We’ve helped stop the Suncoast Parkway from expanding north across the Suwannee River, all the way to Georgia. But if this Phase 3A Extension happens in Citrus County, northwards becomes likely again. So even if you don’t live there, you may want to help oppose FDEP’s request for the county to allow borrow pits within 5 miles of the parkway path for the duration of the project.

If you do live in Citrus County, such mining could affect your water or air quality, plus noise, traffic, and more development.

Borrow pits proposed within 5 miles of Suncoast PKWY Ext., upstream from Crystal River @ Citrus BOCC 2025-05-27

Most everything you need is here:
https://stopthesandminecc.wixsite.com/stopthesandmine

That site has email addresses for the County Commissioners and the Land Development Office, ideas on what to write, and how to get more involved.

See also the Stop the Sand Mine change.org petition:
https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-sand-mine

Developers talk to your elected officials all the time. If you want something else, you need to talk to them, too.

Tomorrow at 1:20 PM, the Citrus County Commissioners will consider tossing out their land development code within 5 miles of the Suncoast Parkway Extension for the duration of its construction.

If the Commissioners seriously entertain abdicating their local zoning power because the state of Florida asked them to, presumably they will have to schedule a vote at some later meeting.

Depending on how that goes, there may be a Special Master Hearing on Friday, June 27, 2025 about a Southworth Mine.

If you don’t want disturbance of water flow to Crystal River, noise, dust, unknown particulates, and rampant development, you may want to show up tomorrow, or write or call your County Commissioner, or help organize the opposition.

Citrus BOCC Agenda

This item is on page 9 of the agenda for the Tueasday, May 27, 2025, 1:00 PM, meeting of the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA at the Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Avenue, Room 100, Inverness, FL 34450.

H.4. 1:20 P.M. Suncoast Parkway Extension
Discussion of solutions on Suncoast Parkway Extension. (Justin Hall, Florida
Department of Transportation FDOT)

This is the request from Justin Hall, District 7, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT):

Based on the current project requirements FDOT and its contractors would need to source approximately 4.5 million cubic yards of fill material within 5 miles of the project limits. Currently the land development code and zoning requirements (including 500′ setback and Public Hearing/Meeting requirements) make this task unattainable within the project schedule and would lead to further project delays. FDOT is seeking Citrus County’s assistance in creating an environment that allows our Contractors to source mines/borrow pits within our project area as defined above.

Suggested parameters:

• Within 5 miles of project limits
• No local permit required
• Duration: During the Suncoast Parkway Extension project
• Material only to be used for Suncoast Parkway Extension project

June 27 Special Master Hearing

There are no documents in the meeting agenda page for this one, so this is about all we know:

Special Master Hearing -Southworth Mine CPA/AA/PUD-2025-00001
Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W Sovereign Path, Room #166 Lecanto, Florida 34442
FRIDAY JUNE 27TH, 2025 AT 1:00 PM

These are the tracts owned by George L Southworth, according to the Citrus County Property Appraiser.

Map: Southworth Tracts Sand Mine — Citrus County Property Appraiser 2025-05-26

His tracts bracket others owned by the State of Florida.

Map: State of Florida Turnpike Property –Citrus County Property Appraiser 2025-05-25

Those state tracts go all they way up to Red Level, which is where CR 488 (W Dunnellon Road) meets US 19/US 98 (N Suncoast Blvd): 28.969993, -82.635487.

Map: Red Level Turnpike ERPs –FDEP 2025-05-25

Just north of Red Level, googlemaps has the label Future Northern Terminus of Suncoast PKWY. Which matches this map by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Map: Suncoast Parkway 2 –FDOT 2023-01-17

Apparently the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) hs already issued Environmental Resource Permits (ERPs) for all of Phase 3A and Phase 3B up to Red Level.

Map: Red Level Turnpike ERPs –FDEP 2025-05-25

So if you want to stop this unnecessary parkway extension, now is a really good time to try.

Agenda, Board of County Commissioners, Citrus County 2025-05-27
PDF

Page 9: H.4. 1:20 P.M. Suncoast Parkway Extension
PDF

Agenda Memorandum for Citrus BOCC meeting 2025-05-27
PDF

FDOT District 7 to Citrus BOCC requesting No local permit required 2025-05-06
PDF

Justin Hall FDOT District 7 Secretary
PDF

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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