Officials: Rely on rain for lawns

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 19, 2008

TAMPA

Citing Thursday's rainfall and a wet weekend forecast, Tampa water officials are asking residents to stop all outdoor watering during the next several days.

A city ordinance would allow residents to water on Sunday and Tuesday, depending on their address, but holding off could net an aggregate saving of as many as 30-million gallons of water, officials said.

For more water saving tips, call water conservation representatives at (813) 274-8121 or visit tampa.gov/water.

LAND O'LAKES

1,600-acre project in the works

Plans are afoot to bring thousands of homes and a shopping and industrial center to a 1,656-acre property on the northwestern corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

Pasco officials say they've met representatives of landowner Krusen-Douglas to discuss plans to first mine the area for limestone, and then file a development application for 2,941 homes and 274 acres of offices and stores.

At 1,600 acres, the proposed KD Ranch would trail only the 2,000-acre Bella Verde among east Pasco's megadevelopments.

ST. PETERSBURG

Advocates to mark tent raid

Advocates for the homeless will gather Sunday to commemorate the anniversary of the raid outside City Hall, when police slashed tents used by the homeless last year.

The city's homeless crisis entered the national spotlight last year after more than 20 tents used for shelter were seized. Mayor Rick Baker and police Chief Chuck Harmon called the raids a mistake, and city officials eventually launched several initiatives to help the homeless, including the outdoor shelter Pinellas Hope and a resource fair.

[Last modified January 19, 2008, 00:49:13]