Public comment on Anclote River project concern
What the county recorded
This item is not from the published agenda
It is a stretch of the recording that this archive identified as a separate matter — a call to order, a recess, or something taken up that the agenda does not list. There is no official title, no staff recommendation and no disposition, because the county never recorded one. Everything below is inferred.
The source document
The county’s agenda for Planning Commission, Aug 3, 2023
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
The county’s minutes for Planning Commission, Aug 3, 2023
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
What was said
Machine transcription of 11m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 91% of 64 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
issues. This provides a mutual respect between the Planning Commission and the public. So before we start the meeting, we're open uh we open the meeting up for public comment. Is there anyone here who had come to comment on something that's not on today's agenda. Anyone here to comment on anything? Not on today's agenda.
Yes, Mr. Chair. Um we do have Margaret St. James here. And we also have uh Miss Doris Carroll who's that the Ms. Carroll's on WebEx.
Okay, well since Margaret's here, let's talk to her first. Margaret St. James. You state your name and address, please. Let us know what your concern is.
Margaret Saint James, [address removed].
Uh good afternoon. I would like to ask a few rhetorical questions concerning the Anclote River project. I spoke at a previous Planning Commission meeting here in Dade City. You may or may not remember me. That's okay. And that has caused me to ponder further on the project. I am wondering where the idea for developing the park came from. I understand Commissioner Starkey may have suggested it first, but beyond this, did a group
of Pasco citizens or taxpayers approach the County Commission about expanding facilities? Did the current users of the park, those who relax under the trees or swim at the beach, Clamor for more parking, more people, jet ski options, music and dockside dining. What about nearby restaurants and businesses operated by local business owners dutifully paying their taxes to Pasco County?
Did they feel more restaurant options were needed? How about manatees and other wildlife who live in the river? Who will be impacted by more boat traffic and jet skis flying up and down the water. were those advocating from that for them, rather, consulted. How about folks in East Pasco? Are they in favor of the county spending their tax money over an hour away when East Pasco lacks public community
swimming options, such as a county pool? What is the reaction from indigenous groups trying to protect the historical indigenous groups who preceded them? Have they been asked for their opinions on the destruction of the mound found in the park? or did mister Keith Overton developer and someone associated with the Trade Wind Resort on St. Pete Beach. Maybe during casual conversation
over cocktails or coffee, happened to mention that he was building a nearby development that needed water access. Were his needs considered above the needs and desires of those I previously mentioned? This needs to be discussed at an open meeting where all those with vested interests can let their opinions be known. Thank you.
All right. Thank you very much for being here. Um Mr. Chair, I've got to be able to do that. I don't personally have any uh comment on that because I don't have any information that I can share with you, but maybe the staff Um do you have anything, Dennis?
We we will have someone um reach out to the person. We do have the person's um phone number and email address.
Okay. Very good. Thank you very much.
I also wanted to mention that we do have Ms. Martahue who has stated that she wants to speak at public comment. So if you'd like to take her public comment, she's here in person.
Oh okay. Uh yes, please come forward. I'm sorry I didn't catch the last Martague. Thank you.
Good afternoon Chairman Mari Commission members. Um I just want to uh talk about one of the items that's on the agenda. I filed an objection letter yesterday. I don't know if some of you have to do that.
This is on
Deborah Mortahue.
So g Deborah, if it's on the agenda
you
you wouldn't speak under public comment.
I it says I can speak.
No, not it's n it's for something not on the agenda.
Or on the agenda is what it says and this is a procedural issue. It's not substantive comments. Okay.
Okay, but you can bring it up when that item comes up. As well.
Uh this is i with respect to how it's being presented on the agenda. It's not per se it's procedural. If if
you speaks now is she is she probes the right-of-way.
This is not objecting to the application substantively. Um it's about the fact that it's on the agenda. If I could have a couple of minutes, um Mr. Shaw.
uh the way we do things. So you'll have an opportunity to speak when it when it comes up on the agenda. Okay, thank you very much. All right, you say there was somebody online?
Yes, Mr. Chairman there are also four different people online that are not applicants, so I'm not sure. Maybe we should find out if they're here for public comment as well.
Okay.
Um did you want to take Ms. Doris Carroll first or do you want me to just ask who the call in user that has a phone number that starts what three five two is because I I don't know what item that person is is here for and it might be a public comment item.
Well uh you go through one at a time and see what they're here for or
line them up. So three Three five two dropped off? Dropped off. Okay. So the other person is an eight one three number?
Mm-hmm.
Can we find out what that person is here for?
Uh caller with 813, um are you here for a public comment or here are you here for an item on the agenda?
You have to unmute yourself, please.
Thank you. Would you tell me what item it is?
Okay, thank you so much. Thank you. All right, we'll move on to another person that's on the agenda on here that I don't Madeline Paul.
Ms. Paul, are you here f uh are you here to speak on public comment or on an item on the agenda?
Madeline Paul.
Okay, thank you. All right. Thank you so much. Um the last person is Keena Lewis.
Ms. Lewis, are you here for an item on the agenda? Or Kenna Lewis, I'm sorry.
The person is unmuted, so
Still on the line and unmuted?
Yeah.
And the name is Lewis.
Kenna Lewis.
Are you here for a public comment item or for an item on the agenda? Uh item uh item on the agenda. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Which one?
Orlando Help. Oh okay. All right, so now we're gonna move on to Ms. Doris Carroll, who is who has a public comment. Okay. Ms. Carroll?
My name is Doris Carroll. I live at [address removed]. I have sp
Ms. Carol, we lost you for a moment.
I'm sorry. I live at [address removed]. I've been here before the Planning Commission in July regarding the Anclote River Park Development Park Development Project. And
Ms. Carroll. Ms. Carroll, um, would you please start over? I'm very sorry. We were having some t technical difficulties. I apologize.
No worries, thank you. My name is Doris Carroll. I live at [address removed]. I have been before the Planning Commission uh back in July about the same issue that Margaret St. James elo eloquently spoke today, uh the Ankwell River project. Uh there are many citizens that are very concerned about this project. And
as uh Margaret stated, we are not, we don't feel we were uh involved. While I appreciate this three-minute opportunity for public comment and an advertisement in the Tampa Bay Times. This is not how I feel that Here we What happened prior to being a divide? That was Destroy the Hamlin Cat. that
will potentially destroy the indigenous mound. You do know In fact, grass cultural parts of the survey did recommend no disturbance. What about no I do not understand? Um I am going to be speaking as uh County Commissioner. uh meetings as well as s several other citizens will do. This is not gonna go away. Our voice will count and
it will matter. And you need to understand that preserving the environment, preserving this nice Pop this. The park needs maintenance of the docks and uh have enough parking. We just need to protect what we have. I've lived uh been all over the country. I see what people do with their parks. This is not a good plan. We
are not Clearwater. We are not saying we are not St. Pete's. Please do I
We did present a petition to the county commissioners. We now have over 2,000 people who have signed. We will get more. We'll have uh public uh rallies to uh support our opposition. Please reconsider. Thank you.
Thank you very much. We appreciate your comments and uh think they'll be well heard. Um obviously we're not here to talk about that today, but At least you got your comments in the open. So thank you.
Okay. Anyone else?
That's all we have on WebEx. You may want to ask in the audience.