Neighbors turn out to complain about a potential for added traffic and noise, but plans for a new elementary school pass one hurdle.
By JAMES THORNER
Published November 7, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - Residents of the Gulf Highlands, Forestwood and Timber Oaks neighborhoods pulled out petitions, charts and speeches to stop the Pasco County School District from tucking a new elementary school among their homes.
All for naught, at least so far.
At a hearing Thursday to discuss whether the school was compatible with residential communities southwest of State Road 52 and La Madera Boulevard, the Pasco County Development Review Committee sided with the school district.
As long as the school promises to keep traffic from La Madera, buffer itself from homes, limit building heights and resurface roads, it meets the requirements of the county's land-use plan.
Neighbors had appealed to that very plan to derail the school, proposed for about 750 students on 22 acres off La Madera and Long Branch Drive, next to St. Michael's Catholic Church.
Residents argued that their neighborhoods, many of whose demographics are switching from seniors to young families, could handle neither the noise of 700 kids nor the traffic from buses and parents.
Dick Green of Timber Oaks predicted the noise would depress property values and force his neighbors, many seeking peace and quiet in their "golden years," to sell their homes.
He warned the development committee not to underestimate the power of Pasco's senior vote, although the committee consists entirely of unelected county administrators.
Gulf Highlands residents who lined up to speak invariably mentioned the traffic that would pour onto their streets.
Barbara Nickolas, a nurse who lives on the corner of Gulf Highlands and Meadow drives, predicted accidents and death if school traffic is added to an already busy intersection.
"We cannot take the traffic and we don't want the noise and the disruption to our lives," Nickolas told the development committee.
Neighbors came up with what they said was a more appropriate site, 10 acres on SR 52 between St. Michael's and a Kash n' Karry supermarket.
But Mike Rapp, the school district's planning director, said that site, which he studied, was bounced from contention for several reasons.
Traffic is too heavy on SR 52 and bus access too problematic, Rapp said. Furthermore, every student would need to be bused to the SR 52 site, whereas many kids could walk to the La Madera property.
Hoping to soothe a crowd that numbered about 40, County Attorney Bob Sumner explained that the state Department of Community Affairs has encouraged that schools be built among existing neighborhoods.
"We catch all the hell, but all of these rules are established by other entities we have no control over," Sumner said.
Thursday's meeting wasn't the last word. Further hearings, before the County Commission and the School Board, will discuss the school site. Neighbors vowed to attend them all.
The development committee also cleared a second school site, 42 acres on Sweetbriar Drive in Holiday, but no one turned out to complain about what will be a middle school.
