IDS makes plans for preschool

By EVE LEBERSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 23, 2000

CARROLLWOOD -- As the suburban population has grown, so have private schools. And Independent Day School in Original Carrollwood is no exception.

Until now, students in prekindergarten through eighth grade have attended the private school on the east side of Orange Grove Drive. But in October a new middle school campus will open across the street, adding almost 40,000 square feet of classrooms, an art room, music room, computer lab and an indoor gymnasium.

The 31-year-old school also hopes to build a 5,000-square-foot preschool and day care facility on 1.47 acres that are now zoned for residential use. To do so, IDS needs a special use permit.

IDS says the proposed facility will accommodate up to 200 children, from newborns to kindergarteners. (Petition 00-1120)

NORTHDALE: Sam's Club is renovating its superstore on N Dale Mabry Highway and wants permission to have wall signs larger than the county allows. The store is asking to be allowed to post signs of 216.35 square feet mounted on the building. The county allows only a maximum of one 200-square-foot sign for a single user. Todd Pressman, who represents the business, argues that because of the size of the building, Sam's should be allowed to use a larger sign. (Petition 00-1126)

COUNTRYWAY: The Kinsey family wants to rezone 10 acres at Memorial Highway and Pistol Range Road to build houses or townhomes. The property, owned by the Kinseys since 1959, is zoned for agricultural use. But due to new developments surrounding the property -- including a high school, a Walgreen's store and other multifamily housing -- the family believes itshould be allowed to build on the land. (Petition 00-1115)

A land use hearing officer will make a recommendation on the following petitions July 21:

WESTCHASE: The Westchase Golf Club off Linebaugh Avenue needs a special alcoholic beverage zoning waiver to continue serving beer, wine and mixed drinks. The clubhouse seeks a waiver of the minimum distance requirements between the bar and the nearest residentially zoned property. Under county rules, the minimum distance is 500 feet. But the clubhouse is only 131 feet from the nearest home. The petitioner argues that the clubhouse "predated any residential development in this community. Thus, any owners of residential property in the community purchased their homes with full knowledge of the existing alcoholic beverage uses on the golf course and clubhouse." (Petition 00-0234)

TOWN 'N COUNTRY: Art Mart on Anderson Road wants to put its pole sign closer to the street than the county allows. The store wants the sign 3 feet from the front property line instead of the county's minimum setback requirement of 10 feet. Samran Florida Inc., on behalf of Art Mart, contends that other nearby businesses, including Perkins Restaurant and Sweetwater Business Park, already have setbacks that do not meet zoning regulations. (Petition 00-0951)

LUTZ: A church on Livingston Avenue says it shouldn't have to build a sidewalk in front of its new building. Community Investments Group is requesting a variance to omit 330 feet of a 5-foot-wide sidewalk in front of the Community Education Center near Green Meadow Drive. In 1999 the county approved the site plan for the church that included the sidewalk. But there is no need for a sidewalk, says Community Investments Group, because the area is on a two-lane road in a rural neighborhood with virtually no pedestrian traffic. The petition also says the cost of constructing a sidewalk would place a financial hardship on the small congregation, which is moving from rented facilities in Tampa. (Petition 00-0948)

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