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Paintball Complex Seeks Approval

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By LIZ BLEAU, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

Updated: 11/29/2007 08:47 pm

BALM - A zoning hearing master has recommended approval of a planned development district to operate a paintball operation in Balm. The county commission will vote on the issue at its meeting Dec. 11, following the final public hearing.

The Legends Paintball Complex, off County Road 672, opened in 2005 without the proper permits and zoning. The owner of the property, Musa Family LLC, sought and won a change in the land-use code to allow paintball fields in certain areas.

Now that the general use has been approved, the applicant is seeking approval for the specific site.

The owners had the choice of seeking a special-use permit or a planned district and have opted to seek a planned district. It would include 119 acres with four speedball play fields and 55 acres set aside for open play fields, or woods ball.

The Balm Civic Association has opposed the paintball operation because of the noise and traffic it would generate.

Marcella O'Steen, president of the Balm Civic Association, spoke before the zoning hearing Oct. 30 and repeated arguments made during the land-use amendment hearings.

Some of the auxiliary uses at the site such as batting cages and a miniature golf course have been eliminated from the application, O'Steen said, but could be added later as part of the new code amendment language.

The new code also allows for special events, which O'Steen said "could be huge and could prove to be a problem for our rural agricultural neighborhood."

She also opposed the hours of operation, every day until 8 p.m.

Most of all, she said, is a concern the paintball fields will draw other commercial projects to the rural area.

Several people spoke in favor of the paintball operation, including several youth and children who said it provided safe entertainment in an area where there was not much for young people to do.

In his approval of the application, zoning hearing master John Crislip said he was approving the rezoning provided no paintball activity take place within 500 feet of residential property.

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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