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Group sees settlement on Grand Hampton
By SUSAN THURSTON, Times Staff Writer NEW TAMPA -- A conservation group's year-old fight against the planned Grand Hampton community in New Tampa may come down to a golf course. The Sierra Club sued the developer and the city in October 2000 over plans to build the golf course and nearly 1,600 homes on environmentally sensitive land near the Cypress Creek Preserve. Since then, Sierra officials have centered their complaint on two issues: getting rid of the golf course and maintaining an east-west wildlife corridor. Despite unsuccessful initial settlement talks, Sierra officials remain confident that an agreement will be reached. "There seems to be a will to work this out," said Denise "Dee" Layne, co-chair of the Sierra's Tampa Bay chapter. "Since this lawsuit has started, we have been in a horrible drought. I'm hoping that they will see the light that we can't have a golf course there." The Sierra Club contends that building the golf course would threaten the area's creek system, which feeds into the Hillsborough River, Tampa's main source of drinking water. Groomed fairways also would break up space where animals roam. "The water table . . . is extremely low," Layne said. "Pumping is going to destroy the terrain and the area is already stressed." Grand Hampton is planned for about 1,600 single-family homes and multifamily units, an 18-hole golf course and commercial space on about 930 acres east of the Interstate 75-275 junction. Construction is unlikely with the lawsuit pending. Sierra Club officials say swapping the golf course for open space would help the environment without reducing home prices. Many people buy into golf communities not necessarily because they like to golf, but because they like nature and greenery. "I'm a golfer but how many more golf courses do we need?" Layne said. "I think we've saturated ourselves with golf course communities. Let's give the market another choice." Layne urged the developer to follow the lead of Live Oak, a future community at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and County Line Road. The developer originally intended to build a golf course, but replaced it with nature trails and open space because of concerns about water usage. Sierra officials hope to resume settlement talks in early 2002. Joel Tew, an attorney representing the developer Toll Brothers, has said an agreement is possible, but would not elaborate. No trial has been set. - Susan Thurston can be reached at 269-5303 or thurston@sptimes.com.
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From the Times |
