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Letter to the editor

Lots of plans for empty lot

A couple wants the Safety Harbor parcel for a new garage; some want to keep it open.

By EILEEN SCHULTE, Times Staff Writer
Published January 3, 2008

The vacant lot, part of the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History grounds, is home to palms and at least one "grand tree" according to city officials. Owen Pierce, who hopes to buy the land, said he would knock down two trees to build an oversized one-car garage and work space.
	[Jim Damaske | Times]

SAFETY HARBOR - There's some big controversy brewing over a little piece of land.

For years, Owen and Alice Pierce have been asking the city to sell them a small slice of property adjacent to their house on Short Street.

The finger of land - 37.5 feet wide by 102 feet long - is part of the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History grounds, and is home to palms and at least one "grand tree" according to city officials, but is otherwise vacant.

The couple envision building an attached oversized one-car garage where they would park their Cadillac and their electric scooter. They would also build a work space where they would perform household projects.

"The city does nothing with it," said Owen Pierce, adding that acquiring the land would improve his quality of life.

But some city commissioners and residents are against the plan. They say the city should be trying to purchase more land, not sell off land it already owns.

"I think it's a bad policy at this time," said Mayor Andy Steingold. "We always talk about green space and trying to preserve green space ... I'm just against selling this piece of property. The city doesn't own that much property."

* * *

The Pierces bought their house at 226 Short St. in the Spring Haven subdivision in 2002 after vacationing in Safety Harbor for more than a decade. Built in 1947, almost every part of the dwelling has been renovated except for the small garage, which Owen Pierce said is "too close to the street."

Pierce, 75, a retired construction business owner from New Hampshire, said when he parks his car in the driveway, it juts out onto the sidewalk creating a potential hazard for pedestrians.

Although Vice Mayor Kathleen Earle sympathized with the Pierces, she does not support their request.

"I do believe the city right now is charged with the responsibility of acquiring rather than parting with land that we own," she said. "This is in my view what was set forth in visioning sessions."

But City Commissioners Joseph Ayoub and Nadine Nickeson indicated they would vote for it.

"Given the small size and what they are going to use it for, I think it would be an appropriate sale," Nickeson said.

Ayoub said he "can't see anyone having any use for it except the Pierces."

Interim City Commissioner Keith Zayac said he would back the idea as long as an environmental study was performed to make sure the project would not negatively impact the area.

Pierce said if he is allowed to build the structure, he would cut down two trees and spare four. He said many of them appear to be in poor health anyway.

Despite the misgiving of some of its members, the commission decided to consider selling the land and will accept sealed bids - not just from the Pierces, but from anyone who is interested.

The commission will review the matter again on March 3.

According to interim City Manager Matt Spoor, if the commission approves the sale of the property, the buyer would be responsible for all costs including the closing, tree survey, public notifications and required advertisements.

The assessed value for the entire parcel is $1,087,100. There is no assessed value for the portion of the parcel that is for sale and no minimum bid set for the site.

Bids stating the offered purchase price will be accepted by the City Clerk's Office, located at 750 Main Street, Safety Harbor, FL 34695, until 2 p.m. Feb. 11.

Karen Kallal, who lives near Short Street, hopes the land stays in the city's hands.

"I don't really see why we need to be selling our green space," she said. "I think we need to hold on to what little we have and look to the future to see how it might be used. This is just another knee-jerk reaction, in my opinion. You need to think it through."

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

[Last modified January 2, 2008, 21:11:36]