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FROM A READER

Published: January 17, 2009

Editor:

The hype: New Port Richey wants to recognize the economic and historical importance of downtown, and promote and regulate its redevelopment as a focal point of community pride and interest, you reported in your Jan. 10 West Pasco edition.

The reality: Since 2006, a business has been operating downtown in violation of municipal code. The city knows this. Its Development Review Committee approved the site plan, although it didn't meet downtown regulations.

What was once the quiet residential backyard now looks like an industrial park. Paved with lime rock, it's now a parking lot for seven commercial trucks and trailers, weekdays, nights and weekends. Landscape buffering is negligible; and it does not look like part of a residential neighborhood.

Residents complained repeatedly to the City Council, fearing their property's value would be adversely affected by this development.

The city responded by redrawing its zoning map, effectively bringing the business into compliance. The changes affect other properties, yet there was no public hearing.Residents' concerns about this situation remain unanswered. Now zoned "Downtown Residential Overlay District," the business continues to blatantly violate code. The city does nothing.

That's the reality of life in downtown New Port Richey.

Rowena J. Hover
New Port Richey

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