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State rules county erred in land-use change
The County Commission violated rules by increasing density for condos and apartments at a mobile home park, anagency says.
By ANNE LINDBERG
Published June 11, 2006
PINELLAS PARK - A state agency has ruled that Pinellas County was wrong to approve a land-use change for the Golden Lantern Mobile Home Park that would have allowed condominiums and apartments to be built at the site. In its ruling, the Department of Community Affairs said the Pinellas County Commission violated its own rules when changing the land use on the property to allow a greater density in a coastal high hazard area and flood zone. Under county rules, density is limited to five units per acre in a coastal high hazard area and flood zone. The proposal for the Golden Lantern site included 333 apartments, condominiums and townhomes on the 20-acre park at 7950 Park Blvd. The DCA suggested that the county limit the proposed development to 100 units. The ruling mirrors objections lodged by Charles Plancon, a Golden Lantern resident who tried to persuade the commission to deny the land-use change. When he failed to do so, Plancon sued the county, claiming, among other things, that the county had violated its own rules regarding the coastal high hazard area and the flood zone. He also filed his objections with the DCA. Plancon could not be reached for comment Friday. He was arrested Memorial Day on weapon and drug charges and was still in the Pinellas County Jail. His public defender has refused requests to interview Plancon. Clearwater attorney Tim Johnson, who represents the project developer Triax, said Friday that he had not seen the ruling. However, he said he believed that Triax would succeed in the end. Johnson and Paul Cassel, the county's director of development review services, said it will take several months, at least, to come up with a solution to satisfy the state and to have it adopted by the County Commission. Meanwhile, Golden Lantern owner Robert Keathley has given Plancon a "five-day letter," which warns that if he doesn't pay his rent in five days he will be evicted, Johnson said.
[Last modified June 11, 2006, 08:38:55]
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