Hernando: Take a closer look at new school site

All due respect to the Hernando County School Board and to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their efforts in the county -- I, too, think we need more schools and a slew of other things. But, the reality comes down to money. A piece of "cheap land" seems to override respect for residential communities.

Please don't say "the taxpayers of Hernando County will benefit." Do the taxpayers realize what rezoning means? It means that if you live in a residential community and there just happens to be 40 acres of cheap land smack in the middle, anyone can come in and buy it and ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone the area for whatever they want. Well, maybe not just anyone, but anyone with some clout.

As a resident of Orchard Park, I'm not opposed to the need for more schools. What I am concerned with is the future growth for the school and the issues of safety, insufficient roads, sewer, water and electricity.

In the past, Hernando County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. I'm sure the Planning and Zoning Commission knows this. So, why would you make this situation a repeat of J.D. Floyd Elementary School? Again, smack in the middle of a residential community: Overcrowded classes, parking lot and only one road access for coming and going traffic. Parents in cars park up and down the streets to drop off or pick up their children. Delivery and utility trucks use this same road.

Let's not forget about the buses. Small roads have put those large wheels of the buses onto private taxpayers' properties. Those residents have been complaining for years. Most important, what if there is a medical or fire emergency?

Had J.D. Floyd been better planned, it would today be able to add "real buildings" to accommodate growth, as should all school planning.

The communities of Orchard Park and Oak Ridge Estates are not far (less than 1 mile) from Springstead High School on Mariner Boulevard. Remember, Mariner Boulevard has had more than its share of sinkholes in recent years because of water problems, etc.

What will we experience if this school is built in the middle of these communities? Do we not deserve some tranquility?

The School Board has not done its homework. One of the streets (Honeydew), which has a road planned to the public park, is in reality a cul-de-sac. Who is going to deliver the news to those residents who live in that house that it's to be plowed? The other end of that street is Hoover and has a drainage retention area is located there, along with high tension wires.

This proposed school will be two stories. It is planned for grades K-8 -- 1,000 students, not counting staff. The School Board eventually plans to place a road over the well head area off Linden Boulevard. This road will have heavy car and bus traffic. This is a major issue when you realize this well head services thousands of homes in our community and surrounding communities. Most important, it is a Well Head Protection Area.

Please note, we are not a retirement community. Our homes have three and four bedrooms. We have school-age children living here.

Please plan for this wonderful school to be built on property that has room for growth and where residential communities don't have to be compromised. Parents do not have a problem with busing their children to well-planned facilities. It makes more sense to have larger pieces of land for school planning. Accommodate growth as it is predicted and not when it's too late and old plans become wedged in too tight.

I understand about a bargain and taxes, etc. Is "the carrot" that Dr. Anthony Massie of Tarpon Springs is "dangling" ($50,000 toward the development of the public park) worth it? Doesn't this county collect more taxes from these communities? How nice of the doctor to sell this land for $600,000 and not include "11 adjacent acres." Now he can call this a "donation." Public record will show what Dr. Massie originally paid for this never-developed land. Even after "dangling" his "carrot," he stands to make a 700 percent profit.
-- Rosemary Coriaty, Spring Hill

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Letters: Take a closer look at new school site