To: Norm Roche, Charlie Justice, Susan Latvala, Karen Williams Seel, John Morroni, Kenneth T. Welch, and Janet Long
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners: Save Briarwood!
Dear Pinellas County Commissioners,
I am signing this petition to request that you vote against the future land use amendment that would result in the over development of Briarwood Travel Villa [hereinafter, “Briarwood”] located at 2098 Ulmerton Road, Largo, Florida, into 260 market rate apartments at the corner of Ulmerton Road and Seminole Boulevard . There is already a huge traffic problem at this intersection. Briarwood, a 40 year old RV park with hundreds of trees, is home to over 50 people who live there year-round with no income other than social security, food stamps, and low wage jobs. Briarwood is also home to several disabled veterans. The Briarwood Development Plan approved by the City of Largo does not provide for any affordable housing units to replace those that are being removed by closing Briarwood.
Although the Developer frames Briarwood as an “RV Park,” many have lived there for ten years. The developer claims that the residents’ RVs can be moved, that it will provide relocation assistance to permanent residents, and states that other RV parks have agreed to take the displaced residents in. However, the developer has yet to offer specifics on the type of assistance that will be provided and whether it will be enough to financially cover moving expenses. The residents fear that they may be left homeless or unable to sustain alternate housing. At the very least, the County and the City of Largo should hold the developer accountable to specifics in the type of relocation assistance that will be provided, and what will happen in the event the RV homes cannot be relocated. In addition to being a 13 acre site covered with hundreds of trees, Briarwood is home to wildlife. Residents have taken photos of bald eagles, otters, owls, coyotes, and other fauna.
Please vote against the future land use amendment. If the future land use amendment passes, it will destroy already-scarce green space in the city of Largo, at an intersection that is unable to accommodate the traffic from 260 market rate apartments.
Thank you.
I am signing this petition to request that you vote against the future land use amendment that would result in the over development of Briarwood Travel Villa [hereinafter, “Briarwood”] located at 2098 Ulmerton Road, Largo, Florida, into 260 market rate apartments at the corner of Ulmerton Road and Seminole Boulevard . There is already a huge traffic problem at this intersection. Briarwood, a 40 year old RV park with hundreds of trees, is home to over 50 people who live there year-round with no income other than social security, food stamps, and low wage jobs. Briarwood is also home to several disabled veterans. The Briarwood Development Plan approved by the City of Largo does not provide for any affordable housing units to replace those that are being removed by closing Briarwood.
Although the Developer frames Briarwood as an “RV Park,” many have lived there for ten years. The developer claims that the residents’ RVs can be moved, that it will provide relocation assistance to permanent residents, and states that other RV parks have agreed to take the displaced residents in. However, the developer has yet to offer specifics on the type of assistance that will be provided and whether it will be enough to financially cover moving expenses. The residents fear that they may be left homeless or unable to sustain alternate housing. At the very least, the County and the City of Largo should hold the developer accountable to specifics in the type of relocation assistance that will be provided, and what will happen in the event the RV homes cannot be relocated. In addition to being a 13 acre site covered with hundreds of trees, Briarwood is home to wildlife. Residents have taken photos of bald eagles, otters, owls, coyotes, and other fauna.
Please vote against the future land use amendment. If the future land use amendment passes, it will destroy already-scarce green space in the city of Largo, at an intersection that is unable to accommodate the traffic from 260 market rate apartments.
Thank you.
Why is this important?
If the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approves the future land-use amendment for Briarwood, many people will become homeless and many species will be destroyed, including bald eagles.