Foes of apartment complex hire lawyer

By ANNE LINDBERG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 8, 2001

PINELLAS PARK -- Neighbors of a proposed apartment complex in northwest Pinellas Park hired an attorney last week in what they hope is a final effort to stop the project.

"It's just unfortunate that we felt the need to hire an attorney," said Pam Parker Manning, one of the neighbors who contributed money. "Support from the neighbors is tremendous."

Manning said that about 50 neighbors of the proposed 78-unit complex gathered at a nearby church on Tuesday evening to speak with Lee Cannon, the lawyer they hired, and to organize their opposition to the proposal. Southport Financial Services wants to construct the complex, complete with a clubhouse and pool, just south of 110th Avenue N and about 350 feet west of U.S. 19 N.

The issue is expected to go before the Pinellas Park City Council for a final decision at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at City Hall, 5141 78th Ave. N. The meeting is open to the public.

That will not be the first time Manning and others from the area have appeared in front of various city boards to oppose proposed multifamily projects on the site. They have turned out three times before the Planning and Zoning Commission and twice in front of the council.

Each time, the Zoning Commission has listened to the neighbors' fears of more flooding, traffic and crime. Commission members have three times unanimously turned down a request to rezone the 7-plus acres so the undeveloped land can be turned into apartments. But those decisions have been only advisory.

The issue was denied the first time it went before the City Council. The next time, the developer reapplied by changing his plans, and the council postponed the hearing until August so the neighbors could be there to argue their side.

But it was the perceived attitude on the part of the council members that made Manning and her neighbors decide to hire an attorney.

The council appeared to be more interested in an apartment complex, with its big tax base, than the quality of life for nearby residents, Manning said. That made people feel they needed legal representation.

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