Tampa Bay Times: How best to preserve Pinella’s dwindling green space?

(Problem: How to revamp privately owned recreational land, like a golf course?)

Anne Lindberg, Times Staff Writer — January 30, 2014

A recent recommendation by staffers that Pinellas County commissioners reject a proposal to transform a golf course into a housing development could be the forerunner of a new approach to the redevelopment of privately owned recreational spaces.

Commissioners are poised to discuss the creation of rules that would limit the redevelopment of such privately owned acreage so that more of it remains green. The concept is similar to the commission’s move to preserve industrial acreage; such spaces are so important to the quality of life in Pinellas their preservation outweighs property owners’ rights to do what they want with their land. Commissioners want their rules to apply to privately owned lands in cities, as well as in unincorporated Pinellas.

“Preserving green space is a priority in our county,” Commissioner Ken Welch said. “We’ve done that with public space. Now we have to look at how we balance that with private parcels. Read more: