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City hires architect for new community center
By DAVE SHELTON
| Article published on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 |
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LARGO – Although the location of the new community center remains vague, the City Commission May 6 approved hiring an architect at up to $1.4 million.
The contract will include surveys of local residents, drawing the plans and supervising construction.
Mayor Patricia Gerard objected to the staff recommended action, pointing out that the commission was still considering at least one site other than on an 8.5 acre tract on Alternate Keene Road. The owner of The Palms of Largo retirement community proposed giving that tract to the city for the new Community Center.
The Palms is also planning a housing unit that would include affordable housing, primarily for its employees.
Gerard pointed out that at the commission’s recent work session Henry Schubert, assistant city manager, had raised questions about traffic problems on Alternate Keene and had suggested several alternative sites including the Highland’s Recreation Complex, Central Park and in the downtown area on West Bay Drive.
Most commissioners said they would only consider the Highlands tract if projected traffic problems on Keene couldn’t be resolved.
Gerard also insisted more information was needed from Keene area residents.
One resident of the Colonial Mobile Home Park spoke in opposition to the Keene Road site. Byron Gordon said he and his fellow park residents were concerned about the traffic issues, whether the city would have to widen Keene to their doorsteps and the noise that might be generated by the Community Center, especially by traffic.
Gordon said he was also concerned that the city was revising the site’s zoning to allow up to 15 units per acre, compared to half of that currently permitted. City Planning Manager Robert Jarzen said the density is comparable to that allowed in the mobile home park and within The Palms.
Jarzen explained that the density had to be changed in order to allow the community center on the tract, in accordance with county land use codes. He added that the city would also have to add community centers to its residential land use codes. He said the city staff will recommend that this change specify such use only as a “conditional land use” requiring approval by the city planning board and city commission.
The density change was approved by the commission by a 7-0 vote.
In other action at the recent city commissioner’s meeting, lawmakers introduced a proposed agreement with the redevelopers of the former Crossroads Mall on East Bay Drive for management of a public gathering spot in the center of the mall.
Under the agreement, the city would be allowed to hold one event per month in the space where the mall would also conduct special events.
There was some opposition to the city spending tax dollars to generate business for retailers in the mall.
Gerard argued that “we have a gem” in providing space for events aimed at residents of the east end of the city where there are few city facilities.
“We have annexed a lot of land in this area in the past several years,” she said. “And, I don’t see us doing much development of city facilities in the next few years. There are not a lot of city amenities for people out there.
“I see this as a win-win situation.”
City Attorney Alan Zimmet added that he saw the proposal as an opportunity for the city to have a park in that area without having the burden of maintenance.
Resident Geoff Moakely disagreed, charging that the proposal was part of “the ever-growing parks and recreation department.”
He said the proposed $40,000 a-year cost of managing the park was only half of what it would cost when police and fire department services are needed for the city events.
Parks and Recreation Director Joan Byrne said her department would focus on low-cost events that wouldn’t require additional expenses.
Developers are planning a $150 million project that will, when completed, include small and major retailers, retails shops and restaurants, offices for professional services and residential units.
What is now a huge parking lot will be replaced by a parking garage, two crossing streets and major landscaping with sidewalks to make the mall “pedestrian friendly.”
The mall has been re-named “Towne Center Mall.”
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Article published on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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