Hickory Hill Project Moves Forward

BROOKSVILLE - Last year, the inclusion of Hickory Hill on a county government agenda was guaranteed to pack in emotional crowds.

It was that controversial.

But at Wednesday's land use hearing, the rezoning of Hickory Hill drew only a handful of people and very little emotion.

What a difference a year makes.

County commissioners Wednesday approved rezoning 2,750 acres in Spring Lake from agricultural to a combined planned development project, paving the way for the construction of Hickory Hill.

In its 5-0 vote, the board also established a master plan for the project, detailing roads and other design standards.

Sebring Sierra, vice president of Sierra Properties LLC of Tampa - the project developer - said Hickory Hill will "set a new benchmark for Hernando County in terms of sustainable and quality growth."

Cliff Manuel, president of Coastal Engineering Associates Inc., assured commissioners that Hickory Hill will set aside ample acreage for wildlife habitats and that all environmental concerns have been addressed from the engineering standpoint.

Wednesday's approval was expected, since most of the details of the golf course community had already been hammered out last year, when commissioners heavily examined the project before voting to send it off to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review.

The project had raised strong emotions on both sides.

Critics believe the 1,750-home golf course community, 2.3 miles southwest of the Interstate-75 and State Road 50 interchange, will destroy the environment, create congested roads and be inconsistent with the rural flavor of the area.

Supporters say Hickory Hill is exactly the kind of well-planned development needed to boost the county's economy and provide the kind of quality growth that should be encouraged.

The opposition began to melt away after commissioners in June 2006 transmitted the project to the DCA, which found the project to be in compliance with state law.

County Commissioner Diane Rowden said Wednesday the project is going through the proper channels and the board has the best interests of the community at heart.

In a report, the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council (WRPC) estimates Hickory Hill will generate "significant ongoing economic benefits to Hernando County" to the tune of $10.7 million at build-out.

According to the developer's economic consultant, the project would pump $9.3 million in ad valorem revenue each year at build-out and provide $4.5 million in impact fee revenue.

The school district will reap an estimated $4.2 million in impact fees.