Dive summary:
- City commissioners in Sarasota County, Fla., a have rejected proposals to build a new subdivision because of the lands proximity to a closed landfill, however, the owner of the land, Barry Spencer, said he is going to continue fighting.
- Neighbors as well as government officials have expressed concerns that the building of new homes would unearth contaminants and that there isn’t enough research to know exactly where the landfill begins or ends.
- Spencer bought the land in 2006, closing the golf course that was occupied the land and has been working on converting the land for housing developments for the past year.
From the article:
The public hearing attracted 75 residents, with nearly two dozen speaking against the project.
Commissioners rejected the rezoning request by a vote of 4-0. Commissioner Nora Patterson abstained because her husband, an attorney, has represented the landowner in the past.
Foxfire Properties LLC, a company owned by Sarasota investor Barry Spencer, bought the property in 2006 and shut down a golf course that had been operating on the site, Foxfire Golf Club.
The owner has been working to rezone the land for more than a year and had tried to ease neighbors' concerns by agreeing not to build on two areas known to be former landfill sites.
“We are not developing the landfill areas,” said Sarasota attorney Bill Merrill, who was representing the property owner. “We think that the hazardous waste issue is not an issue that should be a focus of this rezoning.” ...
