PALM RIVER-CLAIR MEL, Fla — Tuesday night, the zoning master hearing officer for Hillsborough County took testimony from both sides for a proposed zoning change of a church site along Palm River Road.
Opponents of the plan say their issues go way beyond just zoning concerns.
“I was born and raised right here in this community half a block away,” says neighbor Robert Almand.
For as long as Almand has been alive, there's been an active church along Palm River Road. However, for the past two years, the Bell Shoals Church, Palm River Campus has been locked up.
“The people are interested in saving the church,” Almand says. “I consider it the lighthouse of the community."
Before Bell Shoals Church bought the campus 10 years ago, it was known as First Baptist Church of Palm River. Over the years, the congregation got smaller but was active. It provided meals and services to the poor, homeless, and recently incarcerated in the area.
"And for a community church if you're running 50-60 people, you're doing pretty well,” he says.
Those worshippers now meet at another church. In the last few months, Bell Shoals revealed plans to sell to Lennar homes, which wants a zoning change to build nearly 70 townhomes on the property.
That's why Almand and others came to the zoning hearing Tuesday night to oppose the project and keep some kind of church alive and open on the site.
Their concerns related to a zoning change for dozens of people to live on the site included worry over traffic and stormwater runoff.
"We're going to continue fighting this till the end," Almond says.
The zoning master officer that took testimony Tuesday night is expected to issue a report to the full Hillsborough County Commissioners with a recommendation that's expected within the next two weeks.
A call to the head pastor of Bell Shoals Church wasn’t immediately returned.