Stallone's waterway barrier project stirs neighbourhood debate
According to information from "The Palm Beach Post," neighbours were surprised by the application submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. They have until December 25 to submit comments.
The project aims to protect a $35 million estate from pollution and algae, but its main goal is to prevent boats from entering the area.
Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, also applied for a state land lease where the barrier is to be located. Documents indicate that the application was submitted in January 2023, and plans reached the Army Corps in August. The public comment period began on October 24.
Controversies around the project
"He bought a beautiful property," said Stallone's neighbour, Bradford Gary. "I can see why you'd want to protect it. But you can't just kind of stake your claim and think you own the water."
According to neighbours, the information about the possibility of submitting comments arrived too late. "Usually when your neighbors are gonna do something, we've found in Palm Beach, usually they call," said Gary. "A lot of neighbors are concerned."
Stallone, who in 2021 bought a property of about 1.6 hectares with a view of the lake, has yet to comment on the matter. The estate includes the main house, guest house, and pool pavilion, with a total living area of over 1,200 square metres.
Meanwhile, the Army Corps (a unit dealing with military and civil engineering) is analyzing whether using the barrier to dissuade boats is permissible. "The Corps is reviewing the project purpose to determine if the use of barrier for the purpose of deterring boaters within the public waterway is permittable," said an Army Corps spokesperson, quoted by "The Palm Beach Post."
No one's tough on Stallone
According to the Daily Mail, if Stallone needs to escalate the matter to a higher level, he has a powerful ally nearby in the person of President-elect Donald Trump.
Last month, Stallone attended an event at Mar-a-Lago, where he praised the future president for his spectacular victory on election day.
"We are in the presence of a really mythical character. I love mythology," Stallone said at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) gala in a short speech introducing Trump. "Nobody in the world could’ve pulled off what he pulled off. So I’m in awe."
Stallone compared Trump to the character Rocky Balboa, saying both underwent a "transformation" and changed the lives of many people.
