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Halls River appeal, park plan go forward
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
INVERNESS -- County officials who originally approved a plan to create a 54-unit condominium project on the Halls River took the first steps Tuesday toward turning the land into a public park. The County Commission voted unanimously to begin searching for a nonprofit agency to help it acquire a state grant to buy the property where the controversial Halls River Retreat was scheduled to be built. However, commissioners also agreed to continue appealing a judge's ruling that nullified the commission's approval of the condo project. Also during Tuesday's meeting, the commission agreed to pay a Gainesville company $250,0000 to start building a highly detailed computerized map of the county, known as a geographic information system. The plan drew criticism from Property Appraiser Ron Schultz, who said it was at odds with his office's attempt to create a similar map. The meeting began with a brief presentation by F. Blake Longacre, the developer who first approached the commission with his proposal to build Halls River Retreat in 2001. On Tuesday, Longacre said he was open to any group -- including conservation organizations -- that wanted to buy the 11-acre site. As he left the meeting Tuesday, Longacre said he was tired of the controversy and lawsuits surrounding the project. "I don't like being caught in the middle of all this," he said. "Litigation is no fun. The reason I'm in the resort business is because it's fun." Director of Development Services Gary Maidhof advised commissioners the land could be purchased under the Florida Community Trust grant program if they were willing to find a nonprofit organization to serve as a partner. Maidhof said he has already sent letters to several groups, including the Save the Homosassa River Alliance, a leading opponent of the condo plan. If the land is purchased using a state-funded grant, it would have to serve a public purpose, such as a park, Maidhof said. The commission also agreed to allow any future use of the land to be reviewed by the state Department of Community Affairs. The state agency became involved in the Halls River Retreat controversy last year, when it suggested the project may have been inconsistent with the county's comprehensive plan, which discourages high-density growth west of U.S. 19. Commissioner Josh Wooten said he believed the DCA was being overly intrusive, as well as inconsistent. "They have allowed many of Florida's coastal areas to be paved over without a peep," he said. While the news may bring some cheer to the hundreds of Homosassa residents who have vigorously opposed the four-story condo development, there was less enthusiasm for the county's decision to pursue its appeal of the judge's ruling. In November, Brooksville Circuit Judge Jack Springstead threw out the County Commission's approval of Halls River Retreat, saying it violated the county's comprehensive plan by placing too many condos in the sensitive coastal area. Commissioners responded by voting to challenge Springstead's ruling to the 5th District Court of Appeal. Several people at the meeting urged commissioners to drop the appeal and allow the ruling to stand. One opponent of the condo proposal, however, said he was eager to hear the appellate court ruling. "We're going to win that appeal," said Jim Bitter, co-founder of the Save the Homosassa River Alliance. "It's just a matter of money. And then it will become case law." -- Carrie Johnson can be reached at 860-7309 or cjohnson@sptimes.com .
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