By Matt Wiley
UPDATE: The Tampa City Council has officially approved the addition of more than 116,000 sq.-ft. of commercial zoning in Tampa Palms Area 3, which will allow for more retail and restaurants in between Compton Dr. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. The decision came during a “second reading” of New Tampa, Inc.’s proposal before the Council on November 7. Click through for more details.
Restaurants and other potential commercial uses are on the horizon in Tampa Palms Area 3, as the commercial development of several parcels bordering on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. recently were approved on a “first reading” by the Tampa City Council.
Approved unanimously at the Council’s October 10 public hearing, the change hopefully will bring more restaurants and other potential commercial development to three areas in Tampa Palms Area 3: one parcel in the Market Square shopping plaza (located at Commerce Palms Dr. and BBD and anchored by B.J.’s Wholesale Club and Bed, Bath & Beyond), as well as two parcels adjacent to (and across Cypress Preserve Dr. from) the Chase Bank on BBD, as well as one south of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store.
“This sounds very involved, but the changes we have requested are really quite simple,” said attorney Andrea Zelman, who represented Tampa Palms Area 3 developer and New Tampa, Inc., president Warren Kinsler at the meeting.
Zelman explained that the requested addition of more than 116,000 sq.-ft. of commercial space in Area 3 has been allowed since 1982, as part of the original Tampa Palms Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Development Order (DO), which allows for 700,000 sq. ft. of commercial entitlements. Once the approved entitlements exceed 441,500 sq.-ft., Zelman explained, a traffic study had to be conducted, which meant that the addition of more commercial development would still have to be approved by the Council.
The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, represented by David Hay, found that the Council’s approval of the proposed commercial development was in agreement with the Planning Commission’s long-range plan for the New Tampa area.
The approval did not come without some public opposition, however, most of it coming from Buckingham at Tampa Palms residents who worried that the development would be built too close to their homes on Tampa Palms Blvd.
However, the planned commercial construction only would be between BBD and Compton Dr., and Buckingham is located well east of Compton Dr. Some confusion sprang from the multitude of signs announcing the public hearing. Zelman explained that the signs have to be placed to raise public awareness of the meeting for residents and property owners located within 250 feet of the property to be developed (per Tampa City Ordinance 2011-12) and were not placed where the planned development would actually take place.
Kinsler said that he hopes to bring three restaurants to the Market Square area, one next to Lowe’s and one across Cypress Preserve Dr. from Chase. The plot of land behind Chase also could be used for a restaurant or for other commercial uses.
“We haven’t really explored what restaurants could come to the area, yet,” Kinsler explained. “But, we’re all ears.”
In addition to restaurants and other commercial uses, Kinsler said that he wants to add assisted living facilities to the approved uses in the residential areas of Tampa Palms Area 3, where multi-family residences already are allowed under the existing Tampa Palms Area 3 DO.
“Assisted living facilities are possible in the future,” Kinsler explains. “As our area (continues to) age, it will be a compatible use (for the land).”
Despite the opposition voiced at the hearing, Kinsler said the majority of the feedback he had heard about the development leading up to the hearing had been positive.
“We have been good stewards of our land,” Kinsler said. “Plus, there won’t be any curb-cutting and all of the development is (between BBD and Compton Dr.).” By “curb cutting,” he means that the future development will not mean new intersections along BBD and all new developments would be accessed by the existing roadways, either through the parking lots in the shopping plazas or from Compton Dr. itself.
Along with commercial development, the hearing addressed the eventual development of a five-acre park site that is going to be donated to the City of Tampa inside Area 3 near I-75, as well as the relocation and construction of a permanent Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit (HARTLine) “Park-and-Ride” location to replace the existing, temporary facility at Lowe’s that takes riders to downtown Tampa. This new location would not be added until the commercial development is under way, Kinsler says.
“It’s good to finally see the development of (Tampa Palms) Area 3 articulating,” said Maggie Wilson of the Tampa Palms Community Development District (CDD). “This development has been on the books for years and I’m happy to finally see it.”
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