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Retirement community, neighbors seek common ground

A mediation hearing is set on Westminster Shores' redevelopment plans.

By WAVENEY ANNE MOORE, Times Staff Writer
Published December 30, 2007

Those involved in a dispute over a retirement community's redevelopment plans say they hope to work toward an agreement that would satisfy both sides.

More than two years ago, the owners of Westminster Shores - a retirement community featured in the 1980s movie Cocoon - announced plans for an $82-million redevelopment project that would include eight multistory structures.

Neighbors of the campus at the ends of 57th and 58th avenues S, overlooking Little Bayou and Tampa Bay, opposed the project.

The disagreement reached the 2nd District Court of Appeal, and both the St. Petersburg City Council and the courts ruled in favor of the surrounding neighborhoods, which include Bahama Shores, Bayou Bonita and Coquina Key.

In the months since, the two sides have met twice to talk about the redevelopment.

"I'm hopeful that we can come up with an agreement that would meet both Westminster Shores' redevelopment needs and also have a development which fits into the surrounding neighborhood and complements the one- and two-story homes we have in the neighborhood," said Will Michaels, a member of the residents committee.

Michaels, who also is vice president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, said neighbors also have concerns about the noise, traffic and pollution that prolonged construction would bring.

When the project was originally proposed, he said, Westminster Shores officials talked about 13 years of continuous construction.

While discussions continue, however, Westminster Communities of Florida, which owns the retirement community at 125 56th Ave. S, is pursuing legal avenues to address the dispute.

"First of all, we have filed an appeal against the city's decision," said Harold Hachmeister, vice president of sales and marketing for the organization.

Also, he said, Westminster Communities of Florida has asked that a special magistrate help mediate the disagreement.

"In addition to all of that, we continue to move forward to meet with our neighbors," Hachmeister said.

Michaels said a mediation hearing is scheduled for January.

Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at wmoore@sptimes.com or 727 892-2283.

[Last modified December 29, 2007, 23:15:51]