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Berry Hill Gets A Final Look

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: November 1, 2008

DADE CITY - The owner of Berry Hill, a proposed subdivision west of town, will make one more attempt to win county approval for his project in the face of opposition from the project's neighbors.

Developer Tracy Harris of Tampa will bring his 400-acre project to county commissioners for a rezoning Wednesday. The hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. at the historic Pasco County Courthouse.

Harris has run into a buzz saw of opposition to his project from county officials and residents of northeast Pasco, who see it as a suburban intrusion into land the county has pledged to keep rural.

The bulk of Harris' property lies within the county's Northeast Pasco Rural Protection Area. But a piece across Blanton Road from Pasco-Hernando Community College is outside the protected corridor and eligible for development at Wesley Chapel-style densities.

Under a deal with county zoning officials, Harris would put half his land in conservation, including a 100-foot buffer around the perimeter.

Most of the 266 homes would be on 1-, 5- and 10-acre lots arranged on the hilly terrain to preserve wetlands and the sweeping view from Platt Road, which runs across the top of the property.

That compromise hasn't soothed opponents

The Development Review Committee and half the Planning Commission sent negative recommendations to the county commission.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201.

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