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Buddhist meditation center seeks smaller bufferBy EVE LEBERSON © St. Petersburg Times, published November 19, 2000 CARROLLWOOD -- Organizers of the Florida Buddhist Vihara Meditation Center, planned for a 0.68-acre tract on Pennington Road between Alica Road and Countryside Drive, want to alter their buffer requirements and substitute a 6-foot wooden fence along the north, south and west property boundaries. Manjuka Gunaratne, an engineering professor at the University of South Florida, filed a petition on behalf of the center, asking for a variance to the county's 20-foot setbacks and to allow 26 parking spaces. According to the petition, the center expects membership to expand to 80 in approximately 20 years. Members will be divided into three groups of classes based on metaphysical and spiritual achievements. The classes will meet separately and at different times, resulting in intermittent attendance and reduced noise, Gunaratne wrote. Design plans propose a 3,280-square-foot building that would house the mediation hall and a Buddhist monk's residence. A land use hearing officer will hear the petition Jan. 12. (Petition 01-0150) The following petitions were heard by a land use hearing officer last month: KEYSTONE: Land use hearing officer John A. Crislip recommended approval of the Hillsborough County School District's request to build a 990-student elementary school and a 1,400-student middle school on nearly 20 acres of vacant land west of Nine Eagles Drive, northwest of Race Track Road. The property is currently approved for 71 homes. (Petition 00-1183) UNIVERSITY NORTH: Crislip also endorsed John B. Grandoff III's request to rezone 4.69 acres near Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 275 to develop a 51,074-square-foot car dealership and service center. The site plans suggest a Jaguar dealership that will sell new and preowned vehicles. According to the petition, the proposed project will eventually be joined with property adjacent to the site and will then encompass 9 acres. (Petition 00-1166) LUTZ: Kennedy Frost Investments won hearing officer Martin H. Smith's support for a rezoning of 5.19 acres on N Dale Mabry Highway, north of Sunlake Boulevard, that would allow for the development of several businesses. David A. Kennedy is proposing two development plans for the land. One allows for a 6,000-square-foot retail building or restaurant and a 68,770-square-foot self-storage facility. The alternative option includes a 3,300-square-foot fast-food restaurant and 71,470-square-foot self-storage facility. County staff and the Planning Commission endorsed the project. (Petition 00-0841) The following item was considered by the Tampa City Council. NEW TAMPA -- The City Council on Thursday continued a request to sell alcohol at the proposed Macaroni Grill and Chili's Grill & Bar along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Richmond Place. The hearing was postponed until 10 a.m. Nov. 30 because the applicant submitted the wrong maps of the location of the restaurants. -- Staff writers Josh Zimmer and Susan Thurston contributed to this column. Where and whenHearings 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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