Pasadena neighborhood, church set on center's plans

Compromises include adding trees around the building and modifications to keep the Mediterranean look of the community.

By ANDREW MEACHAM

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- The seven-month war between Pasadena Community Church and Old Pasadena, a neighborhood association formed to combat plans for a "life enrichment center" on church property, ended Wednesday at City Hall.

Nearly everyone went home happy.

The 33,000-square-foot building, which some residents compared to a Wal-Mart, will be used for recreation, classroom and office space. It includes a cafeteria capable of seating 500 and a full-length basketball court.

Neighbors learned of the project last December, when the city mailed a pair of letters to residents. The letters announced a January hearing date before the Environmental Development Commission, where the church would seek permission to "vacate" two sections of street bordering its property on 112 70th St. S.

That hearing was canceled pending negotiations with upset neighbors. A meeting between both sides in April produced an agreement to discuss objections over the project with the church's building committee. By June, the church had offered several compromises, including:

Withdrawing the request to absorb parts of 70th Street and Second Avenue S for parking, after the city signalled its willingness to continue to allow churchgoers to park on grass lots the church owns.

Encircling the new center with oak and elm trees at least 3 inches in diameter, and standing anywhere from six feet to 14 feet high.

Designing a required retention pond at a four-to-one slope -- a one-foot drop for every four feet across -- which, planners say, should keep the pond dry most of the time.

Modifying the exterior building design to include barrel tile and other adjustments to reflect a more Mediterranean look similar to homes in the area.

Building block enclosures for a pair of trash containers neighbors had complained about.

The life enrichment center is part of a plan to boost sagging church membership, particularly among young people. Even so, church attorney David Bacon denied that the structure would noticeably increase traffic already going to and from the church.

"It's similar to a family adding a room to an existing home," Bacon said.

The EDC approved Wednesday by a 7-0 vote all six variances the church had sought, which were not contested by the association's leadership.

Old Pasadena resident Richard Price, an outspoken opponent of the original plan, said he was satisfied after the meeting.

"The church has bent over backwards to satisfy the concerns we had," Price said.

Special garbage pickup set for Bayou Bonita

Residents of Bayou Bonita, which runs from Sixth Street S between 37th and 45th Avenues S, to Fourth Street S between Sunrise Drive S and 45th Avenue S, can leave odd-sized trash (such as appliances or furniture) out for pickup Monday. Do not leave paint or solvents.

Meetings

BARTLETT PARK: Thursday, 6 p.m. Frank H. Pierce Recreation Center, 2000 Seventh St. S. Open forum.

BIG BAYOU: Monday, 7 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 2401 Fifth St. S. open forum.

CAMPBELL PARK: Wednesday, Campbell Park Recreation Center, 601 14th St. S. Topic: annual neighborhood clean-up.

CHILDS PARK: Monday, 7 p.m. Childs Park Recreation Center, 4301 13th Ave. S. Speaker: Traffic engineer Jeff Ritter will help wrap up the Childs Park plan.

LAKE EUCLID: Monday, 7:30 (Crime Watch 7 p.m.). Norwood Baptist Church, 1818 29th Ave. N. Speakers: Lakewood Estates Crime Watch president Joanne Willey, Florida House of Representatives candidate Margo Fischer.

MEADOWLAWN: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Bethel Lutheran Church, 1801 62nd Ave. N. Annual ice-cream social.

NORTH DOWNTOWN: Thursday, 7 p.m. The Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N. Speaker: Mayor David Fischer. Topic: Voting on traffic proposals.

NORTH EAST PARK: Monday, 7:30 p.m. Masonic Home, 3201 First St. NE. Topic: Crisp Park improvements.

NORTH KENWOOD: Monday, 7:30 p.m. Edward White Hospital Auditorium, 2299 Ninth Ave. N, Room 1-G. Speaker: Dale Armstrong, coordinator, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, on xeriscaping.

OLD SOUTHEAST: Thursday, 7 p.m. Society of Friends Hall, 136 19th Ave. SE. Open forum.

FOURTH STREET BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: Wednesday, 6 p.m. Fourth Street Cigars and Tobacco, 1517 Fourth St. N. Speaker: Florida House of Representatives candidate Frank Farkas.

DR. M.L. KING (NINTH) STREET BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: Wednesday, 8 a.m. George F. Young conference room, 855 Burlington Ave. N. Speaker: Traffic and Transportation director Angelo Rao. Topic: preparing for July 29 brainstorming session on traffic at the Bayfront Center.

Neighborhood Newsline

Please call 865-3885 if you have a Neighborhood Notebook item or a news tip for Andrew Meacham, or reach him by e-mail at ameacham@mindspring.com.

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