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Zoning

Developer scales back Tower Dairy project

By ANDREW MEACHAM
Published July 7, 2006

RIVERVIEW: A developer has reduced the size of a subdivision it hopes to build on the Tower Dairy property.

Priority Developers now wants to build 468 homes and 530 townhouses on the property. That's 56 fewer homes and 186 fewer townhouses than the developer originally requested.

The revised plan also eliminates 46 planned villas.

During a zoning hearing in June, consultant Ethel Hammer said the developer made the cuts to accommodate concerns by zoning hearing master Andrew Baker. Baker was worried that the project at 78th Street and 49th Avenue packed too many residents into 215 acres, she said.

The property still operates as a dairy, but owners Norman Busciglio, John Busciglio and Samuel Busciglio are seeking to rezone it from agricultural to a planned development to make way for a subdivision.

Hammer announced another change: the developer will extend Camden Fields Parkway, also known as Hartford Road, through the center of the project.

The additional roadway would take some of the traffic off 78th Street and give motorists another way to get onto U.S. 41.

The property comes with challenges, Hammer said. County drainage canals run through it, and major electric lines bisect the property in both directions.

But the site lies near Interstate 75 and U.S. 301, within minutes of several shopping malls.

The Tower Dairy subdivision and a next-door development called Harvest Creek promise to change the landscape.

Centex Homes, the Harvest Creek developer, wants to build 2,750 housing units east of the Tower Dairy property and include nearly a million square feet for industrial, office and retail uses.

The Greater Palm River Community Civic Association has asked Priority Developers for an 8-foot-tall, wrought-iron safety fence along the northern boundary of the property.

The county's Planning and Growth Management staff has signed off on the requested rezoning, but with a recommendation that the developer widen 36th and 49th avenues, 70th and 78th streets, and create numerous additional turn lanes and intersection improvements on those roads.

The request goes before the County Commission on Aug. 8. PETITION 05-1947

BRANDON: A developer wants to build 42 townhomes on 7 acres north of Providence Road and east of Providence Oaks Drive.

A zoning hearing master recommended that property owners Lewis and Barbara Hart get a zoning change from agricultural and residential to a planned development.

Neighbors have objected to adding a multifamily project to the neighborhood, which some said would increase crime.

Residents speaking before a zoning hearing master fretted about losing their view out the living room window and losing their privacy.

The proposed townhomes could be as tall as 35 feet.

Zoning hearing master Andrew Baker found that the project is appropriate for the area, and that residents had not presented any evidence that townhomes increase crime. The case goes to county commissioners on July 25. (PETITION 06-0467)

APOLLO BEACH: Property owners Michael and Julie Byrnes are asking for a zoning change on 2.7 acres at Dickman and Elsberry roads. The pair want to build 12 houses on the property, which now has a single house. The Byrneses want to change zoning from agricultural to a planned development.

The request goes before the County Commission on Aug. 8. (PETITION 06-0994)

Andrew Meacham can be reached at 661-2431 or ameacham@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 6, 2006, 19:36:40]