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Drew Park Petition Fights Land-Use Plan

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

DREW PARK - Joe Lavandera frowns at a city proposal to change land use and zoning in a section of this neighborhood to attract residential, commercial and retail development.

Lavandera, a real estate agent who markets property in Drew Park, said the change would devastate the industrial area. He has helped create a petition to voice opposition.

Small industries have thrived in Drew Park, said Lavandera, whose brother Ralph has owned Lavandera Electric Co. there for more than 30 years.

"These aren't your McDonald's and Wal-Mart jobs," he said. "These are good-paying jobs."

The city council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, will discuss Drew Park's land-use plan Thursday morning. The city's staff hopes to get direction on how to move forward with the proposal, said Jeanette LaRussa Fenton, the city's Drew Park and West Tampa manager.

There have been discussions about conducting more studies and holding a community meeting, Fenton said.

"If we are not going to proceed with the land use, there is no reason to study the land use further," she said.

Last year, the city agreed to pay URS Corp. $211,000 to study the area. The consultants, with the support of city administrators, proposed improving sidewalks, roads and streetlights, spending $30 million on stormwater upgrades and creating a 5-acre park.

The proposed land-use and zoning changes proved to be the sticking point.

The changes would affect properties east of Lois Avenue between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Crest Avenue. The industrial zoning west of Lois and residential zoning in the southwest corner would remain intact.

Property owners would be allowed to keep their current land use and zoning, and the proposed changes would require public hearings before the council and Hillsborough Planning Commission.

Proponents say the changes would attract investors.

Opponents counter that the plan would hinder property rights and hurt property values.

Industrial business owners might be forced to reduce noise and pollution if residences are built nearby, said Councilman Charlie Miranda, whose district includes Drew Park.

The restrictions could force out businesses, he said.

"They destroy from the outside instead of from the inside," Miranda said. "It just doesn't work in my mind."

Ron Rotella, president of the Drew Park Advisory Committee, said he would like to see focus groups or one-on-one meetings with business and property owners to gauge their feelings.

The committee, which includes residents, business owners and officials, will discuss land use at its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the police department's District 1 office, 3818 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.

Rotella said a small percentage of property owners attended meetings with URS and city officials. He worries they haven't heard the full story and are being informed by the petition created by Lavandera and others.

"I am concerned right now that there is misunderstanding of the plan," said Rotella, executive director of the Westshore Alliance, an advocate for the West Shore Business District.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The city council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, will discuss land-use changes in Drew Park.

WHERE: City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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