Private school seeks changes in zoning

By EVE LEBERSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 8, 2000

CARROLLWOOD -- Independent Day School wants to unify the school's three separate parcels of land along the east and west sides of Orange Grove Drive into a single zoning district.

IDS originally sought a special use permit that would allow for a 5,000-square-foot facility on 1.47 acres across the street from the existing school at 12015 Orange Grove Drive. But under the advisement of the county's zoning department, the school withdrew its request and submitted a new request asking the county to rezone all 15 acres occupied by the school to planned development.

In addition, IDS is proposing the construction of a one-story, 2,500-square-foot building with a maximum occupancy of 30 students on the 1.47-acre parcel. Because a final use for the property has not been determined at this site, the school also wants the rezoning to allow playground areas, child care activities and a parking lot.

According to the petition, the 8-acre main campus operates under a special use permit, and the new 6-acre campus on the west side of Orange Grove Drive is zoned as planned development. "No changes in the proposed uses or existing zoning conditions pertaining to the existing school property are requested" in the application.

A zoning hearing master will hear the petition Jan. 8. (Petition 00-1370) The following petitions were heard by zoning hearing officer Martin H. Smith Jr. last month:

CARROLLWOOD: Cornerstone Communities Inc. won Smith's recommendation to develop more than 10 acres at Linebaugh Avenue and the Veterans Expressway for retail uses and a business center. The project would include 177,673 square feet of office space and a 15,000-square-foot free-standing retail store. The county's staff and the Planning Commission also endorsed the proposal. (Petition 00-1014)

KEYSTONE: Smith endorsed Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater's petition for a rezoning that would allow for a shopping center on 8 acres at the northeast corner of Nine Eagles Drive and Race Track Road. The development would include 75,000 square feet for commercial uses and a 15,000-square-foot office building. The county's staff and the Planning Commission also recommended approval of the project. (Petition 00-1021)

KEYSTONE: Ricardo and Ana Silva want to rezone 5 acres on the east side of Rustic Woods Trail, north of Tyler Run Avenue. The Silvas want to divide the property so they can build a home on the northern parcel. At the hearing, 13 people spoke out against the proposal and stated that the reduction in the lot size would be inconsistent with the rural character of the neighborhood. Smith agreed and recommended denial of the petition. The county's staff and the Planning Commission had endorsed the project. (Petition 00-1088)

COUNTRYWAY: Smith endorsed the Kinsey family's request for a rezoning that would allow 40 townhomes on 10 acres at Memorial Highway and Pistol Range Road. The property is currently vacant and zoned for agricultural use. The county's staff and the Planning Commission also recommended approval of the project. (Petition 00-1115)

WESTCHASE: John H. Wright Jr. seeks a rezoning of nearly 10 acres at Linebaugh Avenue, near Race Track Road, that would allow for commercial, office and industrial uses. The plan calls for 190,000 square feet for office and manufacturing uses and two 30,000-square-foot retail buildings. Smith, the county's staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the project. (Petition 00-0724)

CARROLLWOOD: Smith denied recommending approval of Waterford Construction & Development's request to rezone almost 2 acres of vacant property on Moran Road, east of N Dale Mabry Highway, for six, one-story office buildings. Smith said the proposed development "does not provide an acceptable degree of transition between the adjacent commercial and residential land uses." The county's staff and the Planning Commission had endorsed the project. (Petition 00-730)

Where and when

Hearings of county zoning hearing masters and land use hearing officers and land use meetings of the County Commission are held on the second floor of the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd. The zoning hearings begin at 6 p.m., and the commission meetings begin at 9 a.m. Both are televised on government access channels. The land use hearing officer hearings, which are not televised, begin at 9 a.m. For information, call (813) 272-5920.

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