Developer Grady Pridgen isn't too happy about the Pinellas County Commission's decision to create a large buffer zone in an area close to where he planned to develop new homes as part of an industrial-residential multi-use development project. Here's what he told the St. Petersburg Times:

"I wish they had not voted on it," said Pridgen. "The normal process is six months; this is going to take two years."

That's because the Commission passed a county ordinance Tuesday night by a 5-2 vote that would require a 2,000-foot buffer zone between the county's Gateway area landfill and any future apartments, homes or condos to be built. Pridgen was pushing for the Commission to approve a buffer of less than 1,000 feet for his project.

Commissioners Calvin Harris and Kenneth Welch voted against the ordinance. Here's what Commissioner Harris told the Times:

"If everybody else is grandfathered in, then the ordinance is written for one piece of property. ... What difference does it make?"

That's a very good point.

Information from the St. Petersburg Times article was used for this report.

-John Mudd
"Mr. Real Estate"