Public hearing set on disputed land deal

A developer wants to buy land from the county that some residents say already has been set aside for public use.

By JACKIE RIPLEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

KEYSTONE -- County officials and residents will meet Monday night to discuss a controversial land swap deal in northwest Hillsborough County. The meeting between residents and Assistant County Administrator Pat Bean, as well as parks and recreation director Ed Radice, is at Keystone Park, 17926 Gunn Highway, at 7 p.m.

At issue is a proposal by developer Bill Bishop to buy 112 acres of vacant county land for a subdivision east of Race Track Road and south of Mobley Road. He would pay $1,412,500 and throw in 22 acres with a stable for handicapped equestrians.

Bishop's proposal calls for moving the county-run Bakus center for handicapped riders from its location at Lake Park on N Dale Mabry Highway to property that abuts other property he controls.

Some residents oppose the deal because the vacant land Bishop wants is part of about 1,500 acres that county commissioners said two years ago would be set aside for public use.

Last week, a small contingent of civic leaders presented another option to Bean: Sell Bishop the land he wants if he agrees to build the equestrian center on 300 county-owned acres already dedicated to horse trails, instead of 1 mile to the south on 22 acres, half of which is a pond.

"To some people this is a hot button," said Steve Morris, president of the Keystone Civic Association. "They feel strongly that a park is a park is a park and that if you give your word you should stand behind it."

Residents say that, while the deal is not perfect, at least it will better serve the equestrians.

Morris said he will publicize the meeting with "everything pretty much at my disposal," including the marquee outside the civic center, the Keystone Civic Association's web page and hot line.

The scheduled meeting Monday night was prompted last month by County Commissioner Jim Norman as the commission discussed the land deal.

Norman, once a proponent of the deal, said he wants residents to have a chance to be heard before the commission makes a decision.

Bean, after hearing both sides, is expected to make a recommendation to commissioners at their May 17 meeting.

"It was never supposed to be an emotional deal," Morris said. The handicapped children who would benefit from an enlarged riding facility proposed by Bishop "are being used as pawns in this whole thing."

-- Jackie Ripley can be reached at (813) 226-3468 or ripley@sptimes.com.

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