USF-area development near Forest Preserve draws opposition at council public hearing

Tampa — During a public hearing on agenda item 52, multiple speakers urged Tampa City Council to reject or scrutinize a proposed amendment setting that they said could allow development on land adjacent to the USF Forest Preserve and Riverfront Park.

Kalista Snyder, a USF graduate, told the council the Forest Preserve is a vital green space and said the university’s proposals appear to prioritize development over conservation. “USF claims the land costs them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to maintain — so my ask is why not leave it green?” Snyder said.

Carolina Gutfreid, a USF student and representative of a campus group, told the council the amendment-setting language appears to contradict public statements by the university that the USF Forest Preserve would not be developed. She said the amendment-setting document “directly contradicts the statements that USF has put out as they say that the Fletcher District project does not include the development of the USF Forest Preserve.”

Speakers raised environmental concerns, including impacts to migratory birds and habitat fragmentation, and warned of increased traffic on already stressed roads. Council staff and the city attorney reiterated that item 52 is on the agenda as a public hearing and that testimony would be accepted in the hearing record.

What’s next: The public hearing record remains open for item 52; council will proceed per its public hearing rules and consider the amendment-setting language and any required environmental and planning analyses.