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Shopping May Get Easier

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By B.C. MANION, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

Updated: 12/13/2007 07:12 pm

LUTZ - Going out for a bite to eat or to do a little shopping may get a bit easier for people living north of Van Dyke Road, near North Dale Mabry Highway.

The Hillsborough County Commission on Tuesday directed its planning staff to look at boosting the commercial potential at intersections with North Dale Mabry, at Lutz-Lake Fern Road and at Sunlake Boulevard.

Commissioners took the action after listening to a report on changes proposed by its planning staff to the North Dale Mabry Overlay District, which guides development along a 4-mile stretch of the highway, between Van Dyke and County Line roads.

Planners have been working with a committee since April to evaluate whether changes are needed to the overlay district, which was adopted in 1989 to prevent strip commercial. The district limits commercial development to three activity centers on North Dale Mabry Highway, at Lutz-Lake Fern Road, Sunlake Boulevard and Van Dyke Road.

After months of meetings and two open houses, planners recommended the county consider more commercial development at Sunlake Boulevard because traffic is expected to increase there and on Lutz-Lake Fern Road. Planners also said there was no need to expand commercial at the other activity centers.

But county commissioners told the staff they think commercial should be expanded at Lutz-Lake Fern Road, and they approved planners' request to look at increasing it at Sunlake Boulevard, too.

Commissioner Brian Blair said expanding the node at Lutz-Lake Fern Road would only be fair, because the area had been approved for up to 110,000 square feet of commercial when the overlay district was adopted in 1989.

But a portion of the property was taken by the state Department of Transportation, reducing the development potential to 65,000 square feet.

"I have a problem when someone takes something from you," Blair said. The county should restore the development potential to what it was before the road department took the property, he said.

Commissioner Jim Norman agreed the development potential should be restored, but not simply because the land was taken by the state roads department.

"It just wasn't a taking," Norman said. "I am sure the owner of the property was paid."

But, Norman added, "It's the common sense thing to do."

Lutz-Lake Fern Road is being widened and will dump into that site, he said.

Allowing more commercial there also makes it more convenient for residents to get services they need - reducing their need to drive to Northdale, or into Pasco County, Norman said.

"We should add the amenities to keep people off the road."

Another advantage is the availability of public services, Blair said. "The water and sewer is already there. It's already been stubbed out."

Changes to the overlay district would need to be made through amendments to the county's land development code, which are not slated for consideration until the second half of 2008. The board must hold two public hearings before changes can be made.

No public testimony was taken by the board Tuesday morning, but some committee members were there and offered reactions after the meeting.

Michael Horner, who often represents people seeking rezonings or land-use changes, said there's logic in the direction the board gave to its staff.

Ethel Hammer, a planning consultant on the committee, said "the plan was adopted in 1989, and there's never been an update." There's a need to provide goods and services closer to residents.

Denise Layne, land-use liaison for the Lutz Civic Association, said, "I have no problems with them looking at the nodes."

But property owner Paul Liau, who owns about 10 acres on North Dale Mabry Highway near Van Dyke Road, thinks commissioners should expand commercial potential in that area.

"I'm very upset," said Liau, who wants to develop a strip center.

Commissioners didn't take public testimony before reaching their 7-0 decision.

The lack of public input bothered Liau and Todd Mark, another committee member who attended Tuesday's session.

"They didn't listen to us," Liau said.

"I was disappointed the public didn't have an opportunity to speak," Mark said.

Reporter B.C Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion @tampatrib.com.

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