determine when and where hurricanes made landfall, including information as far back as 1420 in some places.
Researchers wanted to know whether the increase in hurricanes in recent years is due to a natural variation in the global climate, global warming or perhaps a combination of factors. While the research has not definitively answered the question, it will likely be a variety of factors, said Claudia Mora, an isotope geochemist and one of the study's principal investigators. Mora is a University of Tennessee professor and head of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science.
Modern hurricane record keeping involving weather instruments began around the time of World War II, although some spotty or partial written records date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Although important, the records are not sufficient to determine a pattern of hurricane frequency.
"To statistically make an argument, you must have longer records than 10 to 50 years," Mora said.
The tree ring records are as old as the tree, sometimes 200 years or more. The tree rings have been accurate, so far showing only one year in the past 50 in which it appeared there was a hurricane when none was recorded by the National Weather Service.
The first tree rings examined came from 220-year-old trees being cut down and removed from the Valdosta State University campus, where geography professor Henri Grissino-Mayer was then teaching.
The old pines were used as a basis for the study, which was completed after Grissino-Mayer was hired at the University of Tennessee.
Mora said the research focused on the longleaf pine trees because they have a shallow root system which tends to take up a lot of moisture from the soil instead of the groundwater used by other species like oak trees.
"Water drawn from the soil would be more closely tied to a hurricane and maximize our chances of seeing this variation," Mora said.
Researchers were able to avoid cutting down trees to see their rings by boring a half-inch hole into a tree's trunk to extract a sample of wood containing growth rings.
"That was another advantage to working with the pines - they are so resinous that the resins would quickly fill those boring and the tree could survive," Mora said.
Working with about 70 samples, including some dating back to 1420, researchers looked at the dark portion of a ring produced during each year's growth. The dark areas grew from about July to October, the same time period when 90 percent of hurricanes that hit the U.S. would strike the Southeast.
Using analytical instruments that became available about five years ago, scientists were able to use about 100 micrograms - a sample smaller than a particle of dust - to find oxygen isotopes that are unique to hurricanes. Isotopes share an atomic number and have nearly identical chemical behaviors, but have a different atomic mass. In the tree ring study, the isotopes being examined are oxygen 16 and oxygen 18.
"An isotope is a chemical fingerprint and they have become major tools for things like tracking elephant feeding patterns and even for police departments," Mora said.
She and the other researchers determined that the ratio between oxygen isotopes in a tree ring changes when the tree has been in a hurricane, when more oxygen 16 and less oxygen 18 is present.
The next step in the process of studying the trees will be to look for even older specimens to sample, as well as to take a closer look at the isotopes' position in the tree rings to try to determine whether hurricanes tended to occur earlier or later in the season.
Karen Voyles can be reached at 486-5058 or voylesk@gvillesun.com
Marinas at risk from rising taxes
By NATHAN CRABBE
Locals say the waters off this coastal Dixie County town are teeming with fish, but getting out to catch them could be increasingly difficult.
The town last month failed in its bid to receive $5 million in state funding that would have been used to buy its last remaining marina. Now marina owner Joe Spradley says he'll either need relief from rising property taxes or be forced to sell to condominium developers.
"The taxes are more than I've made in the past two years," he said.
As property values rise in coastal Florida, so do taxes for business owners as well as incentives for them to sell. The effect has shrunk the number of marinas along the Nature Coast in recent years, limiting access to the Gulf of Mexico for anglers from Gainesville and elsewhere.
"The public gets less and less access to the water every day unless they do something," said Will Lawler, a Horseshoe Beach condo developer who supports efforts to save the town's marina.
A state law enacted in January allows counties to defer a portion of property taxes for marinas to help keep them in business. Dixie County Coordinator Arthur Bellot said he supports protecting marinas, but doesn't view the measure as an effective solution.
"Who in the world wants to pile up their taxes and pay them down the road?" he said.
Located 20 miles from the closest major highway, Horseshoe Beach is advertised on the road entering town as "Florida's last frontier." The town is nestled between two protected natural areas, increasing its isolation and appeal to anglers.
"There are three reasons to come to Horseshoe - drinking, fishing and relaxing," Spradley said.
Town residents once were able to make a living in commercial fishing. But the No Name Storm of 1993 and Florida's Constitutional net ban of 1994 struck two major blows to the industry, leading to the closure of the town's fish houses and two of its marinas.
Now just Horseshoe Beach Marina, one restaurant and an ice cream stand remain as the only major businesses serving locals. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town population at 243 people, but residents say as few as 40 homes are occupied on a cold winter night.
Warm weekends attract scores more vacation-home dwellers and recreational anglers. A public park provides some access to boats, but only the marina has a mechanical lift to put larger vessels in the water and sells necessities such as fuel and bait.
"It's the backbone of our town," said Teddy Kight, a town councilman and handyman.
Spradley said he paid about $2,200 in property taxes when he bought the marina seven years ago. Those taxes rose to $9,300 three years ago and are now proposed to shoot past $20,000, he said.
The town sought funding from Florida Forever, the state program for land conservation, but failed to receive a grant that would have allowed the marina to be preserved as a park. Now Spradley said he either needs relief from the taxes or will be forced to sell to a private owner.
Condo developers would be the likely buyer. Coastal communities from Yankeetown to Steinhatchee have seen a similar effect in recent years, said Tommy Thompson, the Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club president who's writing a book on Gulf fishing.
"There's only so much real estate on the water," he said.
Steinhatchee had as many as seven area marinas and is now down to 2, said Danielle Norwood, co-owner of Sea Hag Marina in the city. She said she counts one marina as just half because it has sold some of its land for condos.
Even though she said her business is thriving, she said rising property taxes and insurance costs are putting a crunch on profits. She said she isn't looking to sell but would consider the option.
"If the right offer came along, you'd almost have to take it," she said.
Under the state law enacted this year, counties can pass measures allowing marinas to defer taxes. But the law is flawed in several ways, said Raymond Graziotto, co-owner of a company that owns eight South Florida marinas.
Counties and cities must pass laws enacting the change, an option that Graziotto said is only being pursued in Palm Beach County. Only the municipalities' taxes can be deferred, which he said in his area amounts to about 20 percent of the total.
"It probably doesn't go far enough," he said.
Bellot said the Legislature should put a revision of the law at the forefront of the next session's agenda. Fishing is the county's biggest tourist draw, he said, so it supports keeping facilities open that cater to those tourists.
"The ultimate goal I think of everyone is to maintain access," he said.
Some Horseshoe Beach residents say such a measure would also allow the town to preserve some of its history. Rob Inves, a local handyman, said coastal fishing provides the appeal of the town and the state.
"This fight isn't just for this marina," he said, "it's for the kinds of businesses that (make) Florida what it is."
Nathan Crabbe can be reached at 338-3176 or crabben@gvillesun.com
Reports can cloud water
risks
By JIM WAYMER
FLORIDA TODAY
The often-rosy "consumer confidence reports" that go to
residents each year can disguise errors of omission and lax or nonexistent
testing for some substances in drinking water, including chemicals linked to
cancer.
A FLORIDA TODAY analysis of the past three years of water violations in
Brevard County found this especially true for water systems supplying fewer
than 10,000 people. It also showed:
Repeat violations of state and federal water quality standards that took
months, sometimes years, to resolve, while the systems kept serving water
that exceeded standards.
Multiple warning letters from state regulators, but no fines for violators.
Failure to report contaminants on the consumer reports. Suppliers often
cited "administrative oversight" to explain why they left out
required information on reports they submit to the state every year.
"The way the rules are written, they clearly emphasize the larger
systems because those larger systems are what's serving the major
metropolitan areas," said Jerry Phillips, director of the nonprofit
Florida Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Smaller suppliers don't have the stricter reporting rules, and they often
lack the money to fix a problem.
Federal and state regulators assert there's no need for alarm. Their
oversight safeguards against acute contaminants, such as E. coli bacteria,
they say.
But Phillips says he isn't sure.
"The rules tend to make sense," said the former enforcement
attorney with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "The
question is whether they're leaving the small guys unattended."
At times, they are, records showed.
When water tests reveal acute health risks such as fecal bacteria, utilities
must notify customers within 24 hours. They get much more leeway for
pollutants linked with longer-term health risks, such as byproducts formed
by chlorine treatment.
Because of the expense, smaller suppliers don't have to test as often for
some contaminants, and they usually get more time to fix a problem.
'Not a quick fix'
Residents of Indian River Shores mobile home park, off U.S. 1 in Micco, have
had high levels of chlorine byproducts in their drinking water on and off
for years. But state regulators continue to allow them to use the same aged
water system because of the cost of bringing it up to date.
"These are extremely little plants," said Patricia Murphy,
co-owner of Alltech Water Co. Inc., the Grant company that operates the
park's plant. "This is not a quick fix."
She said the park hopes to get a government grant to offset needed upgrades
to remove chlorine byproducts.
John Chiulli, who lives in the 55-unit Indian River Shores, curses the
strong chlorine odor and sediments in the water.
"Clear is clear. That ain't clear," he said of the yellowish water
that comes from his taps.
The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act allows systems that serve fewer than 10,000
people variances from certain contaminant limits if they can't afford
upgrades to meet them.
Complying with a new arsenic rule, for example, could cost more than $300
per household for those on systems that serve 100 people, versus $25 for
systems of 50,000 to 100,000 customers, according to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
Ongoing problems
FLORIDA TODAY's research found many other examples of lack of information on
drinking water for Brevard residents and ongoing quality issues.
People in Snug Harbor Lakes and Villages, a 1,000-resident community of
manufactured homes also in Micco, don't know whether their health was at
risk for eight months, from July 2004 through March 2005.
Water tests in December 2004 showed cancer-causing haloacetic acids reached
nearly six times the federal limit. Then in August 2005, their water had
twice the limit for trihalomethanes and exceeded limits for other
substances.
The county inherited Snug Harbor's water problems when it took over the
plant from Burkim Enterprises on Dec. 1, 2004. State environmental
regulators found the consumer confidence report sent to residents that year
lacked information on several required contaminants, because the county had
trouble getting records from Burkim.
Then, citing an "administrative oversight," Brevard officials
missed the deadline for sending the most recent consumer confidence reports
for Snug Harbor and its North Brevard plant in Mims to Florida Department of
Environmental Protection.
Residents say the water's improved recently. And proper sampling for the
previously unreported chlorine byproducts had resumed by April 2005.
Residents in Pinewood Mobile Village in Mims aren't sure whether they drank
water with dangerous levels of lead in late 2003, and for how long.
Suppliers must notify customers within 30 days of learning about a lead
violation. But after a sample drawn in October 2003 from Pinewood measured
nearly twice the federal lead limit, it took almost two months to tell
residents.
"It's based on chronic, long-term exposure," Jeff Prather,
spokeman for DEP, said of the testing rules for lead. "They were two
weeks beyond their 30 days for their public notice."
Pinewood's water later tested below detection limits for lead in the next
five quarterly samples.
In 2003, River Grove II Mobile Villas in Micco submitted a consumer
confidence report that DEP deemed "grossly inadequate." It used
old data for lead and copper, and failed to mention reporting violations
during the last three quarters of 2002 for a chemical associated with rubber
and chemical factory discharge, which can cause reproductive and liver
problems.
Then in late 2004, the system tested at nearly five times the standard for
trihalomethanes, the highest countywide that year. A public notice wasn't
posted until three months later. Upgrades at the water treatment plant have
since solved the park's water problems, many of which were triggered by the
2004 hurricanes.
State regulators blame the hurricanes for the lag time in letting residents
know. They said they had to deal with many immediate problems from water
plants that lost power and may have been contaminated.
River Grove II since has added a new pressure tank and made other
improvements. And notification of water problems has improved at the park,
residents say.
But Matt Sidwell, who's seen the water come out brown, wonders why the state
allowed the park's problem with chlorine byproducts to go on for so long. He
still worries about what his taste buds tell him.
"It smells like lead paint chips when I brush my teeth," he said.
Sinkhole free of its Gremlin Beneath 33 feet of water, logs, leaves and debris sat a Honda Civic. To
celebrate National Public Land Day on Saturday, Cal Jamison and the
Concerned Citizens of Wakulla got it pulled out.
Jamison, the Wakulla Springs ambassador, said the sinkhole where the car
lay used to be a campground for hippies in Wakulla Springs State Park.
The word is that years ago, a Wakulla County Sheriff's diver identified
the vehicle as an AMC Gremlin, which is why it's called Gremlin Hole.
Lynn Artz of Concerned Citizens of Wakulla said she helped gather
volunteers for a walk that started at Crawfordville Road before the viewing
of the car's removal. Other sponsors included the Florida Wildlife
Federation and The Friends of Wakulla Springs.
"We have lots of field trips, and we decided to make this one of
them," she said.
Field trips for Wakulla residents usually involve community service. So
on the way to the Gremlin sinkhole, field-trippers picked up thousands of
mimosa saplings and all kinds of trash and debris. About 50 volunteers were
on hand.
"The sinkholes are a part of Wakulla's natural beauty," Artz
said. "People are really interested in helping out."
Jamison said he has detailed and cataloged 460 sinkholes in the park and
plans more trips and projects like this in the future.
In 2003, Jamison teamed up with Jackson Cook Crane Co., the same one he
used Saturday, to pull a Thunderbird out of Cherokee Sinkhole.
Crane superintendent Harold Penn said the two hauls can't be compared.
"With every one we use divers to go down and tell us if there is any
obstruction," Penn said. "But every one is different because of
different factors, like how long the car has been down there."
Clearing the car doesn't just help keep drinking water clean, Jamison
said. It also repays the sinkholes that are his life.
As a Florida State archaeology student in the '60s, Jamison fondly
remembers going out to Wakulla Springs to swim.
"You could just jump in, and they were so refreshing," he said.
"It really helped clear the mind."
Now as ambassador, he makes it his mission to protect the sinkholes
because they're connected to the aquifer, which supplies drinking water.
"The holes," he said, "have direct access to the
underground river system that runs from up above Tallahassee down and
filters out into the springs."
Council should delay vote on annexation
A St. Pete Times EditorialPublished October 1, 2006
The Brooksville City Council is only one vote away from annexing nearly 900 acres south of the city, a move that almost certainly will result in the Hernando County Commission suing to stop the land from being developed.
But the City Council could avoid, or at the very least delay, a confrontation in court if it postpones voting on the matter Monday night, and grants the commission's request to review the plans together.
That is a sensible request; the council has no reason to hurry this process when it doesn't know what the landowner plans to do with the property, or have a clear understanding of the effects it might have on the county's infrastructure.
The commission has already warned the city that if the land, two parcels owned by Bell Fruit Co. and James DeMaria, is developed into a subdivision, it will require amending the comprehensive growth management plan, which designates the sites as rural.
In addition, the commission has other concerns, including that it cannot afford to improve the county roads that would ferry the traffic from a residential/retail development, and that it does not wish for those roads to be annexed by the city.
The commission also points out that this proposed annexation would make the city boundaries uneven and illogical, creating areas of unincorporated property where landowners must rely on city services without the benefit of being inside the city limits or having a voice in their government.
These all are valid points and they should be addressed before the annexation is approved, not after, as Brooksville Development Director Bill Geiger and Councilwoman Mary Staib have stated.
The city is growing too fast. Its size has doubled in the past three years and so will its population in the next five to 10 years. It will be a struggle to provide basic services, such as police and fire protection, to that influx of residents, especially when neighborhoods on the edges of the city resemble outposts.
It is entirely reasonable for the city to attempt to grow. But it is equally reasonable for those who might be adversely affected to insist that it grow more slowly and that adequate plans are in place to accommodate that growth.
The City Council has an opportunity to show that it has matured in that respect by postponing its Monday vote on the annexation petition, and agreeing to meet soon, and as often as necessary, with the County Commission.
Rising housing costs could give Florida a ghost town future
St. Pete Times Letter to the EditorPublished October 2, 2006
My wife and I have many friends in the Tampa Bay area. Our home is in north-central Indiana. We have been coming to Florida for a winter break for the past 24 years. I have recently retired and we are once again going south, only this year it will be a little earlier than usual.
We have looked forward to making Florida our home after retirement, but the tax and insurance situation has given us great concern. We find the idea of selling our Northern property and relocating to such an area scary, to say the least. It appears that the commissioners and other government leaders are going headlong over the cliff and taking the property owners along with them.
When people who have lived in the area for years are forced to sell out and move north because of such financial burdens, it certainly puts up a red flag for all prospective newcomers.
Wake up, Florida! You may end up with a state full of development, but it could well be like a ghost town.
Neil A Farr, Marion, Ind.
Cost hike adds wrinkle to
project
County needs extra $11M
to widen Palm Bay Road
BY LINDA JUMP
FLORIDA TODAY
Palm Bay Road is scheduled to go from four lanes to six, but something else is growing -- the price tag.
New estimates for widening Palm Bay Road next summer are $11 million more than initially expected, and Brevard County's Metropolitan Planning Organization hopes to hear options next month on how to deal with the 30-percent-plus increase.
"The cost of construction has gone way up because materials have gone through the roof. It's a statewide problem, and the bids are all coming in really high," said Andy DeWitt, vice president of Inwood Consulting Engineers of Olviedo, the engineering firm handling the project.
The 4.5 miles of widening have been discussed for a decade and were
funded for
$36 million in the Florida Department of Transportation's five-year plan. Of
that amount, $28 million was for the section between Minton Road and
Pinewood Drive NE, and another
$8 million was for the stretch going east to Robert J. Conlon Boulevard.
Now, the newest estimates put the cost at $36 million for the western
portion alone and
$11 million for the eastern.
Officials say the widening is needed because of heavy traffic. The 2005-06 daily traffic counts showed 32,920 vehicles between Minton and Interstate 95, 42,200 from I-95 east to Babcock Street and 30,350 from Babcock to Conlon.
At a meeting last month between MPO and state officials, project manager Taleb Shams suggested that the two portions of the project be separated and the western project start as scheduled beginning in June 2007.
No decision has been made about whether more money could be allocated from federal transportation dollars, whether parts of the project might be cut or whether the miles to be widened could be reduced.
Bob Kamm, director of Brevard's MPO, hopes project officials will attend the Nov. 9 MPO meeting "to explain the situation and offer suggestions on how to deal with funding." Then, the organization can make a recommendation on how to proceed.
"Cost increases are affecting projects everywhere," he said. "But this is the first significant project to have to come to the MPO with some hard choices to be made."
Palm Bay City Manager Lee Feldman hopes the city also will have input, although Palm Bay Road is a county-maintained roadway.
"I'll be greatly dismayed at any portion of the project not being funded," Feldman said.
Some business owners along the eastern part of Palm Bay Road think the widening will help, and they'd like to see the entire project completed. Sadrac Pierre, owner of the year-old Touch of Class Printing and Photography, said his business is set back from the road and not very visible. The widening would improve that.
"Six lanes would be better. It might be difficult during construction, but after that, it would help," he said.
Roger McKane, owner of Blue Diamond Pawn Shoppe, isn't sure the eastern portion is immediately needed, but he'd still like to see the widening past his shop.
"There's a lot more traffic west than here," he said.
150 trees get a reprieve
Palms, oaks moved from
construction site, replanted
BY JIM WAYMER
FLORIDA TODAY
These trees are leaving -- and living -- to see another day.
Usually, developers and trees don't mix. But about 150 palms and oaks, lucky enough to sprout beside the nation's first wildlife refuge, got a second lease on life and a chance to put down roots elsewhere.
They didn't have to go far.
A builder developing the land they grow on agreed to let Pelican Island National Wildlife transplant more than 150 of the trees from his property, rather than cut them down to make room for 10 planned luxury homes.
A tractor's large metal claw scooped up oak trees by the roots this week, moving about a dozen of them several hundred feet from the construction site to the refuge. The trees went, not on Pelican Island itself, but on part of the refuge along the Indian River Lagoon that rangers plan to restore from abandoned citrus groves back to natural habitat. Workers replanted the trees right across the property line. Last month, they transplanted about 140 full-grown palms.
Refuge rangers say it's the type of arrangement they dream about. It was a compromise reached when owners Paskor Properties LLC, couldn't reach agreement on a purchase price for the land with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Indian River County.
Fish and Wildlife and county officials hoped to make the land part of the refuge.
Moving the trees much farther offsite would have been too expensive, said Joanna Taylor, a ranger at Pelican Island refuge.
"What a perfect opportunity to work with a developer, who's right next door to the refuge," Taylor said. "That's what really makes it doable financially."
The tree transplant cost about $30,000. A volunteer group that supports Pelican Island chipped in $10,000 to get the project started. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service paid the rest.
"There's really nothing better suited, nothing better adapted to this place, than the trees that have evolved to survive here," said David Cox, a Vero Beach ecologist, who dropped by to watch the transplant Tuesday.
Fish and Wildlife is gathering information to see whether a proposed easement swap with the developer would be compatible with the refuge. The service would grant a drainage easement to Paskor on refuge lands in exchange for a conservation easement on Paskor's property. Both easements are of equal value, refuge officials said, and the proposed conservation easement would protect ancient oaks in place on private property.
Paskor Properties is developing 3.7 acres of maritime hammock habitat at the refuge's eastern boundary along State Road A1A.
As part of the development, Paskor Properties must build a .3-acre drainage and percolation swale on the site's eastern boundary, a requirement of the St. John's River Water Management District and Indian River County.
The proposed drainage easement will allow Paskor to dig the swale 40 feet to the west on the refuge's eastern boundary.
Although the owners held out on selling the land, developer Attilla Hollohazy said the tree transplant compromise was about more than just money.
"It's a privilege to own a property here, not something to fight over," Hollohazy said, as a tree-carrying tractor growled and billowed diesel exhaust.
"I think more of this kind of thing should be done between governments and developers," he added, "working together, instead of confrontation."
Contact Waymer at 242-3663 or jwaymer@flatoday.net.
Voters will pick five to guide Sarasota's charter
By DALE WHITE
SARASOTA COUNTY -- Ordinarily, voters may have scant interest in a 10-member
committee that chats about the form and functions of county government.Yet who gets on the Charter Review Board in November could soon have an influential say about weighty matters such as how the county manages growth or runs an election.
The charter is commonly referred to as the county's "constitution." It outlines the powers and duties of government and its obligations to its people. Only voters can change it. The review board, however, can recommend changes for the electorate's consideration -- or not.
At the crux of the board elections on Nov. 7 are some fundamental questions:
Should this elected
panel assume a more activist role and suggest measures that go beyond merely
tightening the nuts and bolts of the structure of government?Or should it become
an appointed panel and maintain a narrow focus, keeping the charter's
framework intact and the document uncluttered with initiatives that some
civics gurus argue don't belong there?An incumbent and nine first-time candidates are vying to fill five unpaid positions on the board. They're separated by more than party affiliations and the respective County Commission districts that they want to represent.
Some prefer the status quo and do not push for any major revisions. Others call for significant reforms. Others say they're neutral.
At the backdrop of their campaigns is an ongoing political scenario in which factions want to use the charter to impose growth controls, not just on the county but on some cities as well.
The grass-roots group Citizens for Sensible Growth has an ongoing petition drive to bypass the review board and directly ask the voters to put two charter amendments on a fut