If you've watched any health-related news lately, you know that obesity is a serious problem in the United States. In fact, it's one of the most common chronic diseases we've ever seen, with nearly two in three American adults suffering from plus-sized waistlines. That comes out to almost 78 million people affected by obesity in one way or another. It's a sobering, scary statistic that doesn't seem to be getting better.
Obesity in America causes a wide range of issues, like:
It's easy to point at a large person and call them things like "undisciplined," but if you're struggling with weight issues, you know it's not that easy. It's not like you want to look like you do or go through the daily stresses that being overweight can bring. Maybe, if you're many others, you've tried just about every diet there is to try, only to fall back into your bad habits. Millions of people make weight loss progress every year but end up failing and gaining more weight than before. Or perhaps there are other factors at play that prevent you from losing the weight you want.
Either way, you know you've got a problem that needs to be addressed, but how can you fix it for good? Should you try another diet that promises super-quick results? The resounding answer to that question is "no!" Long-lasting weight loss doesn't happen overnight. It happens with time, planning, persistence, and professional help provided by doctors and coaches who care. If you're over strange diet fads and other unsafe weight loss methods that don't work, Nutrifit40 is the solution you need.
Nutrifit40 is Florida's premier alternative weight loss and wellness clinic. Comprised of motivated health coaches and compassionate doctors, our team is dedicated to helping you lose weight and improve your health with a comprehensive 40-day program.
At Nutrifit40, our experts will help you lose weight naturally and provide the support structure you need to take back control of your life and body for good. Unlike unreliable diets, our medical weight loss program in Keystone, FL doesn't leave you hungry and constantly craving food. Instead, our patients feel nourished, have plenty of newfound energy, get incredible sleep, and are happier as a result. All it takes is getting fresh, yummy food from your local grocery store and sticking to our time-tested medical weight loss plan.
Our medical weight loss programs include:
Whether you're suffering from diabetes, hypertension, or you just don't look and feel like the person you used to be, our team will work closely with you to help meet your weight loss goals. That way, you can get in shape, stay in shape, and fall in love with the benefits of healthy living. After just 40 days, you will learn life-changing, transformational skills to help you break old habits and shed weight the healthy way. Sound too good to be true? Check out some of the reviews on our website - Nutrifit40 is as real as it gets, and we're ready to help YOU.
Here at Nutrifit40, we get dozens of questions every day about the best ways to lose weight. One of the most common questions is, "Is it really necessary to go to a medical weight loss clinic in Keystone, FL? Can't I just go to the gym?"
Going to your local gym for a good workout is a fantastic idea, but unfortunately, it isn't enough for many people. Despite taking the steps we think are necessary to lose weight, sometimes we never hit those lower cholesterol numbers. As a result, many of us are left confused and discouraged, creating a never-ending cycle with mediocre results.
That's where medical weight loss clinics like Nutrifit40 come in.
Medical weight loss facilities are clinics where average folks can get medical assistance to lose weight. Most clinics, like Nutrifit40, give patients access to knowledgeable physicians and helpful coaches who are educated and trained to help them lose weight.
Typically, patients also benefit from diet counseling and informational sessions about how their diet affects their bodies and increases the risk of diseases like hypertension. To help fortify their journey back to healthy living, most clinics include personalized weight loss plans. Unlike other diets, these plans are tailored to each patient's needs and help you incorporate incremental lifestyle changes into your day-to-day life.
At Nutrifit40, we know how hard it can be to take the first step toward signing up for a medical weight loss program. Luckily, our team of doctors and coaches will be there for you every step of the way as you take steps to reclaim your health. Preparing for your body transformation takes place over three easy and fun-to-follow steps:
Step 1
Get set up with your first no-stress body-positive weight loss clinic appointment at Nutrifit40 by calling our office or requesting an appointment online using our contact form.
Step 2
Meet with one of our highly-trained health coaches or weight loss doctors to discuss your goals. During this appointment, you'll also complete your personal weight loss and wellness profile at our weight loss clinic in Florida.
Step 3
You can start your program right away, and you'll get everything you need to begin your weight loss journey at our Nutrifit40 clinic, including the confidence and motivation you need to hit the road running.
In short, yes, they are. That's because programs like Nutrifit40 don't focus on overnight results or dangerous medicines. Instead, we focus on becoming your partner in the weight loss process. We take the time to sit down with you and explain that your weight isn't a punishment for being "lazy" or "unmotivated." Instead, we teach you about your body and what you should expect during the medical weight loss process. A trustworthy, legitimate weight loss location will also teach you about concepts like:
The goal of a weight loss clinic shouldn't be to chastise and embarrass you. It should support, educate, and encourage healthy changes in your life in a nurturing and positive atmosphere. It should also use science and medicine to design potent plans that actually help you lose weight and get healthy.
If you're looking for a medical weight loss clinic that has your best interests and health at heart, it's time to contact Nutrifit40. Some of the most common conditions that our doctors and coaches can help you with include:
Hypertension (or high blood pressure) and hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) are two of the most prevalent and deadly chronic diseases in America. CDC statistics cite over 115 million Americans as having high blood pressure, while nearly 94 million young people under 20 suffer from high LDL cholesterol.
Both high blood pressure and cholesterol can wreak havoc on your body and increase your chances of strokes, heart attacks, and much more. Thankfully, lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol means lowering the odds of these deadly conditions, and one of the best ways to do that is through long-lasting weight loss.
According to WebMD, losing 20 pounds can drop your systolic blood pressure by 5-20mmHg. That's a big improvement, and a significant impact on your LDL cholesterol numbers. Nutrifit40, designed by Dr. Maria Shelton, was designed especially for situations like these, where patients need custom medical weight loss programs to get healthy.
Personalization is the key to the program's success; Dr. Shelton maps out a plan for you based on your specific health needs. Dr. Shelton will show you how to shed pounds while restoring your cardiovascular health through doable diet and lifestyle changes, innovative technology, and targeted physical activity.
727-977-8201
Diabetes and diabetic neuropathy are concerning conditions that affect millions around the U.S. CDC statistics show that 34 million Americans have diabetes. Perhaps more frightening is that 88 million people are considered prediabetes. That means more than 37% of the U.S. population is already diagnosed or at risk of the disease.
Of those 34 million diabetes patients, almost half will suffer diabetic neuropathy. This condition causes nerves to be exposed to excessive blood glucose for long periods of time, causing extensive damage and symptoms like burning, numbness, tingling, and pain. Because the leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes is obesity, it makes sense that losing weight may be able to help.
If you are overweight and dealing with diabetes or diabetic neuropathy, the Nutrifit40 program might be perfect for you. In 40 short days, you can shed up to 40 pounds.
Our medical weight loss team has helped thousands of good, hardworking people like you lose weight. With time, diet, exercise, and guidance from our weight loss experts, success is easier to achieve than you may believe. With ongoing adherence to a healthy life and exercise regimen, Type 2 diabetes patients can get their blood sugar levels in check.
Book AppointmentDid you know that over 45 million people in America try going on a diet every year? With as many obese people in the nation, that makes sense. Unfortunately, about half of those people fail to meet their weight loss goals. Often, it's because the diets they choose aren't focused on making them healthy - they're only about quick, unhealthy weight loss.
In reality, most diets don't work in the long run. The best way to lose weight and keep it off for good is with practical, healthy lifestyle changes. That's where physicians and other weight loss professionals can help. Unlike fly-by-night diets, medical weight loss has been proven to be effective.
But how do you know if you're a candidate? Let's take a look at five common signs you need medical weight loss treatment.
While it's true that about 42% of the U.S. population is considered overweight, not everyone needs a weight loss program to follow. However, if you're more than 100 pounds over the recommended weight for your height and age, medical weight loss might be the best option for weight loss.
Book AppointmentAre you at your wit's end because you've tried every diet under the sun, only to make minimal to no progress? Millions of other Americans are going through the same problems you're experiencing. At Nutrifi40, we work with many different patients, many of whom come to use exasperated because nothing they try works. You may be tempted to give up, but we encourage you to consider a medical weight loss clinic for help.
One of the most challenging aspects of being obese is that everyday life gets much more complicated. Yes, trying to fit into regular clothes is probably off the table, but so are ordinary things that require minimal effort. Simple tasks like carrying groceries from your car into your house are extremely difficult. Other activities, like walking upstairs in a friend's home, are out of the question.
Book AppointmentSomething has to change if you've been living with extra weight for a long time and you're sick and tired of living an unhealthy, unfulfilling life. Are you ready to heal your body and make fundamental changes? If you are, we've got great news - Nutrifit40 is prepared to be the partner you need to achieve your weight loss goals. The first step towards achieving a healthy weight and, by proxy, healthy life is to actually take that first step. If being fed up with how you look and feel is enough motivation to get started, pat yourself on the back. You're already making progress!
Medical weight loss is about much more than aesthetics or vanity. It's about preventing or reversing weight-related health issues that put your life at risk. Once you cross a certain threshold, it's hard to get off meds like cholesterol pills, but with medical weight loss, it's possible. If you have any of the following obesity-related health problems, you should consider Nutrifit40:
727-977-8201
If you have been battling your weight for years only to find yourself in the same cyclical rut keeping you unhappy, unhealthy, and unfulfilled, it's time for a shift in your life. Why live with ill-fitting clothes, an inability to be active, and dangerous health conditions like high blood pressure? By joining the Nutrifit40 weight loss program, you're taking the first step to a new, healthier life.
Nutrifit40 is safe, effective, and available to patients with a variety of pre-existing conditions, including diabetes, high cholesterol, and even diabetic neuropathy. Contact our office today to schedule your first one-on-one weight loss consultation with our highly trained doctors. Before you know it, you'll be well on our way to restoring your health and confidence for good.
727-977-8201
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KEYSTONE, Fla. — Just outside downtown Tampa and its sprawling urban neighborhood, horses graze in wide open farmland, and morning mist hangs over dewy grass as the day gets started.
Keystone and Odessa are known for wide-open spaces. In fact, the area has its own community plan, which helps keep it rural and less developed than other parts of Hillsborough County.
But, neighbors continue to fight the county over a new subdivision. They say the development would not only break that plan but also cause infrastructure problems.
"We have the largest tracks of undeveloped land in this part of the county," said Missy Nordbeck. "We have a target on our back."
Nordbeck lives in the area, and she and other neighbors fear their way of life is being threatened. We've covered this story since last August.
An existing site plan approved in 1991 at Racetrack and Patterson Road has always been a 209-acre field of tall grass and trees. Now, developers want to turn it into a subdivision of nearly 200 homes.
"We have different environmental codes, we have different building codes," Nordbeck said. "But, for some reason, the county said, yeah, it’s not a problem at all."
The community plan in Keystone and Odessa was put in place in 2001, and it outlines building and development specifics. One parameter equals one house per every five acres. The goal is to keep things simple and avoid overdevelopment.
"We obviously know it’s not compatible with today’s rules, the county admits that. This could never be built legally today," Nordbeck said. "But because of this technical loophole, they say that it can, and that’s what we’re fighting in court."
A grassroots fight comprised of about a dozen neighbors.
They started a website ProtectKeystone.com and post updates there. One of their biggest concerns when it comes to overdevelopment is traffic and infrastructure.
"One of the comprehensive plan rules is two-lane roads to keep it rural. We’ll be stuck with the traffic, we’ll be stuck with overcrowded schools, and they'll just leave the community, and that’s not acceptable to us," she said.
The 36 miles protected under the community plan are supposed to be on rural, well and septic systems only, according to Nordbeck. She thinks that could change if this development moves forward.
"Once the county utilities go in, they're going to require you to hook up to those utilities. Try being a farmer with a water bill," Nordbeck said.
Taylor Morrison Florida Operations sent us a statement after we reached out for comment.
Thank you – we appreciate that you have allowed us to share our point of view. As we have maintained all along, the development plans for this community were lawfully approved by Hillsborough County. Accordingly, Taylor Morrison is continuing to develop the property and we are working to ensure that it will complement the natural elements and beauty of the surrounding properties.
Nordbeck and neighbors are suing Hillsborough County and hope to put a stop to the development.
"They say there’s nothing they can do, it's old zoning, and it's is an old site plan. As far as they’re concerned, it is legal," Nordbeck said.
And at the end of January, already a small win: a judge ordered that the developers, Taylor-Morrison, must not sell, convey or transfer interest in the property until further order from the court.
They were also put on notice by the court that they may be instructed to remove any future or past development on the property if the plaintiffs win the case.
We reached out to Hillsborough County commissioners about this development — none of the commissioners got back. The next court hearing is in April.
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
TAMPA, Fla. - People are moving to Florida in record numbers. According to the US Census Bureau, Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation.As people continue to move to the state, more housing developments are popping up – including one in Keystone, Odessa.It’s known for its tranquil landscape of winding roads and horse farms. Keystone, Odessa is a dream for those looking for a quiet, rural lifestyle....
TAMPA, Fla. - People are moving to Florida in record numbers. According to the US Census Bureau, Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation.
As people continue to move to the state, more housing developments are popping up – including one in Keystone, Odessa.
It’s known for its tranquil landscape of winding roads and horse farms. Keystone, Odessa is a dream for those looking for a quiet, rural lifestyle.
It's why Vivian Vetere and her husband moved there. They have six acres on Patterson Road.
"Life as we know it is not going to be the same," explained Vetere.
They’ve got plenty of room for their two horses Red and Saucy to run free, but about a year ago, the quiet was cut by the sharp sounds of development.
"We just love the area, and we are absolutely devastated to find out about this," Vetere said. "There was no warning, nothing. Somebody approached me at my mailbox and said how are you going to like to see 196 houses come up across the street from you and I said what? I had no idea."
Missy Nordbeck lives here too and is among more than a dozen neighbors suing Hillsborough County to stop the development of the 200-acre plot on Patterson Road.
"We can complain about anything we can think of to complain about to just slow it down, be a speed bump until we can get into court," explained Nordbeck.
It's owned by national home builder Taylor Morrison, who has plans for a 194-home development.
"It’s going to be a nightmare," said Vetere. "They’re going to have to put a light I heard they can’t widen this road there's going to be roughly 200 houses, so there's going to be at least 400 cars coming in and out of here, I mean this road can't manage that, the whole area can't manage that."
Nordbeck said development started without warning using an outdated zoning approval from 31 years ago.
"Yes there was a zoning approval for this site plan back in 1991," said Nordbeck. "They found it, they unearthed it, and they just started building."
The county passed a Comprehensive Protection Plan in 2001, which states only one home can be built per five acres.
"All were asking for is Taylor Morrison to have to abide by the county’s own rules," Nordbeck said. "I know that sounds crazy, were not asking for a dime we just want them to revoke the development order and start the process over using todays rules and regulations."
The county did issue a stop work order for Taylor Morrison once back in April 2022 along with a $310,000 fine for illegally removing trees without the proper permit.
Vetere remembers the day the trees came down, "There was a line of those very old, some of them hundreds of years old, there was a line of them all the way down the road, and they cut them down that’s illegal they dug up gopher tortoises by hand."
A spokesperson for Taylor Morrison released the following statement to FOX 13:
"Taylor Morrison is pleased to have the opportunity to develop a community in the Keystone area and we are working to ensure that it will complement the natural elements and beauty of the surrounding properties. No trees were cleared outside of the permit limits and the plan for the site meets all zoning requirements. Prior to the site work starting, the county's Natural Resources department had already reviewed and approved the permit plans, however, the final construction permit had not been issued. We regret the timing error on the site work and worked with the applicable County authorities to address the matter. We have since received our full site permit from the County and are in process of our development activity with the County's approval. We believe there is some confusion regarding zoning for this property which falls outside of the 2001 overlay zone. The community plans are in full accordance with zoning and it is being built based on the zoning that applies specifically to this site location. Taylor Morrison will continue to closely coordinate with the County under their guidance and appreciates their diligence in this matter."
FOX 13 reached out to the Hillsborough County Commission for comment and were told by Chief Assistant County Attorney Robert Brazel that, "We have a longstanding policy in our office of not commenting on pending litigation, and we advise our commissioners and staff to do the same. We find it preferable to make our position known through our court filings and arguments to the court."
Until that day in court, this group of neighbors continues its fight to protect their rural community.
"We’ve done everything we can to prepare for this emergency hearing, and it is our first time in front of the judge, the first time in court to have our side heard by someone who can actually help us," Nordbeck said.
Taylor Morrison did submit traffic and school studies to the county in 2020 showing that the area could absorb the new development.
The emergency hearing will take place January 18th.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.Tired of the same old campgrounds? What if we were to offer you a different, out-of-the-box option entirely? There is a covered wagon campground in Florida that is unlike any normal campi...
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Tired of the same old campgrounds? What if we were to offer you a different, out-of-the-box option entirely? There is a covered wagon campground in Florida that is unlike any normal camping accommodation. These covered wagons offer a bit of historic glamping, but also plenty of luxury amenities for you to really level up your stay. Get ready for some wonderful Florida covered wagon camping.
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Have you ever been to this covered wagon campground in Florida before? Share your experience with us in the comments section! Or if you’d like to reserve a covered wagon in the future, make sure to check out Keystone Heights RV Resort.
Also, if you happen to be staying at the resort and find yourself hungry, head next door to Florida Cracker Kitchen serving up some seriously scrumptious Southern food.
William Suphan | April 17, 2023
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Water utilities who have been fighting state plans for protecting Keystone Heights lake levels around a major aquifer recharge area have negotiated a tentative settlement to their dispute with the St. Johns River Water Management District.The deal still has to be approved by governing boards at the management district and the utilities.But the two sides made enough progress that an administrative law judge on Friday ...
Water utilities who have been fighting state plans for protecting Keystone Heights lake levels around a major aquifer recharge area have negotiated a tentative settlement to their dispute with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
The deal still has to be approved by governing boards at the management district and the utilities.
But the two sides made enough progress that an administrative law judge on Friday called off a nine-day hearing she had scheduled for next month to decide the dispute over the management district’s minimum-level rules for Lakes Brooklyn and Geneva in Clay County’s southwest corner.
“It is anticipated that all petitioners and respondents will execute the agreement,” management district attorneys told Administrative Law Judge Francine Ffolkes, who told the two sides to report back by Aug. 3 on whether the dispute has been resolved.
How the dispute is resolved could be important at levels ranging from the supply of water that utilities draw from the Floridan aquifer to the years-long plea by Keystone Heights residents for steps to raise water levels on their shrunken lakes, which now stand far from the docks built decades ago as waterfront amenities when the town was a hub for boating and watery weekend fun .
No one has publicly discussed a deal that still isn’t final.
“It’s not quite nailed down. I’m a little leery of saying a word,” said Vivian Katz-James, president of the Save Our Lakes Organization (SOLO), a Keystone Heights civic group that last month received Ffolkes’ permission to intervene in the fight involving utilities serving more than a million Floridians.
The Clay County Utility Authority’s governing board has scheduled a shade meeting Tuesday afternoon to privately discuss the case with its attorneys.
The management district’s governing board is scheduled to talk about the settlement during its July 13 meeting.
CCUA, Jacksonville’s JEA, Gainesville Regional Utilities and the informal North Florida Utility Coordinating Group all filed petitions in May challenging the management district’s development of new lake-level rules and the state agency’s suggestion of a cost-sharing deal to help finance construction of a 17-mile pipeline to carry water from Back Creek to Keystone Heights.
A 50-page packet of material relating to the the lake-level plan, including an unsigned cost participation agreement between the management district and Gainesville Regional Utilities, was uploaded to the management district's website just before 5 p.m. Friday.
The packet included a recommended update to the agency's recovery plan adding this statement: "Entities who have executed agreements to participate in the Black Creek WRD project have addressed their proportional share of impacts to the MFLs and are in compliance with the Recovery Strategy up to the amount of lift purchased by that entity."
The pipeline, designed to carry up to 10 million gallons daily during most of the year, is central to the management district’s plan for raising lake levels.
A management district projection said Lake Brooklyn could rise almost 10 feet if the pipeline carries its full capacity to a receiving area where water would feed both the lake and the subterranean aquifer beneath the area’s porous ground.
Combining its own funds and a special appropriation from the Florida Legislature, the management district had about $48 million to put toward the pipeline. After unforeseen expenses arose, however, the agency projected needing $81 million.
Although the utilities broadly praised the pipeline idea, they questioned management district calculations that suggested JEA, CCUA, the Gainesville utility and St. Johns County’s public utility might pay a combined $29.9 million to address impacts their water withdrawals have on the aquifer and lake levels.
The DOAH dispute grew in recent weeks to also include SOLO, the city of Keystone Heights and the nonprofit Lake Region Development Corp., all of whom supported the management district.
Some residents in the Keystone area of northwest Hillsborough County say they did not know a major housing development was about to encroach on their rural community until they saw survey sticks being placed in the ground in late February.What You Need To Know “There have been no meetings, no notifications of any kind that anything was going to happen,” said longtime resident Jeannie Holton. “Everybody said, ‘There’s not really anything that they can do.’ And of course, that...
Some residents in the Keystone area of northwest Hillsborough County say they did not know a major housing development was about to encroach on their rural community until they saw survey sticks being placed in the ground in late February.
“There have been no meetings, no notifications of any kind that anything was going to happen,” said longtime resident Jeannie Holton. “Everybody said, ‘There’s not really anything that they can do.’ And of course, that’s hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Residents say they are confused and anger because the planned development of 194 homes on 209 acres bypasses the Keystone-Odessa Community Plan approved by the Hillsborough Commissioners in 2001 — which says that there should only be one unit built per five acres.
The planned development, though, was originally approved by the County Commission a full decade before, in 1991. That document, which allowed for the rezoning of the land from agriculture to planned development, says that the development “shall not exceed a density of one dwelling unit per gross acre.”
“When entitlements are made decades ago, even if they were made two years ago, those are permanent," said Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp. "They can never be changed. That’s why any land use decisions we make are extraordinarily critical.”
A Hillsborough County official adds that the county’s Land Development Code provides that the current standards in Keystone "do not apply to previously planned developments, which includes the Patterson Road Residential project."
Kemp, who was strongly opposed by the development industry in 2020 during her successful bid for reelection, said that the current board of county commissioners would never have approved a planned development like the one being built in Keystone.
But that’s of little solace for residents like Holton, who moved to the area in 2006 specifically for the rural lifestyle.
“I just wanted to have part of my life where I wasn’t in the city,” she said late last month while sitting on a chair on her backyard deck which overlooks Lake Echo. “Where I was away and could enjoy nature and could appreciate — well, just exactly what we have here. It’s just a rural lifestyle, less traffic.
"I didn’t want to take a half-an-hour just to get out of my neighborhood, and just really wanted to enjoy the water, (it's) cleaner. You know, all the quality of life issues that everybody really wants, you know? Some people like an urban lifestyle — and I did, too. But the rural lifestyle is something that everybody should have the chance to enjoy.”
“This is such a pristine gem for Hillsborough County,” added Clara Lawhead, a neighbor who’s lived in the community for 42 years. “We are very unique. We are a country community. And we don’t want to become suburban.”
The project is in the rural service area of unincorporated Hillsborough County and includes public water and wastewater service. County officials say that such infrastructure isn’t typically allowed in the rural service area, but the planned development includes a requirement that the development be served by public water and wastewater at the developer’s expense.
But residents like Holton don’t want that infrastructure, saying it would not be an improvement from the clean water they enjoy currently.
“I have brand new septic tanks," she said. "I have an air infiltration system on my water system, I have no chemicals in my water."
Residents also fear that the housing project poses environmental risks that the county has invested to protect in the region in recent years, including the purchase of 543 acres of land just east of the Brooker Creek Preserve for more than $11 million in 2020 through its environmental preservation program (ELAPP) to create a wildlife habitat corridor.
Jeff Bakshis, the owner of the Keystone Farmers Market in Odessa, said he was “blown away” when he learned about the new development.
“It’s an important part of this region in that a lot of the water being supplied to Pinellas County and Hillsborough County is coming from right here so," he said. "I just don’t understand how they’re weighing the consequences of destroying part of the headwaters of the Brooker Creek out here in the wellfields to make room for houses when we need that water for other people."
The development group building the new homes, Taylor Morrison, had a stop and desist order placed on them in late April by the county that lasted more than a week after it was discovered that they had cleared a number of trees before the final construction permit had been issued.
County officials did not say how many trees had been cleared without a proper permit, but said that the builder had removed 4,766 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) of trees on sight. The developers were informed that they needed to either replant those trees or pay a fine of $309,790.
“Although the work was briefly paused, no trees were cleared outside of the permit limits and the plan for the site meets all zoning requirements,” a spokesperson for Taylor Morrison Florida Operations told Spectrum Bay News 9.
Hillsborough County spokeswoman Hilary Zalla said on Monday that how Taylor Morrison ultimately would resolve the issue “is still pending.”
“The plans for the project provide for some replacement inches but not the full amount we identified,” she said.
Holton told Spectrum Bay News 9 on Monday that the citizens in Keystone remain upset.
"This is a failure on the part of our Hillsborough County Government to follow our rules, protect our environment, our water source, (and to) represent and inform us," she wrote in a text message.
Although today it is Keystone residents who are unhappy about a planned development that doesn’t conform to current local standards, Kemp warned that the issue could pop up in another community in Hillsborough County.
“This unfortunately won’t be the only area where entitlements were given decades ago that aren’t reversible,” she said.“We have growth coming in at an alarming rate. Alarming. And we’re doing everything we can to have smart growth and slow growth.”
Listed below is the full statement sent to Spectrum Bay News 9 from Taylor Morrison Florida Operations:
"Taylor Morrison is pleased to have the opportunity to develop a community in the Keystone area and we are working to ensure that it will complement the natural elements and beauty of the surrounding properties. We also hope to work with the civic association to ensure a successful relationship. We did receive a stop work order from Hillsborough County on April 26, 2022, in connection with this project. Prior to the site work starting, the County’s Natural Resources department had already reviewed and approved the permit plans, however, the final construction permit had not been issued. Although the work was briefly paused, no trees were cleared outside of the permit limits and the plan for the site meets all zoning requirements.
“We believe there is some confusion regarding zoning for this property which falls outside of the 2001 overlay zone. The community plans are in full accordance with zoning and it is being built based on the zoning that applies specifically to this site location. We regret the timing error on the site work and we are working with the applicable County authorities to ensure we timely address the matter. We have since received our full site permit from the County and have resumed our development activity with the County’s approval. Taylor Morrison will continue to closely coordinate with the County under their guidance and appreciates their diligence in this matter.
“We continue to work closely with the County on all details.”
