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Fate Of Apartments Unpredictable

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

VALRICO - County commissioners gave little indication last week of how they will vote on a controversial apartment complex proposal when they meet Thursday.
Crosland Development is trying to amend the county's long-range comprehensive growth plan to build a 268-unit complex on 19.6 acres east of the Albertson's shopping plaza at Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia-Pinecrest Road. Currently, only single-family homes and businesses are permitted there.

At a workshop on the proposal Jan. 24, most commissioners kept their views to themselves during limited discussion.

The exceptions were Commissioners Brian Blair and Jim Norman.

Blair said he was swayed by the more than 1,200 letters and e-mails he has received from residents opposing the complex.

"People don't want apartments there, and people elected us to office," he said. "The people don't want that density. I don't believe apartments is something I can support."

Opponents were encouraged by those words and similar sentiments voiced by Norman.

"It is pleasing to see them responding to the citizens, taxpayers and voters in the Valrico area," said Ken Nailing, a Buckhorn resident and officer with the umbrella group Valrico Organizations Interested In Controlled Expansion, or VOICE. The umbrella group spearheaded a letter-writing campaign against the apartments that generated the letters and e-mails sent to county officials.

Kevin Dorsey, president of VOICE and the Buckhorn Homeowners Association, tempered his comments.

"Hopefully, they are listening," he said.
Crosland is trying to change the land-use designation on the property from four units per acre to 16 units. Representatives of the developer last month said they would go along with an adjustment should commissioners decide to change the density to 12 units per acre.

The Hillsborough County Planning commission, its staff and county planners oppose 16 units per acre. Staff members said 12 units per acre would be more acceptable.
Crosland would have to withdraw its request and resubmit an amended version in six months if it formally altered its requests to go with the lesser density. The planning commission and its lawyer said it would bend the planning commission's rules to allow such a change.

Residents accused Crosland of muddying the waters by asking for two classifications at the same time, one officially and one unofficially.

"It further demonstrates their desire to back in an acceptable level for apartments," Nailing said.

Vincent Marchetti, an attorney working with Crosland, said asking for 16 units per acre was a more honest way to deal with residents and officials reviewing the project.

He said his client would need about 250 apartments to make the complex financially viable, whether the land is zoned for 12 or 16 units per acre. He said that even if Crosland asked for 12, it would have to "flex" the zoning of the adjoining Albertsons to get enough density to make the project work. Such flexing is allowed under county zoning rules in limited situations.

If commissioners approve the comprehensive plan amendment, Crosland would have to get county approval for rezoning the property.

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

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