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Plan Unites Palm River Area

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

Updated: 01/21/2008 05:55 pm

TAMPA - "A slam dunk" is how community advocate Liz Gutierrez described the Hillsborough Planning Commission's overwhelming approval of the Greater Palm River Community Plan on Jan. 14.

The commission's unanimous vote culminated three years of community discussions and debate as Palm River, Clair-Mel City and Progress Village residents joined in the community-based planning process to shape their community's growth.

The commission's endorsement also is the first step toward making the plan a permanent part of the Hillsborough County Comprehensive Land-Use Plan. The plan will go to a public hearing before the Hillsborough County Commission. If the commission approves it, the plan likely will be adopted in May.

"The planning commission was very complimentary to us and to the community," said Gutierrez, executive director of the Palm River Point Community Development Corp., a community advocacy group that spearheaded development of the community plan.

Commissioner Terri Cobb lauded the community for its enthusiasm.

"Obviously, when this many people work together to try to create a certain quality of life in their area, it's going to work," she said.

About 15 residents were on hand to represent the community. Among them were Brad Monroe of the Greater Palm River Civic Association, who reviewed the community's top seven goals, and Hilrie Kemp Jr. of the Progress Village Civic Association.

Among the plan's goals is improving water service. Although the area is within the county's borders, the city of Tampa has provided water and wastewater services to some residents under an agreement reached with county officials in the 1960s. Other areas use well water and septic systems.

Residents and business owners say that has been the biggest deterrent to economic development. They say the first goal of the community plan should be to ensure water and wastewater services are affordable and dependable for all.

Other goals include establishing a citizen liaison process with law and code enforcement to address issues such as alcohol and tobacco sales, dumping, sign enforcement, landscaping and cleanup projects, safe housing and traffic; making roads pedestrian friendly and enforcing truck route regulations; building a sports complex; resolving ongoing flooding problems; providing incentives for the economic development of 78th Street; and preserving the area's farming and civil rights heritage.

"In the past, the communities of Palm River, Clair-Mel and Progress Village were put in the position of having to compete against one another," Kemp said. "This is the first time these communities have come together and embraced the larger name of Greater Palm River."

Gutierrez said the community was able to demonstrate that newfound solidarity to the county last year at a town hall meeting, when residents held up signs reading, "Turn on the water, and start with Causeway Boulevard."

"There is no reason this community can't have the same quality of life as FishHawk Ranch," Gutierrez said. "They just have to put the infrastructure in place. If you want redevelopment, you have to provide basic infrastructure, and that's the role of government."

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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