HEARINGS TAKE AS MANY AS 70 DAYS TO SCHEDULE ...more

July 27, 2008

Local environmentalists admit they were worried but say they are largely satisfied with Hillsborough County's yearlong effort to revise its wetlands rules. ...more

July 19, 2008

Hillsborough County commissioners stirred a hornet's nest last year by proposing to eliminate local protections for wetlands. Public outcry made them back off, though they ordered a review of developers' complaints that county rules were arbitrary and extreme. ...more

July 17, 2008

Here we are once again replaying last year's fiasco with special interests trying to weaken the regulation and enforcement of the Hillsborough County's wetlands protections. ...more

July 16, 2008

TRINITY -- Following the nationwide trend of environmentally responsible building, Trinity's Longleaf Community has been named the Greater Tampa area's first "Green Development" by the Florida Green Building Coalition. The designation was bestowed on May 14 and makes Longleaf only the eighth development in the state to attain the eco-friendly status. ...more

July 9, 2008

Better Uses For Money Regarding "County soccer Park Idea In Play" (Metro, June 18): ...more

June 25, 2008

State Of Decline Regarding "Pasco Deputies Remove Gator From Subdivision," Tuesday: ...more

June 20, 2008

COUNTRYWAY -- Swimmers will have the option of wearing nothing at all at the Arbors at Branch Creek, a complex of 390 homes that landed on the idea to help move units in a down market. One pool is being set aside for nude swimmers, sunbathers and hot tubbers, said Christine Pirkle, director of sales with the Web site for the project's developers. ...more

June 17, 2008

It's unfortunate that Gov. Charlie Crist, who otherwise demonstrated a healthy regard for public resources, failed to veto $12 million the Legislature approved for a new Panama City airport, a boondoggle with little purpose other than to promote development in remote Panhandle woodlands. ...more

June 13, 2008

EAST LAKE -- Pinellas County officials' plan to designate 900 acres of the Brooker Creek Preserve for a future water treatment facility has drawn fire from environmentalists and others. At a Tuesday night town hall meeting at the Brooker Creek Preserve Education Center, county land management and utilities officials presented a revised management plan for the 8,000-plus-acre county-owned preserve. ...more

June 11, 2008