Residents of Tierra Verde, Florida are fighting a proposed marina expansion that would more than double boat storage capacity from 314 to over 700 dry racks. Developer Greenleaf Capital plans to demolish the existing retail plaza and one of the island’s two gas stations to accommodate the project.

The expansion has generated significant opposition, with residents collecting over 3,000 petition signatures and hiring legal representation. Their primary concerns include increased traffic congestion on an island that already experiences hour-long delays during peak season as the gateway to popular Fort De Soto Park.

“They’re trying to cram too much in here,” Wade Cullis, a 45-year resident who leads the opposition effort, told WTVT. Residents argue the island’s infrastructure cannot handle additional traffic and worry about losing essential services like the gas station.

The development has already impacted local businesses, with several longtime establishments including a bait shop, hair salon, gym and dry cleaner closing or relocating as plans advanced.

Residents say they’re not opposed to marina improvements but want a scaled-back proposal that preserves some retail space. Their attempts to negotiate with the developer have been unsuccessful.

The property’s unique jurisdiction—located in St. Petersburg but following Pinellas County zoning rules—has complicated the approval process. Opponents plan to attend the St. Petersburg Development Review Commission meeting on October 1.

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(Image credit: Greenleaf Capital)

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