TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Chopper Pad Gets Approval

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: October 10, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - The developer of Seven Oaks won clearance Thursday to add a helicopter landing pad to its plans for a hospital on land on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The Development Review Committee, led by Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher, approved the pad as part of a potential seven-story hospital BayCare Health System hopes to build on property between Eagleston and Stockton boulevards in Seven Oaks.

BayCare spent $21.6 million buying land for its proposed hospital in two phases, one purchase last year and one in 2006. The company has yet to receive a state permit to build a hospital on the site.

BayCare is challenging a state ruling that would allow two of its rivals, Adventist Health Corp. and University Community Hospital, to build a joint-venture hospital on land in the Wiregrass Ranch development on the east side of Bruce B. Downs.

Residents of Seven Oaks, voiced their unhappiness over promises they say Seven Oaks' developer, Chicago-based Crown Communities, made but never kept.

Among them: a nature trail that has never been built, and Crown's plan to create more office space on land adjacent to the community's recreation center. The property in question was originally planned for an expansion of the rec center, residents told the committee.

The panel delayed action on the office land, nature trail and changes to access along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard until its Nov. 20 meeting in Dade City.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT