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Pasco Mulling Approach to Controversial Landfill

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

DADE CITY - Pasco County's chief attorney advised county commissioners this morning to avoid directly challenging a controversial landfill proposed for agricultural land south of Dade City.

On Jan. 12, the state Department of Environmental Protection plans to release a tentative approval for a household garbage facility proposed by Largo-based Angelo's Aggregate Materials.

Jeffrey Steinsnyder told commissioners that, based on his conversations with an attorney that specializes in landfill issues, challenging the DEP permit in court could cost Pasco $300,000 or more.

Steinsnyder advised commissioners to tackle the landfill in their own arena. The landfill will need a change to the county's land-use map and a county-issued conditional-use permit to operate. Both of those changes require public hearings.

Those changes are needed because the county bans household waste landfills from land zoned for agriculture

In answer to a question by the DEP, Sam Steffey, the county's growth management director, concluded the household waste landfill can't operate on the agriculturally zoned land where Angelo's currently runs a construction debris landfill. Construction landfills are allowed in agricultural areas, Steffey said. The nearby property where Angelo's wants to build the household landfill is also zoned for agricultural use.

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

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