Haha the Caravan's are a great sound to me... I went to college for Commercial Aviation and have about 250 flight hours. Now the wife on the other hand...... She'd have to get over the sound

The development in that area is being called Tarpon Bay. There is approval from the central building authority for 4 houses to be build. The developer went around the local building authority to get that approval. All the mangroves you see cut in that area have been done so illegally. Forestry have been sent the information and photos but no-one has been prosecuted as yet. The island master plan calls for this area to be non-development due to it being low lying mangrove wetlands.

Interesting ACCSD,

So only 4 homes are going to be built? I sent a email to Rick off of the www.southbeachbelize.com website and he said they currently have 10 under construction. It doesn't seem like anyone has an idea of what exactly is happening. If Jeff isn't legally allowed to develop that land, it sure doesn't seem like anyone is stopping him. Does Jeff ever frequent this Forum?

After spending some part of every year for 43 years on this island, I am one of those being described as anti-development. This island can only support a population density based on the available land and infrastructure. Both those are lacking for the population that is here now. And, it disgusts me to see land “manufactured” at the expense of the environment. Tearing out mangroves and dredging the sea so more people can build sea walls and fill in low areas so they can build on them is what I am against. Those people describe me as “anti-development”. I describe them as contibuting to the problem.

You would think no water or sewage would at least slow down development.
Permits to build or the denial of, would be the ideal way to control the over development but local government is such a whore that no common sense will factor in.
Its a tiring argument.
Only way to control this is to get new government that isn't in bed with developers like Peirce and Mitchell.

South Beach, all of it, is for sale, one several hundred acre parcel. You can hear air planes pretty much from the airstrip south (at some level). Vote for your leaders to enforce sustainable development. Don't blame the developer who purchases land (at times from Government) to develop. Can you see the US selling 400 acres of Yellowstone for a condo project and then not allowing them to build?

Like I said, 'Its a tiring argument'.

Something I always wondered was, why do developers get a bad rap when 90% of ALL of our garbage is thrown into the mangroves? (foam, batteries, plastics, etc)

I agree with the comment on solid waste and its not just a local issue its a national issue....but in the case of the South Beach area what mangroves?




I agree with Elbert it's a tiring argument. Purchase of land does not entitle one to violate law regardless of permission given by an official, elected or otherwise, when such permission is in conflict with that law. The fact these laws are inadequately or ineffectually enforced is truly tragic. No doubt this fact most certainly assuages the conscience (if there is one) when it comes to the ethics associated with such development.

There is a huge learning curve regarding disposing of trash. Much headway has been made regarding trash on the roads and beaches. I actually see residents stopping to put empty bottles and Styrofoam in orange or green containers.
HOWEVER - Almost every construction site uses the neighboring empty lots for their left over materials.
I have worked several years cleaning up three lots adjacent to my home at Birdland. It seems that the thinking is if you pile it up and cover it with sand no one will notice. I have cleaned up many a mound of broken bottles, rusting cans and all kinds of plastic. Then I have to haul it across the bridge as we do not have trash pickup on the north end of the island.
I'm sorry to say I did not understand about dredge and fill when I bought my condo on this type of land. Once I knew better I have done better. Education is the key and this message board does a great deal to help newcomers understand our plight.
As was said earlier - the south end of the island is not truly swamp - although the locals call it that. It is wetland with running channels throughout. Hence the saying "FISH DO GROW ON TREES IN SAN PEDRO." One local told me that anything that has something growing on it but is not solid land is called swamp.
It's kinda like smoking cigarettes - before we knew that it caused cancer we could not be faulted and it was treated like a sin. Now we know and people smoke at their own risk.
I better stop now before I dig myself in too deep. LOL - keep smiling