Dealership wins approval

The dealership has cleared the final county hurdle, but a color scheme could be a sticking point in getting residents' blessings.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY
Published June 10, 2005

DADE CITY - The Mazda-Hyundai dealership planned in Wesley Chapel got all the approvals it needs from the county on Thursday.

Now the owner is working on getting the residents' blessing.

Dealership owner Scott Fink is scheduled to meet today with Wesley Chapel leaders and County Commissioner Pat Mulieri to see if they can compromise on the dealership's appearance.

What's the problem?

Residents don't like the color scheme. As plans stand now, one of the buildings would sport a green overhang near the entrance, and a couple of other green accents - a very noticeable electric lime green.

The county is essentially powerless to prevent the dealership from using whatever color schemes it chooses - a fact that appeared Thursday to bother County Administrator John Gallagher.

"If you put things like that in a residential area," Gallagher said, "the Board (of County Commissioners) is going to have a color ordinance coming up soon."

Gallagher acknowledged that the lime green is part of Mazda's high-tech look. But he said the appearance should also meet community standards.

"We don't have any (standards) yet," Gallagher said. "But things like this might push the board to it."

Two Wesley Chapel leaders spoke at the meeting Thursday, voicing objections to the dealership planned at the intersection of Wesley Chapel Boulevard (County Road 54) and Lexington Oaks Boulevard.

Peter Hanzel, a member of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, said he needed to put his objections on the record "in fairness to the other car dealerships I've opposed." Wesley Chapel is soon to be home to a number of dealerships including those selling Hondas, Mazdas, Hyundais, Toyotas and Nissans.

Hanzel urged the county to ensure the dealership met all the county's landscaping requirements.

He was joined by chamber chairman Alison Morano, who also objected to the lime green color accents. Both Morano and Hanzel made a point to say that the dealer deserves credit for trying to work with them.

Now that the dealership has approval for its construction plan, there is little the county can do to push the dealer to make changes.

Earlier this year the county approved an ordinance creating new, stricter rules for car dealerships. It was done largely as a reaction to the sudden boom in dealerships in Wesley Chapel and the tension with neighbors.

The county now prohibits amplified outdoor speakers and forbids test drives on residential streets.

Also, large planted buffers must be built to separate car lots from neighborhoods.

Wesley Chapel leaders hope the owner will do even more than the ordinance requires.

"Ultimately, we want to be a good neighbor," said Fink, the owner.

"We'll work something out."

[Last modified June 10, 2005, 01:12:14]