Commissioners remove golf course rezoning from the next agenda to consider issues raised by neighbors.
By MICHAEL SANDLER
Published August 20, 2003
CLEARWATER - Pinellas County commissioners on Tuesday postponed a major real estate decision at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
Instead, commissioners made a commitment to an information campaign in neighborhoods affected by growing air traffic and expansion plans at the airport - even if that means renting Tropicana Field for a countywide meeting.
Their decision came a week after an informal meeting in Feather Sound regarding an airport zoning issue devolved into one of the most chaotic county-run meetings in recent memory.
Commissioners unanimously agreed they should take the rezoning hearing, which could change Airco Golf Course and a neighboring piece of property into an industrial park, off their Sept. 23 agenda.
County Commission Chairwoman Karen Seel said it could be up to six months before they bring it back, but she expressed hope they could revisit it sooner.
In the meantime, commissioners agreed they need to hold a second meeting in Feather Sound and a meeting in the northern part of the county. They also decided to visit any city that wants more information about the proposed $223-million expansion plan.
Last week county officials and consultants were prepared to discuss the rezoning, but were instead met by a crowd of nearly 250 people who wanted answers about a proposed runway expansion, noise and the overall impact on their neighborhoods.
County officials have since apologized for not being prepared and for allowing a consultant running the meeting to be rude with residents.
"What happened that night was a tragedy," said Commissioner John Morroni, who was among two commissioners who attended the Aug. 13 meeting. "We are their people. We don't want Feather Sound to have a mayor. . . . We have to show them we are going to listen."
Commissioners suggested the next meeting be open to any topic related to the airport. Commissioner Calvin Harris asked the staff to have computer-generated images available that show what the property will look like when the expansion is complete.
Seel wants a plan for how the airport staff will control the noise.
Commissioner Bob Stewart recommended they be prepared for an unusually large crowd by considering one of the county's largest venues.
"If we need to rent Tropicana Field, let's rent it," Stewart said.
