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Politics

Plan's second delay awakens leaders

Safety Harbor officials didn't think they needed to attend county meetings on their redevelopment plan. They were wrong.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published July 5, 2007

SAFETY HARBOR - The city got caught snoozing.

Not once, but twice.

That much Mayor Andy Steingold admits.

But next week, city officials say, they will show up at a County Commission meeting to ask for another chance to justify and defend proposed changes to their downtown development plan.

At two previous Pinellas County Commission meetings, homeowner William Turkali - a lone soldier in his war with the city - persuaded commissioners to block Safety Harbor's updated community redevelopment plan from moving forward.

Turkali, who could not be reached to comment for this story, contends that the city's proposed plan would take away his right to develop his property on Bayshore Boulevard.

That, he said, reduces its value dramatically.

May 15, the county commissioners' first vote on the plan was a 3-3 tie, so it went nowhere. June 19, commissioners rejected the city's plan by a 5-1 vote.

It was a decisive victory for Turkali and an embarrassing defeat for Safety Harbor City Hall.

City officials blamed Pinellas County staff members for leading them to believe the hearings were routine and that the plan would likely encounter no resistance from county commissioners.

So they didn't show up.

When City Manager Billy Beckett found out about the outcome of each meeting, he said he felt blindsided.

But next time, Mayor Steingold and others say they will be ready.

The city plans to resubmit the plan and request another hearing.

City commissioners are asking supporters to attend a County Commission meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at 315 Court St. in Clearwater, to request a rehearing.

Safety Harbor officials say the redevelopment plan was amended last year to help keep the city quaint and to prevent overbuilding.

"Basically, we will have our day in court, " Vice Mayor Kathleen Earle said.

But City Commissioner Joseph Ayoub disagreed with his fellow commissioners Monday night. He wants to pull Turkali's property as well as six others from the plan "to increase our chances" of getting the amended plan approved by the county.

Turkali's property is in the amended redevelopment area.

He bought his home on Bayshore Boulevard in 1983.

In 1992, the city asked him whether he would like his property to be included in Safety Harbor's community redevelopment plan.

He agreed.

Officials rezoned his property to retail/office/service, which would allow taller, more dense development and increase its value substantially.

But last year, city commissioners decided to change the area again to residential. The proposed plan would put a 25-foot limit on the height of buildings that could go on Turkali's property.

Enraged, Turkali has fought back, taking his case directly to the County Commission.

At Tuesday's meeting, several city commissioners hope Safety Harbor residents will address the County Commission about the matter.

"I think the County Commission was reviewing this in a vacuum, " Steingold said.

"They heard from only one property owner."

Bob Diaz, who lives on Bayshore Boulevard, plans to attend.

"I hope the whole city shows up, " he said.

"I think we need a proper hearing with the county. I don't want to see condos come up Bayshore Boulevard. It's got to stop somewhere."

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 4, 2007, 21:46:41]