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County Lets Developer Skip Water Line Tie-In

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

DADE CITY - County officials on Thursday allowed the developer of Trilby Estates to go ahead with construction without tying into a nearby water line to provide fire protection.

Developer Lee Pallardy of Tampa objected last month to the county's demand that he link his 85-home equestrian-oriented subdivision to a public water line that lies 1,000 feet away on the east side of U.S. 301.

Pallardy's project lies off Powerline Road north of Dade City. Last month, Pallardy complained that extending water lines and installing hydrants would add more than $500,000 to the cost of the 342-acre development - costs that would be imposed on future homeowners.

Pallardy argued the county has tanker trucks stationed nearby with enough water to handle a fire in the development, should one happen.

The demand for hydrants in the community of 2- to 6-acre home sites highlighted a conflict between the broad goals of Pasco County's long-range plan, which aims to keep suburban-style growth from the county's rural northeast, and the nitty-gritty of its code of ordinances, which requires anyone within 1,000 feet of an existing water line to connect to it.

That conflict forced the Development Review Committee to grant Pallardy an exception to county code.
DRC member Dan Johnson, who oversees the county's fire service among other things, noted the lack of hydrants and a nearby fire station would drive up insurance costs for Trilby Estates residents.

On Thursday, county Fire Marshal Larry Whitten said the county could provide enough water from its tanker trucks to protect homes up to 3,000 square feet. Houses bigger than that would require extra water nearby to supplement the county's supply, Whitten said.

The DRC's action means Pallardy will have to negotiate appropriate fire protection with Whitten. He also will have to meet state and federal fire protection regulations.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com.

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