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Seffner Having Boundary Issues

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

SEFFNER - Joe Prokop isn't sure he's invited.

For decades he thought he lived in Seffner. His ZIP code confirmed it.

Prokop was excited when county officials announced they were beginning a community plan for Seffner that would map out growth in the area. That is, until he saw the proposed boundaries.

"I live south of County Road 574" (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), he said. "I'm not sure they want my participation."

The county has defined Seffner's boundaries as Interstate 75 to the west; the end of the county urban service area near Dover Road to the east; Interstate 4 to the north and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south.

Prokop thinks the plan's boundaries should be among the initial discussions about the Seffner Community Plan and has volunteered to serve on the working committee that will shepherd the planning effort. The group's first meeting will start at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service building at 5339 County Road 579.

"Before talking about anything else, you would think we would need to talk about where we are talking about," he said.

Prokop and a number of other residents at a kick-off open house in September told county planners they thought the perimeters should be extended.

John Healey, the county planner overseeing the Seffner plan, said boundary debates are fairly common in community planning.

"One of the most difficult issues is that people have different perceptions of where places are," he said. "If it comes up, we'll have those discussions to see where the community wants to go."

The committee designing a similar community plan for Brandon has clamored for extending its northern boundary from the CSX railroad tracks south of MLK Jr. Boulevard. But Seffner residents have said they want their southern boundary to dip south of that artery, to at least Windhorst Road.

Healey said the meeting Nov. 15 is designed to be an introductory session.

"Essentially, it is to get to know each other," he said. "We want to listen and hear what the community issues are and what its goals are."

Healey said about 30 people volunteered to be committee members. The panel will meet monthly, and community plans usually take about 18 months to complete, he said.

"But whatever the community's pace is, is fine with us," he said.

Community plans are meant to guide and define growth in the areas they target. County commissioners decide whether individual community plans become part the larger county comprehensive growth plan.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: First working committee meeting for the Seffner Community Plan

WHEN: 6 p.m. Nov. 15

WHERE: Hillsborough Cooperative Extension Service office, 5339 S. County Road 579, Seffner

INFORMATION: Call John Healey at (813) 276-8393

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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