Trying to keep it to a short post this week. I didn’t write a wrap-up post for last week, I think I said enough the week before but I did give the UNITE Ashley Dr project its own post as it was again continued by Council until June.
This week Council sits as the Community Redevelopment Agency board Thursday morning with a full slate of applications for land use changes in the evening. Reminder, I provide a map of the application locations with the agenda.
Thursday evening, before the land use hearings, Council will be presenting a commendation to the “winners and finalists of the USS Tampa Post #5 American Legion Oratorical Contest, where the delivery of these young contestants demonstrates their keen interest and appreciation of the principles and values set forth in the Constitution of the United States, and their awareness of the responsibilities incumbent on each citizen to exercise and protect these rights.” I can think of a lot of people beyond Tampa City Hall that desperately need this reminder.
In case you missed it, Council member Viera announced his intent to run for the State Legislature. In practical terms, if he feels the same way in a year and intends to qualify as a candidate, he will be required to resign from his Council seat due to state law. The law requires he submit his resignation at least 10 days before the qualifying period (was week of June 10 in 2024) effective no later than the start of the term he’s running for. State Legislators terms begin when they are elected (November 3 in 26). The law also stipulates the resignation cannot be rescinded. Win or lose, he would be leaving Council and the remainder of Council will choose his replacement from qualified applicants until the 2027 election. Thus far he hasn’t indicated he intends to resign any sooner.
As to the CRA agenda, the Board will not be asked to approve any funds this week, but that’s not to say the language in the updated Community Redevelopment Plans for the 4 districts being presented this week aren’t important. Ideally these plans have been thoroughly vetted by the Community Advisory Councils for the prospective districts and these votes are a formality, I am not versed in the comprehensive/redevelopment plans for CRAs and can’t speak to any changes being proposed. I’m also a bit cynical about CRAs these days so I’ll it at that.
As far as the evening land use hearings, as I said, it’s a full slate with 11 applications currently on the agenda. Inevitably there will be continuations.
The only item I will flag is item 4 simply because of its size, location (between Florida Ave and Morgan St E/W and Henderson Ave on the north) and the fact staff found the application inconsistent. This was a project approved for a 200’ building (18 stories), 351 multi-family unit with 15,000 sq ft of retail and a 102’ (7 story) with parking and 105 more multi-family units in 2022. They are now asking to change the PD to the same 18 story building but with 435 units and 15,000 sq ft of retail and instead of the 7 story parking/multi-family unit 10 buildings at 55′ (three to four stories) with 41 single-family attached units. I don’t expect this to be an issue, but I’ve been surprised before.
