COMMENTARY

Growth Machine Pushes Bridges

By BEV GRIFFITHS

Published: Oct 12, 2007

Regarding "Bracing For Boom, Bridges On Alafia" (Metro, Oct. 8): There is a push by the "growth machine" to add two bridges over the Alafia River and build a bypass road from north Manatee County to Brandon, among other things, to cope with what Ned Baier, manager of Hillsborough's Transportation and Land Development Review Division, says is the "fastest growing area of the county."

What or who is behind this growth that Ned warns us about? You need only follow the money trail. It will lead you to the door of the growth machine that wants to make its prediction our reality because there is money to be made.

The growth promoters want you, the existing citizens, to believe that growth is inevitable and there's nothing you can do to slow it down. You must obediently step aside, roll over and play dead, while they pave over what's left of south Hillsborough's green space and elbow room. Meanwhile, the neighborhoods that will be impacted are the sacrificial lambs for the benefit of future growth.

But wait! What about the quality of life for existing residents? What about people who settled here seeking a quieter, slower pace. Don't they have rights? What will become of the rural area if the bypass goes in? Where will farmers grow tomatoes, strawberries, or blueberries? What will become of the neighborhoods being dissected by an endless stream of commuters at rush hour from distant subdivisions - subdivisions that were approved by county commissioners with little concern for impacts to existing residents? Then on the rare occasion a rezoning is denied, developers win anyway in an appeal process called "Request for Relief" that is heavily weighted in their favor.

Citizens, who don't want their communities to look like Brandon, the poster child for urban sprawl, need to show up and make their voices heard at the upcoming public meetings. The meetings on the South County Transportation Plan will be held Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at South Shore Regional Service Center, 410 30th St. S.E., Ruskin and Oct. 24 6:30 p.m. at Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Rd., Riverview.

Bev Griffiths is chair of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club.