In its heyday, Saddlebrook Resort enjoyed an international reputation for excellence, and attracted luminaries from the worlds of professional golf and tennis to compete and train there.
Those glory days diminished over time, as fewer resources were invested in the property, which is located off State Road 54, east of Interstate 75.
The current owner, Miami-based Mast Capital — who purchased the resort from original owner Tom Dempsey — has proposed a redevelopment plan it says will recapture Saddlebook’s potential to be a world-class resort.
Mast’s initial plans faced a wall of resistance.
Over time — through 30-plus private, community, public, in-person and virtual meetings — Mast has changed its plans and opposition decreased.
Efforts continue by some Saddlebrook residents and their attorney to push for additional concessions and more assurances, but the gap between the two sides is considerably smaller.
Issues involving the request were thoroughly discussed during the June 8 meeting of the Pasco County Planning Commission, which makes recommendations to the county board relating to land use and zoning requests.
“We’ve done a lot of work since we were here in January. We’ve had a lot of meetings over time,” Barbara Wilhite, an attorney representing Mast told the planning board.
“We’ve worked very hard on a private deed restriction,” Wilhite said, noting that will ensure that golf course land would remain golf course land.
“Every home in Saddlebrook that is now on a golf course is still on a golf course and maintains their view,” said Jordan Kornberg, managing director and head of acquisitions for Mast.
The company has agreed to a binding concept plan and to phasing conditions that are intended to give Saddlebrook residents assurances that the company will be making an investment in the resort itself, not just redeveloping land along State Road 54 into a mixture of apartments, town homes, office and retail uses.
“We’ve ensured that ultimately, for development to happen, we need to make a significant commitment to the improvement of the resort to ensure that ultimately Saddlebrook will be improved and receive the investment that we all know it needs,” Kornberg said.
In broad strokes, Mast’s redevelopment plan has four parts: two areas are within Saddlebrook’s gated community and two are outside, flanking State Road 54.
Area 1 and Area 2 are outside of the gated community.
The plans for Area 1 call for 75,000 square feet of commercial retail/office, 465 multifamily units and 35 townhomes.
The plans for Area 2 call for 25,000 square feet of commercial retail/office and 120 townhomes.
Area 3 and Area 4 are within the existing resort community.
Plans for Area 3 address tennis courts, parking, the renovation of the clubhouse and resort area.
Plans for Area 4 call for the redesigned golf courses and relocation of the driving range, which currently fronts State Road 54.
The developer also has committed to improvements aimed at increasing the access points into and out of Saddlebrook, to address additional traffic the redevelopment will create.
Eran Landry, a managing director of Mast said: “Our intention is to really enhance what is out there today.
“The community has been very vocal about wanting to make sure that it feels good as you come in,” he said.
Plans call for the village center to have retail on the ground floor, with offices on the upper floors.
Planning board member Chris Poole asked Mast if some parking could be placed under apartment buildings, to reduce the amount of surface parking.
But Landry responded: “The economics doesn’t work.”
Wilhite said that Mast will commit to an enhanced landscaping plan.
Larry Barbetta, of the Save Saddlebrook Coalition, said he doesn’t want to minimize the progress that’s been made.
However, he said some gaps remain.
“Specifically, we need better commitments on the resort renovations, in terms of the scope of the renovations and the timing,” Barbetta said.
Concerns also continue over the amount and type of development that would be added and the amount of traffic it would create, he said.
Barbetta wondered if it would be possible to shift some of the proposed density to another area of the plan.
But Wilhite said “the design is village-focused. It’s the density that you need to have a village.
“If you drive around Pasco you’ll notice that we have mostly anchor-based retail, with outparcels. It’s all auto-dependent. It serves people driving by.
“When you try to create a village center, you need density.”
“You have restaurants where people want to stay and eat outside and listen to music, and you have festivals and markets. The density is very important for people to have those kinds of businesses,” she said.
Jane Graham, attorney for the Save Saddlebrook Coalition, told the planning board: “We’re getting really close, but we’re not there yet. There are continuing issues as far as the density and the compatibility of land use.”
But planning board chairman Charles Grey noted that it’s important to keep in mind that Mast’s investment is needed for the overall common good.
“From all of the reports that I’ve heard, Saddlebrook needs somebody to come in there and put some money into it.
“These people seem to be making a monumental effort in working with you,” Grey told Graham.
“If somebody is going to come and try to rescue Saddlebrook, give them something. They’ve got to have a carrot, too.
“You have to think for the greater good of everybody in there,” Grey said.
At the same time, Grey complimented both the applicants and the community for being willing to work together to iron out differences.
“You’ve come a long way. I think you’re almost there.
“I think we’ve got to do what we can to push it over the edge because if you lose out on this investor, who knows when the next one might come along, especially in this market,” Grey said.
Published June 21, 2023