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Neighborhood Notebook
By JOHN BALZ, BILL COATS, TIM GRANT, JACKIE RIPLEY and JOSH ZIMMER State clears planners of wrongdoing in home okayODESSA -- Bob Haught wanted two Hillsborough County planners punished for approving a two-unit home next to his house on Lutz-Lake Fern Road. But that apparently is not going to happen. The state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which oversees building code administrators, recently cleared the two managers at the Department of Planning and Growth Management of any wrongdoing. Neither Development Services Director Dave Ford nor Northwest satellite office manager Jim Paleveda will face disciplinary action. Case closed, the state says. Owner Jerry Sampson initially signed an affidavit stating a second kitchen in the building did not constitute a duplex structure. But Zoning Division Director Paula Harvey disagreed. When Sampson refused to submit new building plans that showed he had disconnected electricity to that second kitchen, Ford issued a stop-work order. Since then, Hillsborough Circuit Court Judge James Barton said Sampson could complete the 9,000-square-foot home. "I feel very confident the situation was handled professionally according to the rules and regulations in place at the time," Ford said. "It's a relief to put this behind me. Original Carrollwood to discuss pet deathsCARROLLWOOD -- Concerned about their cats and troubled by an apparent spate of animal cruelty, Original Carrollwood residents will meet Monday night. "We are concerned for our animals and at the same time, we are concerned that this could escalate itself," reads an e-mail mailed out Tuesday by Eric Hyde, the community's crime watch captain. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the community's Recreation Center at Orange Grove and MacFarland drives. Sheriff's community resource deputy Ann Vaccaro said she will attend the meeting to get information from the owners of cats that have died. Since July, about 20 cats have been found dead in the neighborhood. Homeowners suspect someone, or a group of people, has killed them deliberately. But sheriff's deputies and Hillsborough Animal Services officers are not sure what is going on. Most of the cats were buried before the deputies or animal services officers heard of the deaths. Northdale to discuss raising tax cap from $100NORTHDALE -- Should the tax cap go up in Northdale? Homeowners can answer that question Tuesday at the polls. The tax rate cap has not been increased since 1989 when it was set at $100, the amount homeowners now pay. If the measure passes, the Northdale Special Tax District would have the option of increasing the tax by as much as $20. The tax is used to pay for maintenance and improvements in the community's common areas. Sept. 11 patriotic display scheduled for U.S. 41LUTZ -- Organizers of a display of patriotism on Sept. 11 hope to assemble a mile of people waving flags side by side on U.S. 41. The Lutz-Land O'Lakes Woman's Club hopes residents will line the sidewalk on the highway's eastern side from Crystal Lake Road to First Avenue NE between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday. Groups such as scouts are urged to wear their uniforms. "We'd like to have wall-to-wall people," said Auralee Buckingham, public affairs chairwoman of the Woman's Club. "They can really come at any time. But bring your own flag." Youth Council to hold fundraiser for paradeTOWN 'N COUNTRY -- Community leaders already are preparing for Veterans Day, and those preparations include a fundraiser for the annual parade. The Town 'N Country Youth Council will sell hot dogs and drinks inside Publix, 7018 Waters Ave., Sept. 13 to 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to raise money for its float. The Youth Council has teamed up with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation Department for the Nov. 9 parade. The Sheriff's Office will bring its "Benny the Beatle" multicolored Volkswagen. The parks department will provide a vehicle for the youth council float. The council's focus is on young people ages 12-17 who live between Sheldon Road and Veteran's Expressway, south of Linebaugh Ave. Call Fran Gamester at 884-3462. Cory Lake Isles gets okay to fund its infrastructureCORY LAKE ISLES -- The Tampa City Council says Cory Lake Isles can issue $10-million in bonds to build basic infrastructure. The developer will use the borrowed money to construct roads, street lights, a sewage collection system and a stormwater drainage system at the private, gated community on the western edge of New Tampa. According to a platting agreement, Cory Lake Isles will be responsible for maintaining the new improvements.
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From the Times |
