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Pasco Residents Question Makeup Of Land Development Committee

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 22, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The county commission today appointed a 17-member stakeholders committee to revamp Pasco's land development regulations to make the codes more "user friendly."
Some residents questioned, however, whether the panel, comprised mostly of developers, their attorneys and others in the building industry, would have the county's best interests in mind or if residents would be better watchdogs.
"This is asking the foxes to guard the henhouse," said Richard Riley, a member of the grassroots rural protection group in northeast Pasco. "Each [of the members] may gain monetarily from the outcome. Most are tied to builders who stand to benefit professionally."
Nancy Hazelwood, another member of the rural protection group, agreed.
"This committee represents the builders' association more than the residents of Pasco County," she said.
Commissioners meeting in New Port Richey agreed to add a second Pasco County resident, Jon Moody, to the committee in response to the concerns. Moody serves on the planning commission. They were hesitant to name a member of the rural protection group, saying the panel should include experts on land development laws.
Revising the land development code is part of an effort to make government run more smoothly in Pasco. County officials recently commissioned a consultant, the Urban Land Institute, to evaluate the county's operations and suggest changes. ULI named revisions to the development rules a top priority.
Riley, who initially was interested in being part of the committee, said after the meeting he was satisfied that Moody is better qualified to represent residents' concerns. The group is subject to Florida's open meeting laws, meaning members may not discuss committee business outside of the public eye.
"I am convinced I'd be more valuable on the outside as a member of the public," Riley said. "I would have a better voice and not be constrained by the Sunshine Laws."
Michele Baker, the chief assistant county administrator, said she and other top staff selected stakeholders who have technical expertise and use the building code regularly. The group includes an agricultural business owner, builders, land-use attorneys and an environmentalist. She suggested adding another resident to the board
Three groups of county staff, including Baker and County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder, plan to analyze and revise the codes during the next 18 months. The changes are intended to streamline the building permit process and would go before the county commission at public hearings.
Commissioner Michael Cox agreed a resident at large should be added to the committee, because "the residents are the biggest stakeholders."
Commissioner Pat Mulieri said other panelists should be Pasco residents, too.
Baker said most in the group are Pasco residents.
County Administrator John Gallagher warned against making the group too big.
"If you make it too big, people are going to feel their voices aren't being heard, and you are going to have weak attendance," he said. "Whoever you put on there, the vision is to change the way Pasco does business."
Also Tuesday, developer Alex Deeb asked the commission to consider a bailout for the building industry, which is in the midst of a dramatic downturn.
Deeb suggested the board consider expediting some construction projects to provide work to builders, many of whom are working for much smaller profits in light of the real estate slowdown.
Deeb also asked commissioners to look into the possibility of reducing construction impact fees by 20 percent for 18 months. Such a move, Deeb said, would make Pasco eligible for a state program providing first-time homebuyer grants.
"The slowdown is the worst we've seen, and it will get worse," Deeb said. "It is devastating to an industry that has been the life blood of Pasco."
Commission Chairman Ted Schrader told Deeb the commission already has directed its staff to move forward with several road projects as a way of jumpstarting construction.
Board members agreed to look into the homebuyer grant program, but Schrader noted that Pasco has an ample supply of houses for sale and does not need additional new homes.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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