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Neighbors speak out against fraternal lodge
By JAMES THORNER Residents on Hopson Drive in Land O'Lakes probably won't have to fraternize with a fraternal lodge proposed for their secluded lakeside neighborhood. After hearing from neighbors on Wednesday in Dade City, the Pasco County Planning Commission unanimously rejected a zoning change for the Phi Delta Kappa men's fraternal organization. The Planning Commission's denial, combined with opposition from county zoning officials, could be enough to kill the lodge plans in the eyes of county commissioners. County commissioners have the final vote on the matter at a meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 18 at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey. Phi Delta Kappa, a professional men's fraternity founded in 1902, has contracted to buy 3.8 acres on Lake Marjory between School Road and U.S. 41 for a 4,900-square-foot lodge and 24 parking spaces. The group's local chapter has 50 members, most of them middle-aged and retired, who agreed to leave their existing lodge on Blossom Avenue in Tampa. "The biggest reason we want to move out there is we want something nice. We've got a dump now," said club member Richard Dakin on Wednesday. Despite assurances the fraternity would limit visits to the building to about six times a month, including twice-monthly dinners and dances, neighbors complained about the potential traffic, noise, drinking and lake clutter. "We don't want groups of people drinking beer on the lake and fishing on a Saturday afternoon with families there," said Hopson Road resident Jane Brandt. Phi Delta Kappa's attorney, Karla Owens, tried to assure residents the lodge members would be "good, quiet neighbors." She proposed inserting a condition into the zoning request that would limit lake use to three boat launches a day. "This is not intended to be party central," Owens said. But planning commissioners didn't appear to buy her arguments. After listening to comments for about 30 minutes, planners rejected the lodge's request. "I see a group of people trying to make a grab for a piece of lake they don't live on," said planning commissioner Gilliam Clarke.
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