Village in Progress

Now That's Progress!

Two years ago in June, 2005, a countywide meeting was held to discuss the parameters within which The Village at Everyday Blessings could become a reality on St. Francis Foundation's existing 72 acres of agricultural land. Although every department - zoning, planning & development, legal & others - bent over backward to determine if the Village could be built under existing codes within the Future Land Use Plan, it seemed that the best way to proceed most smoothly with the process was to apply for a Text Amendment to that Plan. A new process started immediately and, we are happy to report that, on June 11, 2007, at the public hearing of the Planning Commission, the staff recommended approval of such an amendment and the Commission concurred with their recommendation.

What was approved was an amendment to the Plan that will allow a Hillsborough County landowner who wants to build an adoption/child care community on agricultural land to do so within certain restrictions. These include, but are not limited to, the following: there must be a minimum of 50 acres of available land; no more than one residence per gross acre can be built; a 150 foot buffer must be allowed on all sides of the community, etc.

The approval of the Planning Commission was ratified by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on August 16, 2007. A second meeting with the BOCC on December 13, 2007, will transmit the final approval by the State Department of Consumer Affairs.

With the approval of the BOCC on August 16, 2007, the work associated with rezoning the land as a Planned Use Development can begin. We are truly grateful to all who have been involved in the process thus far.

Animal Assisted Therapy Planned for The Village

Because Animal Assisted Therapy is very beneficial to children who have been abused and neglected, consideration is being given to raising alpacas at The Village at Everyday Blessings. Alpacas are gentle animals, do not require much care and "give back" to children who care for them. As an added bonus, some revenue can be generated by the children from the sale of Alpaca wool.

Consideration is also being given to raising rabbits - a smaller animal for the child who might be a little skittish around an alpaca. Eventually, free range chickens (in a movable enclosure that has sides and a roof for their protection) may also be part of the Village "menagerie."

To that end five interested Village members attended a "Starting a Small Farm" workshop conducted in Manatee County by the County Extension Services on March 17, 2007.