KEYSTONE, Fla. — As Florida continues to grow, rural areas like Keystone and Odessa are seeing new development. Construction is currently underway for one development along Patterson Road.
Those living in the area are not happy about the development Taylor Morrison Homes is building. Some people claim Hillsborough County officials don't have the right to approve a project like this. Over a dozen people living in Keystone have filed a lawsuit against the county over the development.
People living nearby worry their rural backyard will soon be home to traffic and congestion with 194 homes in the development plans.
"We are rural area, as you can see, most homes are on five acres," said one Keystone resident, Melissa Nordbeck.
Living in the area for over a decade, Nordbeck explains the roads are two lanes for a reason.
"Our comprehensive plan only allows for two-lane roads and that was on purpose to stop development," Nordbeck explained.
Developers like Taylor Morrison have moved in and are building on vacant land. Right now they are building 194 homes along Patterson Road.
A spokesperson with Taylor Morrison released this statement regarding the project:
"The Odessa area is uniquely special, and this new community is unlike any other we have developed in Hillsborough County. With the community thoughtfully designed to have one homesite per acre, we expect homeowners to embrace a more rural lifestyle while experiencing an extraordinary part of the County.
"The development plans for this community were lawfully approved by Hillsborough County and on Dec. 14, 2023, the trial court agreed and issued a final judgement in favor of Taylor Morrison’s development plans, finding them to be both valid and vested. We look forward to continuing to develop this community in a manner that complements the natural elements and beauty of the surrounding properties."
Nordbeck explained the construction started abruptly two years ago.
"In Feb. 2022, we saw a bulldozer show up on a 200-acre parcel and survey ribbons on trees. We started calling to find out what was happening because no one knew of anything. There was no public notice," Nordbeck said.
Nordbeck got with her neighbors and looked into the legalities of building a development like this in their agricultural backyard.
"When we called the county, we were told there was a development approved back in 1991," Nordbeck said.
10 Tampa Bay asked Hillsborough County officials if that was true, but they responded, “the County does not comment on pending litigation.”
Nordbeck questioned, "Why would you think that a zoning from 1991 would be consistent in this area?"
10 Tampa Bay asked a legal expert with Cooley Law School. Renalia Dubose explained that if the property was approved for this development in 1991, that approval would be grandfathered in. That would mean no matter how the law changes over the years, only major environmental impacts would halt construction.
Nordbeck and her fellow plaintiffs claim Hillsborough County isn’t following the rules, which is why 15 people filed a lawsuit: "To hold the county accountable and to try to implement change," Nordbeck stated.
Hillsborough County officials and commissioners wouldn't interview with 10 Tampa Bay about South County growth.