Commissioner Steve Simon says there will be more discussion before a final decision is made on a prime piece of real estate.
By MELIA BOWIE
Published June 24, 2004
County Commissioner Steve Simon on Wednesday told economic development officials that a recent vote allowing a "residential" designation to replace a much sought after "industrial" land use on prime real estate at Hays Road and State Road 52 was plagued by "miscommunication."
The issue arose earlier this month when members of Pasco's land planning agency, who also serve as county commissioners, approved a new future land use for 116 acres previously identified for industrial development and job centers.
The agency instead voted to allow high density residential use of the acreage, which comprises two parcels of land owned by the Pottberg family real estate partnership.
The June 8 decision went against continuous campaigning by the Pasco Economic Development Council to preserve land for industrial use.
The move came despite recommendations from the county staff that the change be denied. The EDC also submitted written and verbal objections.
"We did voice an (objection) opinion at the Citizens Advisory Committee and we did write a letter to the DRC (Development Review Committee)," said Pasco EDC president Mary Jane Stanley.
"Our assumption was that it was on the record," she said, noting the EDC should have followed up by attending the meetings.
Commissioner Simon said somewhere along the line "a miscommunication occurred."
The EDC's objections were not included in a packet to the land-planning agency, "and in my office there was a suggestion that there was no opposition," Simon said Wednesday.
As a result, "there will be more discussion" on the issue he said.
But does it mean elected leaders will change their minds?
"I don't know but I'm considering it," he said.
The proposed future land use change is set for a vote before the Board of County Commissioners on June 29.
The issue surfaces as a gap continues to grow between availability at the county's existing office and industrial parks and the development of new parks - some of which still are in the planning stages. Among the current parks that are now out of space is County Line Industrial Park and Kronos Business Park in northwest Pasco, according to the EDC staff.
Copeland Industrial Park in Zephyrhills also is at capacity, and in the Trinity area, West Pasco Industrial Park on State Road 54 just sold its last lots.
