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To protect preserve, must 75 trees fall?

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published April 5, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Joseph Garnett Jr.] This property in Oldsmar along Shore Drive has been cleared to make room for a parking lot and picnic benches. The logging has shocked the Oldsmar City Council.

March 13, 2006: A citizens advisory board, after three public meetings, proposes a conceptual plan for the beach area including a 40-space parking lot. The aim: To keep cars from the shoreline or damaging the preserve.

June 6, 2006: The City Council unanimously approves the final site plan, including sidewalks, restrooms, four covered shelters, five fitness stations, 20 benches and sidewalk lighting.

Tuesday: Clearing of the beach area began, shocking Vice Mayor Suzanne Vale. At that night's council meeting, she said she'd been told by city staff that just "a few" trees would be cleared.

"I do not consider 100 trees a few," she said. "That is absurd. It is disgusting and I object."

Mayor Jim Ronecker said the city should plant double the number of trees that were cleared.

Wednesday: In an interview, Oldsmar's parks director, Lynn Rives, said the city is already planting 488 trees citywide.

Adding a parking lot and restrooms at the southern entrance of the Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve in Oldsmar is aimed at protecting the preserve. So who's cutting down all the scrub oaks, pines, palms? A total of 75 trees? The city. That came as a surprise to the City Council Tuesday, even though it's approved the $800,000 plan several times. A recap:

[Last modified April 4, 2007, 22:15:35]