Environmental concerns stall redevelopment of old golf course

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has given Lakeland developer Highland Homes’ environmental consultant until Aug. 24 to fully comply with submitting environmental testing information on the former Palm View Golf Course in Palmetto.

Horner Environmental Professionals, Inc., began testing for environmental hazards in early July after the DEP launched an investigation on July 1, following concerns from residents around the golf course that development may stir up dangerous chemicals used over the course’s 50-year history. Highland Homes purchased the land in January for $1.4 million, but the sale remains contingent on a planned 142-unit housing development moving forward.

HEP’s report to FDEP shows no major issues in the testing, but FDEP said the report is incomplete. A two-week deadline to comply was set in a letter dated Aug. 10. Information in HEP’s report is lacking essential information, including the size of an underground storage tank and three above-ground storage tanks that were removed from the property in 2014.

The former owner was cited by a Manatee County report in 2014 for “running a sloppy operation.”

DEP Southwest District Director Mary Yeargan said in a letter to all parties involved that HEP should have included information about the storage tanks, particularly the underground tank, to determine if a closure of the tank was required. If so, a closure assessment report should have been filed.

HEP’s report indicates that seven soil samples were taken on July 6, but Yeargan said no analytical data was provided as far as sample depth, the form detailing chain of custody of the samples and laboratory reports.

A meeting between DEP and the developer was tentatively planned, but according to Shannon Herbon, DEP media relations & legislative affairs, the meeting is postponed.

George Lindsey, vice president of development for Highland Homes, said his company has done everything every agency and jurisdiction involved has asked them to do.

“And if they ask for anything else, we will do it. This type of review is not uncommon.”

Residents still question the process of how any local or state agency allows the developer to hire environmental companies to assess land they are trying to develop. Resident Leah Cole calls it a conflict of interest and residents say July’s testing was all for show.

“I find it interesting that they are sampling within eyesight of the homes of people who have been the most vocal about the testing,” said Cole. “Horner Environmental is in the middle of all this, as they were hired by the builder. Now that the property is owned by the builder, it’s in their best interest that no problems are found as testing and remediation are the responsibility of the property owner.”

Cole said she finds Horner’s environmental report “laughable. It’s like they are trying to do the least possible to get by. We need independent third-party testing to be done.”

It’s been a long battle for the residents of Deer Run, who initially won a zoning battle against Highland Homes in a 4-3 Manatee County Board of Commissioners vote last year. Highland Homes managed to appeal for a second round of public hearings, at which time the 4-3 vote turned in favor of the developer.

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Environmental concerns stall redevelopment of old golf course."