 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Shelter's building plan rejected
By RYAN DAVIS
© St. Petersburg Times, The county rejected Holy Ground's plan to build a new, larger facility Thursday, pushing back the homeless shelter's proposed move by at least three months. Lisa Barabas-Henry wants to move her 9-year-old shelter, the county's largest, to a bigger site, just north of its current home at U.S. 19 and Denton Avenue in Hudson. The current center has housed as many as 85 people, but its capacity is about half that, Barabas-Henry said. The new facility will hold at least 200. Thinking optimistically, she had hoped to start building in August and move into the new building by December. "It looks like we're staying where we're at for a little longer," Barabas-Henry said. "We can't get upset about it." The Development Review Committee denied her request because her engineers did not submit plans regarding some proposal details, including a way to hook up with public water and sewer systems. They sought a second extension, but were denied. That means Holy Ground must resubmit its entire plan, County Administrator John Gallagher said. Engineers said they will do that this summer. Neighbors came to the meeting Thursday to express their concerns about the new shelter -- it would lower their property values and endanger their children, they said -- but Gallagher told them their concerns are too late. The land already is zoned to allow a shelter. Barabas-Henry wants to move because her facility often is crowded. Some residents have to eat outside and sleep four or five to a small camper. The land she is leasing is for sale, but owner Tom Russo told the Times on Thursday that he will work with Barabas-Henry so she isn't left without a home. If she has to leave before she can build, Barabas-Henry said, she will set up tents and portable toilets on the new site. -- Ryan Davis covers higher education and social services in Pasco. He can be reached at 800-333-7505 ext. 3452.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
