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Apartment Vote To Be Delayed

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

Updated: 02/11/2008 07:22 pm

VALRICO - Residents are uncertain whether giving the developer of a controversial apartment complex additional time to tailor the proposed project will make a difference.

Crosland Development has asked for more time to tweak its request to modify the county's comprehensive growth plan, which would accommodate the apartment complex on 19.6 acres east of the Albertson's shopping plaza at Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia-Pinecrest Road.

The delay came in the face of massive community protest and objections from county planners and the Hillsborough County Planning Commission.

"Who knows if they want to be good corporate citizens and work with the community or be a bully and try to shove this down our throats," said Ken Nailing, a spokesman for Valrico Organizations Interested In Controlled Expansion, or VOICE - an umbrella group of homeowners associations fighting the proposed change.

Kelly Diedring, a Crosland spokeswoman, said the company will continue to press for an upscale apartment project.

"Our philosophy hasn't changed. We believe that urban infill is smart growth that's good for the environment and the economy," she said. "We'll be taking the additional time to continue discussions, which may result in an agreement among the parties."
County commissioners were scheduled to vote on Crosland's request Thursday. But company officials decided to delay it to give them time to fine-tune the project so it is more palatable to neighbors and reviewing government agencies.

Crosland initially asked to change the property's land-use category from four units per acre to 16 units. County planners and planning commission staff both recommended the request be denied, but they said they might find 12 units per acre acceptable.

Nailing said density isn't the only stumbling block.

"Valrico residents spoke with a clear voice that they didn't want a large, intense apartment complex in their single-family neighborhoods," he said.

Residents swamped county commissioners and planning commissioners with more than 1,200 letters and e-mails voicing their opposition.

Vincent Marchetti, Crosland's attorney, said the land-use category switch would have little effect on the look of the completed project. He said the developer must build a certain number of units to make it financially feasible. He estimated that number at 250.

Even at the lower land-use category, Marchetti has said, Crosland would seek to increase the eventual density when it seeks to rezone the land.

Steven Griffin of the planning commission said the commission will hold hearings in January, and county commissioners will do the same in March or April 2009.

Nailing said residents want a mixed-use project with small stores and offices. He said they would be willing to accept loft apartments above the commercial space.

"We just have to wait to see how it will look when it comes out," he said. "If it comes back as 12 unit-per-acre apartments, that's not going to get it."

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

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