Greenleaf’s Tierra Verde Marina has apparently discovered a new method of regulatory compliance: When the numbers don’t work, just put up a sign saying they do.
Greenleaf’s Submerged Land Lease requires that 90 percent of its wet slips are available for rent to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. To show compliance, the marina recently installed a sign proclaiming it does.
There is just one small problem: Anyone can count all the slips already used by commercial organizations. That’s what an inspector for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection did. And then issued notice of violations.
This new sign is required by Greenleaf’s Sovereignty Submerged Lands Lease – and has been required for the entire life of the lease, not just because the DEP found the marina out of compliance.
The lease also requires the substance of the sign to actually be true. It is not.
In statements to permitting agencies, Greenleaf represented that only 64 of the 89 authorized wet slips were existing following hurricane damage. By that count, then 58 slips need to be open to the general public. The lease allows for 89 wet slips, and the marina is finally working to repair damage from two years ago. When all the permissible slips are rebuilt, 80 of them must be set aside for public use.
Yet, Greenleaf’s recent statements to these same agencies report the following current use and commitment of slips: 11 slips for Freedom Boat Club, 10 for SunTime Boat Club and 10 for Tierra Verde Boat Rental. That’s 31 slips before even counting the Tampa Bay pilot boats and the marina’s own use.
Apparently, despite these commitments, anyone can pull up and rent a dock – since 90 percent are available. Their new sign says so.
In fact, the new sign may accomplish one thing: It tells the State of Florida exactly what to investigate.
