Sweltering standoff with Wakulla Commission over gas station leads to hope for springs

The largest turnout for a Wakulla County Commission meeting anyone can remember coupled with excessive heat produced a stunning victory Monday night for a coalition of spring defenders.

They were able to delay and possibly derail plans by the Southwest Georgia Oil Company to construct a mega-gas station four miles from the famed Wakulla Springs.

The announcement that the commission was pushing the pause button on an amendment to the comprehensive plan and a request to change the zoning of a parcel came after less than 30 minutes of public testimony in opposition to the proposal.

The parcel of land at issue is currently zoned for agriculture and sits above a serpentine cave through which an underground river flows and connects the aquifer to Wakulla Springs, the world's largest known freshwater spring.

This is the second time the rezoning request and comprehensive plan change have been tabled after a large turnout to a commission meeting.

Back story: Fears of gas station near Wakulla Springs on pause after company pulls rezoning request

What happens when 400 people show up in 100 degree heat to a commission meeting that holds 70?

Wakulla County residents are defensive about their namesake spring. It produces their drinking water, and as an international tourism destination also provides jobs.

Two weeks ago, residents erupted in anger and began shouting at commissioners when a proposal to discuss stricter springs protection regulations failed. Sheriff's deputies were called to clear a group of protesters from the room, and at least one person received a trespass warning.

What lies beneath: Underground river in Leon links cave network to Wakulla Springs, reveals pollution expressway

Local and statewide environmental groups issued a call to action to be in Crawfordville for Monday’s meeting.

About 400 showed up with advocates traveling from from Sarasota, Gainesville, High Springs, and Jacksonville.

This presented a problem when the meeting began with commission chambers that only hold about 70 seats for the public and temperatures above 100 degrees outside.

Hundreds were left to wait out in the heat for their turn to speak to commissioners.

The situation quickly became untenable.

“You have elderly people out there in a serious health situation,” Ryan Smart of the Florida Springs Council told the commissioners about people milling about in a treeless parking lot.

Smart's shirt was stained with sweat, and he told commissioners the temperature on the asphalt where people were waiting read 108 degrees and implored them to check on the conditions.

Gil Damon of Clean Water Wakulla told the commissioners he wanted to talk about the gas station and protecting Wakulla Springs, but he feared people may begin to pass out while they waited to be called inside.

“We can talk about the gas station later. But this is truly not safe. People may fall. I would ask you all to find a different venue. Come on these are your neighbors,” said Damon.

People inside began chanting for the meeting to be moved.

Chair Ralph Thomas explained his hands were tied. Public meeting laws require a 10-day notice of where a meeting will be held – a prohibition on last-minute time and location changes.

“You’re putting lives at risk over meeting (rules),” said a voice from the audience.

“Ma'am, we still have to follow our policy,” said Thomas.

“Why not try a gas chamber,” shouted a second voice from the audience.

A delay and hope for residents, environmental advocates opposed to the project

At that point, less than 30 minutes into the meeting, Thomas called a five minute recess and went into a back room.

When he returned, he announced the comp plan change and the rezoning request will be continued to another day, under more favorable conditions.

He then revealed a possible resolution to the gas station controversy.

He said over the weekend, while a coalition of springs groups were preparing for Monday’s meeting, he held talks with state Representative Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, and a representative from Southwest Georgia Oil.

“I cannot promise anything but there’s a very good likelihood that we believe the State of Florida through the Forever Florida fund will purchase this land,” said Thomas.

Florida Forever is the state land buying program for conservation and recreational purposes. More than 2.6 million acres of land have been purchased since 2001 and set aside from development.

Thomas offered a motion for county staff to start working toward a Forever Florida purchase of the parcel Southwest Georgia wants to develop, and for the Commission to urge residents to contact state lawmakers about the purchase.

“This is a fantastic positive idea,” said Eugene Watkins of Crawfordville.

Watkins was called to the podium after Thomas announced the postponement and the behind-the-scenes talks with Shoaf and Southwest Georgia.

“For me this is a glorious moment. I have been coming here (meetings) for 12 years and this is a great moment,” said Watkins.

The springs defenders had opposed Southwest Georgia’s plans since they were first revealed nearly two years ago.

They argue the county’s unique karst bedrock and the threat gasoline poses to drinking water – one gallon can poison 750,000 gallons of water – makes the venture too risky.

Southwest Georgia operates 77 inland gas and food stores in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. A list of contaminated sites due to storage tanks failures produced by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection lists the company 11 times for spills in Leon and Gadsden counties.

To build on the parcel, Southwest Georgia needs Wakulla to change its comprehensive plan to allow commercial development in that section of the county.

Residents want the the commission to adopt a stricter springs protection ordinance before amending the comprehensive plan.

But commissioners appeared reluctant to back an ordinance that appeared to target one specific property owner.

Shoaf said if the state were to purchase the land it would take the property rights question off the table.

“I’m working on a solution that protects private property rights and our environment. We can find creative solutions when we work together,” said Shoaf, in an email exchange.

Damon called the turnout for the meeting and the plan proposed by Thomas a great victory for residents.

“It shows that people are ready to stand up for their water. They’re ready to stand up for springs, to stand up for their heritage, their fishing culture. Their hunting culture, and their neighbors,” said Damon.

Damon said he looks forward to working with the commission as they navigate a Forever Florida purchase, consider a stronger springs protection ordinance, and when the comprehensive plan amendment and any rezoning request come up again.

Smart of the Florida Springs Council said the commission made the right decision to postpone consideration of the two proposals.

“It gives us more time to find a solution,” said Smart.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Battle for Wakulla Springs: Can Florida Forever end gas station fight?