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Happy Hill development changes, but stays alive

By CHUIN-WEI YAP
Published December 28, 2006

ST. LEO - It's gained a name, changed the name and even won over a key opponent who once feared the stomp of suburbia on the doorstep of St. Leo's idyllic hills.

But the overall aim of developers Haydon-Rubin and Andrew Pittman is still to turn 62 acres of Happy Hill into a mini town center of stores and homes.

The project, broached early in 2005, was first called Aberdeen Hills.

In an apparent nod to nearby Lake Jovita, it's now called Jovita Hills.

Smack on the prime northwestern corner of State Road 52 and Happy Hill Road, it comes in two pieces: stores fronting SR 52, and 39 acres of residential in the rear.

Pittman still owns the 23 acres destined for commercial development, but has sold the 39 residential acres to Haydon-Rubin, a Clearwater firm.

The developer at first wanted nearly five homes per acre.

Such a high density, in the rolling hills of east Pasco, raised eyebrows in the neighboring community, where an abbey and a university dominate.

Brother James Hallett, the monk who is also St. Leo's mayor, asked the county to limit the proposal to one home per acre.

He got his wish.

The residential portion now features a gated community of 39 single-family homes on 39 acres, according to plans filed with the county earlier this month.

Discussions on the site plans are still going on in county offices.

"It would be mid next year before we're ready to build something there," said Paul Manuel, of Coastal Design Consultants, Haydon-Rubin's engineering company.

The commercial section will have to wait longer. Pittman is tussling with county planners over the allowable density under the current zoning and land use laws.

"We just separated the project," Manuel said. "The commercial part is not necessarily tied to this project. There's some zoning issues there."

But it's not dead. Recently, Pittman showed Hallett a conceptual plan of the minimall and got his nod, at least on the Spanish-Mediterranean style of the design.

"I am supportive of the project," Hallett said. "I know it's gone through extensive review at Pasco County. The owner gave me a preview several months ago on what is proposed. Certainly, architecturally, it's very attractive. The style is compatible with Saint Leo Abbey ... as opposed to having a plain Jane retail appearance."

Chuin-Wei Yap covers growth and development. He can be reached at 813 909-4613 or cyap@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 27, 2006, 21:41:35]