TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Plans Change For K-Bar Ranch

ADVERTISEMENT

By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

K-BAR RANCH - Mobley Homes has altered its plans for K-Bar Ranch.

The developer has dropped its bid to build a 500-unit residential and retail town center complex on the west end of the ranch. Instead, Mobley plans 200,000 square feet of commercial and light office space at the intersection of Kinnan Street and Oak Preserve Boulevard, the back entrance of Live Oak Preserve.

Mobley is the primary developer in K-Bar, which was annexed by Tampa in 2001.

"We're going to reserve 20 acres and just do the commercial," company Vice President Marc Mobley said. "It will be a place where people can get their groceries and their Starbucks without having to go to Bruce B. Downs."

Eliminating the housing component from the town center frees up most of the land along the north end of Kinnan as the new site for a regional park. Mobley's original site plan placed the park in the middle of the 2,280-acre ranch. The developer would have to put in the roads to reach the park site. Moving it to Kinnan should expedite the project.

"In the layout we've done, we'd take 45 acres from Kinnan along the county line," Mobley said. "We're trying to come up with a plan that works for everyone to get a park out there as soon as possible. With this site, the road network's already there. The utilities are there. It's ready to go. Let's just tee it up."

Mobley would swap that land with Hillsborough County for two parcels the county had purchased in Live Oak Preserve. The land has been rezoned for 187 homes.

Tampa's annexation agreement requires the developer to set aside 18 acres of parkland and allow the city to buy an additional 15 acres. The ultimate plan was to combine the city's park assets with those of the county to develop the area's first city-county athletic complex.

County Commission chairman Ken Hagan said the city's portion of the complex likely will be built in a later phase.

"The city doesn't have the money to build the park right now," he said.

Peter Fowler, a park development director for the county, said the county's real estate department is considering a second land swap that could add acreage to the K-Bar park.

Hillsborough County paid nearly $3 million in 2005 to expand a park in Branchton to 33 acres. Fowler said the county may sell a portion at Cross Creek Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road for development and use the proceeds to expand the park in K-Bar. The Branchton land is slated for a soccer complex, but Fowler said the project is on hold.

Mobley said he has discussed another potential land swap.

"We've talked about that, but it hasn't been our focus," he said. "Our deal is not contingent on that."

Relocating the regional park to Kinnan would mean the construction could start within 18 months, and it offers several advantages for the builder, Mobley said. The park would be a selling point for new homes in K-Bar and across the street in Live Oak, and it may persuade Pasco County officials to allow a connection between Kinnan and Mansfield Boulevard in Meadow Pointe.

The new location also separates the park issue from a conflict the builder was having with city officials over construction of an east-west road through K-Bar that would connect Kinnan to Morris Bridge. Mobley said the company is ready to dedicate the right of way to the city but cannot afford to build the 3-mile road at once.

"We'd love to be able to do that," he said. "Financially, it's just not something anyone can afford to do in this market."

Mobley has applied for permits to develop an additional 99 lots in K-Bar, bringing the number of lots in development to 1,077.

"Once we get those permits, we'll build the first segment of the road," he said.

K-Bar is approved for 1,199 homes. Once the road connections are made with Pasco County, the density may increase to 1,599.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT