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Zoning

Townhomes on hold for traffic research

By JEREMY HAYES
Published August 28, 2005

Hillsborough County commissioners made the following decisions on Tuesday:

CARROLLWOOD: The developer of a new townhome community will have to wait a little longer for a decision.

Commissioners want a better understanding of the impact that the complex, Carrollwood Gardens II, would have on traffic along Humphrey Road, west of Grady Avenue.

They have asked developer Bert Barber to conduct a traffic study and have delayed a hearing on the matter.

The plan would change 5 acres of residential land into a planned development for a 47-unit complex. The site is surrounded by planned developments that have been approved for multifamily housing.

County commissioners will review the request on Oct. 18. (Petition 05-0638)

WESTCHASE: There was no debate in the county's attempt to get cross-access to the Upper Tampa Bay Library's land.

Commissioners approved the library's plan for expansion. The 15,000-square-foot library off Countryway Boulevard bought more than an acre of adjacent land from the Westchester subdivision across the street.

The library could not expand its facilities into the new area because, under zoning regulations, it did not technically have access from the library to that neighboring land. Commissioners gave the library the go-ahead.

The plan will also remove an access point on Countryway Boulevard. (Petition 05-1583)

UNIVERSITY AREA: There will soon be more space to sleep at a University area motel.

Commissioners approved a rezoning for the A-1 Motel at 12007 Nebraska Ave. The developer, Todd Scime, wants to remove 2,160 square feet of existing structure from the motel and then expand the building to 10,000 square feet. (Petition 05-1083)

CARROLLWOOD: A storage facility will be undergoing some big changes.

Storage Equities Inc., 8230 Dale Mabry Highway, got approval from the commission to increase its floor space and add a 14-foot landscaping buffer and parking spaces. It will also make improvements to the driveway that it shares with Wal-Mart and add a new driveway at the rear of the property. The new driveway will make it possible to exit the complex directly onto Waters Avenue, rather than U-turn on Dale Mabry. (Petition 05-1094)

UNIVERSITY AREA: The American Youth Academy wants a special use permit to build a new private school on land leased from the Islamic Academy of Florida.

The Islamic Academy of Florida was co-founded by Sami Al-Arian, who is now facing charges that he used the school as a front to raise money for Palestinian terrorists.

The proposed school would sit on a 4-acre plot off 56th Street and would serve up to 250 students, grades K-12. One existing building would be used, one demolished, and 24,000 square feet of new buildings erected.

ODESSA: Dayle Lewandowski wants to make some home improvements.

Lewandowski needs several variances to make the desired improvements. The applicant wants to replace the existing 3,033-square-foot house with a smaller, new 2,400-square-foot house, and needs to reduce the front yard setback from 50 feet to 15 feet.

Lewandowski also wants to increase the size of the guest cottage from 640 square feet to 1,200 square feet, making it an in-law cottage for the family's elderly parents. This will require a variance to the size of the cottage and the setbacks around it.

The applicant also wants to restore the existing dock house, which would require a front yard setback reduction from 50 feet to six feet. (Petition 05-1658)

UNIVERSITY AREA: There were two dwellings on Rifaat Ahmad's property when he bought it. He wants the manufactured home at the back of the property to be his main house and the secondary structure to house family members, but it is too large to be recognized as an accessory dwelling. He needs a 600-foot variance to the accessory dwelling size and a 10-foot reduction in the front yard setback. (Petition 05-1618)

CITRUS PARK: Jesse and Stephanie Lore want to add on to their house. They need a half-foot variance, resulting in a 24.5-foot setback. (Petition 05-1655).

CARROLLWOOD: NCJ Investment Co.y is building a new gas station and convenience store at Gunn Highway and Hubert Avenue and needs a special use permit to sell alcohol. The applicant has requested that the review of the application be postponed until the Oct. 7 land use hearing. (Petition 05-1175)

TOWN 'N COUNTRY: Regal Bowling Lanes on Hillsborough Avenue wants to put up a new sign. It has filed for a variance to make its sign 436 square feet, which is 336 square feet over the allotted maximum of 100 square feet. (Petition 05-1629)

LUTZ: Herminia Olavarria's family built a garage onto their house in November and now needs to go back and get the building permit. To do so, they need to decrease the setbacks on their side and back yards. (Petition 05-1303)

- Jeremy Hayes can be reached at 813 269-5302 or jchayes@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 27, 2005, 11:05:06]