Calling all Democrats, Republicans and Independents
The South Shore Democratic Club urges all residents of Sun City Center, regardless of Party affiliation, to oppose construction of an inland port in South County.
Inland Port Systems, a California company, wants to build a 6.6 Million sq. ft. facility on Rt 41, adjacent to Cockroach Bay and in a Hurricane Evacuation Zone A. This project was voted down by the Hillsborough Planning Commission but Inland Port Systems vows to gain approval from the County Commissioners anyway. Currently, they are aligning themselves with Ruskin development interests and will be renewing their bid at a later date.
What does this mean for Sun City Center and why should you care? Traffic from this super-sized facility, estimated by the county to be over 45,000 pieces of traffic a day, will overwhelm existing highways. Some diesel tractor-trailer traffic will funnel onto Rt. 674, an approved truck route, and will endanger our Sun City Center community, our lifestyle, and our residents. Additionally, your travel up and down I-75 will be significantly impacted by heavy truck traffic
Read the following FAQs to understand more about the impact of this proposal.
FAQs - Proposed Inland Port on Rt41
What is an inland port?
An inland port is warehousing operation that may be located close to a seaport or thousands of miles inland. For goods coming into a seaport, an inland port receives shipping containers moved from the seaport via tractor-trailer or rail.
At an in-land port, shipping containers may be stored, their contents may be broken into smaller lots, or the container content may be assembled before being transported via rail or diesel tractor-trailer for movement to either a final destination or other distribution/warehouse center.
Where does the developer want to built it?
Inland Port Systems, a California company, wants to build an inland port on 393 acres, currently zoned Agricultural Rural surrounded on three sides by Cockroach Bay wetlands. Cockroach Bay is Tampa Bay’s premiere aquatic preserve. Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve → (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/cockroach/)
This parcel lies in Hurricane Evacuation Zone A, which must be evacuated for all hurricanes.
Cargo passing through the proposed inland port may be of any type and may include hazardous cargo. Leakage or spillage of such cargo could be disastrous to the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve and to Hillsborough citizens.
The site will have extensive paved lots and loading areas for tractor-trailers. Oil by-products will collect on the pavement and be washed into the surrounding Cockroach Bay wetlands.
What kind of traffic will this inland port generate?
The inland port will generate rail and tractor-trailer traffic. Traffic experts estimate the facility, when fully built, will generate 45,765 pieces of road traffic per day, mainly diesel burning tractor-trailers. (Per a study by Mr. William McCall, PE, PGM Transportation Division, 6-3-09)
Where will all this traffic go?
The proposed inland port will front on Rt 41. Trucks will use Rt 41 to go north or south from the facility. From there the routes the trucks may legally use any highway that is a designated truck route or any interstate highway.
In California, towns near inland ports regularly have tractor trailer drivers who are lost or searching for shortcuts, making u-turns in their neighborhoods. Additionally, the truck's diesel exhaust makes the town's air filthy, creates breathing problems, and leaves a layer of soot on everything.
Route 674, Sun City Center Blvd., is a designated east-west truck route that flows from Rt 41 to Rt 37.
Here's a link to a special report on the woes on inland ports in California. Watch the video clip on the bottom right side of this page to hear residents talk about the impact of inland port truck traffic on their community. Special Report Link Here
What are the health impacts of all this truck traffic?
Diesel exhaust has triggered escalating concern in the past decade amid mounting evidence that it makes people sick. Health research has linked fine particles -- a type of pollution in which diesel soot is the most toxic component -- to reduced lung function in children, premature deaths in frail adults, heart disease, heart attacks, lung ailments and possibly brain tumors. Occupational studies have established a correlation between diesel exhaust and lung cancer.
It is jobs, right?
No guarantees on the number of jobs or the pay scale. Inland Port Systems will build and lease facilities to tenants. Inland Port Systems cannot guarantee employment levels nor can they guarantee the pay levels.
The current trend for staffing inland port/warehousing operations is to use temporary employees. Temps don't have benefits, job security, nor do they typically get a full year of work.
Fontana, California has one of the largest inland ports in the US. The average inland port warehouse worker in Fontana earns $22,000 per year. An internet search found that Fontana warehouses are advertising for workers at rates of $8.00 to $9.50 per hour. No benefits, no job security.
What does the Hillsborough County Planning Commission say about the proposed in-land port?
On June 22 the HCPC, upon recommendation of their research staff, turned down Inland Port Systems request by a vote of 7-0. The request was turned down because the proposal is inconsistent with the County's Future Land Use Element, Coastal Management Element, Transportation Element, and with the Future of Hillsborough's Comprehensive Plan.
Will the County Board of Commissioners let it be built?
The Commissioners have no obligation to follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission. They have a history of viewing all growth as good, no matter the consequences.
What can I do to stop this traffic nightmare, ecological and hurricane disaster, and health hazard?
Plan on attending the BOCC hearing on August 13. You can speak at the meeting or not. If you do not speak, your presence is still very, very helpful. The BOCC will ask all persons opposed to this development to stand. Having a large number of people stand is important.
Send an email to SSDEMCLUB@gmail.com if you want to carpool to the BOCC meeting on Aug 13. For a subject use Aug 13 Carpool. Please send your email before August 11.