Business planned for Corey Lake Isles site

By LOGAN D. MABE

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 28, 2000

CROSS CREEK -- The developer of Corey Lake Isles is seeking a zoning change that would allow him to bring commerce to the neighborhood. He has filed a major modification application to build a self-storage warehouse, office space and a day care center.

Originally, Gene Thomason had approval to build 114 single-family homes on the south side of Cross Creek Boulevard, north of Brookron Drive. Now he wants to build 4,500 square feet of professional office space, a 10,000-square-foot child care center, and a 72,000-square-foot self-storage business on the 8-acre parcel.

So far, county staff and the Planning Commission have recommended approval of the project. A zoning hearing master heard the request last week and should make a recommendation in several weeks. (Petition MM 00-0464).

Country Chase on Memorial clears another hurdle

A Land Use Hearing Officer recommended the following rezoning requests last week:

COUNTRYWAY: Beazer Homes is moving forward with a plan to build more than 300 homes and town homes on 83 acres of land at North River Road and Old Memorial Highway. Land Use Hearing Officer James Crislip recommended approval of the project, along with 16 conditions.

Seven residents from nearby developments spoke in opposition to the project, citing concerns about increased traffic, possible hurricane evacuation complications, environmental and wildlife concerns, school crowding, drainage and water conservation.

Crislip noted that the transportation division staff said area roadways will continue to function "adequately with project traffic." He also said the town house portion of the site plan will be adequately buffered from the adjoining properties, and that 25 percent of the wildlife habitat, including all of the wetlands, must be preserved.

The tentative name of the Beazer project is Country Chase. It would include 196 town homes and 115 single-family homes.

County land use staffers say the project encourages compact infill development, which has become a mainstay of suburban planning. (Petition RZ 00-0460)

Office and business center on Van Dyke gets endorsement

LUTZ: Builder Brad Boger got Crislip's endorsement to develop up to 8,000 square feet of business and professional office space on a 2-acre parcel at Darby Lane and Van Dyke Road. The site is on the southeast corner of the intersection and is surrounded by planned development zoning and wetlands.

The hearing officer said that little or no traffic generated by the project will travel south on Darby Lane into a nearby neighborhood. (Petition RZ 00-0496)

Car care complex at Fletcher and Nebraska advancing

UNIVERSITY NORTH: Crislip also recommended approval of Hamid Kashani's request to rezone a 1-acre parcel at Fletcher and Nebraska avenues for general commercial use. He wants to build a 4,000-square-foot building for minor car repair and a 6,000-square-foot storage building.

All county growth agencies found the project compatible with the area. (Petition RZ 00-0469)

Circuit City plan goes before zoning hearing master

A Zoning Hearing Master considered the following rezoning requests at a two hearings last week:

CITRUS PARK: A zoning hearing master will also decide whether Circuit City Stores Inc. can move ahead with plans to build 33,000-square-foot store on the south side of Gunn Highway, just west of the Veterans Expressway.

The consumer electronics giant wants to buy the Gunn Highway Nursery just southeast of the mall and rezone 3.7 acres to build a store. It also wants to set aside an additional 15,000 square feet for future expansion.

The proposed project has gotten approvals from county planning staff and the Planning Commission. (Petition RZ 00-0537)

Plan at Lynn and Anderson roads shrinks for second look

CARROLLWOOD: JFJ Investments is hoping the second time is the charm for its proposal to build a convenience store and office building on 3.5 acres at the southwest corner of Lynn and Anderson roads.

The company wants to develop a 2,500-square-foot convenience store and a 12,000-square-foot office building, much less than the original plan.

Initially, JFJ Investments had asked to develop 60,000 square feet of office space on 6.6 acres, but the request didn't fly with a zoning hearing master and county commissioners sent the proposal back for modifications. (Petition RZ 99-0297)

Assisted living facility near Westchase wants to grow

WESTCHASE: With an approval already in hand to build an assisted living facility at Linebaugh Avenue just west of Westchase, Aston Care Systems is asking for permission to make it a bigger home.

The company has filed a major modification petition to increase the number of residents from 650 to 775, and to change building, parking and retention area locations. Initially approved in the early 1990s, the home will be on the north side of Linebaugh, on land once envisioned as Big Basin Commerce Park.

County planning officials said the request is compatible for the area, and the Planning Commission found it consistent with the comprehensive plan. (Petition MM 00-0520)

Hearing master could break tie on proposed Odessa project

ODESSA: A real estate trust seeking to rezone a split tract of land on two sides of the Veterans Expressway took a split recommendation before a zoning hearing master.

The Cowart Real Estate Trust plans to build on 35 acres just to the north of Rawls Road. Plans call for six single-family homes built on the western side of the expressway, and 137 town homes just east of the toll road.

County planning staffers said the project "generally ensures compatibility with surrounding land uses," and was consistent with the comprehensive plan. The Planning Commission disagreed, and found it "not in compliance" with the intent of that plan.

Planning Commission officials said the town home component doesn't jibe with the "neighborhood planning and protection" guidelines of the comprehensive growth management plan. "Additionally, the proposed intensity of the residential use is not comparable or compatible with the adjacent suburban and semirural scale residential uses."

A zoning hearing master will make a recommendation before the petition goes before county commissioners. (Petition RZ 00-0540).

Where and when

Hearings of county zoning hearing masters and land-use hearing officers and land-use meetings of the County Commission are held on the second floor of the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd. The zoning hearings begin at 6 p.m., and the commission meetings begin at 9 a.m. Both are televised on government access channels. The land-use hearing officer hearings, which are not televised, begin at 9 a.m. For information, call 272-5920.

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