Tierra Verde NEXT, a local advocacy group, is mounting another challenge to Greenleaf Capital\u2019s marina redevelopment, months after St. Petersburg approved a scaled-back version of the project.<\/p>\n
The May 6 approval allows Greenleaf to expand boat storage and redevelop Tierra Verde Marina with buildings reaching 72 feet in height. Opponents have challenged the project over its size, traffic and parking, and more recently Greenleaf\u2019s compliance with the state lease governing its wet slips.<\/p>\n
Now, Tierra Verde NEXT wants the city\u2019s Development Review Commission to reopen and rescind its approval. The group argues Greenleaf used 29 wet slips to reduce its required parking even though its state submerged lands lease requires at least 90% of those slips to remain available to the public.<\/p>\n
Greenleaf was initially required to provide 226 parking spaces. It received a 40-space reduction because of the property\u2019s proximity to the Pinellas Trail, then another 29 credits for patrons arriving by boat, bringing the requirement to 197 spaces.<\/p>\n
Tierra Verde NEXT contends Greenleaf could not legally commit those 29 slips to the development. The lease requires at least 90% of the marina\u2019s wet slips to remain available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/p>\n
Greenleaf has said the marina contains 89 wet slips, meaning about 80, must remain publicly available. Tierra Verde NEXT argues that leaves only nine for other uses, not the 29 used for parking credits.<\/p>\n
Greenleaf attorney Nicole MacInnes addressed those slips during the May 6 DRC hearing, according to the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, there are 89 wet slips that are allowed per the sovereign submerged land lease,\u201d MacInnes allegedly said. \u201cTwenty-nine of those we allotted for the parking reduction.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Catalyst has not independently reviewed a transcript of the exchange. Tierra Verde NEXT said DRC Chair Kevin Reali then asked whether the 29 slips would be excluded from leasing, and MacInnes confirmed they would.<\/p>\n
The argument builds on a complaint Tierra Verde NEXT filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this summer, alleging that most of Greenleaf\u2019s existing wet slips were being used by boat clubs, a rental business and the Tampa Bay Pilots Association rather than remaining available to the general public.<\/p>\n