Keystone Shores wins a new round in the battle over the development of the future town center.
By JOSH ZIMMER
Published March 21, 2004
KEYSTONE - When Laura Metzer was trying to get her art gallery off the ground, she wondered why so many residents here resisted development.
After dealing with Hillsborough County planners over the past year, as well as the person developing the business complex where she's located at the corner of Gunn Highway and N Mobley, she understands better.
"We were just simple people trying to build a building and run a business," said Metzer, who owns the Willow Arts gallery with her husband, Stephen. "But a year later I really think we get what the Keystone Civic Association is after, and that is people who uphold their promises."
Her comments followed the Civic Association's latest defeat over Keystone Shores, a commercial strip that is part of Keystone and Odessa's future town center. In a ruling filed last week, county Land Use Hearing Officer Margaret Tusing said county planners did not violate any regulations when they allowed developer Dmitri Artzibushev to change his site plan for the commercial center.
The Civic Association launched its challenge about 10 months ago when its members noticed that the construction of the business complex wasn't matching the site plan they had seen. They complained the parking lot would reduce a landscape buffer that they expected along Gunn, and that the layout didn't include a centrally located courtyard in the front.
While both sides argued, the county held up Willow Arts' certificate of occupancy. Months of fruitless negotiations led nowhere. Artzibushev eventually withdrew his application to modify the zoning at Keystone Shores. Instead, he submitted proposed changes to the site plans. When the county Department of Planning and Growth Management approved those changes, the Keystone Civic Association appealed to Tusing.
The association's appeal said Artzibushev should have been forced to take his plan before the County Commission. Tusing disagreed, saying planners correctly handled the situation.
"I had every confidence going into the appeal we would be found correct," county zoning administrator Paula Harvey said.
The Civic Association feels deceived once again. The group has a long history of fighting developers. Its members are convinced the county is too willing to help developers.
The air of mistrust is evident in the controversy over the proposal to build a new elementary school on a vacant orange grove across the street.
The Hillsborough School District says it needs the new school to handle overcrowding at nearby facilities. The Civic Association responds that it doesn't oppose an elementary school in Keystone, but it says building a school at that location would cause too much traffic and would undercut efforts to develop a viable town center.
Members point out that a 1998 agreement to rezone the grove for a mix of houses and businesses didn't include a school. To their chagrin, Land Use Hearing Officer James Scarola last month recommended approval of a plan that would allow all three uses on the property.
The County Commission is scheduled to take up the school issue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Planning and Growth director Bruce McClendon believes something positive will come out of the Keystone Shores conflict. Recognizing how residents often base their judgments on preliminary site plans - including the simple drawings that developers submit - he formed a committee last year to review the process.
So far, the committee is recommending the county demand more details, including more accurate drawings, before letting developers seek all the necessary approvals.
A final report could come out as soon as next month, McClendon said.
"The things the committee already has done would . . . prevent the kind of specific problem we saw out there," he said.
It may not be enough to win the confidence of people like Metzer. She admits to mixed feelings.
Opening Willow Arts was a good decision, she said. The gallery, which emphasizes the work of local artists, is flourishing.
But the store is still operating on a temporary certificate of occupancy, she said. And she complains that Artzibushev reneged on promises to landscape the property. She also is disappointed with the county for supporting Artzibushev instead of the Civic Association.
After doubting the Civic Association, she now believes the group is right to be mistrustful.
Artzibushev did not respond to a call seeking comment.
Said Metzer, "Nobody's word seems to be good anymore."
- Josh Zimmer covers the University of South Florida area, Keystone and Odessa and Citrus Park. He can be reached at 269-5314 or zimmer@sptimes.com
