Trees may decide extension's fate

By MELANIE AVE

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 10, 2000

WEST MEADOWS -- The proposed extension of Highwoods Preserve Parkway must clear one major hurdle next week: convincing the city to allow the felling of some 338 trees standing in the way.

On Tuesday, the city's Variance Review Board will decide whether to allow the Westshore Development Group to clear 83 percent of the trees on the property to construct a half-mile extension of Highwoods Preserve Parkway north to New Tampa Boulevard.

The extension will go through an undeveloped section of West Meadows.

Harry Lerner, president of the development group, said the extension will be a shortcut between West Meadows and the Highwoods Preserve business park and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. Residents will be able to cut through the rear of the neighborhood to get to Interstate 75, shortening their travel on Bruce B. Downs.

A variance to the city's tree ordinance is required because more than 50 percent of the trees on the property must be cleared.

The bulk of the trees set for clearing are pines and palms, ranging from 5 to 20 inches in diameter, and most are clustered near the middle of the project.

According to the developer's engineers, the location of the road was chosen to minimize the effect on the wetlands on the property.

So far, Tampa city staffers have "strongly" recommended the variance board approve the project, which has been part of a long-standing agreement between the city and the developer.

Highwoods Preserve Parkway "is an essential part of the New Tampa roadway network," said Mahdi Mansour of the city's transportation department.

The proposed extension would extend the road, which currently ends in the Highwoods Preserve business park, and cost about $500,000.

If Tampa approves, construction on the four-month project is expected to start in March.

Lerner said West Meadows residents will have faster access to existing and future amenities in the business park, which currently includes Intermedia, Muvico and Ruby Tuesday's restaurant. Several other stores and restaurants are expected to open next year with the construction of a new shopping and eating area known as The Walk.

Some residents have said the road will hasten their commute on Bruce B. Downs.

But West Meadows resident Bob Campbell said the road will only have a small effect unless commuters work at Highwoods Preserve, and then "it's going to make work trips a lot closer."

The Variance Review Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Tampa City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.

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