There was never anything there. There was never anything there. That's what they always say. The developers, the politicians they pay off, and the naive people who purchase the homes. Here's a wake-up call. "There was never anything there" is a giant cop-out. Most folks who move to Florida have no idea about the wildlife and ecosystems of the state. To most, it really does look like there was never anything there.
Swamp land. Nothing could ever live there. Please let's not be so ignorant. The wetlands are Mother Earth's lungs. The creatures and plants large and small that complete and comprise these ecosystems are as fragile as an endangered coral reef.
We, as a community of responsible citizens, need to begin looking at natural Florida as an endangered landscape. More specifically, Manatee county. Preservation of the rural lands that remain must begin in earnest today.
Whether you live in Manatee county full-time or part-time; on the west side of I-75 near the beaches; or on the east side of I-75 in horse country, this is OUR issue. I would speculate that this is an issue for everyone who loves Florida.
So let me describe the danger our county is facing today. This is especially addressed to those readers who are unfamiliar with the issue and/or new to the area. By the way, welcome to Florida.
I am going to narrow the area to Lakewood Ranch, although I know there are new residential developments around the county.
Without looking at a map, most of us are familiar with the exits on I-75. We know that SR 62, SR 64 and SR 70 are Manatee county exits. We know that farther south are University and Fruitville respectively. These are East-West throughways.
I would be curious to know how many of us are aware that new North-South throughways were built in recent years to connect SR64 all the way south to Fruitville Road?
That was the beginning. Further east of Lakewood Ranch Blvd are Lorraine, CR 675 and Verna Bethany. Lorraine used to connect SR 64 with SR 70. It has now been extended all the way south to Fruitville Road via Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
One might think that was an ambitious build creating miles of new area to develop. And maybe one considers it a good thing. The concern arises when it becomes apparent that this HAS BEEN DONE over and over----very rapidly in east county (mostly by the same two developers).
Examples of new North-South throughways (off SR 64) in east county, listed in their order of eastward march:
--White Eagle runs south to SR 70
--Uihlein runs between SR 64 and SR 70
--Bourneside connects SR 64 all the way south to the
eastern dead end of University
I may have missed one or two. But you get the point. How many square miles of development potential does that create? To add insult to injury, the entirety of the vast spaces within the grid of these newly created roads has already been denuded. Clear cut, scraped clean and leveled. Not a tree or creature preserved. Remember what they said. "There was never anything there." Clear cut and a clear cut criminal process in this writer's opinion.
Among all the beautiful, new, perfectly landscaped, and gated fancy-name north-south throughways, two just-as-fancy east-west throughways were built to run between LWR Blvd. and Bourneside. These roads are 44th and Rangeland (completes the grid!).
Are ya'll seeing the plan? It is GARGANTUAN! A significant percentage of the county is involved. Life is about to change for a lot of people. Maybe it already has.
Can we even calculate how many acres this involves? For the sake of the wildlife and so many rural operations that depend on healthy ecosystems, this ROAD BUILDING in Manatee county MUST STOP..
Shear greediness aside, this significant portion of our county that has been raped and is currently under development is presumably (and should be) years from completion. But that is not enough. In addition to the current irresponsible building practices that are currently used, our developer friends are NOW pushing to extend 44th and Rangeland further east beyond CR 675 and all the way to Verna Bethany! This cannot be allowed.
I have to ask. Why must we agree to allow this excessive speed? Unintended consequences of rapid development will only hurt us, while "they" laugh all the way to the bank.
What do we need to change on the county level to slow this crazy growth? One answer is residents who care. When you, the reader, realize the devastation that is currently taking place (and cannot be stopped), it is my sincere hope that you will loudly argue against the extension of 44th and Rangeland. We cannot save the acreage that has already been clear-cut or the untold numbers of dead animals,. but we can stop them from going further.
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