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The Environmental Development Commission approves parking space conversion after the home center runs afoul of various city codes and is cited.
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 10, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- Business can sometimes be too good, as Lowe's Home Centers Inc. found out Wednesday at the Environmental Development Commission.
The original 1998 site plan for the 168,000-square-foot Lowe's store, 2365 25th St. N, included a designated area for outdoor storage sales and display. That area proved inadequate for the store's needs, however, and materials soon began to be stored wherever room could be found.
This created a problem for the city, which recently cited the store for multiple code violations. More than 20 pictures depicted those violations, including dead landscaping, a broken irrigation system, inadequate shielding of the approved outdoor storage area, non-approved outdoor display areas, non-approved signage and banners, and improper blockage of fire lanes and pick-up areas.
"We're all glad to have Lowe's here, but it's ironic the problem Lowe's has deals with plants and building materials. It's the business they are in," said EDC commissioner RobertSchumaker. "This is a gateway to St. Petersburg, and we want it to look nice."
The EDC approved the elimination of about 50 parking spaces in the rear of the facility and the conversion of that space into a fenced and screened outdoor storage/sales and display area.
Each month the EDC meets to consider proposed development projects that require variances or site plan approval, or requests for alley or right-of-way easements. If the requests are not too far out of line with city codes, the EDC will recommend their approval to the City Council -- providing the developer includes substantial green space and other changes to improve the appearance of the project.
Among other matters considered Wednesday were:
WAREHOUSE: A new site plan, including several variances and elimination of a preservation area, was approved for an 80,000-square-foot distribution warehouse at 2260 118th Ave. N. The JTG Enterprises site plan originally approved by the EDC last month had to be changed because the Florida Department of Transportation required additional land for right-of-way interchange improvements planned for Interstate 275.
AMSOUTH BANK: An existing AmSouth Bank at 3464 22nd Ave. N will be demolished and replaced with a 3,600-square-foot building that will include drive-through facilities. The site plan approved by the EDC includes protection for many of the existing mature live oak trees on the site. "It's going to be really nice for the neighborhood with all the trees," said Karen Mattson, who represented the bank.
DAY CARE CENTER: A Ginny's Little Giant Daycare Inc., 2837 Fourth St. N, is planning to expand its facilities. The day care center, on the site of the former Derby Lane Motel, serves 55 children. A proposed addition would provide space for infant care and administrative offices. The site plan approved by the EDC would increase the capacity of the facility to 95 children.
CELLULAR PHONE TOWER: Despite the objections of residents who complained that they did not receive adequate notice of a proposed cellular phone tower in their neighborhood, the EDC approved a requested site plan. The 140-foot tower will be at an existing Florida Power substation at 6495 Pinellas Bayway, bordering the Isla del Sol golf course.
The Environmental Development Commission is a citizens board that meets the first Wednesday of each month to review large development projects. The board reviews and approves site plans and has the power to grant exceptions to city codes for elements of projects that do not conform. Decisions of the commission can be appealed within 10 days to the City Council. After approval, the petitioner has the city's permission to go forward, although further scrutiny may be required by other governing agencies.