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Bottler's Plans For Pond Get Initial OK

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - Dozens of Zephyrhills Spring Water Co. employees crammed the city council chambers Monday night, wearing stickers that said, "I Support the Zephyrhills Spring Water Company! Good Neighbors. Good Jobs."

If the large employee presence was to sway the opinion of the city council about a contentious land-use debate, it worked.

After lengthy public comment, the council voted unanimously in the company's favor, allowing the bottler's parent company, Nestle Waters North America, to pursue the building of a retention pond on 6.8 acres of vacant land east of the 20th Street plant.

Critics of the plan, some of whom live near the plant, expressed concerns about what would happen once the retention pond was built. They think the bottled water plant would expand and encroach on residential neighborhoods.

Others are worried about how much water the company would pump out of Crystal Springs after the expansion. The company plans to add 160,000 square feet of warehouse space to the facility.

After listening to both sides of the debate, the council, all of whom were drinking bottles of Zephyrhills water, seemed to support the bottled water plant's short-term plans.

"Right now, the concern is not about how much water the company is taking out of the ground. The concern is if they can use the land they own to build a retention pond and parking spaces," Councilwoman Celia Graham said before she cast her "yes" vote.

The vote moved forward a report that recommended rezoning a 6.8-acre parcel east of the plant and just north of the Woodland Acres subdivision. The land is zoned for residential development. However, to accommodate a retention pond the land must be rezoned to allow for light industrial use. The company says the move is essential to its growth.

"We are an environmentally friendly company," said factory manager David Caisse. "We provide good jobs with decent pay.

"Now we need truck parking. To do that, we need to move a retention pond."

The council will have to hold two public hearings before the rezoning moves forward.

As for pumping more water out of Crystal Springs to be bottled and sold, that decision does not rest with the Zephyrhills City Council, but with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The company's pumping permit is up for renewal in August 2009.

"Nestle will not go out and take water beyond the limits of the existing permits," said Austin Peele, the attorney for Nestle.

In other news, the council:

•Unanimously passed an ordinance that would restrict certain types of development and buildings in a zone around the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. The ordinance is designed to protect the city's investment in the burgeoning airport and city-run industrial complex on the south end of the city.

•Recognized the Zephyrhills Police Department's police officer and civilian employees of the year, Detective George MacKnight and community service officer Portia Merriman.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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