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River, bay warrant protection

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 7, 2009

Hillsborough County commissioners should reject a developer's request to build a 30-home project on a slice of land jutting into the Little Manatee River in Ruskin.

The project is scheduled to come before the commission today.

The tract, along an Outstanding Florida Water, near the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve and in a coastal high hazard area, merits more care. The project will pose a pollution threat to some of the richest marine life habitat in Tampa Bay.

Moreover, reckless coastal development fueled the property insurance crisis. Commissioners should not encourage even more shoreline construction.

A few years ago, the commission, despite heavy public opposition, approved a controversial proposal to allow 22 homes next to what is known as Mill Bayou.

The approval came after the commission rejected a plan for 25 homes. But now the developer - Little Manatee Reserve LLC - wants to add eight more home sites to the plan and is seeking to rezone 46 acres, most of which are wetlands.

The developer should be satisfied with the questionable approval it already has gotten.

Commissioners should not take any more chances with the Little Manatee or Tampa Bay.

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