Author Archives: Lorraine Mancuso

[ Save Sun City Center News ] Ellie’s Notes June 8, 2026 and Q&A

Ellie’s Notes June 8, 2026 and Q&A

Hello Friends, Supporters and Neighbors,

We’ve been extra busy preparing to onboard volunteers to our reconstituted Zoning and Legal team to work on our two-pronged strategy to thwart ClubLink’s development plans. We have been blessed to have some very capable professionals with excellent backgrounds to bring new perspective, energy, and thinking to the effort. Our inaugural Emeeting is tomorrow and I expect great synergy.

We are also working to onboard other volunteers in various areas.

Also expect a Call-Out request for volunteers later this week as we seek to add to our Technology Team, which manages and operates our SaveSCC website, social media, Google Workspace, the repository for all SaveSCC materials and records and other underlying architecture that supports our work.

Pebble Creek Golf Course

The long-contested Pebble Creek Golf Course redevelopment saga returns to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners for a revote on tomorrow, June 9, 2026, following years of legal battles between developer GL Homes and community opposition. After an initial 2023 denial by the county commission and subsequent legal seesawing in court, the case regarding the 150-acre property is being reconsidered based on updated infrastructure challenges and community input.

The lengthy battle over the Pebble Creek Golf Course reached the courts due to a classic clash between private property rights and local government zoning authority. When a local government denies a developer’s request, the developer has the right to legal recourse, leading to a multi-stage judicial “ping-pong” match before returning to the county.

How the Litigation Happened (Step-by-Step)

  • The Initial 2023 Denial: In July 2023, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted 5-2 to deny G.L. Acquisitions’ (GL Homes) request to rezone the 150-acre property from a golf course to a 251-home residential community. The BOCC cited neighborhood incompatibility and deviations from the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

  •  The First Court Challenge (Circuit Court): Developers can appeal local government zoning decisions through a “Writ of Certiorari” in the circuit court. GL Homes did exactly this. In June 2024, a 13th Judicial Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of the developer, stating that the county commission’s denial was not backed by “competent, substantial evidence”. The judge essentially quashed the county’s denial, opening the door for development.

  • The Second Court Challenge (Appellate Court): Unwilling to accept the circuit court’s decision, the Hillsborough County Commissioners voted to appeal to a higher court. In July 2025, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal reversed the lower court’s decision. The appellate court ruled that the circuit court had overstepped its legal boundaries and improperly evaluated the board’s findings. This ruling reinstated the county’s original power to deny the rezoning.

Why the Case is Back Before the Commission

Even though the appellate court sided with the county, a legal victory of this nature rarely ends a land-use dispute permanently. The case has returned to the county commissioners for several critical reasons:

  • Due Process and Remedying the Record: In Florida land-use law, when an appellate court quashes a lower court’s order or finds faults in how findings were handled, the issue is often sent back to the local government body. The board must hold a new, legally airtight vote that strictly satisfies the evidentiary standards outlined during the litigation.

  • Substantial Changes in Local Infrastructure: Because years have passed since the original 2023 application, local conditions have shifted. The board must evaluate the project against the updated real-world realities of flooding, local traffic, utility capacities, and general infrastructure strain that may have worsened since the initial hearings.

  • Leverage for Compromise: Total legal gridlock often forces both parties back to the negotiating table. Returning to the commission allows the county and the developer to consider modified proposals—such as reduced density, increased green spaces, or adjusted community buffers—to avoid entering another multi-year cycle of costly lawsuits

For any of you interested in hearing or attending the proceedings, you may find more information on the Hillsborough County website via the links below:

Hillsborough County web site with Land Use Meeting details.

Land Use Agenda June 9, 2026

The hearings can be viewed in real time or after the fact on the County’s YouTube Channel.

I am also including the Q&A draft from the April 22 Informational Meeting and emails we received. It is the first draft and a work in progress.  More to come.
 

SaveSCC Questions and Answers

This master list of questions is compiled from inquiries at recent meetings, and from submissions via the Contact Us form on the Save SCC website. Additional questions may be submitted through that method and will be added to the list, which will always be available on our website at shortly.  (NOTE: The most recent questions will be at the bottom.)

Last Updated: June 5, 2026

  1. What is the zoning designation for the North Lakes Golf Course (Folio 054255-0000), and what does it mean?

  • Zoning: The golf course is zoned RSC-6 (Residential Single-Family Conventional).Development Potential: This standard residential designation allows single-family homes on minimum 7,000-square-foot lots.

  • Density: Depending on land layout, it allows a maximum of six (6) units per acre.

  • Live Local Act: This land does not qualify for the high-density housing provisions under the Live Local Act. However, the owner can legally propose standard single-family home developments.

  1. What are the zoning classifications for the other ClubLink golf courses?

  • Zoning: The other six (6) ClubLink golf courses in Sun City Center (Sandpiper, Caloosa Greens, Club Renaissance) and Kings Point (Scepter, Falcon Watch and Kings Point Executive) are zoned as Planned Developments (PD 73-0186).

  • PD Restrictions: These properties are strictly governed by specific, approved site plans and conditions.

  • Changes: A proposed modification of a PD designation requires a formal public hearing process before a Hearing Master and the Board of County Commissioners. Any change in zoning also includes public notice and community comment periods, provided the laws are not changed, amended or bypassed by a loophole.

  1. Are manufactured homes a housing option in a RSC-6 designated zone?

Yes. If manufactured homes are built to Florida building code standards. Hillsborough County Sun is required by state law to treat them the same as any other site-built home.

  1. What legal and regulatory frameworks currently impact these properties?

  • Legal Uncertainty: Ongoing county litigation against the Live Local Act creates legal uncertainty for potential developers.

  • Property Rights: Existing property rights laws limit the county’s ability to initiate rezonings on its own.

  1. What is the difference between Zoning and Future Land Use for these properties?

  • Comprehensive Plan: The Future Land Use Map (FLUM) sets the absolute maximum development limits, often labeled RES-6 or R-6.

  • Zoning vs. Land Use: The RES-6 land use category is distinct from the RSC-6 zoning district. The land use map defines the broad policy cap, while the zoning code specifies the exact, immediate property rules.

  1. How Can the Public Monitor Development Application Activity?

Residents can view active zoning applications and receive official notices through a dedicated function on the Hillsborough County website. The link is:  https://hcfl.gov/businesses/zoning/look-up-a-zoning-case.

It is also recommended that residents review the community plan, as it serves as a critical document for ensuring development consistency within the comprehensive plan. The Greater Sun City Center Community Plan is available on the SaveSCC.org website at https://savescc.org/community-plan/

  1. Where Can I Submit Golf Course Issues or Maintenance Complaints to Hillsborough County?

Residents must submit a formal complaint to trigger any code enforcement investigations. The link is:

https://hcflgov.service-now.com/cs?id=sc_cat_item&sys_id=8ee943e28716f01079192f49cebb350f&sysparm_category=ae3f5a72873efcd079192f49cebb3547

Golf course maintenance issues that can and should be reported to code enforcement involve health, safety, environmental hazards or municipal property standards. Local code enforcement departments regulate both active and abandoned commercial properties to prevent neighborhood deterioration.

The specific issues that fall under their jurisdiction include:

Overgrown Grass and Weeds (The 10-Inch Rule)

  • The Rule: According to the Hillsborough County Property Maintenance Code, grass and weeds cannot exceed 10 inches in height.

  • Golf Course Application: This rule strictly applies to any part of the course within 200 feet of a building, residential area or street right-of-way.

  • What to report: If a golf course operator stops mowing its perimeter and the grass exceeds 10 inches next to your backyard or a public road, it is a code violation.

  • Encroaching Vegetation: Overgrown bushes, trees or low-hanging branches blocking public sidewalks, roadways or sightlines at intersections.

Property Preservation and Nuisance Abatement (Ordinance 12-7)

  • The Rule: The Property Preservation Ordinance targets vacant, abandoned or neglected commercial land that threatens public health or safety.

  • Golf Course Application: Golf course owners are required to maintain the structural safety and sanitation of their entire acreage.

  • What to report:

    • Unclean standing water in overgrown maintenance ponds or broken fountains that breed massive mosquito populations.

    • Accumulated junk, trash, yard debris or dead felled trees left rotting near the property lines.

    • Rats, mice or snake infestations leaking into neighborhoods due to unmanaged brush piles.

Environmental and Water Runoff Violations

  • Golf courses use heavily regulated systems for chemical application and water management.

  • Chemical Spill or Misapplication: Illegal dumping or improper storage of toxic fertilizers, pesticides and fuel.

  • Water Pollution and Illegal Runoff: Drainage systems or equipment washing areas that send contaminated wastewater, chemical drift or heavy sediment into municipal storm drains or local protected wetlands.

  • Water Waste: Operating broken irrigation mainlines or watering during restricted drought hours in violation of local water-use ordinances.

Dangerous Structures and Fencing

  • The Rule: Building codes require all structures to be safe, and fences are to follow height and material rules.

  • Golf Course Application: Clubhouses, storage buildings and security boundaries must be maintained.

  • What to report:

    • Dangerous structures: Abandoned, rotting clubhouses, structurally compromised bridges, or maintenance sheds with collapsing roofs.

    • Fence violations: Damaged or missing perimeter safety fences around deep water hazards or dangerous equipment yards. (Per county code, fences cannot exceed 4 feet in a required front yard or 6 feet in side/rear yards.)

The folio numbers and addresses for the golf courses are:

Course

↕ Folio

↕ Property Address

North Lakes

054255-0000

1225 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., SCC

King Point Executive Course

057470-0000

445 Kings Blvd., Ruskin

Falcon Watch

057474-0000

1000 Kings Blvd., Ruskin

Scepter

057474-1500

1226 Newpoint Loop, Ruskin

Caloosa Green

077956-0010

2205 E. Del Webb Blvd., SCC

Sandpiper

078634-0000

1702 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., SCC

Club Renaissance

079545-3000

2121 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., SCC

How to File a Report in Hillsborough County

Florida law prohibits code enforcement from accepting anonymous complaints. You must provide your name and address when filing.

  • Online: File a formal ticket through the official Hillsborough County 311 Code Violation Portal. The link is:

https://hcflgov.service-now.com/cs?id=sc_cat_item&sys_id=8ee943e28716f01079192f49cebb350f&sysparm_category=ae3f5a72873efcd079192f49cebb3547

  • By Phone: Call the Code Enforcement customer service line directly at (813) 274-6600.

  • What to include: Take photos, log the dates of the issues, and provide the exact location or parcel address of the violation on the course.

  1. What is the County doing regarding the Live Local Act (LLA)?

Hillsborough County has filed a lawsuit challenging the Live Local Act, arguing that it undermines local control over land use and zoning. While the lawsuit is pending, the county is advising that any development under this act may be subject to future legal uncertainty regarding permitting and maintenance.

  1. Are closed Golf Course Properties Eligible under the LLA State Law?

Although prior legislative attempts sought to make planned development zones eligible for the Live Local Act, state law was clarified to confirm that golf courses and residential areas in planned developments do not qualify as commercial, industrial, or mixed-use developments. This change to law SB 1730 during the last legislative session at the 11th-and-half-hour was due to our citizen advocacy. Consequently, the county maintains the position that golf courses are ineligible for the high-density residential development permitted under the LLA act.

  1. Will County Revisit Zoning, Property Rights and Valuation on the North Course?

The county is limited in its ability to initiate rezonings that could diminish property values, due to the Bert J. Harris Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act, which creates potential financial liability for the county if such actions lower appraised property values.

  1. Can Public Zoning Participation Meetings be held in Sun City Center?

No. All public land use hearings are held at the County Center

in downtown Tampa at  601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602.  Residents have the option to participate virtually through phone or videoconferencing to provide testimony during proceedings. Save SCC is planning to have buses to transport a limited number of residents for our show of support at the public hearings. Details will be provided when warranted.

Hillsborough County Land Use Hearing Information

  1. Community Impact and Lifestyle Concerns?

There is significant concern among residents regarding the impact of recent development actions on the community’s established lifestyle. When developers propose rezonings, the county will evaluate these requests through the lens of the existing community plan.

  1. What happens with Stormwater Management?

Concerns were raised regarding the functionality of existing stormwater management systems, including ponds and lift stations, and whether future development would disrupt these water pathways. The county noted that while stormwater management is a critical component of the development review process, questions regarding specific drainage infrastructure should be submitted for further investigation. Although our storm water management systems on the golf courses are of critical importance, advocating in this area to pursue addressing deferred maintenance of these critical systems is better addressed to the respective community associations in Kings Point and Sun City Center, not Save SCC.

  1. Does Sun City Center have an Age-Restricted Overlay and would this apply to any new development?

Yes. If there is development or new construction within the Sun City Center age-restricted Overlay, any new builds within the overlay would require that at least one resident in each home be 55 years of age or older and prohibits permanent residency for individuals under 18. This would apply to any new construction. Any new development would also be subject to Community Association membership requirements and covenants that run with the land.

Hillsborough County Sun City Center Special District

  1. What is the Status of the ClubLink Land Donation Announced at the March 22, 2022, meeting?

At the March 23, 2022, meeting there was discussion regarding a potential donation of approximately 180 acres of land to the Community Association. However, no further progress has been made. The Community Association has not received any further communication from the ClubLink regarding land donations or sales.

  1. Are there any development applications for the golf courses filed with the County?

No. As of May 25, 2026, there are no development applications filed for any golf course in Sun City Center or Kings Point by or on ClubLink’s behalf.

  1. Is there any way to get the North Lakes golf course rezoned or have the RSC-6 zoning designation removed, because it is a golf course and it is in a planned community? Why can’t the current zoning just be reversed by the county or the state legislature?

When the county contemplates actions, they must be cognizant of what a zoning change will do to property and property values. There is a law in the state of Florida called the Bert Harris Act. What that allows an owner to do is, if the county takes an action that lowers the appraised value of a property, the county could be liable for that difference in value. So, for the most part, the county does not initiate rezonings that reduce value of properties because there is risk and exposure.

  1. If an application for development is filed, where would the hearing meeting be? Would these meetings all be held in Tampa?

All land use hearings in Hillsborough County are held at the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa. These include Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Land Use meetings, Zoning Hearing Master (ZHM) hearings, and Land Use Hearing Officer (LUHO) proceedings.

There is an opportunity for virtual participation during those meetings. It’s not simply watching the meeting. You can actually sign up and speak, and make your presentation virtually through your phone, computer or iPad. The rules to participate require that you can be heard and seen at the same time, and that you sign up in advance. If you just want to watch, proceedings are broadcast live on HTV (Spectrum channel 637, Frontier channel 22), on the county website, and on Hillsborough County’s YouTube channel.

You can find additional instructions on submitting documentary evidence, signing up to speak in person or online, or submitting comments through the Hillsborough County Land Use Public Hearings portal.

  1. What is the situation with Toro?

Neither SaveSCC or the CA have any relationship with Toro.  Toro and ClubLink have an ongoing business arrangement and agreements with Toro that per Paul Ascioti, Director of Operations, Sun City Center for ClubLink at Club Renaissance, are managed out of ClubLink Canada.  Toro conducts research and testing on facilities here in Sun City Center and also in Palm Aire in Pompano Beach.

In general, ClubLink is a very opaque organization.

  1. What is the status of the 5 acres of land on the North Lakes courses North of the Community Association Campus acquired from ClubLink?

The five acres is on the north side of the parking lot where the temporary volleyball has been played for a while. About two acres and a half has to be used for retention. So only about three and a half acres of it is useful for development. The board’s been keeping that in abeyance in case we need additional facilities.

  1. Does anyone know why Sun City Center Community Association is not supporting the residents in stopping Club Links from building on the north course?

Published in the News of Sun City Center & South County,  June, 2026, Page 2, paragraph 2

President’s Report

By Ron Clark, CA President

Concerning the closed golf courses: the original zoning of the North Course allows six homes per acre, and Sandpiper and Caloosa Greens would need to be rezoned by the county unless they remain as open green space. Most of the County Commissioners have shown a reluctance for such rezoning. The CA Board has been asked why it remains neutral regarding ClubLink’s (CL) potential development of the golf courses. The decision to remain neutral was made by the Board in 2022 based on input from legal counsel as well as for practical reasons. There has been no development plan filed with the county to take a reasoned and thoughtful position on. Taking an adversarial position now would reduce our ability to have a constructive dialogue with CL about their taking action on complaints from CA members who are abutters. Many times, we have asked CL to address maintenance issues such as grass mowing, picking up downed trees and limbs, spraying ponds for weeds, removing a dead alligator, etc., and CL has been responsive. Best to stay alert and see what, if anything. is submitted to the county. That will be the time for the Board to take a thoughtful position based on the facts.

  1. Isn’t it time to move offensively to file a class action lawsuit against Clublink?

Pursuing a class action lawsuit or any litigation against a developer requires immense organization, specific legal criteria, and substantial financial backing. Because these lawsuits are incredibly complex, preparation and funding must be handled strategically, and this is at the core of our SaveSCC work.

We have been working building the case and doing the research but it is an exhaustive process and many of the pertinent documents are not in the public domain like developer and community association records regarding understandings and agreements between the developer and the community. Nor are personal closing documents er.  We are collecting original marketing brochures, sales contracts, community plat maps, zoning records, deeds, and CC&Rs. We must prove the community was explicitly sold as a golf course neighborhood and any applicable land use restrictions or covenants.

Another substantial hurdle is raising sufficient funds for land-use attorneys, environmental engineers, and other professional experts required to successfully pursue the case. Fees could easily be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our resources are very limited and while we do as much as possible ourselves with volunteers and pro bono resources, we ultimately will need paid professionals on the team.

Our goal in any action is very clear – stop any development and ensure that the golf courses are used for recreation only. We are and will continue to pursue two distinct strategies: a winning case to be presented in public zoning hearings before Hillsborough County, if and when, ClubLink files a development application, and, alternatively, potentially pursuing proactive action, if and when we are prepared, and properly resourced, and confident in our ability to succeed.

  1. Can you put info into the weekly SCC Observer to get more people involved in our effort?

We do periodically have informational meetings, new releases, stories in the Observer, and Email blasts, our web site and social media posts all in an effort to keep people engaged and up to speed on what is happening and engaged in our cause.  Ordinary citizens can help us in the effort to engage people by wearing their SaveSCC tee shirt around town, or by distributing our SaveSCC postcards, or helping a neighbor sign up to receive our email blasts, or just talking about the challenge to our community.

  1. You have mentioned that two Florida golf course developments have been successful in defeating the land development. I wonder if anyone has met with the leaders of these communities to discover the cost to defeat the development and if and who they used as law firms to aid in the process. This may be a great insight for your success.

We are always trying to stay abreast of current challenges and successes with what we like to call “birds of a feather”.  These are other golf course redevelopment projects that we work with and support going through similar fights.

We have two different groups we monitor and communicate with – ClubLink courses in Florida – like Palm Aire in Pompano Beach (fighting), the Woodlands in Tamarac, FL (currently under construction by 13th Floor in a joint venture with ClubLink), Heron Bay (ClubLink sold the 223-acre Heron Bay Golf Club in Parkland, Florida, for $32 million. TheHeron Bay property was acquired by the North Springs Improvement District (NSID)), or other local courses like Pebble Creek (The Hillsborough County Commission denied this rezoning in 2023. While a circuit court judge initially nullified that decision, an appeals court stepped in and ruled in favor of the county, cementing the denial. The future remains uncertain as more legal wrangling is expected. Pebble Creek will come before the County Commissioners again on June 9, 2026 in Land Use Hearing for another vote) and Walden Lakes.

We do interact and learn from one another’s experience, approach and resources used as resources and time permit.  Each situation is unique and must be viewed through its own lens.

  1. When are we going to hear from ClubLink?

ClubLink as we have said is a very opaque organization and currently they seem to have nothing to say to the community. Although they have been contacted by several representatives from Sun City Center including Ron Clark of the CA Board and others, they have provided no information on their activities, timelines, or plans with respect to Sun City Center or any of its golf courses that we are aware of. The Security Patrol has renewed their lease.  We do not know the status of the Kings Point golf course lease which was slated to expire December 31, 2026 or ClubLink’s response to the Kings Point Master Association’s offer to buy the closed Kings Point golf courses -Falcon Watch and the Kings Point Executive and the Falcon Watch Clubhouse.

  1. Property owners who are on a lake, which is actually a stream, who owns the stream?

Each situation can be different. The best way to determine that for a specific property is to use the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s web site at

https://gis.hcpafl.org/propertysearch/#/nav/Basic%20Search

to look up the body of water and see who owns it via the map.

  1. A gentleman there said he suggested that since residents have to pay $3,000 when they buy, maybe they should have the builder also pay. This was presented to Ron Clark?

Currently we have no builders or developers operating in Sun City Center or Kings Point and SaveSCC hopes it stays that way.  Obligations between the developers and the Community Association are defined in the 1984 Agreement and these requirements would apply to anyone building on the golf courses. This question is beyond the purview of SaveSCC and should be directed to the Community Association and Ron Clark.

  1. Another suggestion was that since a premium was paid for golf course properties, they would be entitled to restitution equal to 10% of the property?

SaveSCC is completely focused on stopping development on the golf courses and this is outside the current scope of SaveSCC efforts.

  1. One of the residents said there was a sick alligator near their property but not on their property – Who is responsible, County or ClubLink?

If you see a sick or injured alligator in Hillsborough County, maintain a safe distance and do not touch the animal. Immediately contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (404-3922) to report the animal and request assistance from wildlife officials.

End of Q&A
 
Please share this information with your neighbors and friends to keep them informed, or better yet, help them sign up to receive it directly via our website.
 
Thanks for your support.
 
Ellie Anderson
President – Save Sun City Center
312-282-7337

[ Save Sun City Center News ] Ellie’s Notes May 24, 2026

Ellie’s Notes May 24, 2026

Quick Links:

A Special Thank You

To say the last couple of weeks have been busy would be an understatement. And we are so grateful for all the support we received during the last month. Thank you for the great turn out at our recent events – the Informational Meeting on April 22 with the SaveSCC team and Adam Gormly and the Supporters Demonstration on La Jolla with Channel 28 on May 4.

Rick Johnson, Lorraine Mancuso and the entire SaveSCC team did a fabulous job covering for me at the April 22 meeting during an unexpected, recent hospital stay. Adam Gormly, Director of Development Services for Hillsborough County, also did a phenomenal job presenting an update from the County and addressing questions. Kudos to all, including all of you who attended!

We have some great videos from the public demonstration on La Jolla. Again, many thanks to all of you who participated and took pictures and videos. We really appreciate you sharing them.

The broadcast piece on Channel 28 finally aired on May 14, and is available by clicking here. Keely McCormick, ABC Channel 28 reporter, did an outstanding job. She  also got an important statement from Christine Miller, District 4 County Commissioner, for the Sun City Center area. Commissioner Miller stated: “Sun City Center residents have been clear: They value the character and intent of their community, and I share that commitment. I do not support development of golf course properties, and I have been consistent on that position.”

My  interview was captured by resident and Save SCC supporter Christine Rogers. That and other footage by bystanders is available by clicking here.

The article that was in the Observer last week is attached. (Reference the email distribution for the attachment.)

We also have the SaveSCC New Release regarding the April 22 and May 4 events attached. (Reference the email distribution for the attachment)

Reconstituting the SaveSCC Board

Protecting our golf courses for future recreational use only will take commitment and contribution from all  of us with our time, talent and treasure.

Previously, I wrote to you asking for help with the formation of a Legal Taskforce. We have had some high-caliber people step forward and look forward to meeting with them on June 9. The Call Out is available here for those still considering if this is a good fit for you.

We have had a good response to that ask, and today I am writing to you with a special purpose to address another immediate focus areas:

Reconstituting the SaveSCC Board

In the not-so-distant future, the leadership of SaveSCC must make some important decisions and set the agenda and game plan for our immediate future. To do that, it is essential we reconstitute the existing board that has led us since our founding four years ago. The demands of work, time and age have taken their toll on some of us, and we must prepare for the next few years of essential action.

SaveSCC needs a dedicated, structured, and energized leadership team to evaluate, plan and lead our course of action, direct outside legal counsel, manage community resources, guide our work and serve as our official voice. We are calling on passionate and dedicated residents to step forward and volunteer for potential positions on the Board of Directors.

So please think seriously about this request and whether and if you are willing and able to serve. I will be sending  Call-Out for volunteers in the near future seeking board volunteers.

A Memorial Day Message

As the nation honors the sacrifices of fallen service members this Memorial Day, thousands of active-duty military families continue to face hazardous, substandard conditions in housing managed by private corporate contractors. National advocacy surveys, independent investigations, and Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General audits have exposed severe, force-wide deficiencies in both on-base family housing and unaccompanied barracks.

Key Issues Plaguing Military Base Housing

  • Toxic Mold and Moisture Failures: A landmark survey by the Change the Air Foundation revealed that 97% of military residents reported major issues in their privatized homes, with toxic mold, mildew, and recurring water leaks cited as the most frequent and severe problems.

  • Severe Health Consequences: In that same force-wide survey, three-quarters of respondents reported that their family’s health had been negatively impacted by their housing, with nearly half receiving official medical confirmations linking their chronic illnesses (such as severe respiratory issues and neurological symptoms) directly to environmental hazards in their homes.

  • Negligent Oversight & Falsified Inspections: A comprehensive DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit found that military housing offices routinely fail to properly complete mandatory Change-of-Occupancy Maintenance inspections, occasionally placing families directly into homes that possess active life, health, and safety hazards. Some private contractors have gone so far as to seal windows shut to mask aging lead-based paint, actively cutting off required ventilation.

  • The “Federal Enclave Doctrine” Loophole: Under an obscure legal loophole known as the Federal Enclave Doctrine, because military bases sit on federal land, private housing companies are largely shielded from modern state-level tenant rights, environmental regulations, and consumer protection laws. This leaves families with virtually no legal recourse or ability to sue for damages when corporate landlords refuse to fix dangerous structural issues.

  • Financial Extortion of Service Members: When homes become entirely unlivable due to contamination, military families are frequently forced to pay out-of-pocket for temporary hotel relocation, the replacement of mold-ruined personal property, and specialized medical treatments.

Legislative Action: The MOLD Act

In response to this ongoing crisis, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act.

The bill seeks to enforce independent, third-party environmental health inspections between every single tenant transition, mandate that all remediation contractors hold verified national certifications, and force private companies to pay for all relocation and property loss expenses.

However, advocates warn that without stricter statutory fines and mandatory Department of Justice intervention, private real estate empires will continue to bury families in corporate bureaucracy.

 

Contact Your Officials to Demand Accountability

The most effective way to protect these families is to pressure federal lawmakers to close the federal enclave loophole, pass the MOLD Act with aggressive enforcement penalties, and hold corporate military landlords legally accountable.

 

Federal officials for Sun City Center, Florida (ZIP code 33573) include U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, alongside U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan. Rather than direct public emails, you can contact all of them by submitting messages through their official contact web pages.

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (Florida’s 14th Congressional District)

U.S. Senator Rick Scott

      • Contact: Send a message via his official portal at Senator Rick Scott.

      • Local Phone: (813) 225-7032

U.S. Senator Ashley Moody

Here is my email to assist you:

Urgent Accountability Request: Protect Our Military Families from Toxic Base Housing

Dear Representative Buchanan / Senator Scott / Senator Moody,

On this Memorial Day weekend, as our nation honors the sacrifices of those who served, I am writing to urge your immediate intervention regarding the deplorable and hazardous living conditions facing active-duty military families in privatized base housing.

Despite years of congressional scrutiny, recent independent investigations and Department of Defense Inspector General audits reveal that thousands of service members are still being forced to live in homes plagued by toxic mold, severe structural neglect, and environmental hazards. A recent force-wide survey by the Change the Air Foundation revealed that a staggering 97% of surveyed military residents reported major issues with privatized housing, with three-quarters stating that these hazardous conditions have directly harmed their family’s health.

Worse yet, private corporate landlords continue to exploit the “Federal Enclave Doctrine” loophole to shield themselves from state-level tenant protections and health regulations, leaving military families with virtually no legal recourse. Our service members cannot focus on defending our nation when they are constantly worried about the health and safety of their children at home.

As my federal official, I urge you to take the following actions:

      • Support and pass the MOLD Act to mandate certified, independent third-party environmental health inspections between tenant transitions.

      • Close the federal enclave loophole so private housing contractors can finally be held legally accountable under state tenant and consumer protection laws.

      • Enforce strict statutory fines against corporate landlords who falsify maintenance records or fail to provide safe housing.

Our military families deserve safe, dignified homes—not corporate neglect. I look forward to hearing about the specific steps your office is taking to address this critical readiness and humanitarian issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Sun City Center Address]

[Your Phone Number]

I know we have many military families here in Sun City Center.  We are thankful for you all and the contributions and sacrifices you have made. Thank You!  You are not forgotten!

Sincerely,

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Save SCC Green Spaces Status – Volunteers Request for Legal Work

URGENT COMMUNITY CALL-OUT: Volunteers Needed for Golf Course Legal Workgroup

Dear Neighbors,

As you know, our community’s seven historic golf courses—the very heart of our neighborhood’s design, common scheme, green spaces, and stormwater infrastructure since 1961—are under threat. ClubLink is currently planning projects to exploit a loophole on the RSC-6 zoned parcel, the North Lakes Course, claiming they have “entitled residential rights” to build high-density housing over the green space. They could also be considering any of the other 4 closed courses that are PU or part of the Planned Development Unit.

We are preparing and fighting and will diligently resist any attempt to develop or destroy our community; we intend to prevail.

Our SaveSCC team has been researching, outlining and building a powerful, two-pronged legal strategy to defeat their claims and protect all seven courses. To execute this formally and seek cost estimates for professional services to pursue these strategies, we are officially forming a Community Legal Workgroup. We need specialized resident expertise to help us flesh out our case in more detail before we engage attorneys, spend significant money and head to court or hearings.

I really do not want to share too much about our plans as we do not want to telegraph our strategy to ClubLink but this will be shared on a limited basis in the core group. 

Our Two-Pronged Legal Strategy

1.The Zoning & Infrastructure Battle (Public Compliance and Public Hearing in Quasi-judicial Proceeding)(Reactive based on when ClubLink files their application for permits):

We will weaponize all regulations that support the protection and preservation of the golf courses. ClubLink or their development partner cannot build houses with permits, and if doing so,  destroys our planned development, the neighborhood’s character, the neighborhood’s drainage and stormwater management system, violates the Greater Sun City Community Plan, and/or creates a catastrophic flood nuisance for existing homes.

2. The Court Battle (Proactive and preemptive based on assessment of success, costs, and readiness to undertake):

We are evaluating a court filing for a permanent injunction. We will seek to prove that the developers intentionally built these courses as a unified community centerpiece, induced us to buy here at a premium, and cannot legally strip this infrastructure away.

 Join the Workgroup: Specific Roles Needed

 We are looking for residents from both Sun City Center and Kings Point with professional backgrounds or strong skills in the following areas to join existing our core action team:

    •  Legal Researchers & Analysts:

Attorneys (active or retired), paralegals, zoning professionals, land use experts, or those with experience in property law, contracts, or municipal zoning. You will help review original 1960s deeds, master plan declarations, developer and community understandings, suits, agreements, and chain-of-title documents.

    •  Historians & Document Archivists:

Detail-oriented neighbors to hunt down, catalog, and digitize original marketing brochures, sales maps, newspaper ads, and developer blueprints spanning 1961 to 2005. This is critical to proving “buyer inducement.”

    •  Civil Engineers, Hydrologists, & Environmental Specialists:

Professionals who understand stormwater management, drainage blueprints, grading permits, and runoff systems. We need to prove the devastating physical impact that building on these courses will cause.

    •  Project Managers & Coordinators:

Highly organized individuals to keep our legal timelines on track, coordinate meetings, and manage communication between the workgroup, the HOA, and outside counsel.

How to Apply / Next Steps

If you have the skills, the professional background, or simply the time and dedication to fight for our neighborhood’s future, please step forward.  Our deadline to sign up is June 5, 2026. We need you!

  • How to Sign Up: Please email your name, contact information, and your area of expertise/professional background to getinvolved@savescc.org (preferred) or call Ellie Anderson at 312-282-7337.

First Workgroup Inaugural Meeting:  Our 1st meeting will be Tuesday, June 9th at 9:30 am.

Legal Workgroup Inaugural Meeting

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

9:30 – 11:00am

Join with Google Meet

meet.google.com/kqu-qnfs-tbz

 Join by phone

‪(US) +1 631-517-3236 PIN: ‪334 430 793#

Please share this call-out with any neighbors who may have these skills but are not receiving our emails or aren’t active online.

United, we have the law, the infrastructure, and the truth on our side. Let’s protect our community.

 We can’t do this without you!

 As a side note, if we elect to seriously consider pursuing action in the courts, this will be an expensive undertaking, require raising significant money for legal expenses and could be a long, drawn out process. Our adversary has deep pockets and time on their side.  We will have to be prepared with money in the bank. Part of the team’s due diligence efforts will be to establish the estimates associated with the undertaking to determine if it is feasible or practical.  You will hear more about this later.

Sincerely,
Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

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[Save Sun City Center News 5/8/2026] Channel 28 TV Segment-No Channel 28 Broadcast Yet

Ellie’s Notes – May 8th – No Channel 28 Broadcast Yet

 
It has been a really busy couple of weeks here for the SaveSCC teams and volunteers. 
We are still awaiting word from Channel 28 regarding when they will broadcast our Sun City Center piece but it appears that will be next week.  I keep asking, but I haven’t received a definitive answer. When I know, we will send an email blast and post details on the SaveSCC.org web site.
If you have not already signed up to receive our email blasts, do so to stay in the loop.  Just click here to sign up.   Encourage your friends and neighbors to do so as well.  
We like to express our gratitude to all of you have attended and supported our recent events.  Keeping everyone involved, informed and engaged is critical to our long term success and we can’t do this work without help. We’ve been making great strides assembling more and more competent, substantial evidence in support of our case to protect the golf courses for recreational use only. And your input or knowledge can bring to bear new facts that strengthen our case.  We have been researching and diving through court records, county records, property records, and owners closing materials and documents looking for details that confirm the promises made to buyers.  If you have something you think with bolster our case, bring it to our attention. If you see something, say something. Work with us to ensure our collective success protecting our phenomenal community.
Speculation is turning into action. With surveying crews spotted on the North Links course during the month of March, Save SCC is sounding the alarm on potential development.  We aren’t backing down.
We have a “strong case” to protect the character and ethos of Sun City Center. From the 600 neighbors who packed Community Hall for the April 22 Informational Meeting to the 300+ who showed up for a demonstration of support the efforts  to maintain and protect golf course land for recreational use only. The demonstration on La Jolla Ave Monday morning, May 4th, and the interview with ABC Action News Channel 28 reporter Keely McCormick were well received; our voices are being heard as we seek more public and governmental support!  
Provided that ClubLink does not find a loophole around local zoning reviews, any decision on a development application here will be made by the Hillsborough County Commissioners.  They voiced favorable support but it is never over until it is over. We must continue to press on and prepare diligently, and the effort requires us all to contribute both time and treasure.
Here is a link to a video of my interview with Keely McCromick taken by a bystander.
📢 Keep Us Green!
Recent activity on the closed North Links Golf Course has created “speculation” in the community that ClubLink may be poised to work with a developer to build homes on the property. According to residents living along the closed course, they reported seeing surveying crews and soil testers on the property. 
  
The activity renewed resident awareness that “something may be up.”  Not surprisingly, an overflow crowd of 600 people filled the Community Hall on April 22 to hear the Save SCC group report on the latest information regarding the ClubLink saga. Adam Gormly, Director of Development Services for Hillsborough County, also made a presentation and took questions from those attending.
 
More than 300 residents – many of them brandishing signs with slogans like “Keep Us Green!”, or “Senior Zone – Leave it Alone” – showed their support for preserving and protecting Sun City Center’s golf courses by lining the sidewalks for nearly 100 yards on both sides of La Jolla Avenue, just east of North Pebble Beach Blvd along the North Lakes golf course.
 
And we have over 6,000 petition signatures that I personally showed to Commissioner Miller when she was here for the Town Hall meeting.  95 % of our residents are for sustaining our community recreation spaces and marketability by preserving our legacy and golf resort lifestyle.  This original character is integral, not incidental to our community.
 
Sun City Center is a one-of-a-kind.  Del Webb, the original pioneer of the expansive, open vistas, immersive landscapes, golf course centric neighborhood master planned designs with views of water features and natural preserves and wildlife built in fun and play from the onset for an active senior lifestyle with all manner of recreating, socializing and entertaining. There would be no boredom here.
The Del Webb and the subsequent developers who built these SCC homes here were selling a unique recreating community lifestyle — a beautiful, amenity-rich environment in a one-of-a kind never to be replicated expansive open property with extensive natural surroundings and water features on golf courses with abundant wildlife and recreation, relaxation and social opportunities.
 
The golf courses were built from 1961 to 2005 as major centerpieces meandering across 1,138 acres of the community. They are the lungs, stormwater management, and cooling systems of our community – beautiful and serene. They define the setting and surroundings of our entire area. If we lose them, they’re gone forever. We were designed from the ground up as a low density planned land use community centered around golf courses.  Over 20% of the property owners paid a premium for the fairway, golf and waterfront lots, understanding that golf courses, water features and related amenities were a permanent foundational element of the community design. The developers, from the visionary Del Webb to those who followed, promised and committed to every homeowner that they would provide and protect these amenities.  The original design and master plan never contemplated developing them for housing. The courses were to remain open land for recreation, stormwater management, and neighborhood enjoyment.
 
We need to hold ClubLink and the County to that promise and community vision that has stood for 65 years and been reinforced by the Greater Sun City Center Community Plan published in 2009 and adopted as ordinance in November of 2010 as part of the Comprehensive Plan for Unincorporated Hillsborough County.
 
Again, thanks for your support. We need you and your support. It is a difficult and demanding road.
 
Best regards,
‘
Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

 

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[Save Sun City Center News 5/5/2026] Channel 28 TV Segment-Protecting Golf Courses for Recreation in Sun CIty Center

Channel 28 TV Segment on Protecting Golf Courses for Recreation in Sun City Center

Hello All,
We had a great Community Demonstration Event supporting the protection of our golf courses for future recreational use only, not development.  About 350 volunteers and supporters came out in solidarity with Save Sun Center advocates to “Save the Greens”.
While Keely McCormick had originally hoped the segment would air today and tomorrow, she and her cameraman were called away on breaking news and said the segment will run later in the week on Channel ABC 28.
Once Keely updates us on the broadcast time for the segment, we will advise you via email blast.
Many thanks to the awesome supporters who attended and participated. There was chanting, great enthusiasm, creative signs, and much overall goodwill and love for our community. Key was the desire to be good stewards and protect this wonderful community and its centerpiece golf courses as open space, and recognize their role as key contributors to our health and happy recreational lifestyles. The golf courses were designed as an integral part of the community design and layout and were never intended for development per the Master Plan Del Webb advanced at our founding.
It was a great event that will bolster our efforts and build awareness and support among the public and our government officials.
If you have photos from the event, please email them to SaveSCC Communications Director Rich Johnson at: rickj2@comcast.net.
Details will follow when available.
Ellie Anderson
312-282-7337

[Save Sun City Center News] Sun City Center Community to Stand Ground Against ClubLink Development with Major Public Demonstration

Sun City Center Community to Stand Ground Against ClubLink Development with Major Public Demonstration

 SUN CITY CENTER, FL – Residents of Sun City Center and the SaveSCC community action group are gathering tomorrow for a high-visibility public event on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 8:15 am  on La Jolla Avenue East of Pebble Beach Blvd behind the Security Patrol at the pond to the right. The event serves as a critical push to protect the community’s green spaces from proposed redevelopment by ClubLink and will be featured in an upcoming news story the evening of May 4th or 5th on ABC News Channel 28 with Keely McCormick about the community’s efforts to protect its seven golf courses from development by ClubLink and recreating only in the future.

1.    General Conduct & Safety

 Stay on the Sidewalk: Do NOT block the street or impede vehicle traffic. We must remain on the side walk and not the public right-of-way or ClubLink or CA land to stay compliant with our coordination with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

  • Keep it Positive: This is a “pro-community” event. Be polite to passersby and motorists. If encountered by opposition, do not engage in arguments; simply refer them to a SaveSCC Board Member.
  • Hydration: Please bring a beverage as it can be hot and we will be in the sun. 
  • Chair: Consider bringing a chair if you have difficulty standing. Safety first!

2.    Parking:  Parking will be challenging. Ride share as much as possible, walk, bike or use a golf cart. Car is last resort. Park along Pebble Beach. Off Pebble Beach at the North Course Ln and go left and North into the lot by Good Samaritans. 

 

 3.    Role-Specific Instructions

 Crowd Control & Monitoring Team:

    • Flow: Ensure there is always a clear walking path for non-event pedestrians on the sidewalk.
    • Safety: Monitor the edge of the road, especially near the La Jolla Ave intersections. Keep participants a safe distance from moving cars.
  • Media Buffer:

Help maintain a “clear zone” around the film crew so they can move their equipment and get the shots they need without tripping over chairs or bags.

  • Merchandise: “Save the Greens” merchandise will be available for a donation at 1006 La Jolla Ave from 8:00 am to 8:30 am.

The demonstration comes on the heels of major victories, including the successful advocacy to ensure golf course lands are protected from the “Live Local Act.” SaveSCC aims to reinforce the importance of the Greater Sun City Center Community Plan published by the Hillsborough County in September of 2009 and adopted as ordinance on November 18, 2010 which mandates these golf course lands remain open spaces for recreational use only.  It was always the intention from the founding of this original Del Webb master planned community for active seniors that redefined retirement, that these courses remain for recreation, not development.  And the community intends to hold the County accountable to make sure that community prevails in protecting their unique lifestyle and rights who were induced by the developers representations.

Event Highlights:

  • Film Production in Progress: Camera crews will capture the demonstration highlighting the grassroots battle against corporate development.
  • Interviews: SaveSCC leadership – Ellie Anderson, President and Spokesperson will to discuss the legal and environmental implications of ClubLink’s plans.
  • Community Support: A donation hub will offer “Save Our Greens” advocacy efforts merchandise as a fund raiser.
  • Visual Demonstration: Hundreds of residents are expected to line the sidewalks of La Jolla Avenue to showcase and support the unified front of the 20,000+ residents of Sun City Center and Kings Point advocating to protect the 1,138 acres of golf course land that ClubLink owns from development.

“This isn’t just about golf; it’s about the integrity of our community and the promises made to every homeowner here,” said Ellie Anderson. “We are inviting the press, the public and County to see firsthand the resolve of Sun City Center and Kings Point.”

WHAT:

SaveSCC Public PR Event & Film Shoot
WHEN: May 4, 2026 at 8:15, interview and film at 8:30.
WHERE: La Jolla Avenue Sidewalk (East of Pebble Beach and by the first pond behind the Security Patrol)
WHO: SaveSCC Leadership, Residents, and Hillsborough County supporters.

About SaveSCC:SaveSCC is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving the green spaces and recreational character and lifestyle of Sun City Center, Florida. Through legal action, community outreach, Zoning hearing participation, advocacy with the County and Commissioner and legislative advocacy, SaveSCC seeks protect to the community from any development on golf courses.

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Save SCC UPDATE PARKING- SHOW UP & SPEAK OUT! TV Interview Monday May 4th

May 1, 20026 Update – Read below about parking and other details

🚨 URGENT UPDATE: SHOW UP & SPEAK OUT! 🚨

TV Interview with ABC Action News (WFTS Channel 28)

SavesSCC Members and Supporters,

We have a massive opportunity to bring our fight against golf course development to the evening news! Reporter Keely McCormick is coming to Sun City Center this Monday to cover our cause. She has specifically requested a large group of residents to demonstrate the scale of our opposition.

Let’s show the media—and the developers—that we love our community and are united to protect our lifestyle and amenities for recreation, not development! That was never the community plan and it is not now!  The Greater Sun City Center Community Plan adopted as part of the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan on November 18, 2010 says exactly that. 

Get your SaveSCC donation merchandise at the event at 1006 La Jolla between 8:00 am and 8:30!

We expect our Sun City Center story to be broadcast Monday or Tuesday evening on ABC Channel 28, May 4thor 5th.

📍 UPDATED LOGISTICS and Parking

It is extremely important you ride with friends preferably on bikes, golf carts or small vehicles. There will be very limited parking available. NO PARKING in Security Patrol Lot as that is for on duty personnel only.  I believe you can park in the CA lot to the North on Pebble Beach and walk over to the event. I wish I had a better answer but I don’t. 

Plan is to have a “sea of people” on sidewalks on both sides of La Jolla. We need to be flexible and work it out.  Hillsborough County Sheriff Office – Deputy Merry and his team and SCC Security Patrol are aware.  We expect the whole event to conclude by 9:00 am. The filming will be brief. The TV crew is on a tight schedule.

📍 SaveSCC Donation Merchandise Available at Event

Get your gear on-site! If you need a green SaveSCC T-shirt, yard sign, or slicker,  we will have a donation station with merchandise set up to the right just past the meeting point on private property at 1006 La Jolla, the second house on the right down from the pond. 

This is the perfect time to gear up for Monday and all our future actions and events.

•    SaveSCC Tee shirts and signs will be available for a $20.00 Donation: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

•    Location: 1006 La Jolla Ave (2nd house down from the pond on the right behind the Security Patrol East on La Jolla Ave)   Big shout out and thank you to the owners for allowing us to use their property!

•    Wear: Your Green SaveSCC Tees! Let’s create a “Sea of Green.”

•    Bring: Neighbors, friends, club members, and your handmade signs.

📅 WHEN & WHERE

•    Date: Monday, May 4th

•    Arrival Time: 8:15 AM (Sharp!)

•    Filming Starts: 8:30 AM

•    Strict Location Note: Please stay on the sidewalks and out of the street and public right away. We do not have permission to be on ClubLink, CA, Security Patrol land. I have been working with all three to avoid any issues. Thanks for your cooperation.

•    Look for the “Sea of Green” on La Jolla Ave!

📢 A NOTE ON OUR LOCATION

We originally hoped to film in front of the historical marker at the North Campus to provide perspective on our community’s heritage. However, the Community Association (CA) denied our request to film on CA property, stating they wish to “remain neutral” on the advice of their attorneys.

This is exactly why your presence on Monday is so vital. If the CA won’t provide the backdrop, WE will provide the message with our presence and numbers. Our unity is more powerful than any historical marker.

📞 COORDINATION

If you have questions, please contact: Ellie Anderson, President and Spokesperson, Save Sun City Center 📞 312-282-7337 📧 getinvolved@savescc.org

Let’s show up in force. See you Monday at 8:15 AM on La Jolla Ave!

Save SCC Green Spaces Status – SHOW UP & SPEAK OUT! TV Interview Monday May 4th

🚨 URGENT: SHOW UP & SPEAK OUT! TV Interview ABC Channel 28, Monday, May 4th, 8:15 am 🚨

SavesSCC Members and Supporters,

We have a major opportunity to bring our fight against the golf course development to the front pages and morning news!

Keely McCormick, a reporter with Tampa Bay 28 (WFTS | WXPX), is coming to Sun City Center Monday morning, May 4th,  to cover the concerns regarding the proposed development. She is looking for a large group of residents to show the scale of our opposition.

While the news crew sets the schedule, we are doing our best to adjust and ensure we have a massive turnout.  Let’s show the media—and the developers—that we are united!

📅 WHEN & WHERE

  • Date:  Monday, May 4th
  • Time: 8:15 AM (Sharp!)
  • Location: On La Jolla Ave by the pond behind the Security Patrol.  Please stay on the public road way. We do not have permission to be on ClubLink or CA Property.  You see us there with our Green SaveSCC tees.

  • TV Crew and Filming is scheduled for 8:30.

👕 WHAT TO WEAR & BRING

  • Wear your SaveSCC T-Shirts! Let’s create a sea of green to make a powerful visual impact on camera.
  • Bring your yard signs and banners! We want the background of every shot to show our message: “Golf Courses for Recreation, Not Development!”
  • Bring your neighbors, friends, club members, HOA or COA associates, etc! The reporter specifically requested a large group to demonstrate how many people are affected.

📢 WHY THIS MATTERS

The more people we have on-site, the stronger our message becomes. High-quality video of a large, passionate crowd is exactly what gets picked up by major networks. This is our chance to show that Sun City Center will not stand for the destruction and development of our recreational spaces.

Background Info & Coordination: If you have specific questions, call me, Ellie Anderson, President and Spokesperson – Save Sun City Center at 312-282-7337 or via email at getinvolved@savescc.org.

Let’s show up in force. See you Monday at 8:15 AM!

From a planning perspective, I hoped we could film in front of the historical marker by the Community Association (CA) Office on the North Campus for Sun City Center, Florida’s First Planned Retirement Community to put our fight and plight into perspective.

Unfortunately, when I sought permission to do so from Ron Clark, he responded that he needed to assess the matter and would get back to me shortly. He was otherwise engaged and via Lyn Reitz, property manager, let me know the decision. I was advised that the CA attorneys advised not to allow the filming on the development challenges ahead on CA property and for the CA to remain neutral.

The residents of this community have taken a stand with more than 90% for recreational use of the golf courses only, not development.  How can a Community Association that represents the residents who are against development remain neutral?  Is that in the community’s or resident’s best interest?

Save SCC Green Spaces Status – April 16, 2026 – Meeting Wednesday 4/22/2026

Ellie Note’s –  Meeting Wednesday 4/22/26

Hello,

Our SaveSCC Informational meeting is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Sun City Center Community Hall. Doors open at 4 pm. Meeting starts at 5 pm. Sorry for any confusion caused by the article in the Observer.

The Save SCC meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on April 22 in the Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., in Sun City Center. Save SCC representatives will be present at 4 p.m. to address any specific concerns or pre-meeting questions, as well as provide Save SCC promotional materials for a donation.

In addition, Adam Gormly, Department Director for Hillsborough County’s Development Services, has committed to attend the meeting to answer questions from the audience.

Among key recent concerns are reports by residents near the North Lakes Golf Course that they have seen contractors conducting soil testing on the golf course, as well as others doing land surveying. The North Lakes course is one of five closed golf courses owned by ClubLink and targeted for possible rezoning and development.

The Press release was provided via email.

Commissioner Christine Miller’s Follow up from Town Hall Meeting in Sun City Center on March 30, 2026

I wanted to share the email and statement sent from Commissioner Miller to attendee who provided their information after her Town Hall Meeting here in Sun City Center.  There was an overflow crowd that required overflow into the adjacent room making things challenging from an audio perspective. She spoke briefly and then meet with those who had questions. She brought representatives from a number of County department who had table around the room to interact and answer constituent questions.

Please find her email and follow-up communication in the email you received if you are subscribed to the newsletter.

If you are not subscribed to the newsletter, you can register here: SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAILS

Hope to see you on Wednesday at the Community Hall!

Best regards,

Ellie Anderson

President – SaveSCC

312-282-7337

Save SCC Green Spaces Status – April 13, 2026

Ellie’s Notes – April 13, 2026

Hello All!

Sorry I’ve been unusually quiet during such a busy time.

Unfortunately, I’ve been getting my butt kicked, and I am still not out of the woods. Covid, COPD exacerbation, long Covid, pseudomonas pneumonia, 10 days in the hospital, and lots of difficulty breathing and talking. I am trying my best to recuperate before our meeting on April 22.

Fortunately, we’ve got some great people on the Save SCC team who have been doing an awesome job when I could not, and rest assured, we will be more than ready.

We are working on an outstanding program for the April 22 Informational Meeting. We have lots of new information and insights to share, and your attendance is key to hear about these critical updates and new information, and how you can participate.

And if you don’t have a Save Sun City Center tee-shirt, this is the time to get one for a $20 donation. Support the cause, be a living, walking, advocate, and help spread the word. Let people know you are in the know and fighting for the protection of our golf courses green spaces!

The Save SCC meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on April 22, 2026, in the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., in Sun City Center. Save SCC representatives will be present at 4 p.m. to address any specific concerns or pre-meeting questions and/or to accept donations and provide Save SCC promotional items, including tee-shirts, lawn signs, window slicks and more. 

In addition, Adam Gormly, Department Director for Hillsborough County’s Development Services, has committed to attend the meeting and to answer questions from the audience.

Some of the Save SCC teams have been quietly working behind the scenes, preparing and waiting on ClubLink, but it’s vitally important that all of us who want to preserve and protect our golf courses and green spaces, gather together at this upcoming meeting. There is a lot to be done now in preparation for ClubLink’s next move, and we want everyone to get informed, up to speed and working on our plans as we prepare for ClubLink’s eventual plans and filings for development.

Bring your neighbors, friends and associates. This will be an eye-opening presentation that will not be repeated, and it is purposefully not broadcast via Zoom because we need to be careful not to convey information to ClubLink that they can use against us.

Now on to current business.

As I have often said, the legislative landscape is always changing and Tallahassee is trying everything they can to encourage more home development. Housing scarcity and affordability are key issues and legislation to stream redevelopment and bypass local zoning approvals are constantly being considered. It could be related to affordable housing like the Live Local Act or new concepts like the Florida Infill Redevelopment Act.

There has been recent action by the Hillsborough County Commissioners to try to regain local control and home rule over zoning matters as it relates to the Live Local Act, and I applaud their action and intent. This action by the commissioners is highly important, since it could relate directly to the zoning decisions that will be made relative to our golf courses.

Hillsborough County files Lawsuit Against Live Local Act

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners filed a lawsuit against the State of Florida on March 6, 2026, seeking to declare portions of the Live Local Act unconstitutional. The action specifically challenges section 125.01055 of the Florida Statutes, which allows developers to bypass local zoning, density, and height regulations for certain affordable housing projects.

  Summary of Actions

  • Unanimous Vote: On December 17, 2025, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the legal challenge.
  • Motion Initiation: The motion was spearheaded by Commissioner Joshua Wostal, who argued that the law allows “unfettered multifamily construction” and removes local control over 700 square miles of unincorporated county land.
  • Legal Basis: The county contends the law is unconstitutional because it preempts home rule and forces local officials to approve projects without public input or adherence to local comprehensive plans.
  • Collaboration: The Board empowered the county attorney to allow other Florida jurisdictions to co-join or support the lawsuit.
  • Bypassing Zoning: Commissioners argue the law strips local governments of their authority to regulate density and building heights in areas originally zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use.
  • Lack of Public Input: The Act mandates “administrative approval,” which eliminates traditional public hearings and neighborhood reviews for qualifying projects.
  • Infrastructure Concerns: Officials cited concerns that the influx of dense multifamily units occurs without adequate consideration for local infrastructure needs.
  • Delayed Fixes: Commissioner Wostal noted that while legislative fixes were promised, they would not be considered until 2027, leaving the county with an “insurmountable” number of automated approvals in the interim.

This next item is a new piece of legislation introduced this session.

Florida Infill Redevelopment Act

The Florida Infill Redevelopment Act (Senate Bill 1434 / House Bill 979) is a recent piece of legislation passed by the Florida Legislature in early 2026, designed to fast-track residential development on “environmentally impacted” urban land. Think golf courses with pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer contamination. In other words, the longer they operated, the greater the potential contamination exceeds allowable limits. Think landfills, chemical areas, gas stations, brown fields, etc.

Currently, the act’s streamlined benefits do not apply to Hillsborough County. It specifically targets counties with populations over 1.475 million, which at this time only includes Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

But who is to say if and when things will change. The legislature often does revisit these issues.

Key Features of the Act:

  • Administrative Approval: Qualifying projects can bypass public hearings and votes by city councils or county commissions. Instead, they receive “administrative approval” from municipal staff if they meet state-set criteria. No zoning hearings!
  • Qualifying Land: Sites must be at least 5 acres, located within an urban development boundary, and be “environmentally impacted” (such as former gas stations, landfills or golf courses with pesticide/fertilizer contamination).
  • Density Mandates: Local governments must allow residential density at either the average of the surrounding neighborhood or up to 25 units per acre, whichever is lower.
  • Preemption of Local Rules: The Act prevents local governments from using zoning or platting processes to block development on these sites, effectively overriding many local land-use restrictions. 

Specific Protections for Neighbors:

To address community concerns, the Act includes several “neighbor-friendly” requirements:

  • Mandatory Buffers: Developers must provide at least a 20-to-30-foot buffer of open space or passive recreation between the new project and existing single-family homes.
  • Proof of Closure: For golf courses, the developer must prove the facility has not been in operation for at least 12 months.
  • Higher Impact Fees: Developers must pay double the standard parks and recreation impact fees to compensate for the loss of green space.
  • Right of First Refusal: Residents have an option to purchase the recreational parcel if they wish to preserve it, at a price capped at 10% above what the developer paid.

The full details are available on the Florida Bill Tracker.

The measure has been approved by both houses. It has been sent to the Governor for action and will be adopted as law unless vetoed by the Governor, which is unlikely.

We are fortunate this does not apply in Hillsborough County or in our case, but again, the protections available under today’s existing laws may be changed at the local level or the state level.

The need for vigilance and advocacy never goes away. And if we do not pay attention and stand up, our protections can and will be eroded.

Remember, it was our vigilance, advocacy and outreach to the legislature last spring that changed SB 1730 to protect recreation areas in Planned Developments. Otherwise, the six golf course in our PD’s could have been vulnerable for “administrative approval” without public hearings under SB 1730.

Here is my writeup on this from Ellie’s Notes – June 26, 2025

Florida Senate Bill 1730 

On the good news front, Tuesday, Governor DeSantis signed SB 1730 amending the Live Local Act to exclude recreational areas in Planned Developments under the Live Local Affordable Housing Program. That means the Live Local Act is not applicable to the golf courses in SCC and Kings Point. ClubLink can still pursue other avenues for development for the golf courses in Sun City Center and Kings Point, but it will not be possible under the Live Local Act.

SB 1730 specifically excludes recreational areas in a PUD from development under the Live Local Act.

This means that parcels designated for recreational uses like golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools and clubhouses within residential areas are not considered “commercial, industrial or mixed use” for the purposes of Live Local Act development, regardless of how they are operated.

This exclusion was specifically amended into the bill at the last hour of the legislative session, due to the efforts of various groups (primarily us) who sought to protect these areas. 

However, it is important to note that this exclusion only prevents development under the Live Local Act. A developer could still pursue residential housing development on a recreational area by submitting a separate development application to the county, which would trigger a different process, including public noticing and hearings. The exception would be the North Lakes Course, which is zoned RSC-6.

SB 1730 amends Florida’s Live Local Act, which aims to address affordable housing issues in the state. Key changes include:

            • Allowing local governments to approve affordable housing developments on parcels owned by religious institutions, even if local zoning would not typically permit such construction.
            • Requiring local governments to grant administrative approvals for qualifying affordable housing projects without further action from boards or reviewing bodies.
            • Setting density, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), and height maximums to the least restrictive standard currently allowed or allowed as of July 1, 2023.
            • Clarifying zoning preemption applicability for commercial, industrial, and mixed-use areas, including planned unit developments, which excludes recreational areas.

This clarifying amendment to the original Live Local Act will also affect the current action in the courts relative to the development efforts in Plant City for the closed Walden Lakes Golf Course, which also was previously owned by WCI. As you recall, WCI sold the SCC golf courses to ClubLink. That hearing is scheduled for September.

This success is due to all of you who called, wrote and emailed to change the course of this legislation. To prevail, we must act and when we act together as a community, we have a powerful voice and impact. Let’s use it!

End of Reprint!

This change allowed our neighbors, Save Walden Lake, Inc., a resident-led organization (and a birds of a feather – someone fighting a similar golf course redevelopment effort) to fight redevelopment of the Walden Lakes Golf course under the Live Local Act to prevail in court.

Florida Senate Bill 1730 (SB 1730), which was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in 2025,  became a pivotal tool for the Walden Lake Community Assciation(WLCA)  in their legal battle to stop a massive redevelopment project on their former golf course.

The law helped the community win a key court victory in early 2026 by strengthening local control over redevelopment in the following ways:

  • Affirming PUD as Contract: The court used the principles bolstered by the legislation to rule that the Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a binding contract with the city. This prevented the developer, Walden Lake LLC, from using the “Live Local Act” as a shortcut to bypass established density limits.
  • Preventing “Commercial” Loopholes: The developer argued that because the property was a golf course, it should be considered “commercial” and thus eligible for administrative approval under the Live Local Act. The court rejected this, ruling that recreational green space cannot be unilaterally re-characterized to bypass local zoning reviews.

In January 2026, Judge Michael S. Williams granted a summary judgment in favor of the City of Plant City, effectively closing the administrative pathway for the proposed 1,530 multifamily units and 468 townhomes under the Live Local Act.

So, the moral of the story is we need people power. We need YOU to help with our efforts!

If we fail to be very proactive, there are many forces at work that can, and will, change the course of events either in our favor or against us. And once the game is changed, it is almost impossible to turn the tide.

We must be on the offensive at all times and that takes human volunteers and resources! We must be cognizant of what is going on locally, at the County, in Tallahassee and down our streets. We need to interact frequently with those who impact the landscape and decision processes. The County is also rewriting its Comprehensive Plan for 2045.

Please share this with your friends and neighbors to keep them in the loop. Getting the word out is key, and I appreciate your help. Again, it is a small thing, but it makes all the difference! Thank you!

Hope to see you at the meeting on April 22 if not before!

Best regards,

Ellie Anderson
President – Save Sun City Center
312-282-7337

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