Activists Oppose Road Rezoning

Until about six weeks ago, a privately owned strip of land through an endangered scrub preserve was a narrow dirt path traversed by low riders like indigo snakes and gopher tortoises, along with the occasional sod truck.

Turfgrass America, which owns the 50-foot right of way through the county-owned Balm Scrub Preserve, has since filled, widened and graded it for eventual use as an access road for a 1,000-home subdivision.

Community activists are outraged over the plan and say they will turn out en masse Monday to oppose a rezoning request for the plan.

A rezoning would give the developer a green light to pursue plans to build 1,089 homes and town homes on 537 acres now zoned agricultural.

"The problems this will cause for the adjacent scrub habitat are unacceptable," Dolly Cummings said in a letter of opposition to Hillsborough County.

"Scrub habitat is one of the most endangered habitat types in Florida. ... The impact would be devastating," said Cummings, who heads the Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin.

When ELAPP purchased the 1,600-acre tract in 1999, it only bought the pristine portions, according to program real estate coordinator Kurt Gremley.

The original owner retained the road right of way to access his land south of the preserve.

"No one anticipated it would ever be anything other than a farm field," Gremley said.

The plans also call for a four-lane extension of 19th Avenue across Bullfrog Creek, something activists successfully removed from the county's long-range road plan months ago in an effort to prevent urban sprawl.

"For them to sneak through the back door on a rezoning with this is an outrage," said environmental activist Mariella Smith.

It's too much, too soon, said Balm Civic Center president Marcella O'Steen.

"All around here, there are ghost town subdivisions where few people live," she said. She called the rezoning request "extremely premature."

There is an alternative.

The development site is ranked on the "A" list for acquisition through ELAPP. That list goes to the county commission in December for consideration.

Turfgrass Vice President Ron Mahan said while development plans move ahead, the company considers all serious purchase offers.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Hillsborough County zoning hearing master meets at 6 p.m. Monday at the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.