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By EVE LEBERSON
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 16, 2000
CARROLLWOOD: Three out of four corners at Gunn Highway and Anderson Road will soon be occupied by shopping centers.
Eckerd Drugs is among the tenants planned for a developing project on 9.57 acres at the southeast corner. The free-standing store will boast a food mart, photo center and drive-through pharmacy.
The drugstore giant is asking the county for permission to put up two pylon signs that are larger than normally permitted. One sign, advertising only Eckerd, would be at the Gunn Highway entrance to the property. The other pylon would be at the Anderson Road entrance, advertising Eckerd and other tenants. (Petition 00-1114)
These property owners also want to renew their exemption from future restrictions that could be triggered by overburdened government services. Gunn Collection Commercial first received a so-called vested rights permit in 1991. The permit, which was renewed in April 1998, runs out on July 22. (Petition 00-1100)
UNIVERSITY NORTH: A Bradenton developer seeks to make major changes in plans for the north corner of Bruce B Downs Boulevard and Bearss Avenue.
The petition, filed by Steve Kirk of Mike Carter Construction and also involving Public Storage Inc., asks for permission to build a self-storage business on the 5-acre parcel, now designated for office use. Building heights would be lowered from four stories to three.
The owners want to combine two separate tracts of land and increase the number of homes planned. And they want to add a fast-food restaurant.
The 20-acre mixed-use development would consist of 93,000 square feet for self-storage units, 26,000 square feet for business and commercial uses and 120 homes. The original plan, approved in 1989, asked for 60,000 square feet of office uses, 26,000 square feet of commercial uses and 80 residential units.
The development was approved in 1989 and amended last March. The land is now vacant. (Petition 00-1093)
CITRUS PARK: Circuit City Stores Inc. won County Commission approval last week to rezone 4.6 acres for a store on the south side of Gunn Highway, just west of the Veterans Expressway. The petition had met some opposition; it was feared that vehicles from the store parking lot would endanger pedestrians from the nearby Upper Tampa Bay Trail. The developer was required to install warning strips and different-colored crossings to avoid such accidents. A speed hump must be installed at the parking lot exit to force vehicles to stop for trail users.
The plan calls for a 40,000-square-foot main store and a separate 10,000-square-foot building on the same site. (Petition 00-0537)
NEW TAMPA: The developer of Cory Lake Isles seeks to rezone nearly eight acres to build offices and a day-care facility.
Originally, Gene Thomason had approval to build 114 houses on the south side of Cross Creek Boulevard, north of Brookron Drive. Now he wants to use eight acres of that land for 4,500 square feet of professional office space and a 10,000-square-foot child care center. Previous plans for a self-storage business were scrubbed in the face of neighborhood opposition.
County staff, the planning commission and a zoning hearing master recommended approval of the project. The petition was scheduled to go before the BOCC July 11, but that vote has been continued to Aug. 8. (Petition 00-0464)