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Builder uses millions to keep peace

Lennar Corp. offers to compensate Heritage Springs residents with $1.45-million after the developer decided not to expand the community's golf course.

By CHUIN-WEI YAP
Published September 27, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - Home builder Lennar Corp. is offering $1.45-million to compensate the Heritage Springs community after the developer backed out of an earlier commitment to expand the golf course, residents said.

The developer and the residents were still ironing out the details Tuesday, and it was unclear how the money might be spent.

The offer was announced Tuesday afternoon as Lennar officials scrambled during the County Commission meeting to pull aside and mollify the handful of Heritage Springs residents who had shown up to complain about the builder.

Lennar was at the meeting to secure the commission's procedural signoff to draw 157 new homes into the Heritage Springs community development district, a taxing district that provides for infrastructure and the maintenance of common areas.

"Some people wanted to use that as leverage to get Lennar to correct the development's issues," said Paul Zalon, a resident representing the district at the meeting.

Residents were unhappy because the developer had committed to adding nine holes to their 18-hole golf course, as part of the expansion plans. But Lennar now wants to hold the community at its original plan for 1,337 homes and forgo the extra nine holes.

The million-dollar olive branch seemed to work.

"We're in discussions with them," Zalon said. "They're offering to pay the community $1.45-million."

Lennar got the commission's approval to add the homes to the community development district.

Bill Kouwenhoven, Lennar's land acquisitions manager, would not comment on the moves.

Lennar is involved in another set of problems at Hudson's Heritage Pines, a sister development to Heritage Springs.

Residents are still negotiating to hold the developer and Pasco government accountable for commitments on irrigation water supply and a second entrance, among other issues.

Talks are still ongoing. Resident Camelia Brust, who has been leading neighborhood's efforts, did not highlight major road blocks, aside from new fears that a hard-won deceleration lane for a second entrance might be lost when the state Transportation Department widens the Hernando-Pasco County Line Road. The road runs outside the development.

Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at cyap@sptimes.com or (813) 909-4613.

[Last modified September 27, 2006, 00:59:49]