 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Dade City, county try diplomacy
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
DADE CITY -- A joint session of Pasco County and Dade City commissioners ended Tuesday with a thaw in the chilly relations that developed last year between the two governments. The city proposed better communication and some advance notice when it discussed bringing formerly unincorporated county land inside the city limits, and county officials agreed the communication would go a long way toward preventing legal battles such as the one the two fought last year over an annexation. The city ultimately won the court fight over the annexation of 155 acres on the city's western boundary near Happy Hill Road, including the Roadside Groves property. The county had sued, claiming there was improper notification and that the annexation created an ungainly "finger" -- an unusually long, thin string of properties linked for annexation purposes. Tuesday's joint meeting, meant to clear the slate and allow both sides to work together, began with County Commissioner Peter Altman apologizing for saying "Let's give them the finger" at a meeting when the county decided to sue over the Roadside Groves annexation. "It wasn't meant the way it was interpreted," he said Tuesday. County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader and County Administrator John Gallagher said concern over the annexation developed over fears that Dade City would allow up to six homes per acre without regard to the impact all the new traffic would have on county roads adjacent to the project. So far, while the Roadside Groves property is inside city limits now, no development plans have been announced. But Schrader said the image of overwhelmed intersections was something the county had to act on. City Commissioner Hutch Brock said the city is working on an annexation policy that would call for earlier notification and involvement of county staffers and commissioners, giving them time to share ideas on development. A boundary of areas just outside the city or areas that are prepared for growth could be developed, the sides agreed, and any annexations inside that zone could sail through the process with little discussion. Anything outside that zone would require 30 days' notice, before developers are promised any zoning conditions or promises if they were to annex. "I just want to avoid this again," Schrader said. Dade City commissioners said the legal fight with the county cost the city $30,000. At the City Commission meeting Tuesday night, they agreed to drop a demand the county pay those costs. Dade City Mayor Scott Black said the 90-minute meeting went a long way toward improving relations. "It really has helped smooth the waters," he said. "We do need to be working together. It's counterproductive to operate the way we have been. We need to get off this collision course." -- Chase Squires covers news about Dade City. He can be reached at (352) 521-5757, ext. 27 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 27. His e-mail address is squires@sptimes.com .
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
