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Originally, the New Tampa developer wanted some apartments on the site, but the City Council rejected the plan. A revised proposal is in the works.
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 31, 2001
TAMPA -- A developer whose proposed New Tampa development was rejected by the City Council in a surprise vote has offered a compromise to salvage the project and avoid a legal battle.
The council agreed Thursday to take another look at the residential and commercial project at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and County Line Road.
Instead of apartments, Joel Tew, the attorney representing land owners known as Scala 683 Group, now proposes single-family homes, townhouses or condominiums.
"We don't know if there's a market, but we're willing to find out," Tew said.
The original proposal called for 564 residential units, 250,000 square feet of retail space and 100,000 square feet of office space. Under the new plan, about half the residential units would be converted to retail space, Tew said.
Council member Shawn Harrison, who lives in Tampa Palms, said he would reconsider the rezoning if the apartments are "dead, gone and buried." He and the majority of the council opposed building more high-density housing before road improvements are completed.
"The only thing that the community found objectionable about the proposal was the apartments," Harrison said.
Harrison and some homeowners in New Tampa have argued that the area already has enough apartments. Approving more strains streets and saturates the rental market.
"It's just poor planning," he said. "If you've got too much of one thing, you're going to have a glut and have places sitting half-empty."
The council's decision to reconsider the project came two weeks after it denied a request to rezone the 213-acre site. Council members granted preliminary approval in June, but reversed the decision because of opposition from residents.
Tew said not allowing the apartments would violate Florida law and the city's comprehensive plan. He considered taking legal action but will hold off pending results of the new hearing.
The new hearing is set for Nov. 8 at City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.
-- Susan Thurston can be reached at (813) 226-3463.