February 13, 2008
Development of Crystal River Commons.
This is the speech given February 7, 2008, before the Citrus County
Planning and Development Review Board by Mrs. Renee McPheeters, Candidate
for County Commissioner, District 1, Citrus County, Fl.:
My name is Renee McPheeters. I am chairperson of the Committee for
the Protection of Nature Coast Wetlands.
The property South of Crystal River, owned by RealtiCorp, is under
discussion this morning for development, Application #CPA-08-08, referred
to as Crystal River Commons.
To begin with, this property, much of which is very uncommon since
it has vital wetland that filters water over a major under-ground aquifer
springshed.
If there is development on this property, the rainwater will not filter
into the aquifer -- instead it will drain into the Gulf, be evaporated
or will be contaminated by vehicle effluents, minerals, oils, fluorocarbons,
toxins, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and excess phosphorous that
will go into the soil with nothing to stop it.
It has been found that this particular wetland, according to the U.S.D.A.
National Soil Survey is known as Okeelanta -- highly porous, severe
ponding, high seepage.
There is no clay barrier to prevent pollutants from going into our
drinking water; in fact, I was told by a Citrus County official that,
if this property is developed, it could endanger the Crystal River
Wellfield, and that more sinkholes could appear because of lack of
water in the aquifer.
Lack of water would also prevent the underground springs from warming
our manatees in the Winter.
Lack of spring water pressure would not be able to prevent salt water
intrusion.
When wetland has been developed, approximately 60 percent of rainwater
has been evaporated and in this case, the rest of the contaminated
water would go into the aquifer and the St. Martin's Preserve,
and further pollute the water of King's Bay and Crystal River on
which the economy of Crystal River and Citrus County depend.
A local geologist named Paul Pilney stated that this wetland area
is sinkhole prone -- otherwise known as "Karst". We do not
need more sinkholes such as the one that opened up not long ago in
the middle of Hwy. 19 South.
The push for development of this property has cost the citizens of
Citrus County and the City of Crystal River thousands of dollars in
litigation over an invalid annexation that could have been avoided
if the City of Crystal River had allowed a referendum vote according
to Florida State Statutes.
Instead, my husband and I were deprived of our constitutional right
to vote so that the RealtiCorp property could be annexed and developed.
Here in the U.S.A., I was not allowed to vote -- but the citizens of
Iraq could, not a U.S. citizen in Citrus County.
Recently, a team from the Discovery TV station filmed the Nature Coast
by helicopter. Also, I have seen our Nature Coast on the Animal Planet
T.V. Station - about the whooping cranes landing in Citrus County.
Let's not set a precedent for developing of the wetlands. Once
you start, you will not be able to stop it -- until it is too late.
The aquifer underneath the wetlands does not belong to Wal-Mart, China,
Primerica or RealtiCorp -- but the U.S.A.
As Chairperson of the Committee For the Protection of Nature Coast
Wetlands, I recommend denial of CPA-08-08, Crystal River Commons, AKA
RealtiCorp, Primerica.
(Note: The Citrus County Planning and Development Review Board later
the same day approved #CPA-08-08 even though Citrus County Staff recommended
denial).
Respectfully submitted, Renee McPheeters,
Candidate for Citrus County
Commissioner District 1, Chairperson of the Committee for the Protection
of Nature Coast Wetlands.
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