Reader letters

Letters to the Editors

Growth can be good if it's managed

Dear Editor:

Your cover story (Through The Roof, Jan. 24) really hit a nerve. Janet Zink did a good job of describing the general growth trends in Hillsborough County, especially Riverview and Brandon. But the article left me with the feeling things are rosier than they are.

I am a USAF officer and grew up in Milwaukee. My military career has taken me to Montgomery, Los Angeles, Colorado Springs, Dayton, Boston, and finally to Tampa. I now reside in Valrico in a wonderful home in a great neighborhood and plan to retire from USAF this fall. I've been here for three years.

Yes, clearly there are benefits of growth, my home and neighborhood being prime examples. Improved opportunity for business owners is clearly a further benefit. However, I feel Zink missed a huge point. That point is the concept of planned managed growth. Unfortunately, based on my experience, Hillsborough's growth has not been managed, and it is not clear to me that it ever will be.

When my mother comes to visit us and we go out for a drive I'm faced with questions like this:

-- Why does Highway 60 have three different names (Brandon Boulevard, Adamo, 60)?

-- Why does the new intersection at Lithia Pinecrest and Bryan have a bike path for 100 yards and then go back into two-lane?

-- Why are they only paving half of Durant? Didn't they just pave that half? Why don't they just pave the whole road while they're out there?

-- Why doesn't Turkey Creek connect to Bloomingdale?

-- How will the roads be changed to handle the demand brought on by the new schools? If those schools are really going to open this fall, shouldn't they be working on the roads by now?

-- How does the county's growth plan relate to the city of Tampa's plans? The state of Florida's plans? Where can you find these plans?

-- Who can you talk to about growth management concerns?

-- How do developers come in here and ram-rod decisions to allow them to build smaller homes on smaller lots? How much do these developers contribute to the creation of the infrastructure (roads, water, sewage, gas, etc.?) How come there's so little green space in these new sprawling developments?

-- Why did the county commissioners boldly reject the Tampa Chamber of Commerce's recommendations to address growth issues without providing better plans of their own?

-- Why do they only have Sunpass at three of the Crosstown toll booths?

-- How come the bus routes are difficult to find, and they don't go to the places needed?

-- Why don't the road workers work at night? Why do these improvement projects take so much longer than they do elsewhere?

Well, I hope you're getting a better picture of what our community looks like from a visitor's perspective. What would you tell your Mom?

So, Brandon Times, welcome to the neighborhood. I'm already looking forward to another installment on growth management. You could start with the Tampa Chamber of Commerce's report, and where each and every commissioner stands on it, and what their alternative plans are.
-- James R. Bischoff, Valrico

Sun City welcomes in-depth reporting

Congratulations on your first issue of the Brandon Times. My wife, Ann, and I are both very pleased to receive this paper, which merits saving, in addition to our regular copy of the St. Petersburg Times. We look forward to reading each article in future issues.

We retired folks in Sun City Center have missed the kind of in-depth reporting you gave us in the John Bowker article.

May I suggest an idea especially appreciated by many retirees? A series on local restaurants, new and old, would be most welcome.

Thanks again for bringing the local news to us in such a fine way.
-- Homer Savige, Sun City Center

Keep up the good work

It's about time! I have enjoyed reading the St. Petersburg Times but always wished for more coverage of the Brandon area. I'm impressed. Keep up the good work.
-- Suzanne Bemis, Sun City Center