Dear Editor:
We are Plant City. We’ve chosen — not an accident but chosen — to raise our families here. Why? Because there are few rural small towns left, and it is a beautiful land.
Real Floridians have seen the rape and loss of our natural landscape by this exact thing all over the state. Trust me: I grew up in South Florida. How much growth is really needed? When do we stand up and say enough is enough? We are building right up to the edge of wetlands in South Florida, only to find out later (really?) they’ve damaged the natural water management and it is costing millions to re-purchase and restore what should never have been built upon in the first place.
The commute for jobs to Lakeland, Brandon, Tampa, Orlando, New Tampa and Lutz is not that far. We’ve purchased land zoned for minimal housing only to have this overturned by big government. Now, developers will squeeze every inch out of this beautiful land. There are eagles, sandhill cranes, gopher turtles, deer and spoonbills all living and breeding here. Who designated the boundaries of the Significant Wildlife Boundaries (check out Northeast Master Plan, page 46)?
It’s a done deal, and I can only hope the developers stand by their claim to maintain the beauty of the land. But anything less than one house per two to five acres is not preserving the natural beauty.
Soon, we’ll be re-naming our sweet town New Orplantaland without boundaries. Look at Brandon 20 years ago, for goodness sakes!
Liz Aubrey
Plant City