A 22-acre Asphalt Plant on Citrus Ave /Co Rd 495 has been proposed in a rural area of Citrus that requires a zoning change to industrial. The site is near hundreds of residences just north of the Suncoast Parkway's final extension that will cross Citrus Avenue and terminate to the West at Hwy 19/98, around 5 miles south of the proposed Barge Canal /Port Citrus site.

Please plan to attend and speak out!  The application PDC hearing has been postponed from April 2nd to April 16th at 9am at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W. Sovereign Path, Room #166 Lecanto, FL 34461. There are 1700 signatures on a petition to oppose this application already. 

Learn more at Channel 10 Tampa Bay article: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/citruscounty/proposed-asphalt-plant-crystal-river/67-9dc1469e-3109-4a7f-8968-9c4128f220b5 video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU6yYlTjHe-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Curtiss Bryant's Citrus Insider blog summarizes the application here: https://www.thecitrusinsider.com/next-up-asphalt-plant/

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is creating the Tampa Bay Regional Resilience Coalition , a voluntary alliance of local governments and partner organizations working together to strengthen the region’s ability to adapt to climate change. By aligning with the Coalition’s shared goals, the Tampa Bay Master Coastal Plan (TBMCP) advances coordinated, region-wide resilience strategies that reflect local priorities and foster long-term collaboration across jurisdictions. The study area spans over 4,400 square miles of diverse inland and coastal ecosystems across Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties—home to more than 4 million residents.

The Tampa Bay region faces escalating climate-related risks, including sea level rise, storm surge, extreme rainfall, and high-tide flooding. These threats are compounded by rapid population growth and limited regional coordination on flood mitigation and current efforts are often fragmented and lack a cohesive, long-term strategic framework.

Sierra Club Adventure Coast Group has agreed to become a collaborating partner, and we look forward to training sessions followed by planning community listening sessions. The Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan (TBCMP) enhances regional resilience by addressing flooding impacts through a coordinated, data-driven, and community-based planning process. Over the course of this four-year grant-funded initiative, the TBCMP will identify flood-vulnerable communities, prioritize restoration and flood-reduction projects, and guide long-term adaptation strategies.   

Take the flood risk survey here.