The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road near the Suncoast Parkway. ...more

January 21, 2008

Night-owl drivers will have to find a way around parts of Boyette Road, starting Monday night. ...more

January 19, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road , one-fourth mile west of the Suncoast Parkway. Stephen J. Dibbs wants to remove 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt from about 50 acres within a tract of more than 300 acres. The pit would operate for 10 years and would be reclaimed with a manmade lake, either within a residential development or a passive use. Testimony for and against the proposal was presented during a four-hour public hearing Nov. 16. Attorney Vin Marchetti and a team of experts explained the merits of the request; opponents raised assorted objections. After the meeting, some opponents e-mailed county officials complaining about the conduct of Land Use Hearing Officer Harold Youmans and Senior Assistant County Attorney Louis Whitehead III and questioning the fairness of the hearing. Instead of ruling on the request on Dec. 11, Youmans remanded it to county staff, requesting another hearing. He said participants did not have an adequate opportunity to respond to last-minute changes to conditions made by county staff. A hearing on the request before Youmans has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25 on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. ...more

January 17, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road , one-fourth mile west of the Suncoast Parkway. Stephen J. Dibbs wants to remove 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt from about 50 acres within a tract of more than 300 acres. The pit would operate for 10 years and would be reclaimed with a manmade lake, either within a residential development or a passive use. Testimony for and against the proposal was presented during a four-hour public hearing Nov. 16. Attorney Vin Marchetti and a team of experts explained the merits of the request; opponents raised assorted objections. After the meeting, some opponents e-mailed county officials complaining about the conduct of Land Use Hearing Officer Harold Youmans and Senior Assistant County Attorney Louis Whitehead III and questioning the fairness of the hearing. Instead of ruling on the request on Dec. 11, Youmans remanded it to county staff, requesting another hearing. He said participants did not have an adequate opportunity to respond to last-minute changes to conditions made by county staff. A hearing on the request before Youmans has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25 on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. ...more

January 17, 2008

On paper, it looks like Hillsborough County is willing to pay nearly 20 times the official value of about 7 acres of swamp to add it to a 2,000-acre preservation parcel known as the Alafia South Prong. ...more

January 16, 2008

More water will be conserved and natural vegetation preserved under a stricter county landscaping ordinance approved Tuesday. ...more

January 16, 2008

The long-running debate about what to do with private dirt roads in need of repair or maintenance in unincorporated Pasco County, which county commissioners plan to tackle once again, needs a jolt of common sense. ...more

January 13, 2008

On paper, it looks like Hillsborough County is willing to pay nearly 20 times the official value of about 7 acres of swamp to add it to a 2,000-acre preservation parcel known as the Alafia South Prong. ...more

January 12, 2008

On paper, it looks like Hillsborough County is willing to pay nearly 20 times the official value of about 7 acres of swamp to add it to a 2,000-acre preservation parcel known as the Alafia South Prong. ...more

January 12, 2008

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to pay for the entire Honeymoon Island beach restoration project, Pinellas County staff informed the County Commission today. ...more

January 8, 2008