Editor, The Beacon:
If you celebrated the 54th Earth Day, you need to thank people like Derek LaMontagne, the other plaintiffs, and the three Ph.D. biologists who stood up against the proposed interchange at I-95 and Pioneer Trail. The site plan affects the most environmentally sensitive quadrant of the intersection, and utilizes outdated methodologies rather than new regulations that would protect the water quality.
The plaintiffs stood up for water quality in Spruce Creek, an Outstanding Florida Water (OFW), endured a five-day administrative hearing without an attorney, and won against two powerful state agencies with eight attorneys.
The judge did not allow discussion of the new rules, but did side with the plaintiffs, because a project affecting an OFW must be clearly in the public interest (which must be environmental issues).
The St. Johns River Water Management District approved the permit last month in a manner that appeared to many as inappropriate. The plaintiffs and agency officials stated their cases. The SJRWMD chair directed them to try to negotiate and promised the plaintiffs a rebuttal.
After being called out for not asking for public input, 12-14 citizens voiced their opposition to the site plan. When the parties were called back into the meeting from negotiating, the chair called for a motion. The dais was silent. The SJRWMD permit was approved by default. It looked and felt like a kangaroo court.
Sincerely,
John C. Baker
DeBary
Well it is no surprise about this. The developer who wants this interchange, Mori Hosseini of ICI Homes, has his sister, Maryam Ghyabi-White, on the board of the SJRWMD.
Spot on!