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Letter to the editor

Wal-Mart will kill small Tarpon Springs stores

I am very upset at the shortsightedness of those in power in the City of Tarpon Springs. Though the city has not approved of a new Super Wal-Mart being built on the banks of the Anclote River, it seems just a formality, even with the public outcry against it.

One of the "major" issues that the mayor and others have had with Wal-Mart is the sale of natural sponges at the proposed location, which seems to be an attempt to save downtown Tarpon Springs and the tourist trade. It also seems foolhardy, seeing that you can go to most any Wal-Mart location and see they do not sell natural sponges.

What Wal-Mart also sells is the death of small businesses. What this Wal-Mart will also sell is the slow death of downtown Tarpon Springs.

Has the city of Tarpon Springs paid absolutely no attention to the history of this area? Look at Clearwater alone. That city struggles greatly because they have sold off land on U.S. 19 to as many retail giants as possible, and now they are hit with a lackluster downtown area and are desperate to draw the people back. There is money for investment, sure, but the key component to downtown Clearwater is Scientology now, not residents.

Tarpon Springs, by the logic shown, is greatly concerned that the tourist trade be unharmed by this addition to the city limits. What about the rest of downtown? What about the small business owners who can't compete? Is expanding the city's tax base for one store so important that it kills off the rest of the tax base by closing down the smaller competition?

John Fontana, Palm Harbor

Editorial misjudged Tarpon proposal

Re: Tarpon over-eager for tryst with development, editorial, Nov. 14.

I read the editorial regarding the continuing saga of the Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed in Tarpon Springs and just had to comment.

It was said that some opponents were angry about the delay and said they "suspected the city had deliberately flubbed the advertising to force opponents into a cooling-off period." The editorial goes on with, "While there is no indication of that, the foulup is another indication that the city, small enough that it doesn't have a lot of experience with massive projects, should seek advice from the county or other government entities more accustomed to working with development agreements."

First, like it or not, I am confident that whatever the reason written notices were not sent, it was not a deliberate move to stall discussion or invent a cooling off period. The director of the Planning & Zoning Department has much more integrity than that!

Second, the last time the city relied upon the Pinellas Planning Council was to conduct the staff reviews and prepare the staff reports on the failed Markopoulos/Pappas Restaurant debacle. Then, the administration chose to consult and contract with the PPC behind the backs of the Planning Department staff. It was not until the public announcement (while the planning director was on vacation) that the technical staff learned of the proposed development. We were instructed not to comment to the press or public or even discuss this development among ourselves! This caused a great deal of uneasiness at the staff level and extreme embarrassment, particularly when citizens, who had up until this time trusted the information being offered by the Planning & Zoning Department, were told "We have no comment and have been instructed to direct all questions to the city manager's office."

Third, the city has entered into a number of large development agreements in the past. There is no reason why this project is any different from past projects where staff worked with the city attorney to write effective development agreements.

Fourth, and finally, before you all go calling for county and state interference, remember that those agencies endorsed and approved the Development of Regional Impact for ABR, a development that by all accounts was considered more significant that the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The best thing to come of the delay is that all involved will have time to review the information on the Wal-Mart Supercenter, gather more details, seek expert testimony and hunt down the answers to this pressing question: Who gave the mayor and city manager the authority to write that letter to Pinellas County quelling its interest in the subject property?

The holiday season is just the wrong time to be making these kinds of decisions. People are focused on other things and it just creates negative energy. Everyone, be patient. Wait until after the holidays and come back to the hearings with positive contributions to solving this situation.

Olga Sowchuk, Tarpon Springs

Developer ignored area residents

Re: Greens may sprout homes, story, Nov. 15.

I read with interest your article on the redevelopement of Countryside Executive Golf Course and I would like to make some observations.

Judy Hull, director of land acquisitions, said Beazer Homes met twice with the neighboring residents about the zoning changes her company was applying for. Well Judy, you left out 72 residents of Laurelwood Village, which abuts the golf course.

Lee Crouch, president of Executive Corp. of Clearwater, owner of the land, says the cash flow problems over the past three years are due to hurricanes and increased costs. How about reinvestment in the course? I and many of my friends have played Countryside Executive over the last 10 years, Mr. Crouch, and up until three years ago the golf course was well maintained, even with the hurricanes and inflation. It was a pleasure to play. No crabgrass or sandboxes in sight. Just green fairways and bunkers. I'm sure it operated at a profit too.

Then about three years ago management changed and the course started to decline. With the steady decrease of maintainence, many people stopped playing there. It was sad to see a beautiful golf course go downhill. By last year it was obvious the course was losing money and one wonders if this wasn't somebody's plan all along. Run the course down, cry poverty, and seek a zoning change so they could cash in on 44 acres of prime real estate.

Judy Hull also said Beazer Homes did not want to bother the neighborhood. Well, there are many people from Laurelwood Village and Village on the Green who do not want to lose the open space and golf course. If you don't want to bother the neighborhood, then put your townhomes someplace else.

On behalf of the multitude of wildlife that lives on or traverses this beautiful piece of open land, I am also voicing opposition to this change.

[Last modified November 22, 2004, 12:04:41]