HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — On Monday, people in the Pebble Creek neighborhood got one step closer to finding out the future of the Pebble Creek Golf Course.
The course closed its doors a few years ago. Now there's a proposal to rezone the land into a residential area and sell it to a developer.
At a zoning hearing master meeting on Monday, more than 50 people on both sides of the issue showed up to hear more about the project's future.
In order for the golf course owner to sell the land to a developer, Hillsborough County officials would have to approve the rezoning.
Some neighbors support the change, while others are fighting to keep the neighborhood the same.
Over 600 letters were sent to the county about this project.
Supports say they think the new development would raise their property values and get rid of the run-down golf course.
Lance Ignatowicz moved to the area several years ago with his wife. He called the closed-down course an eyesore and said it is making his community look run down. He said he welcomes the change and likes the amenities that the developer would bring.
“We are getting entrances, parks at no cost. We're not gonna have to raise our dues; nothing like that. This is being brought in to support our community,” said Ignatowicz.
For Linda Warnshuis rezoning is a no-brainer.
"250 homes coming into our area is not going to do anything but raise the property values for the people who are there [and] improve the looks of what's already there," she said.
Those against it say it would ruin the peaceful dynamic of their neighborhood and they're putting up quite a fight when it comes to possible construction.
Leslie Green started a Facebook page called "Save Pebble Creek" in the hopes of keeping the area a green space. She explained her neighborhood is unique and full of wildlife. She said she thinks construction and new homes would take away from the nature in her neighborhood.
“It's the quiet, it's the peacefulness that this neighborhood provides it's a quaint neighborhood, and we want to keep it that way,” Green said.
And Frances Rouzer agrees.
"I'd hate to see it go. I think it's one of the oldest preserves before it was New Tampa," she said.
The county explained the land use process is not legislative. It follows court-like protocols, which is why a county commissioner couldn't be interviewed about it.
Next, the zoning hearing master will take Monday's public comment into consideration and make a recommendation to the Hillsborough County Commission in about a month. Then, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners will ultimately approve or deny the project in July.
