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Berry Hill Foes Must Wait

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: October 8, 2008

DADE CITY - Residents of northeastern Pasco County will have to wait another month to voice their opposition to Berry Hill, a controversial subdivision proposed for land just east of Dade City.

Developer Tracy Harris got a last-minute delay until Nov. 5 from county commissioners Tuesday afternoon - much to the consternation of Berry Hill's neighbors, who packed two benches waiting to protest the project.

The dozen residents who attended Tuesday's hearing decried what they saw as a stunt aimed at avoiding public comment on the project.

"That's a waste of my tax money," said Noah Kaaa, who lives off Platt Road, which runs along the top of Harris' hillside property.

Harris did not attend the hearing. No one spoke on his behalf.

Harris has proposed building 266 homes on the 400-acre property just across Blanton Road from Pasco-Hernando Community College. The land is tree-dotted pasture that climbs sharply toward Platt Road.

The majority of the property is within the Northeast Pasco Rural Protection Area, limiting development on the land to lots of an acre or more. The corner of the property near Blanton and Ramsey roads is outside the protection area, giving Harris the option of building homes on quarter-acre lots.

In a deal with county planners, Harris agreed to preserve more than half the property, including a 100-foot buffer on the perimeter. He also agreed to build below the crest of the hill to preserve the view from Platt Road.

The bulk of the property would be covered in a mix of 1-, 5- and 10-acre lots interlaced with preserved land.

Opponents have focused much of their objection on the suburban-style neighborhood near Blanton and Ramsey.

Because of those higher densities, Harris' project defies the spirit of county rules aimed at protecting the rural region, neighbors say.

Planners say the project is essentially a conservation subdivision, a land use designed to protect rural land from sprawl.

Strong opposition from area residents helped swing the county Planning Commission and the Development Review Committee against Harris' proposal.

Both boards split on recommending approval of the project to county commissioners - the equivalent of a negative review.

Harris has said if he can't win approval for his proposal, he'll go ahead under the existing zoning.

That plan would produce 139 homes spread across the property, which Harris' neighbors say they prefer as a way to preserve open space in the region.

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

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