Article Courtesy of the St. Petersburg Times

By JUSTIN GEORGE and COLLEEN JENKINS
Published April 18, 2004

LECANTO - The developer of Citrus County's most exclusive neighborhood has asked county officials to change the zoning of 23 undeveloped acres so more homes could be built instead of businesses and stores.

Some residents fear that this would be a first step to expanding plans for Black Diamond Ranch that could include another golf course - and leave them paying more for maintenance.

Representatives of Stan Olsen, who owns Black Diamond Properties and built the 795-home and four golf course-subdivision, said the request calls for lower density zoning which should please residents, since 15 or so new golf cottage homes would be less intensive than stores built at the site, located along the west side of County Road 491.

Developers also want the county to rezone another 10 acres to be turned into a golf driving range, county records show.

County commissioners approved the requests this week, sending them to the state Department of Community Affairs for review. The matter will come back for a final review by commissioners, who could change the comprehensive plan accordingly.

Although it's early, some Black Diamond residents feel they haven't been informed adequately and worry about future plans the developer has.

After residents caught wind of recent plans for an RV parking site, the developer pulled them. 

"Please be further advised that the financial interests of the property owners and golf club members far exceed that of the developer," residents Larry and Mary Laukka wrote in a March 31 letter to the county, requesting a delay of Black Diamond's request.

The Laukkas secured almost 100 electronic signatures on a petition and sent them to the county, questioning future plans and calling for a public meeting involving all parties. There, residents could clearly learn of the developer's intentions and any resulting financial impact on those who live in 475 existing Black Diamond homes.

Robert and Nancy Dion, two residents, said they have watched Black Diamond's membership dues double in six years.

"Many members of Black Diamond are financially impaired and unwilling to assume further financial obligations of the developer without consent," they wrote in an April 1 letter to the county.

Black Diamond Ranch, "one of the world's most acclaimed golf communities, will soon be more exclusive than ever," its Web site boasts. It currently includes more than 45 holes envisioned by renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio, including the 18-hole Quarry Course, consistently counted among the nation's top 100 layouts.

Homes, according to Black Diamond, sell for between $90,000 and $300,000, and residents pay $6,750 a year in dues for neighborhood privileges, as well as for golf-course maintenance.

Residents recently learned that adding a nine-hole, par-3 short course to Black Diamond, which already has a similar four-hole course, may be in the works. Some wondered whether the current zoning requests had anything anything to do with it.

Mary Laukka said the construction of another course would disturb her and others who have watched conditions at Black Diamond's famed Quarry Course deteriorate the past few years.

"Right now, we're having some problems with the golf courses not being maintained to the highest level," Laukka said. "If we have more holes, that could be even more of a problem."

Marina Taylor, Black Diamond's administration director, said course workers have spent a significant amount of money fixing the greens on the Quarry Course, which were hurt by harsh winters and 30 frosts that delayed the grass-growing process.

"Yes, there has been some problems, but they have been environmental problems," Taylor acknowledged, adding that residents saw no dues raised because of it. "If you can control the weather, more power to you."

The new course plans are preliminary, Taylor emphasized. They will be included in the subdivision's five-year master plan, which will be sent to residents at the end of the month.

Taylor said the course's construction is contingent on several factors that are not a sure thing. She could not elaborate on what those factors were, but said the master plan was created from a membership survey and represents residents' wishes.

Clark Stillwell, the attorney representing Black Diamond, said another golf course is being proposed, mainly to help sell homes around it. People want to live on a golf course, he said, and an additional course will only raise property values for current residents.

He said most residents support Black Diamond's zoning requests.

"Eighty-five to 90 percent of the people endorse the project," he estimated. "The other 10 percent? I don't know what's motivating them. We're just trying to make (Black Diamond) better."

This isn't the first time in recent months that Black Diamond residents have protested the ways of the development's ownership.

Last fall, two groups of residents sued Black Diamond Properties. Olsen's lawyers have asked a judge to dismiss both cases.

In one suit, six former members of the property owners association - including Larry Laukka - are seeking to be reinstated to the board after what they say was their improper removal from the board and freezing of the association's $400,000 bank account.

The case file already is eight volumes thick. Last week, Circuit Judge Patricia Thomas granted Black Diamond's motion to disqualify the former board members' attorney. The board members plan to appeal the ruling, asking the judge to clarify its effects. They also have demanded a jury trial.

The five men leading the other lawsuit against Black Diamond claim to represent the interests of more than 500 club members. In their class-action complaint, they contend they were misled about the value of the equity memberships they bought for Black Diamond Ranch country club and golf courses. The men say they bought the memberships, believing Black Diamond eventually would turn over ownership of the club to its equity members.

Black Diamond officials have described many of the men's claims as inaccurate. At a hearing Monday, Thomas will rule on the developer's motions to strike the class action allegations and dismiss the suit.