135-home project wins hearing master's okay

By EVE LEBERSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2000

KEYSTONE -- Large-lot homes, horse trails and a country inn are envisioned for a Boy Scout Road development that has won a zoning hearing master's endorsement.

Eagle Scout Properties is poised to develop the 135-home project on 881 acres on Boy Scout Road, 1.5 miles southeast of Tarpon Springs Road. The plan calls for lot sizes from 2.25 acres to 5 acres, extensive xeriscaping, equestrian trails, a public stable and a bed-and-breakfast facility. In keeping with Keystone's rural character, there would be no street lighting and no walls surrounding the neighborhood. Entry gates would be posted 250 feet from the road.

Citrus groves, pastures and wetlands now occupy the land.

Hearing master Martin H. Smith endorsed the project Monday with several conditions. Among them: The bed-and-breakfast cannot have more than eight rooms, and only 30 horses are permitted in the stable.

County planners and the planning commission also endorsed the petition, which goes before the County Commission on Aug. 8. (Petition 00-0624)

CITRUS PARK: The Delk Family Trust is requesting approval of a second entrance off Gunn Highway into an office park, now being planned near Cain Road. The proposed entrance would line up with an existing median on Gunn Highway, allowing for left turns in and out of the property.

The office park will occupy six acres and include a child care center, medical office and a professional building. (Petition 00-1080)

These petitions will go before a zoning hearing master on Monday:

KEYSTONE: Ryland Homes wants to build 40 houses on 10 acres near Citrus Park Boulevard, northeast of Countryway Boulevard. The Maryland corporation plans 5,000-square-foot lots. County staffers and the planning commission recommended approval. (Petition 00-0881)

KEYSTONE: Richard Payne, who owns 2.4 acres on the south side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road near Goldie Lane, is asking for a rezoning to develop the land for small-scale commercial uses. County staff and the planning commission endorse the plan. (Petition 00-0793)

These petitions will go before a zoning hearing master Tuesday :

SOUTH CARROLLWOOD: A developer wants to rezone almost 10 acres on the west side of Manhattan Avenue near Humphrey Street for 120 townhomes. County staff and the planning commission are now recommending approval of J.S. Dhahliwal's request.

The original petition proposed a four-story, 140-unit apartment complex. County staff objected to the height of the structure, so Dhahliwal redesigned the project to have no more than two stories. (Petition 99-1281)

KEYSTONE: B.C.D Investments Inc. seeks to rezone 28 acres at the northeast corner of Race Track and McGlamery roads for 20 houses. County staff and the planning commission recommended approval. (Petition 00-0725)

LUTZ: The owner of a citrus grove at Hanna Road and Blind Pond Avenue wants to rezone nine acres to build two houses per acre. County staff and the planning commission recommended approval. (Petition 00-0727)

Land Use Hearing Officer Martin H. Smith endorsed the following petitions last week:

KEYSTONE: Smith recommended approval for a plan that will bring more homes to the Race Track Road area. Reptron Electronics wants to put 305 houses and a community residential home for up to 1,000 residents on the northeast corner of Reptron Boulevard and Race Track Road. County staff and the planning commission recommended approval of the request. The 325-acre parcel currently is undeveloped. (Petition 00-0618)

TOWN 'N COUNTRY: Smith endorsed Rudrapatna Govindaraju's petition to rezone nine acres at the southeast corner of N Dale Mabry Highway and Humphrey Street. Govindaraju wants to build a 12,000-square-foot office building on a half-acre in an area bustling with business. (Petition 00-0623)

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