Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLERResidents had opposed the request, fearing it would harm their health and property values.
A county hearing master this week rejected a landfill owner's request to almost double the size of its construction debris dump site, citing the 140-acre facility's "poor operational record" and proximity to environmentally sensitive areas.
Hearing master James Scarola said Sun County Material Management's request to expand its landfill to 278 acres isn't compatible with the county's land development code and doesn't mesh with homes developing west of the landfill.
Sun County representatives said the high volume of construction in southern Hillsborough, particularly in the area surrounding Balm, fueled their desire to expand.
But Scarola gave the landfill's past record of long-lasting fires that burned plastic, plus discoveries of ground water contamination, as reasons for denying the request.
Moreover, Scarola questioned the legality of the landfill, based on staff testimony that it has operated for the past decade without a county special use permit.
The landfill has a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, but it does not have a permit from the county because when it was established 10 years ago, the county didn't have a provision for permitting private landfills.
Scarola's decision was a victory for neighboring land owners and residents, who feared their property values, air quality and well water would be damaged by the larger landfill operation.
Aaron Long raises cattle on 138 acres next to the landfill, where piled-up construction and demolition debris stretches toward the sky.
He was one of several residents who spoke out against the landfill expansion during a May 30 hearing. He also is one of seven residents who sent a letter outlining their fears to State Attorney Mark Ober last month.
During an interview last week, Long said rotting wood in the landfill releases methane gas that sometimes combusts spontaneously into fire, which burns plastic dumped in the landfill.
"What do you think burning plastic does to your lungs?" said Long, 70, who grew up in Hillsborough. "There's a lot of chemicals in building materials."
Sun County representatives blamed the fires on the previous landfill operator and testified that there have been only two breakouts since 1999, when Sun County bought the landfill. Before that, the landfill burned for nearly a year and a half, Sun County testified.
Officials with the company also told Scarola there have been just two stormwater discharges in the past four years, and the contaminants (including iron, benzene and aluminum) did not leave the landfill site.
Sun County wanted to expand the landfill - located on the south side of County Road 672, one mile east of U.S. 301 - to cover 278 acres and reach as high as 160 feet above sea level.
"It ruins our property values," said Long. "Could you imagine buying a home with dust and smoke blowing off this landfill?"
A community of up to 1,660 single-family houses is planned to the west of the landfill.
The county's Environmental Protection Committee, the Department of Environmental Protection and Tampa Bay Water reviewed the request and raised no objections.
But Long expressed relief this week that Scarola gave credence to objections raised by residents.
"This thing would have been terrible thing if it passed," Long said. "We're happy we won 100 percent."
But the fight might not be finished. Sun County has 30 days to appeal Scarola's rejection before the county's land use appeals board.
- Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at 661-2443 or svansickler@sptimes.com