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RUSSELL BUCHAN
DEVELOPER
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CONVERTING FAMILY ASSETS TO CASH
Russell Buchan in April 2007 petitioned the Pinellas County Commission to rezone a small parcel of land owned by our parents.
Like most county zoning hearings, there was opposition. The final hearing was recorded and can be viewed here. To see the video, click on the small underlined a. after the blocked word "Approved" The video will be shown on Real Player. If your computer is not set up for Real Player, a message will appear on your screen to let you download the program.
The video is 25 minutes long and interesting to anyone wanting to know Buchan family history. Russell appears on camera at the five minute mark and again at 23 minute mark in the video.
Russell Buchan for almost forty years was known for his beard. The beard gave the appearance of resembling Dom Deluise or Luciano Pavoritti. In the video, Russell no longer has his beard but sports a thick mustache. He now appears as the former TV actor William Conrad. Regardless of what personality Russell resembles, Russell seems to cherish his role as the family bastard. |
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44. Planning and Zoning Applications Heard by the Examiner (Quasi-Judicial Hearings are Noted with a “Q” Prefix):
 a. Q LU-2-4-07
An Ordinance Amending the Future Land Use Map of Pinellas County, Florida, by Changing the Land Use Designation of a Parcel of Land Containing Approximately .57 Acre Located on the South Side of Bay Pines Boulevard, 1,000 Feet West of 83rd Street North, St. Petersburg, Located in Section 01, Township 31, Range 15, from Commercial Recreation to Commercial General and Providing an Effective Date, Upon Application of Russell P. Buchan through James P. Koelsch, MAI, Valuation Services, Inc.
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| After viewing the video, I wrote an open letter to the Pinellas County Commision and the residents of Sea Horse Mobile Home Park who spoke in opposition to the zoning change request. The letter is reproduced here.
I am an older brother of Russell Buchan, the requester of the above proposal.
I recently observed a video transcript of the hearing where the zoning request was approved.
I noted that my brother, Russell was tentative and exhibited nervousness during his presentation. Well, to me it was understandable. Russell is an educated person, has years of experience in operating his own business and has spoken before many groups and individuals. I believe his tentative behavior might have been caused by the realization that the meeting was being recorded and video taped and the possibility that other family members would see it. We did.
Our parents did own this property for some fifty plus years and the photographs presented by the Sea Horse mobile home residents clearly showed the historical transition of this property. As a young boy I remember working at the gas station when it first opened. It was managed by two of my father’s adopted brothers.
The failure to entertain a sale of this property during the 1990’s was due to the pressure exerted on my mother’s guardianship by Russell. Russell was adamant that no assets be sold while our mother was still alive. His concern was that proceeds received from these sales would be dissipated in continuing care for our mother’s health needs as she was confined to a nursing home. The family was not aware at the time that Russell had a plan to take sole possession of all family assets and Russell was becoming impatient because of the longevity of our mother’s life. Russell was finally able to orchestrate an end to her life in January 2001.
During the hearing, I noted inconsistencies in Mr. Koelsch presentation. This may be a personal observation because of my keen interest in mannerisms of fee paid professionals who perform services for Russell Buchan.
I would like to offer apologies to the residents of Sea Horse Mobile Home Park. While alive, my parents exhibited concern about the welfare of neighbors adjoining any of their properties. I am aware of one lease negotiation for this parcel to an adjoining property owner. My parents requested no building or billboards be erected on the property that would propose an intrusion to the entrance of the mobile home park.
I cannot speak for my brother Russell about his intentions to sell this parcel, but I do know he had little respect for our father and he forced the removal of our mother’s life support causing her death. I believe Russell has no empathy for the residents of Sea Horse Mobile Home Park or anyone else who stands in his way during his quest to convert family assets to cash.
This letter together with many other letters, documents and court papers are published on the websites, www.russellbuchan.com and www.fairnessforfamilies.com These websites chronicle the deaths and events of probate administration of both our mother, Amelia Buchan and our father, Charles Buchan.
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