The Firmenich Decision: What's Safety Harbor Saying?

Shortly after the Board of County Commissioners voted against approving the Richman Group's proposal to build an apartment complex on the Firmenich property, people began expressing their feelings about the decision.

Based on comments left on this website and our Facebook page, the reactions ranged from surprise to elation to outrage.

Now that the deal is apparently dead, Safety Harbor residents and other concerned citizens are reacting. Here is a sample of some of the comments readers have left on Patch and the Safety Harbor Patch Facebook page in the days since the BCC's decision:

"I am just happy that we won't have 246 apts emptying onto SR 590. As industrial, they come to work when I am leaving SH and they are leaving when I come home. Opposite traffic for me...When they go for the next business there, my voice will be heard about the traffic...and I will once again encourage an entrance on McMullen Booth." — Sheryl Hollen

"The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners was right to vote against rezoning Safety Harbor's limited commercial/industrial land to allow a residential apartment complex on the Firmenich land. This land is in a commercial/ industrial zone near a gas station with constant traffic noise from McMullen Booth Rd. It is clearly not an ideal location to build a large scale apartment building." — Harborite

"Awesome! I've been torn on how to vote on this....i have a retail business but yet i've lived here my whole life. But....first and foremost, I am a Safety Harbor resident! So I am glad about this outcome." — Kristin Shea via Facebook

"I root for the day when the city tells YOU what you can do with YOUR property. Glad all you selfish people will have your way. 246 cars is nothing. Go sit outside ANY apartment complex in the AM. It's NOT the mall at Christmas time, people. Such self-centeredness is all too common in Safety Harbor." — Mike Hassett

"...still in shock..." — Barbara Hugg

"All, this was a long hard fight and I am certianly glad it is over for the time being. I am so happy that the county commission was listening and now maybe some more of our elected officals will listen to what the residents are saying." — Russell Norman

"I posted a comment on last night saying how wrong Matt Spoor was. I thought the county commission would caved just like the Safety Harbor commission had. But, Matt, you were right, and I was dead wrong." — Gary Moos

"...hopefully the county helps solicit a company with jobs and tax revenue for the city." — Christine Purvis Petellat via Facebook

"Holy Moly.....I love it...Kudos to the fighters...take that Richman Group!!!" — Robert "Bobby" Saltzman

"I think that says it all: "Be careful what you wish for"...Firmenich has been an active industrial property for a long time. Unless we get the Sierra Club or a rich uncle to buy it for preservation, something is going to go in there. And that business may look like those east of the tracks on 9th Ave." — SH_Dave

"...WE WON" — Barbara Hugg via Facebook

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