Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge commission to oppose Rock Pit Lake filling, citing dust, contamination and traffic from proposed warehouse rezoning
Summary
Neighbors around Rock Pit Lake urged the Fort Lauderdale Commission May 6 to block filling and rezoning of the pit for warehouses, saying fill activity has created dust, possible contamination exposure and added traffic that endangers public health and neighborhood stability.
Lake Eyre Civic Association President Linda Patrick and neighbors told the commission they strongly oppose a proposed ProLogistix project to fill portions of Rock Pit Lake and rezone the site for warehouse development and limited residential parcels.
Speakers described the pit and nearby former incinerator site as a historical source of contamination and said residents report increased respiratory problems and other illnesses. They said ongoing excavation and filling has created dust clouds that have coated cars and homes and that neighbors are seeing what they described as elevated medical visits for respiratory complaints. Neighbors said Broward County has permitted the lake-fill activity and that the developer or site owner is currently conducting fill operations.
Staff said Broward County regulates the lake fill and the county issued permits related to filling and capping. The city’s permitting, land-use and zoning review would govern future development proposals and any rezoning. City staff said code enforcement and building enforcement have visited the site about dust and construction issues and that they will coordinate with Broward County, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (as appropriate) and county environmental reviewers.
Commissioners and staff encouraged the neighborhood to continue meeting with the district commissioner and with staff; staff committed to provide a memorandum to the commission with updated information about the permit status, the ownership/developer relationships, and recent enforcement activity. Staff also said the city has asked the site operator to use dust-control measures, and can ask the county to verify adherence to permit conditions. No zoning decision or rezoning application came before the commission on May 6.
