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More Controversy For Turtle Drive

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By B.C. MANION

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 7, 2008

LUTZ - The developer of a proposed subdivision off Turtle Drive has dropped a request to allow access to six homes through the Garden Grove neighborhood.

Instead, Larry Falls is proposing two entrances to the development he wants to build on a 45-acre tract he owns behind the house at 18505 Turtle Drive.

The property Falls wants to redevelop is occupied by a single-family house and 33-acre Lake Cooper and by a house that fronts Turtle Drive. Falls wants to create a six-house development to replace two single-family homes.

He wants access through the Turtle Drive property for three of the houses and an access off Cypress Shores Drive, in the neighboring Casa Del Lago subdivision, to the other three.

Falls said he won't need the variance he had requested if he reduces the number of homes entering his development off each access point.

He must provide at least a 30-foot easement to get to the houses on each side. He only has a 15-foot easement off Cypress Shores Drive.

He also needs to subdivide his property - a move Turtle Drive residents will fight if he tries to cut through their neighborhood, said David Hall, an attorney representing those residents.

Hall noted that the Hillsborough County Commission is on record against Falls' proposal to gain access through the property on Turtle Drive. Hall said Falls will need the commission's approval to subdivide the property.

Turtle Drive residents have vowed to fight efforts to bring additional traffic through their neighborhood, which consists of 11 houses on a cul-de-sac.

They planned to fight Falls' request at a public hearing that had been scheduled for Friday, before the variance request was dropped, Hall said.

On Tuesday, Falls said he planned to meet with residents from Casa Del Lago and Garden Grove later in the week to determine whether they can work something out.

Hall said it is unlikely Turtle Drive residents would accept any plan that allows traffic through their neighborhood.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.

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