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Developer says let voters decide on retail-condo plan

The Publix-plus project has already been scaled back but opponents are still adamantly against it.

By SHEILA ESTRADA
Published June 19, 2005

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - Developer AG Armstrong wants to pay for a townwide referendum that would determine whether a controversial mixed-use project including a Publix supermarket should go forward.

"Let's have a referendum. Let the citizens vote their pleasure," said Allen Goins, AG Armstrong president Friday.

Goins acknowledges his proposed project, located on Gulf Boulevard on 1.65 acres at the northern end of the city, has stirred both support and vehement opposition, including a lawsuit filed against the city, the city commission and the developer.

Rick Alvarez, a resident, recently filed that lawsuit challenging the legality of a variance approved by the commission to allow AG Armstrong to pursue the PUD (planned urban development) permitting process.

The commission met privately with its attorney Tuesday to discuss the lawsuit.

"If I thought the citizens didn't want the project, I would not go forward with it," Goins said. "But, I believe they do want it."

He says opponents fear that the project will generate too much traffic and have an adverse effect on the community.

"The truth is that this project will have less of a traffic impact than what I could do on the site under current zoning," Goins said. "This is a very vocal minority that is trying to spook the population."

His company has formed several citizen committees that involve about 70 residents in the development's planning process.

The proposed "Village at Indian Rocks Beach" project is valued at $16.5-million and would encompass an entire block, bounded by Gulf Boulevard, 25th and 26th avenues and First Street.

Originally, the developer wanted to build a four-level building including a 29,000-square-foot Publix Super Market, 13,000-square-feet of additional retail space, two levels of parking, and 23 condominiums that would sell for $400,000 to $500,000.

The project has since been downsized to three stories, providing no additional retail space beyond the originally proposed Publix, one level of parking and 24 condominium units.

The Publix space is significantly smaller than most Publixes, which cover about 40,000-square-feet. "This design is appropriate for beach communities or downtown urban settings where space is often not available. This design can be seen in Clearwater on Fort Harrison Avenue and in Feather Sound," he said.

Goins says he has already received inquiries about preconstruction purchasing of the condo units.

Alvarez filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Friends of Indian Rocks, a political action committee formed to fight the development. He wants the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court to force the city to rescind the variance granted to the developers.

The city appears to have two clear options - it can defend its actions and fight the lawsuit or it can voluntarily rescind its action granting the developer the right to pursue the planned development review process.

The variance was required because PUD projects must, under town code, be zoned commercial. Half the property is currently zoned residential. At the time the variance was approved in February, the commission made clear that it was not necessarily in favor of the proposed project.

[Last modified June 19, 2005, 00:38:17]