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Burial mounds cited in development debate

By ANDREW MEACHAM
Published January 27, 2006

RUSKIN: By the end of two hours, officials might have thought they'd heard all of the arguments against rezoning land north and south of Shell Point Road.

Manatee Bay Associates wants to complete a land swap with the county and turn 180 acres of agricultural and residential land into a planned development. A motivated group of neighbors had already brought up threats to wildlife, flooding dangers and differences with the Ruskin Community Plan.

Then Melanie Hubbard, a Ruskin resident and University of Tampa English professor, argued against rezoning the land for an entirely different reason: American Indians used to live there.

"Just because a burial mound is leveled does not mean there are not other nonceremonial burials in the land," Hubbard said.

According to Hubbard, who said she heard it from her husband, carousing teens used to dig up American Indian graves in Ruskin.

"They would plow them out of the land," Hubbard said. "I'm serious - and put the skulls on their (car) grilles as a kind of promenade showpiece."

Hubbard, who is an Emily Dickinson scholar, brought with her an archaeologist's letter recommending underground testing of the site.

Attorney Keith Bricklemeyer, representing Manatee Bay Associates, said the 100-acre property by the Little Manatee River contains two archaeological sites, which have already been excavated and removed.

The County Commission rules on the rezoning request March 7. (PETITION 06-1785)

RIVERVIEW: An ambitious plan would mean the end of a dairy farm and usher in a large residential development. Priority Developers wants to rezone 215 acres bounded by 70th and 78th streets, between 36th and 49th avenues S, from agricultural to a planned development.

Norman Busciglio, John Busciglio and Samuel Busciglio own the Tower Dairy, but its pastures could soon anchor foundations for 524 houses, 716 townhouses and 46 villas. Buildings would rise no higher than 35 feet.

The Environmental Protection Commission has found wetlands on the property, which must be incorporated into the final site plan once delineated.

A hearing before the zoning hearing master has been continued to Feb. 14. (PETITION 05-1947)

GIBSONTON: Florida Tropical Development is asking to rezone 26 acres, from agricultural use to a planned development. The property is on the north side of Lovegren Lane and south of Bullfrog Creek. The developer wants to build 115 houses there with lot sizes from 4,000 to 5,000 square feet.

The case goes to the County Commission on March 7. (PETITION 05-1940)

CORRECTION: Oops. We listed an incorrect phone number for the county's zoning office in our Q&A in recent weeks. The correct number is 307-4739.

Andrew Meacham can be reached at 661-2431 or ameacham@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 09:02:05]