A sign opposing a proposed cruise ship terminal is posted in Terra Ceia Bay near Paradise Island. Islander Photo: Courtesy Bob Bustle
Opponents of a proposed cruise ship terminal south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge plan a rally Feb. 14 in Terra Ceia as public scrutiny intensifies and Manatee County officials emphasize that the project remains in an early stage of review.
The Save the Bay rally will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Seabreeze Park, 55 Horseshoe Loop, Terra Ceia.
Organizers described the event as an informational and organizing gathering.
A promotional poster for the event advertised a “Rally to Stop the Cruise Port Development.”
Geoff Click, a Terra Ceia resident and administrator of the People Protecting Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve page on Facebook, said in a Feb. 5 interview that the gathering is intended to connect residents with environmental, legal and planning expertise and help them understand how to participate in the public process.
Click said the goal is to bring together people with shared concerns and coordinate the next steps in opposition to the proposed terminal, including outreach to elected officials and preparation for public hearings.
The cruise terminal proposal is centered on the 328-acre Knott-Cowen tract near Terra Ceia and Rattlesnake Key. Developers submitted to Manatee County a pre-application request, which allows county staff to provide preliminary feedback but does not authorize construction.
Public debate
Concerns about the tone of public discourse over the port project were raised during public comment at a Feb. 5 county planning commission meeting, where people urged the board to uphold land-use protections while rejecting harassment or intimidation.
The harassment issue surfaced after county administrator Charlie Bishop issued a letter Feb. 4 condemning threats directed at county employees and their families.
“We certainly hope that nobody would ever threaten any kind of harassment or violence against anybody that’s a county employee, an elected official, or certainly a family member,” Click said. “That’s not something that we condone.”
Speaking to the planning commission, Click said reports of threats “are not condoned or supported” and do not reflect the Terra Ceia community.
“What does represent this community is lawful, persistent participation and a reasonable expectation that adopted plans and protections will be respected and upheld,” he said.
Others at the meeting focused on environmental and planning matters.
George Smith, who lives in nearby Palmetto Point, said dredging and ship traffic could worsen water quality vulnerable to nutrient pollution.
“The prop wash from ships and the dredging will stir up phosphorus in the soil,” Smith said. “When nitrogen and phosphorus are combined, it creates algae growth.”
Elaine Johnson, a Palmetto resident, said a cruise terminal should not be treated as a routine zoning matter. “A cruise port is a high-impact, industrial use,” she said. “It would fundamentally alter the character and livability of the entire community.”
Following public comment, Matt Bower, the commission’s third vice chair, urged people to remain engaged and civil.
“Staff has a job. Whether they like it or not, they must proceed in accordance with their job rules, ordinances, state laws,” Bower said.
“This planning commission and your board of county commissioners cannot state for or against a scenario,” he added, warning that “any evidence of bias gives an applicant a basis for potentially overturning decisions.”
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