Polk County commissioners heard positive and negative comments from residents this week regarding an amended Bright’s Creek development agreement.
Commissioners held a public hearing Monday, March 7 at the Green Creek Fire Department.
Polk resident Bill Smith said the project as planned with a hotel and stores should not be permitted. Smith said there are already two-lane roads that are being repaired, costing additional taxpayer money, and several bridges in the area are prone to flooding.
“When these thousands of acres are developed this will only increase the runoff and increase frequency of flooding,” Smith said.
He said the new plan goes against the county’s 20/20 vision plan and the county’s current seven-acre lot minimum for major subdivisions.
But Bill Ennis said he hopes the county realizes that approval of Bright’s Creek’s revised master plan and development agreement is critical to the future of Bright’s Creek, “and that a successful Bright’s Creek is critical to the future of Polk County.”
Ennis said Bright’s Creek’s real estate taxes alone, at more than $1,000,000 a year, provide for 1/14 of the county’s entire annual budget for each of the last four years.
“And yet they cost the county very little in the way of services,” said Ennis. “They are a self-contained, self-supporting development.”
Ennis added that Bright’s Creek has provided jobs for many Polk residents and is generous in helping with charities, including the BMW Golf tournament.
“I think it would be a travesty not to give Bright’s Creek the help they need in these depressing economic times,” Ennis said. “Approve their revised master plan and updated development agreement. It will prove to be a good decision for the county in the years to come.”
A contract is currently being proposed for new owners to purchase Bright’s Creek. Protex Investment Group, Inc., owned by Alexander Salgado and Gabrielle Barragan, a couple out of Florida, plans to purchase the development with the transaction scheduled to close April 1. Protex Investment Group has plans to include 1,380 acres of open space at the development and create more cluster housing to replace some large lots. Plans for a hotel and spa, among other amenities, have also been mentioned.
Kate Bond, from the Lake Adger Development near Bright’s Creek, also made comments during Monday’s public hearing. She said she understands since this is not a new plan that Bright’s Creek does not have to abide by the county’s ridgetop ordinance, but asked that the county consider asking the development to voluntarily abide with a night sky ordinance and ridgetop regulations.
Sunny View Fire Chief Marty McGuinn said if a hotel is included, that could make a major impact on his department depending on the height of the hotel. A hotel could require the department to purchase a ladder truck, which cost approximately $500,000.
“Nor do I have the height on my building to house a ladder truck,” said McGuinn.
McGuinn also expressed concern about response time because of the development’s roads and remote location, saying that it takes 20 to 30 minutes to reach some areas.
Monday’s meeting initially included the approval of the updated development agreement, but the item was removed during the agenda adoption. Polk County Manager Ryan Whitson said he couldn’t comment as to why the county didn’t consider the new agreement Monday.