Residents Launch Effort To Preserve Placido Bayou

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Residents of the Waterway Estates and Placido Bayou subdivisions in St. Petersburg are preparing to fight neighbors' attempts to build private docks in the protected mangroves along Placido Bayou.

Earlier this month, residents received notice from the city that seven homeowners in Placido Bayou subdivision have applied for permits that would allow them to trim the mangroves back and build boardwalks and docks on the bayou.

The city's Development Review Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the permit requests Aug. 7.

The seven homeowners have been circulating petitions through the neighborhoods seeking support for the permit requests.

While longtime residents have countered the petition drive with letters to city officials urging them to honor the longtime commitment to preserving the environmentally sensitive bayou.

Resident Bill King said the bayou was designated a protected preserve by the city in 1983 as a condition to the city approving construction of homes on Placido Bayou, which flows between Waterway Estates and Placido Bayou subdivisions.

"This designation was challenged 25 years ago by a Placido Bayou developer who wanted to put in docks, and was soundly defeated," said King. "The designation requires that the preservation areas are to be left totally in their natural state and not trimmed or damaged in any way."

The city concluded at that time, King said, that allowing the trimming of mangroves and the construction of docks would hinder the use of kayaks and canoes on the bayou, eliminate habitats for sea birds and marine life and impact the water quality of the bayou.

Residents opposed to the construction of docks noted in their letter to the city that all Placido Bayou property owners in the designated preservation area were made aware of the protections prior to purchasing their homes. Because of these restrictions, the property owners do not pay taxes for waterfront property, said King.

"The requests are currently for seven properties but, if approved, would open the door for 42 more properties to remove mangroves and install docks," said King.

The Aug. 7 hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Sunshine Center.