Pinellas County is currently considering a proposal to allow more development in the 100-year floodplain by removing the density limitation (currently 5 units per acre) contained in the County's comprehensive plan. More floodplain development is undesirable because it
1) Interferes with the protection, restoration and management of floodplains which serve the vital function of storing floodwaters, thereby making flooding worse;
2) Places more people and property in the path of hurricanes and dangerous storms, exacerbating the shelter shortage and making evacuation more difficult;
3) Creates additional strain on city services, including water, sewer, and roads, that are already overburdened.
The County's comprehensive plan is intended to manage growth for the benefit of all residents, and should not be changed every time a developer proposes a new project. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction, it is particularly absurd to allow more building in the areas most vulnerable to storms, putting people and property at greater risk.
(Clearwater Audubon Society position statement, as approved by Clearwater Audubon Society Board of Directors 7/31/06.)