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Work on duplex ordered stopped
By JOSH ZIMMER, Times Staff Writer ODESSA -- Hillsborough County has ordered construction to end on a nearly completed duplex off Lutz-Lake Fern Road, in light of a dispute that has spawned an investigation by the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The county Department of Planning and Growth Management informed the owner, Jerry Sampson, last month that it would not conduct further inspections until he submitted modified plans to bring the 9,000-square-foot duplex into zoning compliance. Sampson received an official stop work order on April 24, said director of development services Dave Ford, who wrote the April 9 letter. Ford acknowledged Wednesday that he is under investigation by the state over his handling of the case. The duplex angered neighbors, who say the structure is illegal and lowers their quality of life. Ford also acknowledged that the state is investigating Jim Paleveda, manager of the county department's satellite office at Gunn Highway and Anderson Road. Ford said that office approved the building permit. If investigators find any wrongdoing, the Construction Industry Licensing Board can recommend disciplinary measures ranging from a letter of guidance to immediate firing, said Lonnie Parizek, a Business and Professional Regulation spokeswoman. "We thought that the county has been totally wrong in their handling of this issue of the permit," said Dean Manley, who lives across a small lake from the duplex and who requested the investigations. Bob Haught, whose home is right next to the duplex, also requested investigations. Manley and Haught complained last year that the building was wrongly permitted in an agricultural area zoned for single-family homes. After a review involving the county attorney's office, Planning and Growth Management zoning administrator Paula Harvey agreed that the building amounted to an illegal duplex. The solution county officials proposed satisfied no one. They told Sampson to submit new plans and remove the second kitchen. To neighbors, that did not address the fundamental problem of the oversized building. In conversations with county officials, Sampson also indicated his displeasure, but officials say he agreed to change the project. By early April, Sampson still had not submitted new plans and disconnected the wiring for the kitchen, although construction continued, Ford said. Planning and Growth Management, in consultation with the county attorney's office, decided the county could not give him any more time, Ford said. In his April 9 letter, Ford indicates the duplex still needs inspections for the building, electrical system, plumbing and landscaping, water well and septic tank. Sampson, who is building the house for his family, could not be reached for comment. Ford rejected accusations that the county waited too long to act. "We agreed ... to let Mr. Sampson proceed, knowing at that time he would not be able to occupy the dwelling until the second kitchen was removed," Ford said. "There was no reason to issue the stop-work order as long as he was willing to comply. It just reached a point where it became evident Mr. Sampson wasn't going to comply. I believe we have acted properly throughout." Sampson "still has not submitted any plans," he added. "He has stopped work as far as I know." Ford said the state agency has not interviewed him, and no meeting is scheduled yet. Paleveda could not be reached for comment. Haught and Manley recently hired Tampa land use attorney Keith Bricklemeyer to handle their case. An appraisal provided by Haught shows that the value of his 3,269-square-foot house, located in an area of rising home values, declined by $28,000 between 1999 and 2001. Sampson "ruined our little neighborhood," Manley said. -- Josh Zimmer covers Keystone, Citrus Park and the environment. He can be reached at 269-5314.
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