Hundreds Pack Meeting On Gates High Campus Proposal

A public meeting held by the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission to address concerns about a proposed charter school drew a standing-room-only crowd on Thursday.

The meeting was a result of an abundance of calls, letters and emails to the EPC regarding the impact of Gates High School's proposed campus off Sunset Lane in Lutz.

"It is a project of heightened concern," EPC director Rick Garrity said.

Though the meeting was designed specifically to address concerns about the proposed campus's impact on the wetlands, many residents took the opportunity to bring up other issues, including traffic and noise.

About 25 people lined up to speak during the public comment portion; most were longtime Lutz residents who fear that the school will disrupt their quality of life and negatively impact their property values. 

Many residents also voiced concern about flooding in the area, which they feel will be made worse if the school is built on the property.

"This unique location in Lutz has an abundance of wildlife and we don't want to see that destroyed," one woman said.

Gates High School's curriculum and mission is based on sustainability and enviromentally sound practices. Its elementary school, Learning Gate, was among the first schools regognized as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School.

The designation is awarded to schools that "save energy, reduce costs, feature environmentally sustainable learning spaces, protect health, foster wellness, and offer environmental education to boost academic achievement and community engagement," according to the Deartment of Education website.

Some residents wanted to make it clear that they are not against the school itself, just the proposed location. But when a school supporter took his turn to comment, he was met first with loud applause from the supporters in attendance— followed by heated interuptions from others until Lutz Citizens Coalition President Mike White stepped in. 

"This is not how we act in Lutz," White said.

"I'm one of the few who's going to stand up for Gates," said the man, who identified himself only as James.

Whether the site ends up with the school, or with the 60 homes it's also zoned for, there is going to be an impact, James said. The issue of flooding has been a concern for a long time, but because of Gates High's innovative approach and focus on ingenuity, "maybe you can work with Gates to find a way to eliminate the problems the community is always having."

The proposed site plan will impact about .7 acres of wetlands. That impact will be mitigated by creating wetland in another part of the property or by purchasing a protected site elsewhere, civil engineer Matt Campo said.

Though the EPC has issued a conceptual permit to the school, the application is still open and community imput relevant to the wetlands issue will be reviewed, EPC attorney Andrew Zodrow said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the agency.

Note: Patch Editor Keli Sipperley's children attend Learning Gate and Gates High.