Ready or not, here comes Tuscany

Happy Monday after July 4th weekend! All rested and ready to continue summer?

Good, let’s go.

So, a few months back, Commissioner Jeff Kinnard returned from a wonderful wedding anniversary vacation to Spain with a crazy idea: 11-month building moratorium.

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Kinnard’s idea was to put a temporary stop on new development until we get a grip on whether we’re ready for all this additional growth. It wasn’t to stop issuing building permits on platted lots, but rather pausing the mega-development activity that’s filling up the board’s dance card every two weeks.

Within a week, he ditched it. Why? Well, the Chamber of Commerce sent out an email to its members asking that they remind the good commissioner of the role construction plays in the county’s economy. 

Unfortunately, he already planted the idea into the minds of 100,000 residents who probably agree with him.

There’s a point here. It’s called Tuscany Ranch.

Metro Development Group, which is applying for the planned unit development on 2,233 acres on the east side of C.R. 491 near Beverly Hills, had its public hearing planned for May. After Kinnard’s proposal made the news, Metro asked for a delay. In part, this is what its attorney wrote to the county:

"...We would like the opportunity to listen to and consider the important discussions concerning responsible growth anticipated on May 13 prior to moving forward with hearings on the project as not only an applicant, but a partner."

May 13 was the board’s “moratorium” discussion that never took place. Kinnard instead suggested numerous pathways to organized growth, including a rewrite of the comprehensive plan and a concurrency study limited to county roads.

OK, fine. Not exactly a community discussion.

Yet, here is Metro back on Tuesday’s County Commission agenda for a public hearing to approve a developer's agreement and the PUD called Tuscany Ranch.

I mean…we’re basically in the same place, from a growth conversation standpoint, as we were in May. Other than JWC blogs on the 491 mess, which revealed a somewhat friendly relationship between the county and Metro, everything is exactly the same.

Some observations on the Tuscany plan:

— First off, here’s the link to the Tuesday public hearing. There’s a lot of reading material here. Please give it a look if this really piques an interest.

— It’s 3,200 single-family homes and 1,415 multi-family units adjacent to and north of Forest Ridge Boulevard. Sounds huge, right? Many of the lots are already platted, so the net isn’t as big as it looks. And it has a unanimous recommendation from the Planning Commission.

— The maximum annual buildout: 300 homes. That’s according to a wastewater utility agreement.

— Not many details on the lagoon. Metro says it’ll take less water than the Twisted Oaks golf course. It also says the lagoon is “optional.” It’s almost like an afterthought. I don’t know. I kinda think it’s a big deal.

— Metro is offering 50 feet of right-of-way the entire length of its project to widen C.R. 491. There is some talk in the paperwork about whether Metro is providing actual land or giving the county money for right of way. That is a huge difference. It should be clearly stated.

Unfortunately, the 491 mess and Tuscany will forever be tied together. We just don’t want ambiguity in the development paperwork. Let’s make sure it’s all out in the open.

Same as a provision for a fire station, which Metro promises to provide. The paperwork says Metro and the county will come to an agreeable amount. Well, the county is budgeting $3.7 million for a new fire station down the road, so shouldn't the agreement be specific? Why are we leaving that to the developer and a county employee?

— I don’t see a traffic study. No clue what impact this mega development will have on our roadways. Only a best guess. 

— It’s ironic that commissioners have a homeless workshop Tuesday morning, and Tuesday evening will likely approve a development for homes and apartments way pricier than anything most of their constituents can afford. Just sayin’.

— I’d be surprised if the county turned it down. Yes, it’s huge. Yes, there’s the 491 mess head-scratcher. Plus, a lagoon neither the county nor the developer is talking much about. And a lot of cars dumping onto a road that's nowhere near ready for it.

But it fits the criteria commissioners seek: Quality development that doesn't have a bunch of neighbors yelling in their ear to deny it. Just don’t tell us it’s for our best interest. Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell.

And that’s a wrap. Have a great Monday, friends.

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