A decision allowing Sun City Center to keep younger families out of the community set a precedent for the East Coast.
By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published June 13, 2003
The battle won, community association president Walt Cawein walked out of last week's County Commission meeting and said he wanted just one more thing: a stiff drink.
"He wants a drink, and I'm heading out of town for a break!" quipped Sun City Center resident Janet Wilson, who worked closely with Cawein to get the county-enforced age restriction approved. "I am so tired!"
Tired, but "elated" as Cawein put it.
After months of debate about the legality of and need for a county ordinance that keeps young families from residing in Sun City Center, a majority of commissioners approved the over-55 zoning provision - saying local government has a responsibility to protect the retiree community's lifestyle.
Sun City Center leaders don't want real estate agents to take advantage of the four dozen or so homes that lack age covenants by selling them to couples with children or teenagers.
The ordinance requires that one member of all 5,700 households governed by the community association be at least 55. Anyone younger than 19 can visit no more than 30 days a year.
Residents already living in the 47 homes without age restrictions are exempt, and exceptions will be made for family emergencies.
Commissioners Jan Platt and Kathy Castor voted against the ordinance.
Hillsborough is the first county on the nation's East Coast to adopt a zoning restriction based on age, and only the second in the country behind Maricopa County in Arizona.
Although the Hillsborough ordinance applies to all the homes governed by the Sun City Center community association, most already have deed restrictions specifying the over-55 age requirement.
So the county has to enforce its zoning code in the less than 50 homes that lack such age covenants - in most cases because the original covenants expired.
"This will finally solidify the character of Sun City Center as a retirement community," Cawein said.
