Proposed homes protested

Neighbors raise issues of crowded roads and schools.

By Lisa Buie, Times Staff Writer
Published March 13, 2008

DADE CITY - A rezoning request to allow 68 homes on about 40 acres in the traffic-congested area of State Road 54 and Interstate 75 drew protests from neighbors Wednesday.

Residents of Citrus Trace and Saddle Ridge Estates turned out to the Pasco Planning Commission meeting Wednesday to oppose a dentist's plan to develop the property, which is north of their neighborhoods. The land, an old tree farm, is now zoned agricultural.

One by one, residents took the lectern and raised concerns about traffic, crowded schools, and crime they said would result from the homes turning into rentals due to the housing slump.

They also showed a slide of a pothole on Caroline Drive, the only access road, which they said is too substandard to handle more cars.

"We are under attack with high-density development," said Jamie Winsett, of Saddle Ridge. Some commissioners expressed sympathy after the residents' presentations, but attorney Jerry Figurski, who represents the developers, warned that planning commissioners would set a dangerous precedent if they denied the project based on those concerns.

An engineer for the developer pointed out that State Road 54 would be widened to six lanes before a single house is built.

Commissioners expressed concern about the condition of Caroline Drive and nearby Tupper Road, which is dirt, and asked the developer's representatives to meet with residents to come up with a compromise. The matter will be discussed again at the next meeting, set for April 9 in New Port Richey.

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 21:27:18]