NEW TAMPA, Fla. — The push to convert an old New Tampa golf course into 251 homes was shut down in a Hillsborough County Land Use Meeting Tuesday.
In a 5-2 vote, Commissioners voted to not allow the re-zoning of Pebble Creek.
"Candidly, I do not recall another rezoning request that generated so much feedback. In fact, we've got like three binders like this full of material and, and emails and correspondence," said Commissioner Ken Hagan.
Thoughts on the project were split. Some believed the housing would clean up the golf course, something they called an eye sore. They also felt it would improve their property value.
Others felt the development would drastically alter the neighborhood, while also disrupting the wildlife and environment nearby.
People packed the Commission Chambers. Another 60 or so filled overflow sections, while others tuned in virtually. Supporters donned blue shirts, opposers in red.
Developers for the project claimed their door-knocking yielded 85% of the community in support. Commissioner Hagan says he say otherwise.
"Our correspondence from the neighbors suggest otherwise. Of the 1,363 emails that we were received 1,090 oppose the request, which is 80%," he said.
Leslie Green has pushed for the development to stop. Following the meeting, she said she was overcome with relief.
"The government, this process of no rezoning, it did what it was supposed to do. It listened to the community, and it heard our feelings and our emotions, and it responded," she said.
She organized the group, Save Pebble Creek. She says her work to stop the development resulted in a lawsuit.
"Just mentioning of it made me tear up. It's so emotional to go through something like that. It was a strategic lawsuit against public participation meant to be expedited through the courts. Four months later, I still do not have a ruling. $120,000 out of my pocket, and I still don't have a ruling," she said.
But Tuesday became a victory.
"We're okay with the way it looks. Many people live on a preserve a preserve is really a dense area of trees and underbrush. This is just like a pasture land," she said.
However, those in favor of the development, like Beth Leytham, say it's a devastating blow.
"We're very disappointed right now. We feel like we worked with everyone to put a strong plan together. But I think now we're just going to have to take a beat, think through all of our options and then decide once we've had a little time to digest everything that board said," she said.
She says this doesn't mean it's the end of trying to develop Pebble Creek.
"We were hopeful that in the end, we would prevail. Unfortunately, that didn't happen today. But there are other options. We have other opportunities. We'll just have to think those through and decide on that another day," she added.
However, Commissioner question the future for the development, especially as we await to see how the Live Local act takes effect throughout the state.
The law allows affordable housing projects to usurp the public hearing process if a developer is eyeing a commercial or industrial zoned location.
"As soon as that legislation passed, I immediately got on the phone with Adam Gormley and asked, 'Would this legislation apply to Pebble Creek in particular, and to similar golf course developments in general because unfortunately, we may go down this path in the future?' And he said in his opinion, the legislation would not apply to Pebble Creek, and he would deny any permit requests that came in under this legislation," Commissioner Hagan said.
However, Commissioner Joshua Wostal feels it's too early to say definitively, especially because there could be potential lawsuits to better define the law.
"I think that we're at a serious disadvantage in that were downplaying the Live Local Act. It was mentioned in the record that it is believed that this specific site would meet the standards that are set forth. We don't know," he said.
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Hillsborough County commissioners are expected to decide the fate of zoning for land that used to be a golf course in New Tampa.
Pebble Creek Golf Club closed in 2021 after it struggled to retain members and support. The owner wants to sell the land to developers, but many neighbors who have lived in the area for years told ABC Action News they do not want anything to be developed there. They said they'd rather it stay the way it is and be home to local wildlife.
"I really feel that the majority of people are against the rezoning," said Leslie Green. "We've analyzed the letters sent into the county, and when we remove the duplicates, 74% are opposed to the rezoning."
Green, who has helped lead the group "Save Pebble Creek," said she is also concerned about toxic soil underneath the overgrown golf course.
"There is no soil remediation plan approved yet. There is arsenic and dieldrin in the soil. It does not have to be cleaned up unless houses are put on the land," she said. "We don't want the houses because another thing we don't want to deal with is, are we safe during that time? Sure, they say they're going to take all the proper precautions, but do you want to sit outside during dust and debris of a toxic cleanup?"
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New Tampa Pebble Creek Golf Course controversy continues, future still unknown
Some neighbors do like the idea of development.
"You've got this eye sore of a golf course that's been closed for two years. We've had a lot of different builders come in and give proposals. They've been very forthcoming. They've worked with the owner and the community very hard with everything that's going on. There's a plan in place, a good plan for the community," Jeff Fine said.
Fine said the shuttered golf course makes the community look run down and thinks the developer will bring new amenities that would build their community up by raising property values.
"I'm getting tired of seeing a golf course that's been overrun for several years," Fine said. About the new development, he said, "It has limited homes and premium homes. Our home values are going to go up. With the course being what it is right now, who wants to buy a home when potentially your home values are going to go down? When nobody knows what's going to happen with the course?"
If the county approves the rezoning, the owner could sell to the current developers, who are looking to build between 200-250 homes on the land.
The County Commission is expected to make a decision during the 9 a.m. commission meeting today.
This is a developing story. Stay with ABC Action News for updates.
