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Board okays subdivision, but without Silverthorn access

Developers wanted to build a golf cart path between Silverthorn and the proposed Silverthorn Hills, but opposition from residents kills the idea.

By DAN DEWITT
Published December 12, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - Developers who plan to build a subdivision on 40 acres along the east side of Silverthorn wanted what they described as minimal access to the golf community.

The access would not be a road, but a path for golf carts and walkers, said Don Lacey of Coastal Engineering Associates, which represented the developer, Silverthorn Hills LLC, before the county Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday.

The path would be 15 feet wide and would connect directly to the golf course, not a residential neighborhood. It was designed to appeal to buyers who might want to become members of the Silverthorn golf course and country club.

Silverthorn residents saw it differently.

Though Grace Conger said she did not oppose the construction of the subdivision, called Silverthorn Hills, "I am opposed to the fence invasion."

Conger, a board member of the Silverthorn Homeowners Association, added that if 40 acres to the south are developed in the future, "we'll have a huge invasion of our property."

Her arguments, echoed by more than a half-dozen other Silverthorn residents, persuaded the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission backed the plan for the subdivision, though with 44 lots rather than the 49 Lacey requested; the County Commission will decide whether to give it final approval, probably next month. The Planning Commission did not, however, allow access to the golf course.

"In my mind, that cart path goes," Commissioner Robert Widmar said to applause from Silverthorn residents. "Don't even think about that."

That does not mean the path is gone forever. The Planning Commission's recommendation, which passed by a 3-2 vote, stated that Silverthorn Hills should set aside the 15-foot right of way on its own property, allowing it to build the path if it can someday persuade residents to allow the opening.

That isn't likely to happen, according to those who attended the meeting, because of the property's history.

Last year, a Citrus developer, Premier Construction Group LLC, introduced plans to build 160 upscale homes on the property and the 40-acre tract to the south. Premier wanted to build a road into the 15-year-old subdivision and require home buyers to become members of the country club; residents of the new subdivision also would have been allowed to use the community center.

That project was abandoned, mostly because of residents' opposition, Lacey said Monday. But the county had little power to strike down the new plan, he said. Decades ago, the county approved a development on the land with as many as 500 residential units, he said, meaning the owner still had the right to sell those lots.

"We don't want to have to fall back on the existing plan," Lacey said.

That argument did not convince every commissioner. Interim Chairman Anthony Palmieri, one of two commissioners to vote against it, said the road the developers plan to use to serve the subdivision, Jumper Loop, is inadequate for that purpose.

Dan DeWitt can be reached at dewitt@sptimes.com or 352 754-6116.

[Last modified December 11, 2006, 23:02:13]