SEMINOLE – The city will conduct the first of two public hearings on a zoning change and consider a development agreement on the former Bay Pines Mobile Home Park property at its next City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 24.
Bay Pines LP, headed by developer John Loder, is seeking to change the zoning status from mobile home park to residential, which will allow for the development of single-family homes, condominiums and apartments.
The proposal passed the first test Feb. 26 when it was approved by Seminole’s development review board.
Community Development Director Mark Ely said there is no time frame set on the start of construction due to the current market conditions.
Loder did not return an e-mail asking for comments.
The city has forced Loder to conform to a number of stipulations. Among them was a request to map the property for nearly 400 oak trees, so that none of the trees disappear, Ely said.
Loder also was asked to hire a commercial nursery to recycle vegetation on the property, as opposed to plowing it under, Ely said.
Loder’s group purchased the 59-acre tract at 10005 Bay Pines Blvd. last May for $38.5 million.
Homeowners in the park sued Loder over the acquisition but dropped the lawsuit when Loder agreed to pay them slightly more than the state-mandated amounts for their homes.
The park closed in December when the last residents moved out.
