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Project inches ahead with vote on rezoning

By CASEY CORA
Published August 6, 2006

ST. PETE BEACH - In a Tuesday meeting that crawled well past midnight, the City Commission voted to rezone the east end of Corey Avenue to accommodate two proposed 10-story buildings.

The rezoning ordinance would pave the way for the Corey Landings project, a mixed-use development that includes 96 condominiums, parking and 26,000 square feet of commercial space in the two buildings.

The plan also calls for a boardwalk to connect the Corey Landings park to the city's park beneath the Corey Avenue Causeway bridge, creating nearly an acre of public waterfront.

"This is an opportunity for a project of lasting significance for the city," said Karl Holley, the city's community development director.

City officials said they were not approving a site plan for the project, but that Tuesday's vote was the first hearing regarding a rezoning issue.

The zoning is being approved based on the developer's concept of what's planned for the property, Holley said.

He added that the City Commission would have to give the plans a final review.

Development architect Jack Bodziak of Corey Landings, LLC, said he has drawn up more than 20 site plans since talks began with the city and residents.

"I have a strong belief that you get very few opportunities to bring something like this together for a city," Bodziak said. "You're not going to have this opportunity again."

Citizens for Responsible Growth, a political committee that has involved itself in the city's redevelopment plans, opposed the ordinance, contending that any action on the ordinance was illegal.

In a letter sent to city attorney Tim Driscoll on July 21, CRG attorney Ken Weiss said citizen petitions opposing the bill should have suspended the measure per the city charter.

But Driscoll said CRG's petitions were submitted after Corey Landings developers applied for rezoning and that the measure is active.

Applications for a similar project on the west end of the avenue, called Corey Sunset, also were filed before CRG's petitions.

"I do not see a legal concern," Driscoll said.

CRG member Harry Metz disagreed with the City Commission's action.

"This borders on malfeasance for the three who voted on it," he said.

If adopted, the rezoning measure would be a baby step toward an area that residents say is in dire need of redevelopment.

"It looks like downtown Beirut down there," said Frank Thiesen, owner of the Blue Parrot, Corey Circle's surviving establishment among otherwise vacant buildings. "It's a dump."

A second hearing on the rezoning ordinance is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 8 at City Hall.

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 19:43:48]