TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Acreage Catches Eye Of Developers

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

Updated: 10/08/2007 07:12 pm

TEMPLE TERRACE - A 100-acre parcel between Temple Terrace Highway and Harney Road near Davis Road remains undeveloped and inconspicuous.

However, in the past couple of years, it has caught the attention of folks far and near.

In 2005, Wal-Mart was interested in rezoning 34.9 acres there to build a 216,000-square-foot store. In January 2006, it withdrew its application.

In 2006, residents wanting to save the heavily wooded parcel nominated the acreage for the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, which buys environmentally sensitive land threatened by development. The issue was up for discussion at the Sept. 25 ELAPP public hearing as one of just four properties from among several others nominated to be prioritized for acquisition. But, at the last minute, the item was removed from the agenda.

County records reveal 50 of those acres have been purchased by Citrus Assets, a company seeking to rezone the parcel for Streetside at Temple Terrace, a mixed-use project by Streetside Developers.

The development would include Kohl's and The Home Depot, as well as two unspecified fast-food eateries, a sit-down restaurant and a bank. The applicant also is requesting approval for 360 apartment units.

The developer did not return calls seeking comment.

A county traffic study indicates the proposed project could attract an additional 22,000 cars a day to the area. It also shows that several nearby intersections - including Bullard Parkway at 56th Street, Harney Road at Sligh Avenue, Hillsborough Avenue at Harney Road and Williams Road at Harney Road - are operating above acceptable capacity levels.

Although the vicinity's roadways are deemed acceptable, the county planning and growth management staff has recommended operational and safety improvements. Suggestions include adding turn lanes, at the developer's expense, to Temple Terrace Highway, Davis Road and Harney Road.

'The development of this parcel into apartments and fast food restaurants is not the ideal use of this beautiful piece of property,' wrote nearby resident Carey Smith, who e-mailed her thoughts to planning and growth management neighborhood liaison Carter White. 'My hope for this property would be a green space which could be enjoyed by all.'

Kim Buettner, who lives off Davis Road, also is not in favor of the mixed-use project.

'Our community enjoys having the safe area for children and families. In addition, expansion would mean destroying old large oak trees that sit very close to the road,' she wrote. 'We already live in a world too heavy with concrete structures and roads.'
Temple Terrace resident Laurel Jacobs also expressed her thoughts to White.

'Please seriously consider the impact of this development on the area of 56th Street and Bullard Parkway,' she wrote. 'Contributing hugely to the vehicular traffic in this area can only result in more tragedy.'

Yolanda Clifton, who lives nearby in the River Run subdivision of Temple Terrace, was 'shocked' when she heard about the proposed development. 'We were concerned when we heard about having Wal-Mart there because it was going to cause about an extra 10,000 cars a day in the area, but this project is twice as dense,' she said in an interview. 'We know they are probably going to build something there, but we don't want Temple Terrace Highway to turn into another Busch Boulevard. They need to think about how it impacts people's lives.'

Davis Road resident Patricia Weick is worried about the effect the development could have on the area children who must walk to school or catch school buses on the nearby roadways.

She's in the process of organizing a neighborhood meeting prior to the Nov. 26 zoning hearing master's hearing.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Hearing on proposed rezoning of property at Temple Terrace Highway and Davis Road

WHERE: Second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Nov. 26

NOTE: Comments sent to whitec@hillsborough county.org at least two days prior to the hearing will be accepted into the public record.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT