TAMPA — We have an update on the development project planned next to the Marti Colon Cemetery in Tampa where many believe will be constructed on top of several unmarked graves.
Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez is the latest lawmaker to reach out to Tampa city officials about the city’s decision to approve a building permit on the land.
Spectrum News first told you about the project that sits on land next to a newly constructed fence outside the Marti Colon Cemetery.
A ground-penetrating radar report shows there are anomalies on the land, but there was no excavation to prove those anomalies were human remains.
In their response to Alvarez, a city official said they tried to find a way to prevent this situation once they heard from families buried there — after the permit was issued.
They went on to say that once a building permit is issued, the city can’t require changes with the plans — unless it’s a change required for compliance with Florida building code or the life safety code.
They also pointed to the newly adopted Senate Bill 180 that prohibits local governments from enacting more restrictive or burdensome procedures when it comes to permits.