Decision supports opposition to dump

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 20, 2000

HOMOSASSA -- A proposed construction and demolition debris landfill just north of Sugarmill Woods is no closer to becoming a reality, now that a hearing officer has upheld the county's original denial of the project.

Hearing officer Robert Battista said the county's Planning and Development Review Board had enough evidence in May 1999 when it denied Ray Stevenson's proposal to build a landfill on the northern 70 acres of a 150-acre site at W Cardinal Street and S Spartan Avenue.

Stevenson's attorney, Clark Stillwell, argued at an appeals hearing two months ago that the planning board should not have relied on residents' non-expert testimony about the impact the landfill could have on the neighborhood.

But Battista said in his ruling, dated Saturday, that residents do not have to be experts to speak about the quality of life in their neighborhood.

"As the issues before the (planning board) are ones of compatibility with surrounding land uses and public interest, the testimony of lay persons on these issues could be appropriate as both these issues go beyond the scientific and technical," wrote Battista, a Brooksville attorney who hears all the appeals from the county planning board.

Sugarmill Woods residents were pleased with the latest ruling, but civic association president Ron Broadbent said no one is celebrating just yet.

Stevenson could appeal Battista's ruling to the Circuit Court in the next 30 days.

- Information from Times files was used in this report.

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