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Report threatens land use approval

An official wants the commercial component of a mobile home park redevelopment eliminated.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published January 10, 2006

PINELLAS PARK - A county report released Friday could quash a long-standing redevelopment deal at Golden Lantern Mobile Home Park.

Dave Healey, executive director of the Pinellas Planning Council, issued the report, saying he wants a developer to eliminate the commercial component of the redevelopment plan and build only housing. But the attorney for the developer says that's not an option.

"That isn't going to work. This is a transaction that has been very carefully constructed over a long period of time, both legally and financially, to work," Clearwater attorney Tim Johnson said Friday.

The suggestion came as part of a preliminary recommendation Friday by the PPC, an advisory body composed of 13 elected officials from the county's 24 cities, the Pinellas County School Board and the County Commission.

As part of its duties, the PPC must consider land use changes, such as the one proposed for the Golden Lantern, 7950 Park Blvd.

A developer wants to raze the 19.74-acre park and create a mixed-use development with commercial development on the 2 acres bordering Park, affordable apartments in the middle and higher-end townhomes on the southernmost portion of the property. The County Commission last month granted preliminary approval of a land use and zoning change that would allow Triax, the developer, to proceed.

Before the change becomes permanent, the PPC must consider the issue and make its recommendation to the commission.

A group of planners from across Pinellas was to have heard Healey's preliminary report Monday. The 1:30 p.m. meeting was open to the public but comments were not allowed unless requested by the planners committee.

The PPC is scheduled to make its final recommendation at 1 p.m. Jan. 18 on the fifth floor of the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Clearwater.

The meeting is open to the public and people can comment.

Healey wants the PPC to approve the land use change that would allow the apartments and townhomes. But he wants the group to deny the proposed land use change that would allow the commercial portion of the development for several reasons.

To begin with, Healey wrote, commercial development is "not well suited to the parcel because of the small size involved and because it will lead to further strip commercialization along the adjoining roadway."

Healey is also concerned about the possibility that businesses "incompatible" with the residential portion of the project could locate there.

[Last modified January 10, 2006, 01:52:17]