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Council To Tackle Issue Of Wet Zoning

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By KATHY STEELE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - Trendy restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops often are at the top of residents' lists when talking about the neighborhood's development.

But that wish list, which could come at the cost of more residents and more traffic, is being put to the test.

City council on Thursday will decide whether to allow beer, wine and liquor sales at Bungalow Bistro, 5137 Florida Ave., and beer and wine at Forever Beautiful Day Spa and Salon, 5135 Florida. The side-by-side businesses are owned and operated by Michael and Elizabeth Graham, who live in Seminole Heights.

The couple saved and relocated a bungalow and carriage house slated for demolition during a highway widening project about eight years ago

This is the third public hearing on an issue that highlights a dilemma: how much and what kind of development does the neighborhood want?

"There are gray areas here," said Randy Baron, past president of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association.

He spoke at the second hearing two weeks ago, when the neighborhood group joined with Southeast Seminole Heights and South Seminole Heights civic associations to support the Grahams' request.

A compromise has emerged that tries to address concerns about operating hours and just how much real estate would be wet-zoned. The city's legal staff is reviewing the proposal.

Initially the Grahams sought a license to allow beer, wine and liquor sales by the drink and as take away by the bottle and packages from the restaurant and salon. Now they want two licenses: one to allow beer, wine and liquor sales for patrons dining at the restaurant and another for package sales of beer and wine in gift baskets from the salon.

Beer and wine tastings also are planned.

"There would be no sales but for those events," said the Grahams' lawyer Joseph Diaz.

The latest closing for the restaurant would be 1 a.m. and for the salon midnight. Any live or amplified music on the restaurant's upper deck would shut down two hours before closing.

At the July 17 hearing, a handful of residents who live near the businesses said they still worry about inadequate parking, noise and late-night revelers.

"They don't have adequate parking for one business much less adding a second one," said Eric Holsinger.

"We have to be careful how we zone ... so they know this is not going to be a 3 a.m. late-night spot," said Ingrid Smith.

Nearly a dozen residents spoke in favor of the alcohol license.

"They are trying to create something that does not exist in Tampa," said Tom Wheatley. "It's going to be attractive to people who live in this community. We all want to see Seminole Heights grow. I've been to a lot of spas that offer you a glass of wine," said Becky Rubright.

Councilman John Dingfelder, who wanted tighter restrictions on the license, cited a recent council vote to deny extending hours to 2 a.m. on some nights at Lime, a South Howard Avenue restaurant.

Residents there complained about the same issues raised about the Grahams' license.

In a "be careful of what you ask for" warning, Dingfelder said, "Pretty soon Seminole Heights will be crying to us that there's too much of that. We see the results. I also have a problem with any activity on the second-floor porch, period."

Councilman Charlie Miranda pondered what businesses in the future might ask for alcohol licenses if council granted one to a hair salon - Joe the mechanic? "I haven't seen the density to have 30 people go into a hair salon and have a drink," he said. "It's getting watered down to such a degree I don't know what's wrong, what's right anymore."
Elizabeth Graham gave council a copy of New American Spa Magazine with an article on the trend for wine in salons and day spas.

"It is a new trend around America," she said. "I strongly believe that it is not just a hair salon anymore. It's a social gathering."

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.

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