Latest news with #PeggyGossett-Seidman
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida House votes to stop pickleball courts, hotels from being built in state parks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A bill aiming to protect Florida's state parks from overdevelopment was unanimously passed Wednesday by the state House. The measure received wide support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in a 113-0 vote, according to a release from Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman's office. Egmont Key State Park reopens after months of recovery from hurricanes Gossett-Seidman was among the sponsors who helped craft House Bill 209 in response to overwhelming public outcry last summer against leaked plans to develop pickleball courts, golf courses, and luxury lodges at some of the state's most visited marks. The news sparked protests across the state, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) later withdrawing the proposals at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Lawmakers hope House Bill 209 will prevent anything of the sort from happening again by placing 'commonsense' limits on certain commercial projects that could potentially threaten native wildlife and ecosystems. The mission is also a personal one for Gossett-Seidman, a Republican who represents District 19. She fondly recalled childhood memories of visiting Jonathan Dickinson State Park, one of the nine parks that was potentially under threat of overdevelopment. 'With my family years ago, we had to throw marshmallows to a large gator always lingering near the canoe livery in order to pass,' Gossett-Seidman said. 'His name was Marshmallow, though this activity would be deemed unlawful now.' Gossett-Seidman and co-sponsor Representatives John Snyder worked with state agencies and environmental organizations to guide the legislation. Now it will go to the Senate, where a similar bill has cleared two committees so far. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida House passes ‘State Park Preservation Act' after public outcry against development plan
The Florida House made clear Wednesday it doesn't want golf courses and resort-style lodges in state parks. House members unanimously passed a bill (HB 209) that stemmed from a public outcry last year about a now-shelved plan that would have put golf courses, lodges and pickleball courts in state parks. The bill, dubbed the 'State Park Preservation Act,' would prevent building golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts and ball fields in state parks. It would allow building cabins that could hold up to six people but not large facilities such as lodges. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, and a similar Senate measure (SB 80) came after a controversy last year about a proposal that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection dubbed the 'Great Outdoors Initiative.' That proposal, which was pulled back after a public outcry, would have affected nine state parks. Perhaps the biggest target of opponents was a proposal to add three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, which is in Stuart's district. Other parts of the initiative that drew heavy criticism included proposals to construct lodges with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County. Previous Coverage: St. Augustine community protests against proposed major land development at Anastasia State Park House members said Wednesday they were responding to widespread opposition to the proposal from members of the public. 'They spoke loud and clear and told us, 'These are our treasures,'' Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston said. The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved the Senate version of the bill. It would need to clear the Fiscal Policy Committee before it could go to the full Senate. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida House passes ‘Park Preservation Act' after public outcry
House members unanimously passed a bill (HB 209) that stemmed from a public outcry last year about a now-shelved plan that would have put golf courses, lodges, and pickleball courts in state parks. The bill, dubbed the 'State Park Preservation Act,' would prevent the construction of golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and ball fields in state parks. It would allow building cabins to hold up to six people but not large facilities such as lodges. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, and a similar Senate measure (SB 80) came after a controversy last year about a proposal that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection dubbed the 'Great Outdoors Initiative.' That proposal, which was pulled back after a public outcry, would have affected nine state parks. Perhaps the biggest target of opponents was a proposal to add three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, which is in Stuart's district. Other parts of the initiative that drew heavy criticism included proposals to construct lodges with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County. House members said that they were responding to widespread opposition to the proposal from members of the public on Wednesday. 'They spoke loud and clear and told us, 'These are our treasures,'' Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston said. On Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Appropriations Committee approved the Senate version of the bill. It would need to clear the Fiscal Policy Committee before it could go to the full Senate. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House votes unanimously to protect state parks from development
A citizen protesting proposed plan for state parks at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin on August 27, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) A proposal that would limit development in state parks and ensure maximum public scrutiny of changes to their management was approved unanimously in the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday, 115-0. The measure, called the State Park Preservation Act, (HB 209) follows outrage felt across the board last summer after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) proposed to construct lodges, golf courses, pickleball courts, and disc golf courses in nine state parks. South Florida Republican Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who co-sponsored the measure with Southeast Florida Republican John Snyder, said she received more than 1,500 emails from an angry public the week after reports about the proposal made news headlines up and down Florida last August. The bill says that state parks must be managed to provide the greatest benefit to the state, with plans for managed areas larger than 1,000 acres required to provide an analysis. The bill also requires the DEP to provide a report to the governor and Legislature regarding the status and operation of state parks. Additionally, the bill revises notice requirements for public meetings. It says that the Division of State Lands shall make available to the public an electronic copy of each land management plan at least 30 days before the public hearing required for parcels that exceed 160 acres in size and for parcels located within a state park. When the development proposal was released last summer, it drew scorn from lawmakers from both political parties, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and former Chief Financial Officer and now U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis. 'Public lands should be enjoyed and protected,' Simpson said on X at the time. 'We have to be really careful when we talk about building infrastructure in state parks.' 'I think we were all shocked what they were going to do for our precious state parks,' said Broward County Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman on Wednesday. 'And this is in direct response to that plan and a direct response to what our constituents wanted us to do. They spoke loud and clear and told us that these are our treasures and that we're not going to construct pickleball courts and golf courses and hotels, that we're going to do what's right. I feel really good today because we can turn to them and say, we've heard you and we acted.' Following passage of the bill, the Sierra Club issued a statement thanking the House. 'On behalf of Sierra Club Florida's 38,000 members and 150,000 supporters, thank you for listening to the outcry of thousands of Floridians who rallied last summer and again in recent weeks to defend these treasured places. This is a tremendous victory for our environment, and all who call our state home,' said Susannah Randolph, of Sierra Club Florida. The Senate version, sponsored by Southeast Florida Republican Gayle Harrell (SB 80) has passed unanimously in its two previous committees and has one more stop before the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee before reaching the floor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
