Environment Brunch: Protecting our coast from Overdevelopment

From Justin Bloom, exec. director of Suncoast Waterkeeper:

Dear friends and environmental advocates,

On March 13, Suncoast Waterkeeper is joining with Sierra Club and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) in sponsoring a Brunch to raise money and awareness about threats and progress in protecting our coast from harmful overdevelopment.

Please join us to sustain collaborative efforts by these three organizations on behalf of a community that is energized to protect our coastal resources.

We are currently engaged in several legal challenges at local, state and federal levels to ensure that environmental rules and regulations are respected by developers and regulators. Money raised at this Brunch will support our ongoing joint efforts relating to the challenged Long Bar Pointe and Harbor Sound developments and possible future challenges that arise.

I encourage you to read about the work of Suncoast Waterkeeper on our Website and follow our Facebook posts.

The Brunch will be at the Bradenton Yacht Club on March 13, from noon to 3pm and will feature a raffle and silent auction as well as some interesting guest speakers and awards. Tickets are $50,

​ half of which is tax deductible.​

 

More information and ticketing can be found at:

http://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.com/brunch_for_the_bay

And also at:

http://www.brunchforthebay.com/

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Justin Bloom

Executive Director

Suncoast Waterkeeper 

(941)275-2922

http://suncoastwaterkeeper.org

https://www.facebook.com/Suncoastkeeper

ALJ Issues Recommended Order Against Neal on Perico Island

from The Bradenton Times

Published Friday, June 26, 2015 12:11 am

by Dennis Maley 

BRADENTON — Pat Neal intended to build what was described as a family compound on 40 acres of Perico Island re-zoned by the City of Bradenton in violation of its own rules and without a public hearing. But after already having his plans to destroy mangroves on the island shot down by the Army Corps of Engineers, an Administrative Law Judge issued a recommended order to the Southwest Florida Water Management District on Thursday not to approve Neal's permit to destroy high-quality, productive mangroves and replace them with four homes.

After running down a lengthy finding of facts, ALJ Bram Canter issued conclusions of law that called the proposed development, held by Neal through a trust, "an unusual project" that 

"resembles the kind of project that was common in the 1960s and 1970s in Florida, before the enactment of environmental regulatory programs, when high-quality wetlands were destroyed by dredging and filling to create land for residential development."

Canter added that "In all the reported DOAH cases involving ERPs and mitigation of wetland impacts, the circumstances have involved impaired wetlands and/or the restoration or permanent protection of other wetlands on the project site. No case could be found where an applicant simply paid for authorization to destroy almost an acre of high-quality wetlands and convert it to uplands."

Attorney Ralf Brooks represented the Sierra Club. “We agree with the findings and conclusions of the Administrative Law Judge," said Brooks in a statement after the decision was released. "It is important to preserve these mature mangrove wetlands on site because they provide natural storm protection, prevent erosion and provide important habitat for wildlife here in Anna Maria Sound near the historic fishing village of Cortez. It is important to protect our remaining mangrove wetlands as valuable natural resources especially in aquatic preserves and outstanding Florida waters."

Neal's trust has 15 days to file exceptions to findings of fact and conclusions of law contained in the recommended order with SFWMD, who issues the final order. Neal is being opposed by several groups including Manasota 88, Sierra Club, Suncoast Waterkeeper, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and TBT publisher Joe McClash.

Background 

........................

Army Corp Tells Neal Not to Kill Mangroves on Perico Island

The Bradenton Times 

Published Saturday, March 21, 2015 12:07 am

by Staff Report

Pat Neal Gets SWFMD Permit to Destroy Wetlands on Perico

The Bradenton Times

Published Friday, August 29, 2014 12:10 am

by Joe McClash