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Growing Strains

Some Homosassans are urging opposition to a resort's expansion, setting the stage for a standoff with the county.

HOMOSASSA -- Over the past several years, Homosassa residents came together to adopt a vision of what they wanted growth in their community to be like.

They helped devise the Old Homosassa District Overlay, a set of development rules embracing the old fishing village's rustic charm and Florida Cracker lifestyle.

But as the first major project since the approval of those overlay rules has moved toward acceptance, the harmony seen in the past has dissipated like a mist rising from the Homosassa River on a humid dawn.

The Homosassa River Alliance last week issued a Homosassa Citizen Alert urging all residents in the Homosassa and Homosassa Springs areas to inundate county officials with their concerns about the proposed expansion at the Homosassa Riverside Resort.

Owners propose leveling all buildings on the east side of the main entrance road and replacing those offices, commercial structures and rooms with 72 motel suites in buildings of three stories over parking, and 15 regular motel rooms in two stories over retail.

The alliance's call for action urged residents to come out to a planned July 11 public hearing before the County Commission to express their concerns that the height of the buildings won't meet the standard set in the overlay district rules.

But the alert also notes that the project would increase unit density beyond what is allowed, would tax limited road access and boat ramp usage, and would threaten water pressures in the area.

Not since the controversial Halls River Retreat project has the alliance used such a call for action to bring out opposition to a project.

"This should be the standoff here," said alliance member Jim Bitter, who argues that the project as proposed is just too much for the site.

While the final hearing and vote on the project has been slated for July 11, on Friday Carl Bertoch, attorney for the Riverside Resort, wrote a letter to county Development Services director Gary Maidhof seeking a delay until July 25.

Bertoch noted that he has had further discussions with the county staff concerning the overlay district rules. Some of those discussions revolve around the language in the overlay rules that describes and limits the number of stories allowed over parking for any future development.

Bertoch and county planners have been corresponding about the definitions of the term "stories" and what is meant by the phrase "lowest floor."

In addition, Bertoch's Friday letter states that he has not yet heard whether the county staff has determined whether the Riverside project even falls under the overlay rules.

The original plan for the expansion was submitted before the rules were adopted, but opponents say that the county's Planning and Development Review Board members never really had their first full discussion on the project until months after the rules were approved.

That is because Riverside Resort didn't provide enough information on the project at the first meeting. Planning board members didn't discuss much at that time other than asking for more details.

"We have not had the benefit of being made aware of such a determination having been made and we would request that, because of the importance of that issue, this matter be deferred until that ruling is made in writing, and because of the July 4 holiday, a reasonable time granted to respond if necessary," Bertoch wrote.

County staffers responded that they do not have a problem with the delay but will bring that issue before the county commissioners on Tuesday.

Riverside resort's managing partner Gail Oakes said she thinks that her project fits with Old Homosassa. She proposed leaving more green space by building higher. She also said that she can build as high as 50 feet in two stories over parking or three stories over parking.

If the commission doesn't allow three stories over parking, she said, she could just build a taller parking area for bigger boats.

Oakes said she thinks that the small group of people who oppose the project don't fully understand it. Some have criticized her expansion of boat docking areas but she said there are no expansions planned for boat docks.

By forcing her to cover more green area with buildings, Oakes said, "they lose and so do the common people. I'd have nothing to donate in terms of green space."

But Bitter argues that no rules would prevent Oakes from taking up whatever green space is left after the expansion with development in the future.

He also wants people to look at the condominium-owned resort suites not as hotel rooms, but as residences. Owners will be able to spend up to 180 days in their units; if there are two owners, he said, "I guess they never have to leave."

The River Alliance alert notes that this would be "an intense residential enterprise."

While current coastal high-hazard zoning would allow six units per residential acre, this project would instead translate into more than 11 units per acre.

Some in the Homosassa community have come forward to support Oakes and her project. Even Lewis Ranieri has written a letter supporting the project.

"I recently became aware of the redevelopment plans for the Homosassa Riverside Resort and I wanted to extend my support to you for proposing a waterfront project that appears to be river-friendly, aesthetically appropriate and environmentally conscientious," he wrote.

Ranieri's support is curious to some in the River Alliance group. He was their savior when they fought the Halls River Retreat project.

Alliance member Bitter said he thinks Ranieri got all his information from Joanne Bartell, wife of County Commissioner Gary Bartell. Bitter also said the Bartells are friends of Gail Oakes and her husband, Phil.

Bitter worries that Bartell will side with the Riverside owners because of that connection.

Mrs. Bartell said she hasn't talked to Ranieri in awhile and has not talked to him about the project. She also said that she and her husband see more of Bitter and the River Alliance members than they do of Oakes.

Bartell himself cannot comment on the issue or have others talk to him about the issue because the hearing is quasijudicial. He must base his decision strictly on what he hears in the upcoming commission meeting.

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com.