‘Malignant tumor.’ Terra Ceia residents raise concerns over cruise port plan
Residents of Terra Ceia and surrounding neighborhoods are concerned about the looming cruise terminal proposal in Manatee County.
Opposition to the project has mounted since SSA Marine announced the Knott-Cowen Cruise Port in January. Residents formed a petition against the project — garnering thousands of signatures — and environmental groups have spoken out about the dangers the project poses on the ecosystem.
The proposal is to build a cruise terminal on over 300 acres of land called the Knott-Cowen Tract, adjacent to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The land is near Rattlesnake Key, which SSA Marine says it intends to preserve.
Several residents showed up to Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting to speak against the cruise terminal proposal. The matter was not on the agenda, however, as the project is still in early review.
Among residents’ concerns are possible negative effects on the environment and incompatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Residents warn of serious harm from cruise terminal
Terra Ceia resident Geoff Click was among those residents who raised concerns at the public meeting. He said he believes a large-scale cruise terminal would be incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
“This proposal does not comply with existing zoning, it does not align with the Comprehensive Plan and it is incompatible with surrounding residential uses,” Click said. “I think it’s plainly obvious the community does not want or support this Wall Street money grab at the expense of our bay.”
Another resident, Tom Glancy, also objected to the project’s compatibility, especially with its proximity to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. He said the terminal would be an “irreversible travesty” if it were approved.
“The intent of the aquatic preserve was to hold these lands and protect them and conserve them in perpetuity, for future generations,” Glancy said. “Putting a highly-toxic industrial complex in the middle of such a preserve would be like electing to have a malignant tumor placed in your body. Nothing good is going to come from that.”
George Smith, a Palmetto resident, said he’s worried about how increased nutrients — like nitrogen and phosphorus — from runoff may lead to larger consequences like algal blooms.
“We need to get in front of this and make sure that we do not have these giant algae blooms because of a cruise terminal,” Smith said. “We’re talking about putting in a cruise terminal in a manatee breeding ground, where I’ve seen manatees breeding in person.”
Stefanie Coppes, also a resident of Terra Ceia, spoke about environmental concerns.
“When I spoke to my son about this proposed cruise port, he asked me, ‘Mommy, why do they want to destroy our home?,’” Coppes said.
Coppes and others also clarified that the residents of Terra Ceia do not condone the threats and harassment that county officials say county staff have received.
“We do not operate in that manner. We are passionate, we are aware and we are also resilient, but we fight fair,” Coppes said. “But make no mistake, this cruise port and the companies behind it are threatening us. They are threatening our homes, our livelihood, our health and countless species of marine life, many that are endangered or vulnerable.”
Planning Commission Member Matt Bower thanked the speakers for sharing their concerns, and encouraged them to be leaders in the community to stop disinformation. He also backed the county staff, saying they have a job to review the plans “whether they like it or not.”
