Firmenich Vigil Monday In Advance of County Decision Tuesday

After many months full of meetings, debates, proposals and counter proposals, a major decision on the fate of the Firmenich property will come Tuesday. 

The Board of County Commissioners, acting as the Countywide Planning Authority, will meet on Tuesday morning and vote on the Richman Group’s proposal to build a 246-unit apartment complex on the 34-acre property on State Road 590 in Safety Harbor. 

The proposal has already received approval from both the Safety Harbor City Commission and the Pinellas Planning Council, which ruled 8-5 in favor of the project last month. 

While the CPA does take those votes into account, the board is able to make its own decision on the issue, which may or may not coincide with the previous recommendations. 

“Just because the City Commission and the PPC voted in favor of the proposal doesn’t mean the County Commission will do the same,” City Manager Matt Spoor told Patch recently. 

“They have many factors to take into consideration and must vote on what they believe is in the best interest of the county. This is by no means a done deal.” 

With that in mind, a group of people who oppose the Richman Group’s plan will meet at Firmenich on Monday evening at 5:30 and hold a vigil on the property.

Nearby resident Barbara Hugg, who also helped organize a previous protest at Firmenich, wrote this on the Safety Harbor Patch Facebook page last week:

LAST CALL!!!!!

Hello one and all. This is a call out to folks who are opposed to the Richman Group Project being developed on the Firmenich property.

Once again, come join with us in one last stand against this project.

Date: Monday May 6th 
Start time: 5:30 until whenever
SR 590 in front of Firmenich

Commissioner Meeting
Tuesday May 7th @ 9:30AM

I know it is a cruddy time for folks, but if you can, come on out. There are several us that plan to speak, even our very own Nancy Besore, who also plans to attend the gathering on SR590 in front of the Firmenich property. Karen Kallel, a Planning and Zoning member is onboard as well.

This really is the end of the road and our last chance to stop this very large apartment complex going in with access only via SR 590. 

I know we can make a difference... 

Hugg, who has been an outspoken opponent of the Richman Group’s proposal from the very beginning, hopes the BCC will make a decision none of the other boards would.

"Basically we need all the support we can get and I believe we can make a difference. We already have, but it just hasn't been enough," she wrote to Patch.

"We are as passionate about this not passing now as we were when the sign went up."

Commissioner Besore, who spoke out against the plan at the PPC meeting and has to be at the Safety Harbor City Commission meeting at 7:30 Monday night, said she plans to be at the vigil as well.

"I'd like to see you in front of Firmenich...at 5:30 on May 6th, that's before our commission meeting," she said at the last commission meeting on April 15. "I'm going to be there from 5:30 to 6:30 and I'm going to have my little candle."

The Board of County Commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7 on the fifth floor of the Pinellas County Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 315 Court St. in downtown Clearwater.

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