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Zoning decision is delayed for Christian academy

Veritas Prep has until March 13 to make sure it can buy the property in Pinellas Park.

By Anne Lindberg, Times Staff Writer
Published February 23, 2008

Council members agreed to delay ruling on a zoning and land-use change to give a private Christian school time to make sure it has the money to buy the property.

The request to table the issue until the March 13 council meeting came from Mike Farrell, president of Farrell Homes. Farrell owns the 6.8 acres at 8021 60th St. N, the site of the former Salvation Army Church. Farrell has a contract to sell the property to Veritas Preparatory Academy. The contract is conditional not only on the granting of the land-use and zoning changes, but also on the school's ability to pay for the property.

Veritas was scheduled to ask Pinellas County commissioners for permission to use the county as a conduit to allow the school to issue tax-free bonds to finance the land purchase and improvements to the property. The county would not be liable for repayment of the bonds, and no public money would be involved in the deal.

The public will have a chance to address the application at the March 13 meeting.

Some of those who spoke in favor of the zoning and land-use change last week were parents of Veritas students. Others live next to the property.

Those who spoke against the land-use and rezoning change said they like the school but opposed the location because of the noise from after-school activities and the traffic caused by parents dropping off and picking up about 350 students at the school.

Another concern was the tax status of the land. Some were concerned that the land would come off city tax rolls during tight budget times if the school buys the property and moves there. Pinellas County Tax Collector records show the land is valued at a bit more than $1.5-million and brings in about $32,775 in property taxes. About $6,890 of that total goes to the city of Pinellas Park.

Veritas was founded in 2005 and, although nondenominational, operates out of facilities at First Church of the Nazarene Pinellas Park, 6565 78th Ave. N. The school, which meets three days a week, believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and creationism. Evolution is taught as a theory that is counter to the Bible and, thus, in error.

Max Loden, the school's director of extracurricular activities, has announced that he is running for a seat on the Pinellas County School Board.

[Last modified February 22, 2008, 22:17:29]