By a unanimous vote of 5-0, the Citrus County Commission today approved to allow a project on Halls River Road to proceed for the construction of a new recreation resort with cabins, recreation area and boat rentals on Halls River Road in Homosasa.

The facility will feature 31 cabins, a recreational area, a 3,000-square-foot restaurant that would also be open to the public and a place to rent kayaks, canoes and Jon boats on a parcel of land measuring a little less than 10 acres.

The project also have two boardwalks - one over the canal and another over the nearby wetlands. In addition the cabins, which will each be 600 square feet, will be up on stilts, and parking space provided underneath. It sits on property that developer F. Blake Longacre had proposed to build a 52-unit condominium resort, which was nixed by a judge in Hernando County judge. The judge ruled that the development violated the Citrus County comprehensive plan.

The commission's vote came despite objections from 11 residents from the Riverhaven Community, who said they were concerned the project would harm the KARST-sensitive area, disturb the breeding grounds for sports fish in the nearby St. Martin's preserve and affect the aquifer, environment and river.

"It's a good project," said Riverhaven resident John Stoneman, "It's just in the wrong place. I just ask you (the commission) to look down the road 10 years from now. This place will be a zoo - a zoo of confusion."

Also speaking against the project were former County Commissioner Gary Bartell and his wife, Joanne.

After reading a letter from Anthanasios “Tommy” Piliouras and his son, Sam to the commission, Bartell also said he was against the project and he suggested that the project didn't meet the required criteria for the category it was placed in. "It's a hotel-motel," he said.

Joanne Bartell also addressed the commission, and cited a number of legal precedents she said that precluded developing the area, as well as county ordinances and land-use regulations that also ran counter to what Longacre was seeking.

Jim Bitter, Homosassa resident and president of the Homosassa River Alliance, said that the property being developed is still in the coastal high-hazard area. "The aquifer is at the surface (in the area)," he added. Bitter said that the alliance and others had been trying to protect the river for 15 years, and that the river appears to be dying from "a thousand cuts" - allowing exceptions to build one project after another. "We're attending a wake," he said, at every public hearing.

There were also four county residents who favored the development. Their contention was that it would provide jobs and be in the best interest of the area.

Jerry Peoples, who lives on Halls River Road, said, "This is an ideal situation. This will bring jobs to Citrus County. It is an asset to our community and our area."

Jack White, of Inverness was strongly in favor of the development, and noted that Longacre "had the patience of Job," having been "shot down by a judge in Hernado County." He was referring to an earlier court case involving the owner's previous attempt to develop the same property with a larger number of cabins.

Bud Allen of Crystal River, with Allen Site Development, told commissioners the project would create some jobs and bring in tax revenues, something which resident Jason Allen agreed with. "If this is shot down, perhaps a commissioner will get shot down," he said.

During discussion for the vote, all commissioners gave their logic for approving the project, which was last disapproved by the county commission in 2001.

Commissioner J.J. Kenney, who represents the Homosassa area, said what was presented by the developer satisfied the county's requirements. "If I was to vote on this based on emotion, I would vote against it,bBut looking at what was presented, it satisfied the requirements." He also said, "I have no doubt we're going to end up in the halls of justice again."

Commissioner Winn Webb said that he was dealing with the facts, and the opposition did not present evidence to show the development would be harmful to the area.

"There have been a lot of things brought up but not a lot of factual evidence to back it up. It appears it meets all of the criteria brought forward. I think it's going to be an asset to that area of the county, bring in tourist dollars with ... minimum impact … There's very little change that's being done that (will) affect the river." He added, "There's no factual evidence to show that it's not a good project."

As for the restaurant, Webb said that the developer will not have special treatment, and will be required to pull the permits like any other restaurants do.

Commissioner Joe Meek said he liked the project. "To me, this looks like this is a very good project. I think it's going to benefit the area. I look forward to it being built and being an asset to Citrus County," he said.

Commissioner Rebecca Bays agreed. "I think with the conditions that have been met (to move the) project move forward. I know it doesn't ease your comfort zone," Rebecca said to opposing residents, "but (this is one of those opportunities (for) a return on an investment. It will take a lot of nights of cabin rentals to pay for this." Then she thanked the developer for respecting the environment.

Commission Chairman Dennis Damato said he was very familiar with the area, and that he knew the original property owner. Further, he said, that owner one day foresaw a recreational use of the property. This project, Damato said, was a fulfillment of that prediction.

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The decision is handed down: