Northpinellas: Too much development and not enough water

Letters to the Editors

Too much development and not enough water

Re: Developers set sights on Clearwater Beach, Nov. 12 story.

Before Clearwater commissioners allow any permits for any large buildings in the area, they should first consider where the water will come from. These buildings will bring many new people down here. Where will they get their water from?

I have lived in Pinellas County 53 years, since I was discharged from World War II. Each year we have a drought, and each year we have less water. If permits are issued to build these large buildings, 10 or 15 years from now Pinellas County will be named Sahara Desert the Second.

I am against trying to bring more people to Pinellas County until our water supply has increased enough to cover our needs and all new development. I am 87 years old and worried about my children and grandchildren.
-- Clifford Patterson Sr., Clearwater

Clearwater Beach plans need more work

I watched Clearwater's "Beach by Design" program, and it was a fair presentation. My concern for the south end of Clearwater Beach is that they want to eliminate the parking lots. This valuable asset with expensive parking meters is a cash cow. Also, the visitors want to park conveniently, as most of them have chairs, etc., to carry.

The parking lots also ensure no development and provide an open space on the beach -- priceless! Why build a garage to gain 500 spaces when we apparently cannot afford to?

Another asset is Gulfview Boulevard, which they want to destroy and build a serpentine drive nearer the beach. Have they forgotten that we have hurricanes? Before we tackle this development of $12-million plus and plus, when are we going to alter the roundabout? Hopefully, we will have a referendum for the citizens to decide about Clearwater Beach.
-- Dick Bannon, Clearwater

Voter caught off guard by condo complex rules

My polling place is inside the Cove Cay condo/golf course complex on U.S. 19 at Haines Bayshore Road. On Nov. 7, I left for work early to allow time to vote.

Riding my motorcycle, I entered the Cove Cay complex, only to be halted by the security guard. He told me that I was not allowed into the complex with my motorcycle because of condominium rules. I explained to him that I do not own property in the complex and therefore did not agree to this rule and only wanted to exercise my right to vote. He refused to allow my entrance, so I had no choice other than to leave to get to work on time.

I contacted the elections office, and all they could offer was to go to another polling place. I returned to Cove Cay (on my motorcycle) after work and was confronted by a different security guard and again refused entry. This time the guard offered to let me park my motorcycle near the guard shack and he would call for transportation to and from the polling place. Because of the embarrassment and inconvenience of waiting for a ride, I decided to go home, get my car and return to vote.

It is a sad day when the elections office allows an entity such as Cove Cay to impose its feeble-minded, discriminatory rules on citizens who are simply trying to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
-- John D. Cocca Sr., Clearwater