16 Questions Asked by Bloomingdale Big-Box Opponents

Residents opposed to big-box retail and apartment complex development just west of Lithia-Pinecrest Road and Bloomingdale Avenue, have sent certified letters to each of the seven Hillsborough County commissioners concerning the Redstone Properties development project.

• See Big-Box Opponents Demand Written Answers From All 7 Hillsborough County Commissioners

Enclosed with the certified letters is a copy of the nine-page document residents read from at the June 10 meeting with Commissioner Al Higginbotham, including background material, text from pertinent BOCC meetings and the 16 questions residents want answered.

Residents packed the Brandon Community Center multipurpose room after organizers with the Coordinated Active Neighborhoods Development Organization (CAN-DO) distributed some 2,500 flyers about the meeting the weekend before.

Here are the 16 questions asked, to which CAN-DO representatives request written answers by the commissioner and county staff:

1. If this developer were before the county commission today asking to amend the Land Development Code as they did back in 2011, knowing what you know now, would you still approve it?

2. Don't you, as our elected representative, have a responsibility to make sure we are not "duped"? And if we were duped. as the commissioner says we were, shouldn't you go after the developer for misrepresenting what they intended to develop, even if it means taking legal action?

3. In the May 15, 2013 BOCC meeting, commissioners repeatedly said that "it wasn't this board that made the changes," but in reality it was — each and every one of you voted to change TND to MUD zoning. How do you and the other commissioners plan on fixing this mess YOU made in 2011?

4. When this privately initiated text amendment from the developer came before the BOCC in September 2011 and December 2011, why did you NOT protect the property rights, way of life, safety and community structure for the residents living in Bloomingdale?]

5. Even if it's not required by law, why didn't you, Commissioner Higginbotham, follow up to make sure that they did what they promised to do, which was to hold community meetings? Don't you owe that to us, your constituents?

6. Don't you think that the public has a right to have a say in rezoning matters, especially when they will impact their community?

7. In the 2003 rezoning hearing a condition that the land use hearing officer placed on the approval was dealing with traffic and failing roads. What is your justification now for approving the failure of this stretch of Bloomingdale Avenue?

8. You personally know how important EMS response time is. Do you not also care about the safety of your constituents? How much will this increase response times when EMS can't get down the road? How many people will have to die or lose their house to a fire before you care?

9. As our county commissioner, where do you plan on obtaining the $600,000 plus right-of-way costs to do the minimal modifications to these intersections? Keeping in mind that this money has nothing to do with improving what will be a failing Bloomingdale Avenue and that it will be many years until Lithia Pinecrest [Road] will be improved.

10. How do you think adding almost 8,000 more cars every day to this section of road will affect the safety of pedestrians and motorists, in an area that is already one of the most dangerous in the county? Keep in mind that within approximately 0.5 mile[s] of the development site in question, on Bloomingdale Avenue, there is a county library, a high school, a YMCA and a county recreation area with baseball fields.

11. Do you think the BOCC should be liable for making this conscious decision, which seems in direct conflict with the safety of the citizens of Hillsborough County and your constituents?

12. How do you plan to address overcrowding of schools and the safety of our children?

13. Who is going to refund the residents for their losses? Who is going to protect our small businesses?

14. This development isn't economic growth as sold to you by the consultants in the September 2011 BOCC meeting, it is a corporate subsidy. Can Hillsborough County taxpayers afford another Walmart supercenter?

15. What do you plan to do to protect the property, quality of life, peace and quiet of the adjacent residents?

16. How do you plan to save the existing oak trees on the property and what will you do to ensure that Little Oaks neighborhood residences will not flood due to this project?

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Any questions you'd like to add to the list? Let us know in the comment box below.

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