Rose Marina: Why Cruise Ships Don't Belong on Marco Island
Rick examines the unanswered legal, environmental, neighborhood and traffic concerns surrounding cruise ship operations at Rose Marina.
Rick Woodworth
8/31/20261 min read
City Council’s September 10 decision concerning Rose Marina could affect far more than that property. It could help establish Marco Island as a cruise ship destination, bringing large commercial vessels, motor coaches and more passengers to our already-crowded roads and environmentally sensitive waterways.
Before any further approval, residents deserve to know whether cruise ships are legally permitted, how they may affect Factory Bay, seagrass and manatees, and whether they will run diesel engines while docked. Once this operation becomes firmly established, reversing it and restoring meaningful limits on development intensity may be extremely difficult if not impossible.
Please read my full position paper to understand what is at stake for Marco Island.
City Council needs to hear from residents who are concerned about this decision before it is too late. Please attend the meeting and speak up, or email City Council at City_Council@CityofMarcoIsland.com.
Thank you!
-Rick
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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Rick Woodworth, 2026 candidate for Marco Island City Council