Randall Students Rally Against Transmission Lines

Members of the R.A.Y.S. Council joined the campaign to keep power lines out of their neighborhoods.

Amidst the hundreds of concerned FishHawk Ranch and Channing Park residents attending a meeting last week on plans to run transmission lines through the area were two Randall Middle School students on a mission. Sugriva Forsyth and Grace French of the Randall Area Youth Service (R.A.Y.S.) Council sacrificed an evening to sit through the lengthy meeting to learn more about Tampa Electric Co.'s proposal to run transmission lines between The Bridges subdivisions and Channing Park. "I read about the power line issue and realized how close to home this issue was," said Randall teacher Kristy Verdi, service learning coordinator of the R.A.Y.S. Council. "I showed the students the path of the power line and asked if any of them wanted to get …

• Photos (1)

FishHawk Residents Turn Out to Oppose TECO Plan

An overflow crowd packed The Palmetto Club in FishHawk Ranch on May 24 to discuss their concerns with state legislators.

Hundreds of FishHawk, Channing Park Residents Protest Transmission Lines

An overflow crowd packed The Palmetto Club in FishHawk Ranch on May 24 to discuss their concerns with state legislators.

Pamela Noto chose her home in The Bridges in FishHawk Ranch specifically because of its panoramic view of the scenic woods and ponds on the conservation area on two sides of her lot. Her Realtor never told her the wooded area was destined to become a transmission line corridor. "We were told the CSX railroad corridor behind our homes was owned by TECO," said Noto. "But we were never told they intended to erect transmission lines through the area. Now, instead of woods, we'll have a panoramic view of transmission lines." Her neighbor, Burt Lancaster, also was oblivious to the fact that TECO was considering building a transmission line through the wooded conservation area behind his home. In fact, he paid a premium for his lot because it sat…

•  5 Comments
• Photos (6)

D'Ann White

5:49 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013

Hi Deborah, there is a hearing before the Florida Department of Environmental Protection June 24 regarding TECO's request to construct a transmission corridor between Channing Park and the Bridges. However, the Florida Public Service Commission has determined that there is a need for the transmission line and has given TECO its approval. From what I understand from other groups who have fought …   more ›

FishHawk Residents to Discuss Power Line Concerns with State Rep.

A meeting with Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, is set for Thursday, May 24, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Club.

FishHawk Ranch residents are taking their concerns about a proposed transmission line through their neighborhoods to their state officials. The residents have set up a meeting with state Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, and a representative from the office of state Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, to discuss Tampa Electric Co.'s proposal to install 120-foot-tall high-voltage electrical lines between The Bridges and Channing Park neighborhoods in FishHawk Ranch. The meeting will take place May 24 at 6:30 p.m. at The Palmetto Club, 17004 Dorman Rd, Lithia. "Rep. Burgin has great concerns for the residents of FishHawk," said Burgin's legislative aide, Sheryl Grover. "She has already met with TECO to discuss their plans and will meet with them …

• Photos (1)

FishHawk Residents Continue to Battle Power Line Plan

Residents said they were told the power line corridor was a conservation area.

What do you think? Should TECO be permitted to build transmission lines in FishHawk Ranch? Express your opinion in the "comments" box below. FishHawk Ranch residents are pulling out all stops to halt a proposal to run transmission lines through the community. Residents are appealing to state legislators and have started a Facebook group, Stop Power Lines Now, in an attempt to convince Tampa Electric Co. to abandon its plans to install the high-voltage power lines near their neighborhoods. Leading the protest are residents Jason and Christie VanVleet, who have lived in the Bridge View subdivision of FishHawk Ranch for three years. Jason VanVleet said they were surprised to learn that the 200-foot-wide strip of land running from Dorman Road …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (1)

FishHawk and Channing Park Residents Petition Against Proposed Power Line

Tampa Electric held an open house Thursday evening in FishHawk Ranch to explain its proposed power line and substation expansion, and take comments from residents.

At an open house meeting Thursday night about proposed power lines, Tampa Electric's message to FishHawk Ranch and Channing Park residents was, we're here to listen.  The residents' message to TECO? Not in our backyard.  Since mailing notices to households in the area on April 2, TECO has faced growing opposition to its proposed plans to build a 40 mile high-voltage power line that would stretch from TECO's Polk Power Station in southwestern Polk County, run through FishHawk Ranch and Channing Park, and terminate at the company's FishHawk Substation. The project also proposes building a new substation near Balm-Boyette Road and Aspen Avenue, and expanding the Polk Power Station.  Several TECO representatives set up shop in a meeting room …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)
• Documents (1)

TECO Power Line Plan Draws FishHawk Residents' Ire

Tampa Electric will hold a community meeting tonight, April 12, on its plans to build a new transmission line from Polk County to FishHawk Ranch.

Some FishHawk Ranch residents are concerned about a Tampa Electric plan that could bring high-voltage power lines through their neighborhood. Christie VanVleet, a 38-year-old mother of four young children, has started a Facebook group in opposition of TECO's planned expansion of its Polk Power Station. The group, Stop Power Lines NOW, had more than 150 members as of Thursday afternoon. VanVleet has also handed out nearly 100 fliers this past week to residents of nearby Channing Park that warn of health risks and call for the power lines to be re-routed or buried. One resident, she said, "looked like he had been given a death sentence" when she told him about the plans. VanVleet says TECO's proposal shows power lines adjacent to her home. "…

• Documents (2)