Ellie Notes – March 30, 2025
We had a phenomenal turnout for the Special SaveSCC Informational Meeting on March 27, 2025, at the Rollins Theater.
Thank you to every person who attended the event, and my apologies to those who could not participate in the meeting due to space constraints of the venue. We have been working to overcome venue challenges and costs with the CA board as a new, 501(c)(3) organization. With this change, we hope to become a CA recognized organization, according to the CA’s facilities policy, in regard to room-charge policy for rental, security deposit and set-up charges for all CA venues in the future at little or no cost.
The meeting and facts leading up to the development fight with ClubLink were presented by me, as President and spokesperson for SaveSCC, based on extensive research and consultation by our teams over the past three years.
We have also enlisted the support of Hillsborough County staff, commissioners and their staffs; SCC Community board members, past and present; community residents with applicable knowledge as professionals in Land Use, Planning, Real Estate Development and Law, as well as pro bono experts from other communities conducting similar fights to save their communities from redevelopment of their golf courses.
Additional impromptu speakers were Ron Clark, who spoke as a private citizen, lives on Caloosa Greens, one of the courses for proposed development. Ron also answered questions as CA President. Thank you, Ron!
Ricki Bauman, member of the Hillsborough Land Use Appeal Board for special use permits and variances from zoning regulations, also spoke. Ricki is a community resident, member of local civic organizations, and realtor.
She spoke of the importance of speaking and being a party of record at public meetings, which will be noticed and held by the county once ClubLink files its application and project details with Hillsborough County. Anyone’s standing to oppose development rests on their participation as a party of record in the initial Land Use Hearing Public Meeting. Thank you, Ricki, for your wise words!
We had another notable attendee from Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal’s office – his aide, Ryan Becker. Ryan commented to me after the meeting that our analysis and presentation was “spot on” for its research and our insights concerning the ever-changing landscape regarding the laws, land development code, comprehensive plan and community affecting what is allowed at any given moment. Thank you Ryan!
Based on our anticipation and popular demand, we proactively arranged before the meeting for a repeat of this vital information session date and time to be determined. We tried to advise those turned away from this meeting of the upcoming meeting but that didn’t always happen. The updated SaveSCC Postcard is attached for your information and friends.
As we did with our March meeting, we will be available beforehand for special concerns and/or obtaining SaveSCC collateral materials and promotion items (tee-shirts, window clings, etc., for a donation). If you want to get a tee-shirt, this would be an opportune time.
At the April meeting, I will skinny it down and zero in on the punch line more. Unfortunately, the end got somewhat off track due to unplanned speakers, issues with room occupancy and folks leaving to get home on golf carts before dark.
What we attempted to explain as some attendees exited and we got cut off bares mentioning again here:
ClubLink has not, and will not, go away. This company has pursued numerous similar projects in both Canada and the U.S. So, they have a long track record. They have time, money, experience and expertise on their side.
They will file an application for development when it is in their best interest to do so. We have no idea of what their timing is, but their intent is crystal clear – build residential or even commercial multifamily senior housing – single family homes, villas or duplexes, and/or senior housing. They intend to develop, because that’s where the money is, and their prime target is Sandpiper, per their own annual report to investors. But no ClubLink property is safe.
ClubLink filed a Notice of Intent for Projects Under the Live Local Act (LLA) to keep their options open. The requirements for Live Local Project continue to change and evolve. Each county’s interpretation of what qualifies is different and evolving. Per the County’s website on this program, “As this is a new program, please check back often for new information as we gather experience and clarification regarding these new guidelines.” ClubLink submitted on February 28, 2024, and Hillsborough County’s the most recent LLA code amendment was adopted by the BOCC and became effective on Sept. 12, 2024. ClubLink could be grandfathered or under the updated rules. That remains to be seen.
So let’s be perfectly clear, today’s Hillsborough’s interpretation under the Live Local Act, memorialized in the Land Development Code, limits zoning districts that qualify for consideration in Hillsborough County to BPO, OR, CN, CG, CI, or M. Therefore, as of now, properties with planned development or RSC-6 zoning ( the 7 courses they own in SCC) are not eligible for consideration under that interpretation of the Live Local Act. Right now, however, other Florida counties, including Lee County, interpret the Live Local Act law differently. In Lee County, non-residential and mixed-used Planned Development (PD) zoning districts may be used for Live Local projects.
There have been and will continue to be challenges in the courts to clarify under LLA what does or does not qualify or apply under what circumstance and terms. There are many unknowns and ambiguities when trying to apply and use the law’s benefits. Only time will tell if this is really the avenue that ClubLink will take. And if they do, does LLA apply, and whether they intend it only for a portion of the properties or subset of their overall project.
SaveSCC will continue to work only with sufficient involvement and support from all of the community, and hopefully, the CA. There is significant work to be done and resources – people, money and time are essential to our success. We are assessing the community’s commitment level, and will continue to do so to gauge our level of involvement and ongoing efforts accordingly.
Success in this endeavor takes an army, and everyone has something to contribute. We need generals, lieutenants, staff sergeants and privates. It will take a village mobilized as an army, and we are ready and prepared to lead us to victory. BUT, we can only do this if we are resourced properly.
We are surveying the entire horizon and doing a deep dive in every facet of this challenge. To reach our potential, we need to pursue our goals and find every bit of competent, substantial evidence that supports the protection and preservation of our golf courses for future recreation use. This is the future we seek. It is about the health, welfare, lifestyle and safeguarding our residents and their investment here. It is our collective responsibility to ourselves, our community, one another and those yet to come to Sun City Center. It is a fight for our future we cannot afford to lose.
So, if you could not attend our recent Informational Meeting, I pledge to hold them in the near future until we have provided everyone with the opportunity to hear the details, ask their questions and make their own decision about what they can contribute to the effort.
As I said before, we will hold our next Information Meeting – a repeat performance, back by popular demand, on April 10, 2025, at 6 p.m. in Rollins Theatre. We’ll be available before the meeting begins for donations, tee shirts, volunteer opportunities and special questions. Come see for yourself what it is all about and what you can do to protect our green space and golf courses, if we unite.
Additional meetings are in the planning and will be scheduled once SaveSCC is adopted and listed by the CA Board in the Facilities Policy indicating our status with respect to room rent, deposits and room set-up fees for all CA facilities, including the Community Hall. CA facility access and related costs changes for us are occurring as I write this. The CA Board has been researching this and is addressing our request in the coming weeks at the upcoming board workshop and board meeting for adoption in the Facilities Policy.
Other than an informational session, the best place to get information and know what is happening, is our email blast or website. You can sign up as a member and receive our email blast by registering as a member at https://savescc.org/114-2/. Our SaveSCC website is at https://savescc.org.
Please share this email with your friend, neighbors, and associates. We need to spread the word, and you can help! Pass it on!
I hope to see you at one of our upcoming Informational Sessions. Most importantly, after you know the facts, I want you to be a volunteer and/or donor and support us. We need you!
There will be special meetings for volunteers to get everyone on board with the detailed work at hand, and assemble the leadership and teams to execute the work. However, we will conclude the informational meetings and recruitment effort before the volunteer kickoff meeting.
Thanks for reading! Any thoughts, suggestions, or questions are welcome.
Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337