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Cypress Creek Mall Development Permit Suspended

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - Federal officials on Friday suspended the development permit for Cypress Creek Town Center, the regional mall under construction at the junction of State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers suspended the Richard E. Jacobs Group's wetland-fill permit because of mud that escaped the mall site after heavy rains in late January. The mud fouled Cypress Creek, which flows along the mall site's west and south sides.

The creek is protected by the state's Outstanding Florida Waters program because of its high quality. It is a major tributary of the Hillsborough River, which provides Tampa's drinking water.

It was the second time since construction began last summer that heavy rains had caused muddy runoff to pollute the creek. Army corps officials continue to sort out potential penalties related to the first incident, which happened in September.

"We feel that permit suspension is warranted because of the developer's apparent inability to ensure that the construction site will not contaminate Cypress Creek," corps biologist Tom Ferrell said in a written statement Friday.

Corps spokesman Barry Vorse said Friday that the suspension keeps Jacobs Group from filling any more wetlands on the property. Jacobs won the right last summer to fill more than 50 acres of wetlands on the former ranchland. Some of those wetlands were connected to Cypress Creek.
Vorse said Jacobs got its development permit based on plans that showed the project would cause no harm to the creek. Muddy water clouds the creek's water, making it hard for aquatic plants and animals to live, Vorse said.

With the bulk of wetlands on the Jacobs property already filled, it was unclear Friday whether the corps' actions would prevent ongoing earth moving and construction from continuing on the project.

Jacobs officials could not be reached for comment Friday evening.

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