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VillaRosa protests Pulte rezoning
By BILL COATS, Times Staff Writer LUTZ -- They complained about the "racetrack design," the low berms, the lack of a playground, the feared traffic backups. But mostly, the 10 VillaRosa residents, accompanied by more than 20 neighbors, argued this week that Pulte Home Corp. wants to build too many houses at VillaRosa's doorstep. "Any new development there is going to affect very seriously how we are perceived outside the community," said Jerry Swan, past president of the VillaRosa Master Association. He argued that Pulte's request for 83 houses, to be built around a rectangular loop street off Lutz-Lake Fern Road, was intended "to cram lots of types of houses into a small space." If Pulte's rezoning is approved, its houses indeed will be more visible next to the VillaRosa entrance than the 900 VillaRosa homes, which are set back from Lutz-Lake Fern. Pulte's attorney, John Grandoff, said the 83 houses would be "over-compatible" with the area. They would average 2.2 houses per acre. He noted that lots along VillaRosa's southern wall were as small as six per acre. But none of the other 14 speakers in Tuesday night's zoning hearing agreed with Grandoff. They agreed that Pulte should be limited to 73 houses on the 37-acre cow pasture. Kevin Ashley, a planner hired by the VillaRosa Master Association, said Pulte's project must be compared to the overall density of VillaRosa, not the compact neighborhood abutting the Pulte land. Ashley and the county's planners noted that VillaRosa averages two homes to the acre and immediately south of Lutz-Lake Fern, Cheval averages one home to the acre. "There is no pattern of higher density," said Steve Griffin, representing the county's Planning Commission. One neighbor, Larry Padgett, said the development should have an average of Cheval's density and VillaRosa's, at 1.5 houses per acre, or 55 lots. The ultimate decision rests with the Hillsborough County Commission, which is to hear the rezoning request on April 9. Before then, hearing officer Martin Smith will write a recommendation from Tuesday's hearing. - Bill Coats can be reached at (813) 269-5309 or coats@sptimes.com.
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