Stein Mart has a foot in door at City Plaza

The store would be the final addition to the center, anchored by Publix, if the City Council agrees to change growth guidelines for the owner.

By MELANIE AVE

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2000

TAMPA PALMS -- Developers have touted a Stein Mart store, planned for City Plaza at Tampa Palms, as a "shopping experience needed in the area."

But several nearby residents said they have concerns about the 35,000-square-foot store, which would become the second largest tenant in the center at Bruce B. Downs and Tampa Palms boulevards, and one of the first department stores in the area.

The store would be the final addition to the center, anchored by Publix, if the City Council agrees to amend growth guidelines for owner Faison-City Plaza Limited Partnership.

The council has scheduled a public hearing on the requested change for 10 a.m. Aug. 24 at City Hall.

The store would be built on vacant land north of the center, originally set aside for a movie theater. Lenny & Vinny's and Subway would move, and the existing breezeway would become the store's front.

If approved, Stein Mart would open in the next year.

"We view this as a much more friendly use than what was originally planned for the center," said Rick Harcrow, attorney for developer Trammell Crow Co.

"We believe Stein Mart is a shopping experience needed in the area," he said. "We're actually real proud they picked this center."

About 20 people attended a Tampa Palms Community Development District meeting Wednesday. Developers outlined their proposal and answered questions.

When developers said the store would have little impact on residents, the audience erupted in a round of grunts. Someone shouted, "Oh, that's not true."

CDD supervisor Ed Copeland encouraged developers to work with residents, noting that they could take their concerns to the council and potentially stop development.

"I think you need to listen to the neighbors," he said.

Many residents said they don't oppose Stein Mart's entry into their community. Rather, they want to make sure the neighborhood is protected from additional noise, traffic and parking problems.

Maura Lear, manager of the Tampa Palms Owners Association, said many residents have asked her why a new store is being constructed in City Plaza when an anchor location has been vacant in the nearby Palm Lake shopping center across Bruce B. Downs for years.

"There is a concern about new construction," she said.

Harcrow said a Stein Mart would cause less traffic than a movie theater would. And the shopping center already has more than enough parking spaces to accommodate the clothing store.

The closest homes are about 500 feet away from the center, separated by trees and a retention pond.

Residents of 108-home Sterling Manor, the closest subdivision to the proposed store, are worried about increased noise from trucks unloading.

Sophie Patnaude, president of the Sterling Manor Homeowners Association, said residents already have to deal with loud noises from trucks unloading food at the Publix grocery store in the early morning hours.

"These huge trucks sit there idling, with their doors open, weird music playing," she said. "The language is foul. The music is bad. The question is, is this going to be doubled with a new store?"

Patnaude said several homes have screened patios that back up to the center, and because of the noise, people feel it's unpleasant to sit outside.

Paul Royak, vice president of retail for developer Trammell Crow, said the owner is asking the city to return the center to its original, approved size of 159,000 square feet. The city considers the center built out at its existing 124,000 square feet.

The City Plaza location would be the third Stein Mart in Hillsborough County and one of the first clothing stores in New Tampa, now home to fast-food restaurants and big box stores like Home Depot. Stein Mart's other two Hillsborough stores are in Carrollwood and South Tampa.

Royak said the drive-through McDonald's at the center's western edge will most likely leave City Plaza as soon as it can find a location for a free-standing restaurant.

In other business, CDD supervisors began discussing the proposed fiscal year 2000 budget, which will take effect Oct. 1.

The current proposal shows a budget of $1.64-million, compared to an existing budget of $1.8-million. The CDD began last fiscal year with an approved budget of $1.49-million but increased it later in the year for several projects, including lights.

Supervisors must decide in the next two months whether to include several large expenses, including $89,000 to be spent on a mulch project, and whether to increase the current 2.6 millage rate. A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed, non-exempt property.

The CDD recently set a self-imposed mill cap of 3.3, but chairman Mark Fitzpatrick said he is very uncomfortable with asking residents to pay more than they already pay. "I believe the last resort would be raising taxes," he said.

Public hearings on the budget have been set for 6 p.m. Sept. 7 and 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at Compton Park.

- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3473 or melanie@sptimes.com.

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