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Letter to the editor

Retiring city veteran gaga about coup

Bob Jeffrey is about to see biggest "baby" take form.

By JON WILSON
Published June 27, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - A cantankerous row loomed.

Convened to discuss a proposed high-rose condo on Beach Drive, the meeting featured preservationists on one side, the business and development community on the other.

In the middle were city officials, among them planner Bob Jeffrey.

On that evening more than seven years ago, Jeffrey was able to steer a careful path between the contentious sides.

He helped reach a compromise. One of the first of the new batch of Beach Drive condos to go up, the Florencia did not turn into a city vs. developer fight.

Jeffrey's ability to listen and to find the middle ground has been one of his hallmarks.

"My strength was that I could see both sides of the equation, " said the 17-year City Hall veteran, who has announced his retirement.

Jeffrey, 43, is working part time until City Council approval of the city's retailored land development rules, a massive project Jeffrey has guided since Vision 2020 begin producing the underpinning in 2001.

Approval is expected in September, and Jeffrey will wind up his city duties soon after that.

He and former Deputy Mayor Mike Dove have formed a consulting firm called the MyTown Team. They will work with municipalities, developers, Main Street projects or whomever needs planning expertise, Jeffrey said.

"We'll do a lot of the same stuff we did (with the city) or liked to do, " Jeffrey said.

The Oil City, Pa., native started with the city in 1990 after earning a bachelor's degree from Miami of Ohio and a master's in architecture from Kent State. He soon began working with neighborhood design review and preservation programs.

"I've had a ball, " said Jeffrey, who does not plan to move from his Historic Kenwood neighborhood.

His enthusiasm has not been lost on neighborhood leaders.

"He's an exceptional person and we will miss his guiding light, " said Barbara Heck, president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations.

She said Jeffrey's trademark has been patience in explaining the nuances of ordinances, codes and other elements pertaining to neighborhood development and preservation.

But the land development rules, or LDRs, will be his most important legacy. It has taken seven years to shepherd them, beginning with planning and "visioning" sessions in 1999.

The process has gone on longer than Jeffrey had anticipated.

"Anyone else would have thrown up their hands in frustration and said no way, " said veteran neighborhood activist Steve Plice.

But the back-and-forth among residents has proved fruitful. The reality is, we're going to have something that works for everybody. And that was the hard part, " Jeffrey said.

Council approval is expected in August, with implementation of the new rules to begin in September.

"I think he's done a very creditable job, balancing all those things (in the LDRs), " Plice said. "He's one of the few staffers who understands the comprehensive plan. There will be a huge knowledge gap when he goes."

[Last modified June 26, 2007, 20:15:50]