At least 150 residents attend the Dade City Commission meeting to learn how proposed growth may affect them.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published March 31, 2004
DADE CITY - City commissioners, acting on the recommendation of staff, took no action Tuesday night on annexation and land-use ordinances covering nearly 1,000 acres of land targeted for commercial and residential development.
But if public attendance at the meeting is any indication, the issue of growth will only get hotter.
Commissioners were scheduled to hear public comments and vote on several parcels surrounding the city. One property in particular - 410 acres off Blanton Road - has the attention of residents who don't want to see the area overrun with sprawl.
But City Attorney Karla Owens learned Tuesday morning that the Department of Community Affairs interprets its rules about land-use changes differently from how Dade City officials do.
Because the department allows cities only two submissions per year for large land-use map amendments, City Manager Harold Sample said he wants to ensure everything is in order before sending plans to Tallahassee.
"It was more prudent to say "Wait a minute,"' Sample said.
The city will clarify the rules and bring the ordinances back for consideration within the next 90 days, he said.
In the meantime, residents who might be affected by the new development are mobilizing.
At least 150 turned out for Monday's meeting at the American Legion Hall on Church Avenue. It appeared most were interested in the Blanton Road property, owned by Charlie Touchton.
Avalon Investments of Hernando Inc. has plans to develop a subdivision that would include apartments, commercial development and multi-acre homesites. According to preliminary plans, the part of the property that fronts Blanton Road could be built out into 1/3-acre homesites, which has raised concerns about density in the rural part of the county.
William Grove owns 10 acres off Roberts Barn Road. He would like the area to remain uncrowded.
"The whole area is 5- and 10-acre (homesteads)," Grove, 45, said. "They ought to just leave the community the way it is. It's just too pretty a piece of property."
The city plans to hold workshops and town meetings before commissioners vote on the annexations and land-use changes. Sample pledged to send direct mailings to people who signed lists Tuesday indicating concerns about the properties. At least 135 people signed the Touchton property list.
Commissioner Hutch Brock spoke about the issue near the end of the meeting after most people had left. He said he supports holding meetings to hear residents' concerns.
"The idea of bringing all these issues out before the public is what I had in mind," Brock said.
