Rural won't cut it near parkway

Blame it on Cattle Dog chats.

See, I had something planned for today that I’ve been thinking about for a few weeks, so you know I’m ready to spill it.
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It requires a fair amount of targeted research, which I planned to handle Monday between two Cattle Dog chats. Well, the two became three, and that sucked all the available minutes out of the day.

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Which leaves us with the County Commission agenda.

The County Commission meets at 1 p.m. today. Three items have my particular interest:

— The county is ready to start the process to widen C.R. 491 between Pine Ridge and Hampshire boulevards. Commissioners are asked to seek proposals from design consultants.

C.R. 491 was a big topic of conversation during Citrus County Legislative Days in Tallahassee last week. There seemed to be some jubilation about the state’s willingness to help out.

I’m kinda hoping the county will clarify that some today. What are we expecting to spend, where is the money coming from, and how exactly will this process going to take place? Yeah, details. We need them on 491.

— There’s a 5 p.m. public hearing on the Cardinal Interchange Management Area. These are the development standards that will be in place around the Suncoast Parkway interchange.

The area closest to the interchange is set aside for light industrial and some commercial. Get a little further away from the exit, and it’s mixed-use residential/commercial/office.

I don’t have any particular heartburn about this specific ordinance, but it’s just a reminder that the Suncoast Parkway is creating the potential for development where none was ever planned. Got that, right? Cardinal was never meant to have mixed-use communities.

What’s interesting is the County Commission is already on record opposed to isolated development on Cardinal. Not sure how this changes things.

The Cardinal Street plan is EXACTLY what parkway opponents warned would happen. Rooftops springing up on a rural stretch of road, which will have to eventually be widened, with a fire station to boot. Millions of tax dollars on the hook.

Shaking my head.

— I’m not going to say much about the North Florida Land Trust “Citrus County Nature Coast Forever” presentation scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Here’s the report. It’s extremely thorough. I only got about halfway through.

The idea of identifying conservation lands and having a program for such is just fine. If that’s all this is, wonderful. But it’s wrapped up in a sales tax referendum that no one is talking about.

So, I will.

I laid out my view of the sales tax referendum a few weeks ago. Far as I’m concerned, it’s dead for this year. Why? The County Commission did the one thing it promised it wouldn’t do: Interfered with the process, thus muddying it up.

A sales tax referendum for wants, when we have major needs, is absurd.

But, County Commission, c’mon. Just be up front with us. If the board is actually headed in that direction, let’s hear it. If not, say so. Cuz right now, I’m a little confused.

That’s how it is on this chilly Tuesday. Enjoy it, friends.

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