Commissioners say commercial development can begin without waiting for two legs of Lake Patience Road to be connected.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published January 14, 2004
Lack of access to Lake Patience Road? No longer a problem.
Oakstead developers got approval Tuesday to start commercial development near the community's entrance on State Road 54 in Land O'Lakes, even though two legs of nearby Lake Patience Road remain unconnected.
The County Commission on Tuesday allowed development to move forward after determining nearby Oakstead Boulevard is a collector road that can handle some of the area's traffic. That could pave the way for a grocery store and other shops on SR 54, said Oakstead developer Don Buck.
"We're able to go forward with something that has no impact on Lake Patience (Road) while (the proposal to connect) Lake Patience goes through the process of public review," Buck said, noting the project would have only driveways on SR 54.
The commission essentially reversed a decision by the Development Review Committee, which had blocked Oakstead's commercial projects in November until Lake Patience Road is connected and repaved.
The county has long planned to link the two legs of Lake Patience Road, County Administrator John Gallagher said. But the plans have been delayed by opposition from residents who want to preserve the area's semirural character and keep truck traffic out of their community.
"We're the ones that haven't built the road, and it's causing (the Oakstead developers) some problems," Gallagher told commissioners at the meeting in the West Pasco Government Center.
If commissioners approve a route study within the next 45 days, however, Gallagher said the county can start construction on the Lake Patience connector within the next three years.
Buck's plans for a giant retailer on SR 54 also hinge on a request to rezone 13.83 acres for commercial development. Buck has a contract to buy the property from Clare A. Barnard if commissioners approve the rezoning.
County planners have raised concerns about the project, however. Commissioners essentially created a commercial node by naming Oakstead Boulevard a collector road. If other roads meet the same criteria, planners fear SR 54 could end up looking like U.S. 19, with wall-to-wall commercial development.
"If you set the precedent on this one, you're going to have more people coming in and requesting commercial nodes at some pretty interesting locations," said county zoning administrator Debra Zampetti.
- Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com
