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Land-Use Deadline Nears For Builders

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: March 7, 2009

Landowners hoping to develop their property have until Tuesday to tell Pasco County officials. After that, the doors to the county's comprehensive plan are shut until next year.
County commissioners set Tuesday as the deadline for submitting proposed changes to the county's long-range land-use plan. The decision was made to avoid overwhelming the county's short-handed staff as major overhauls of the comprehensive plan, land development rules and the government's hierarchy get under way.

"We have a lot on our plate," County Administrator John Gallagher told commissioners Feb. 24.

Commissioners had planned to cut off submissions at that February meeting, but backed off when landowners and developers complained.

With construction at a near-standstill across Pasco County, developers are struggling to keep their heads above water.

"If you do this, I'm going to have to lay off two people," planner King Helie of Hudson told commissioners at their last meeting. That would cut his staff down to himself and his wife, Beverly, Helie said.

In past years, county officials gave landowners two chances each year to request large-scale land-use changes. Those changes helped turn thousands of acres of pasture and orange groves into sprawling subdivisions and commercial centers.

The dozen or so landowners who have asked for comprehensive plan changes already will likely not see the results until next year. County planners expect to send their next round of suggested plan changes to Tallahassee for approval at the end of the year.

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

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