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3 New Site Plans For Redevelopment

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - If the deal is going to get done, members of the city council want it sooner rather than later.

When they took their seats at Tuesday's council meeting, many were flabbergasted to discover what was inside the packets placed before them.

They contained three additional site plan proposals for downtown redevelopment, plus a request from the developer for more time to conduct a feasibility study for a previously approved plan. That study was expected Tuesday; Ram/Pinnacle requested an extension through Jan. 10.

In the quest to rejuvenate a 23-acre, rundown retail site southeast of 56th Street and Bullard Parkway, Ram/Pinnacle has spent much of the past three months devising other plans that it says could make better economic sense - for Ram/Pinnacle and the city.

Councilman Ron Govin, the council liaison in discussions with staff and the developer, gave a brief overview of the first new site plan, showing the elimination of one deck of the two-story parking garage, a reconfiguration of some of the buildings and space for a city-owned arts education center that council members recently approved at a site farther south.

Councilman Frank Chillura, however, said he isn't interested in seeing more site proposals. The process further delays the project and, in the interim, costs the city thousands of dollars in interest payments on loans used to purchase the property, he said.

"I just want to stop approving all these site plans. We have to draw a line somewhere," he said. "I just want to see light at the end of the tunnel and now, the way I see it, the tunnel just keeps getting longer and longer."

Councilman Ken Halloway agreed.

"In the last five years, I've collected a whole drawer full of site plans," he said. "It's time to stop with all these site plans. We've spent so much time on this project that I don't think you can find 10 people who think this project will ever be done."

Scott "Skipper" Peek, Pinnacle's managing partner, countered with both good and bad news.

"There will be no more new site plans, but we still have to resolve some issues with FDOT Florida Department of Transportation and Swiftmud Southwest Florida Water Management District," he said. "We still have a lot of work to do. We're not there yet."

Then, Councilman Mark Knapp forced the point.

"Is this deal going to get done?" he asked Peek.

Peek's reply was quick and deliberate.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could do it," he said.

In a motion made by Chillura, the council unanimously approved an extension through Dec. 18 for Ram/Pinnacle.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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