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Throng rails against projects
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer SPRING HILL -- More than 600 angry residents filled the Springstead High School theater Wednesday night with one question on their minds: What would the County Commission do to stop affordable apartments from rising near their homes? The answer that emerged after more than six hours of back and forth between the people and the government, despite some strenuous efforts: not much. "Every single day we're doing something," Commissioner Chris Kingsley said. "If we're not able to do anything, we're all going to look like schmucks. But it's not for a lack of trying." Some of the income-restricted developments, particularly those planned at Seven Hills and Regency Oaks, have gone too far in the permitting process to deny at this point, county lawyers advised. The proper time for community input was during the rezoning hearings, which took place years ago, planning director Larry Jennings noted. To act against the apartments now by denying permits or declaring a moratorium simply would open the county to expensive federal lawsuits and the possible loss of all sorts of federal and state money, the lawyers warned. Instead, commissioners said, the focus must turn on how to make the best of the apartments and the potential problems that residents predict will accompany them. Kingsley told the audience, which had thinned to fewer than 20 by the session's end, that the county would pay close attention to traffic, water and other service issues to ensure the developments meet standards set in the comprehensive land-use plan. Commissioner Betty Whitehouse spoke about pumping more money into sidewalk construction to give residents without cars access to nearby shopping centers. Chairwoman Nancy Robinson promoted an idea from the audience to create a maintenance ordinance that would require the good upkeep of apartments and other types of residential housing. "The citizens had a lot of good ideas I believe the county should be following upon," Robinson said Thursday. She has scheduled further conversation on the issue for the board's meeting Tuesday. The workshop at Springstead began at 5 p.m., but people began arriving more than an hour early to get a good seat. By 5:05 p.m., the standing-room-only crowd already was clapping impatiently for the session to begin. Things got worse from there. As government officials talked about water and sewer, zoning, comprehensive planning and permitting, audience members angrily denounced any information they did not accept. One man from Pristine Place got into a lengthy argument with Jennings, for instance, over whether his homeowners association should have received legal notification seven years ago about a rezoning hearing. He suggested that the information Jennings disputed would be "obvious to an idiot." Robinson frequently stopped the conversation to ask people to cooperate and let the speakers answer questions. "We want answers! Not bulls---!" a man responded. Only when Robinson threatened to cancel the event did the audience calm down. Many people left. After a break, the topics steered toward housing, financing and traffic matters. The questions veered wildly between Silverthorn, Seven Hills and Regency Oaks interests. The meeting could have been divided into three to address all the concerns. More questions, especially from Regency Oaks residents, honed in on how to deal with the reality of the apartments, rather than continuing to suggest the affordable apartments would house criminals and decrease property values. Some people departed satisfied; others complained they had been given "lip service." Many said they intend to continue the fight against the apartments.
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From today's Hernando Times |
