Arrested Development - Slowdown Delays Projects

BROOKSVILLE - A slowdown in the housing industry has forced developers to delay the start of new construction projects.

And that has caused some concern on the part of at least one county commissioner.

Commissioner Diane Rowden lately has questioned the stream of developer requests for master plan revisions, rezonings and construction extensions. She is especially tired of what she sees as sub-par plans coming before her desk.

Rowden worries that granting a developer approval prematurely and without sufficient details will lead to unsightly tracks of land with no trees and no homes. She is against what she sees as a growing trend of speculative development and granting builders' rezoning requests without regard to future traffic needs.

She expressed that concern as recently as last week during the monthly Land Use Hearing when she questioned the feasibility of two projects: an RV housing resort on the eastside and a townhouse project near Sherman Hills Golf Club. Several years ago, Rowden pushed for passage of an ordinance that requires developers - if they haven't begun construction or started to proceed through the subdivision process - to come back every two years and reapply for master plan revisions and bring the project up to current standards.

An example of a housing development that went wrong is Royal Highlands, near Weeki Wachee, Rowden said.

There were no allowances made for roads, sewers, street lighting and other infrastructure. Today, that area is suffering because of it, she said.

Rowden stresses she is not anti-growth. Rather, she said she is for controlled growth. Developers, she said, need to come to Land Use Hearings and planning meetings with more detailed, comprehensive plans.

That is not happening, she said.

"I think we just need to be more cognizant of the fact and ask tougher questions and demand more comprehensive master plans," Rowden said. "We need more details. We just can't keep approving these 'anything goes' plans."

Case in point: The developer of Spring Hill Acres on Tuesday requested a two-year extension for the construction drawings and startup date for the project, located north on Spring Hill Drive, between Candy Drive and California Street. Since the original plans were approved in October 2007, the housing market has bottomed out.

"As you are quite aware, the economy has significantly slowed and it is much more difficult to move either commercial or residential properties and create new development," David Donato, senior vice president of Center State Bank, said in an April 21 letter to the planning department.

Donato said a two-year extension would "allow us adequate time to seek bids, consider construction of the infrastructure and evaluate other potential partners in this project," said Donato.

County Commissioner David Russell said he sees nothing wrong with developers planning ahead and getting prepared for the housing resurgence which is sure to come.

"I believe it's about good planning," Russell said. "Growth will occur without question and that growth needs to be encouraged.

"Approving a development today that might not occur for five or six years -- I don't have a problem with that," he said. "I do have a problem with the economy slowed to the point that we're not moving forward with some of these projects."

If population studies are accurate, these developments that are getting approved now will eventually become reality, he said.

"We know that growth will occur in this state," Russell said. "It may have suffered a setback, but the facts haven't changed. There will be a migration of baby boomers to the state of Florida, and we need to be prepared to accommodate that growth."

Local engineer Nick Nicholson said it makes sense to get the approvals now and start building now in preparation for the housing turnaround.

By the time the development is built out, probably in about a year, the economy should be on the rebound, he said.

In fact, Nicholson said he's seen a slight uptick in interest already from homebuyers.

Nicholson agrees there is no excuse for shoddy plan submissions to the building department. Most are from out-of-county engineers who don't know how stringent Hernando County enforces its ordinances, he said.

"They're not going to waste their time looking at a set of plans that aren't complete," he said.

County Planning Director Ron Pianta said he doesn't have the exact number of housing projects that have been stalled in the last two years. But there has been an increase.

"I think some projects have been delayed due to the economy," he said. "We are seeing more requests for new master plan approvals or 're-upping' the master plans."

Pianta said he has also seen more requests to extend certain approvals in the subdivision process.

"These people intend to proceed with development but want to do it more slowly to allow the economy to pick up," he said.