TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Community Planning Begins

ADVERTISEMENT

By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

Updated: 09/20/2007 05:11 pm

SEFFNER - Feeling long-ignored and often put-upon, residents are looking forward to having a say in their future.

They are hoping the community plan process that begins next week will be a chance to define how the area will evolve.

'It gives us a greater level of participation over the type of development that may come,' said Terry Flott, president of the Seffner Community Alliance. 'We residents need input on how the area will grow and develop.'
County planners are kicking off the community plan with an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria of Burnett Middle School, 1010 N. Kingsway Road.

There will be no formal group presentation, said John Healey, project manager for the county's planning and growth management department. Instead, he said, county staff will man various informational displays. Residents will be welcomed to view the displays and ask questions.

'This way people can stop by any time,' Healey said.

The initial boundaries of the plan are Interstate 75 to the west; the end of the area the county has set aside for urban-type service near Dover Road to the east; Interstate 4 to the north and the CSX railroad right-of-way extending along Broadway to the south.

Flott would like to extend the eastern edge to McIntosh Road.

'That way we can have one cohesive plan rather than doing it piecemeal,' she said.

Healey said everything in the plan is negotiable.

'The first step is to ask the citizens what they think are the problems and what they would like to see Seffner look like in the long-term,' he said.

Healey said he would like to get volunteers to serve on the plan's working committee that will meet monthly until the plan is completed. He said it usually takes 18 months to two years. He said there will be periodic public meetings to keep the community apprised of the work. Ultimately, it will be up to county commissioners, he said, to decide whether the plan will become part of the county's long-range comprehensive growth plan.

Flott would like to see design elements established for commercial projects to end the mishmash look of the area.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Seffner Community Plan kickoff

WHEN: Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Burnett Middle School cafeteria, 1010 N. Kingsway Road.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT