Southpinellas: Stadium's critics jump on issue of park zoning

ST. PETERSBURG - Secret negotiations. Confidentiality agreements. Broken promises.

The public debate over the Tampa Bay Rays' $450-million stadium proposal suddenly has shifted from the pros and cons of the proposal to what city officials knew and when they knew it.

The questions, becoming more intense in recent days, have sidetracked the stadium debate at a critical time for the Rays, who are campaigning to win support for the downtown ballpark. While some city officials have downplayed the controversy, opposition to the waterfront ballpark is becoming more organized.

"We're just waiting for the sword to drop," said stadium critic Faith Andrews Bedford, 62, who told the City Council last week she felt betrayed. "What else is the city hiding?"

Mayor Rick Baker rebutted any suggestion that the city is keeping information from the public. "The reality is, we are engaging the community and we will continue to engage the community."

The most recent questions focus on Al Lang Field, the current spring training home of the Rays and site of the proposed new $450-million stadium.

The 10 acres is considered a park in the city charter. That's why it cannot be sold or leased for more than five years without a citywide referendum.

But city zoning maps never reflected this. Before last year, no downtown park did. New maps approved in August changed this. Except for Al Lang.

Senior development administrator Rick Mussett said in August that zoning the waterfront ballpark as a park would tie the city's hands. He never said why.

City Council members, who say they did not know about the Rays' proposal in August, said they wanted to "address" the Al Lang question anyway.

Whether that means changing the zoning is what residents and city leaders are arguing over.

The council met last week but did not agree to make the zoning change. The zoning decision only matters if the Rays' proposal falls through. But the issue has galvanized residents opposed to the new stadium. They wonder if something else is afoot.

City officials say secrecy claims are a red herring. The city was complying with state law and nothing was agreed to while talks remained confidential. "Do we have an image problem?" asked City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett. "On something like this, I'd be surprised if we didn't."

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Comments on this article

by South St Pete Taxpayer	02/16/08 04:02 AM
A ray of sunshine. I don't think so. A dark cloud over our financial future and a burden on my already depleated pocket book really sucks. Let's make a deal. When the Rays go all the way, undefeated for a season, then we can talk.

by Justin E	02/15/08 11:24 AM
Selfish? Spending half a billion dollars of tax payer money to help the Rays owners is selfish. Ruining our waterfront and building a soon to be ghost town retail hell where the Trop is now is selfish. I love baseball! I hate this plan.

by Aaron	02/14/08 04:14 PM
Patrice I am from St. Petersburg also. This is my waterfront too. I would love for our city to come from out of Tampas shadow. build it and they will come. It's not like People come from all around the world to visit Straub Park. You all are selfish.

by 9th st. Johnny	02/14/08 03:17 PM
City counsel will put taxpayers on the hook for this project. Guarantees will be contracted to using tax revenues. Anything said differently is a lie.

by jz	02/14/08 02:51 PM
more wasted money and time. baseball is boring and no loss in my eyes if they move out of town. shouldn't public space appeal to all the taxed citizens not developers, and a 1000 fans. now the grand prix is a great asset to st.pete

by Darryl	02/14/08 01:29 PM
Please no more parks,or banks,or hotels.thats mostly what we have downtown.ALlang feild is already there.the history of baseball is there.it was ok when spring training was there.so its not gonna hurt to have a team there either.

by Don	02/14/08 01:13 PM
Our leaders have breached their fiduciary resposibility to the people (their bosses).The Rays cannot survive without taxpayer subsidy. Do the math on 450 mil. for how many years at what interest rate. Remember, figures don't lie but liars can figure.

by Jay	02/14/08 12:59 PM
Why build a new open air stadium that will draw less people than the air conditioned Dome does now? With the losing record the Rays have, I'd want them to invest more money in the team first before we build them a shiny new stadium. Just my Opinion

by Patrice	02/14/08 11:12 AM
This probably won't get seen by anyone but I have to say it. Enough is enough. I would like for us to maintain our access to some of the waterfront. Everyone new moving here thinks they know what's best for us natives. PUT IT TO A VOTE, PLEASE!!!!!!

by Pete JR	02/14/08 10:49 AM
Mr. Mayor is getting kick backs for his quietness as is all the other council members. So if with budget crunchs the Rays pay the city extra money and they don't tell who will know. They make it look good by firing folks and keep the money hidden

by john	02/14/08 10:08 AM
They are all (the City and the Rays)thick as thieves and they think we (the citizens of St. Pete) are all real stupid! Enuf said, vote "NO" on any redevelopement! Keep something of old St. Pete, don't sell out for the "promise" of future riches!

by Tim	02/14/08 08:49 AM
As a downtown St. Pete resident, I'm thrilled with the idea of a new stadium. All this "secret meeting" conspiracy makes me laugh - it's called business. This will put St. Pete on the map and make this city shine. Naysayers to progress are ignorant.

by Bland	02/14/08 08:37 AM
Is there a secret alternative plan for the Al Lang property? Given the Council and Mayorò019s lack of creditability it is easy for the public to have such thoughts. Secrecy only begets lack of trust.

by GH	02/14/08 08:36 AM
It's time to remove the lawbreakers from office. We elected them to represent our own best interest as a whole, not their own selfish interest. Put the fishermans wharf there instead. Whatever happened to that great idea anyway?

by Get Smart	02/14/08 08:26 AM
A new stadium is a sham. As stated before, a new stadium will increase the value of the Rays. This will make it easier and more profitable for the billionaire team owners to sell the team and leave the SP residents picking up the bill.

by jason	02/14/08 07:42 AM
Secret deals in St.Pete? It's only local history repeating itself.

by mlm	02/14/08 07:32 AM
Look, if St. Pete does not want to be a big league town with nice things it's ok. You guys get two museums and Tampa gets everything important.

by sb	02/14/08 06:47 AM
curious..why was Al Lang let off the zozing in August? that has to tell us something. I say be fair and put it to a citywide vote.

by Pete	02/14/08 06:21 AM
Unless you put it to public vote, Mr. Baker, you are NOT engaging the community. Put it on a ballot and see what people really feel about the Rays' waterfront proposal.