Builders plot while leaders try to fill spot

Commissioners hear plans about a hotel and affordable housing as they simultaneously set their own goals to deal with a colleague's departure.

By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 16, 2003

LARGO -- Under normal circumstances, a proposal for a new hotel on Bay Drive and an influx of affordable housing along Clearwater-Largo Road would be enough to fill a City Commission work session.

But commissioners also had to tackle replacing one of their own Tuesday night, deciding how fast to fill the commission seat that opened when Marty Shelby resigned Monday to run for mayor.

Commissioners set a Jan. 30 deadline to receive applications and resumes, and hope to appoint a replacement Feb. 4. Both dates are expected to be approved at the Jan. 21 commission meeting. Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in Largo at least a year.

The final 14 months of Shelby's term will be served by a commission appointee because Shelby left less than 90 days before the March 4 election. His seat was up in 2004.

The last time a similar appointment was made under similar conditions came in 1996, when Pat Burke was tapped to finish the final four months of Judy Dean's term. Dean had resigned after moving from Largo to unincorporated Pinellas County.

Starting the process to replace Shelby came on a night when the six commissioners listened to a proposal made by Marc Menna, a local entrepreneur with national hotel connections.

Menna wants to buy the police station property that has been vacant for years. His family owns several chain hotels in the Tampa Bay area, and he has said he could bring a Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn and Suites to the city.

Menna introduced the idea last summer, offering $750,000 for 2.6 acres on East Bay Drive and Missouri Avenue or $500,000 for 1.47 acres on the site.

But several sticking points surfaced. Menna pushed the city to act fast and hesitated going before commissioners to present his plan. Largo couldn't decide how much land to sell him, or for what price, and city officials were uncomfortable with some of his terms.

Then there was the Hospice of Florida Suncoast, a major nonprofit organization next door. It needed to expand, and expressed interest in buying some of the property. The city also considered buying a gas station on the corner.

Hospice recently purchased property nearby in unincorporated Pinellas County, where it intends to relocate. The city backed off buying the gas station after the owner asked for more than $1.2-million.

To get back on track, Menna agreed to present commissioners with his idea and appeared Tuesday night at City Hall with a Hilton representative.

Many on the commission were impressed by his presentation, filled with glossy photos and lists of amenities. Commissioners seemed intent on learning more.

City Manager Steven Stanton suggested that leaders negotiate with City Attorney Alan Zimmet, then decide whether they wish to sell him the land.

"I would prefer the commission not negotiate a development agreement this evening," Stanton said. "I think we need to go back and clarify a few points, and make sure this is something you (Menna) are still interested in and we are still interested in."

Commissioners also talked of amending the development code to allow more affordable housing in Largo.

The Richmond Group of Florida, a West Palm Beach developer, has proposed building 252 apartments and a small commercial center in place of the Belleair Place shopping center at Clearwater-Largo Road and Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

Richard Doetsch, a representative for the company, came seeking an amendment that would let his company offer 70 percent of the units at affordable housing rates and 30 percent at market rates.

The city development code currently allows only 50 percent. Commissioners asked the city staff to prepare a change in the Clearwater-Largo Road redevelopment zone -- which is still being drafted -- to allow the additional affordable units.

Planner Rich Cannone said the planning board will review the amendment Feb. 6. The commission will vote at public hearings Feb. 18 and March 11.

-- Michael Sandler can be reached at 445-4174 or sandler@sptimes.com .

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