City transition often is met with resistance

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published October 2, 2007

Asynonym for transition is change, which explains why there may be no greater challenge to urban planning than transition. People are resistant to change. ¶ Transition - moving from one land use to another, but allowing both to coexist side by side - is a typical development strategy. But that doesn't guarantee success or make it easier for public consumption.

Transition brought upset residents to Port Richey City Hall to object to a medical facility on their street even though it was replacing existing doctors' offices and needed no zoning change.

In New Port Richey several years ago, the City Council tried to jump-start retailing downtown by allowing professional offices to locate on the streets adjoining Main Street, effectively turning those areas into transitional neighborhoods. The intent was to encourage less-intensive businesses to vacate their prime Main Street locations and make that space available for stores and other retailing. It looked good on paper, but the retail boom has yet to reach downtown.

Now, Dade City knows that you can't force transition on an area that isn't ready. Last week, the city shelved plans to create the Congress Park "residential transitional overlay" in the neighborhood between the U.S. 301 commercial strip and the downtown retailing district stretching roughly from Hibiscus Park to Palm Avenue.

The problem in Dade City is the location. Congress Park is a picturesque area of appealing homes on the southern edge of downtown. Residents in the vicinity have the option of driving to U.S. 301 or walking to downtown for shopping or professional services. They don't want those same services - a bed-and-breakfast, law office or small business - as their neighbor, and they correctly note a more pressing redevelopment area is the Seventh Street corridor north of downtown.

The overwhelming resistance led the City Commission to remove the planned transition area when it submits its updated comprehensive land use plan to the state later this month. It was the correct call considering the comprehensive plan should reflect the community's goals.

In this instance, the community's understandable goal is the status quo. At some point, however, the city and its residents may want to revisit this idea. As the city housing stock ages, a law office or bed-and-breakfast might be more appealing as your corner neighbor than a vacant rental unit.

[Last modified October 1, 2007, 20:34:29]