05/30/2021
Good Afternoon Pinellas County Commissioners, Members of our LPA Board, Ladies and Gentlemen of our Pinellas County Engineering Staff:
When Mr. Jeffry Hills bought the Tides Golf Course from Wells Fargo in November, 2016, he thought his GOLDEN GOOSE had come home to roost! 150 Acres of prime land that he gets to purchase for $3,850,00. One of the finest pieces of property left in Pinellas County location wise to build on, and he only pays $25,667/acre for the entire property! Where in Pinellas County can you find property these days to build on so cheap?
The answer to that question is NO WHERE! AND HE KNEW IT!
Mr. Hills bought his honey hole, not to run as a golf course (DEVELOPERS DO NOT RUN GOLF COURSES), but to destroy it...so he could build ...273 homes on it!
Without the protection of Our County, that would be his reality today!
I am writing this e-mail on behalf of all that fought for the preservation of our BELOVED TIDES GOLF COURSE RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE! We realize that without your protection this land would be lost!
We would like to thank everyone on our Pinellas County Engineering Staff....we will never realize how diligently you all worked to make sure this case came to a righteous conclusion! We are sure your hours were long, but your dedication paid off for our Community and the 19520+ people that wanted this RECREATION OPEN SPACE PROTECTED SO THAT IT MAY ENDURE FOR CENTURIES TO COME!
For our LPA Board Members, your diverse experiences helped secure a proper conclusion of whether the DENIAL given to you by the County Staff of Engineers was truly warranted. Thank you for your thoughtful and educated decision of DENIAL RECOMMENDATION to our County Commissioners!
Dear County Commissioners, Mr. Burton and Miss Jewel, the final decision making time came to your Group! I am proud that our County Commissioners stood up for what was right in our County. Your unanimous decision on the DENIAL OF MR. HILLS and Mr. CARPENTER's development plan, shows the boldness of conviction that you all have for saving our most precious RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE LANDS! As a Community, we laud you for the strength of your decision! Whatever happens in the future, your righteous decision on May 25th will win out!
On behalf of all the home owners that surround the Tides GC RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE, the 19520+ petition signers that wanted their voices heard, the thousands of animals, birds and mammals that call the Tides their home.......THANK YOU ALL AND BLESS YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!
Respectfully,
Ron Stephens
SAVE OUR TIDES GC RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE
