People who live in Tierra Verde are banding together to fight a major marina expansion which they say doesn’t belong in their neighborhood.
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — People who live in Tierra Verde are banding together to fight a major marina expansion they say doesn’t belong in their neighborhood.
At a packed community open house, neighbors with the group Tierra Verde NEXT discussed strategy and voiced opposition to the project proposed by Greenleaf Capital. The company wants to more than double the number of dry boat slips — from about 300 to more than 700 — and add a private club with a restaurant and pool.
“The biggest problem we have with this warehouse is that it is too tall. It does not belong in a residential neighborhood,” said Melanie Coleman Simon, director of Tierra Verde NEXT.
“This one is smack dab in the middle of this little island,” added Corrine St. Jean, another member of the group. “It just doesn’t fit. It doesn’t fit at all.”
At the meeting, residents spoke up so Tierra Verde NEXT can better shape its argument to bring before St. Petersburg’s Development Review Commission in December. Many said they’re worried about traffic, safety and environmental impacts.
“All these extra boats that are harming our animals and our manatees and our turtles and all our beautiful wildlife. We’re all concerned about that,” Coleman Simon said.
Members of Tierra Verde NEXT said they’re not against redevelopment — they just want communication from the developer.
“They’re not having any communication with us and that’s all we’re asking, is talk with us here at NEXT,” Coleman Simon said.
The group plans to keep pushing as the city decides the marina’s future. Tierra Verde NEXT will hold another open house on Nov. 29, and members plan to speak at the Development Review Commission meeting on Dec. 3, when the developer presents the project.
10 Tampa Bay News reached out to the developer but did not hear back.