County, EPC find wetlands middle ground

By MICHAEL VAN SICKLER, Times Staff Writer
Published August 17, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Ken Helle | Times] Those gathered at the Hillsborough County Commission meeting, dealing with the EPC/Wetlands Division, started to pass around this blow up plastic can of "Whoop Ass."

TAMPA - Facing a throng of 300 residents who overwhelmingly supported Hillsborough County's environmental agency, commissioners Thursday backed off plans to eliminate the agency's role in protecting wetlands.

Instead, commissioners unanimously approved a compromise that cuts five positions at the agency and speeds up the review of building projects - an olive branch to developers who say the Environmental Protection Commission takes too long to approve permits.

The vote was a victory for the EPC's executive director, Richard Garrity, who claimed the compromise was practical, making his agency leaner without sacrificing the protections of wetlands.

"It doesn't satisfy everyone," Garrity said. "But it makes us better."

It shaves $367,000 in salaries while clarifying many rules developers must follow. It sets up an advisory committee of developers, farmers and scientists who will help shape policy and enforcement. It exempts certain small wetlands from regulation, while consolidating some agency approvals into a "one-stop" process for developers.

The deal caps months of pressure on comissioners Brian Blair, Al Higginbotham, Jim Norman and Kevin White who initially voted to eliminate the EPC.

Times Staff writer Michael A. Mohammed contributed to this report. Michael Van Sickler can be reached at 813 226-3402 or mvansickler@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 16, 2007, 23:07:21]