Column

A fight for wetlands under the big top

By SUE CARLTON, Times Columnist
Published August 15, 2007

Tomorrow's public hearing before the Hillsborough County Commission should be a straightforward showdown between salvaging local wetlands protection and selling out to developers.

So why does the word "circus" come to mind?

Here's why: because the most important local environmental issue of the day has been riddled with politics, histrionics and assorted outrages. Should the grand finale be any different?

The story so far: Four of seven commissioners already gave the finger-across-the-throat signal to kill the division of the Environmental Protection Commission that watches over local wetlands. Developers, poor things, whined that the EPC's rules duplicate what the state already asks of them.

Point of order here. The state generally does not protect wetlands of less than a half-acre. The EPC does. What's more, the EPC negotiates with developers earlier in the process and has tougher requirements for avoiding or replacing wetlands. In short, the EPC is one last local checkpoint before making this state one long strip mall.

But these are trim-the-fat times, and a majority of the board - Brian Blair, Ken Hagan, Jim Norman and Kevin White - could agree to ax the $2.2-million division and its 29 jobs with perfectly straight faces.

Folks who were not fooled by this puppet show came in droves to protest, among them former county commissioners and Roger Stewart, practically a rock star in local environmental circles from his days of heading up the EPC.

Current EPC chief Richard Garrity bent over backwards to come up with a compromise that shaved $375,000 and streamlined some of the functions. This was probably a necessary acquiescence in the name of survival.

But at meetings before the board, the public and even Garrity at one point were treated with barely concealed impatience, specifically by Commissioner Blair.

Recently, Commissioner Ken "The Developer's Friend" Hagan quietly asked the business-backed Florida TaxWatch group for political cover on whether the EPC indeed duplicates other agencies. Not expecting a big change of heart there.

At tomorrow's hearing, Blair won't likely wear his tights from his professional wrestling days, but expect a performance anyway. (Remember at the last public hearing his drippingly sincere welcome for each speaker just before he cut them off at a mere 60 seconds? How he finally blew his lid at the sound of coins clinking in the jar they brought to demonstrate how inexpensive the program is?)

Also, maybe we'll see more development types step up to speak, since their numbers were dwarfed last time around. They tend to be the guys in the expensive ties, in case you're wondering.

Will any of the Gang of Four be swayed?

Surely they know they've won something already with the watered-down "hybrid" plan, a bone to throw big developers who write big campaign checks. Plus, they can earnestly tell the people that they listened and worked hard to hammer out a solution. What a great bunch of guys.

If tomorrow's vote is an honest shot at budgeting, the grand finale will be a vote to retain what's left of the EPC wetlands division.

Me, I'd buy a ticket to the circus just in case.

[Last modified August 15, 2007, 00:11:57]