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Overlay District's Future Is Uncertain

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By B.C. MANION, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

Updated: 11/19/2007 05:57 pm

LUTZ - The North Dale Mabry Overlay District is straightforward: It guides development along North Dale Mabry Highway, between Van Dyke and County Line roads.

But the future of that district is anything but certain.

A group has been meeting with county planning staff since April to discuss what, if any, changes to the overlay district should be considered by the Hillsborough County Commission.

When the district was adopted in 1989, it limited commercial development to North Dale Mabry intersections at Lutz-Lake Fern Road, Sunlake Boulevard and Van Dyke Road.

Changes to the district discussed by the committee, unveiled last week at a community open house, would boost development potential at each of those activity areas.

Dozens of people at the gathering submitted written comments: Nearly three dozen objected to changing the district; about a half-dozen supported increasing development potential.

Gaye Townsend, a longtime Lutz resident, who lives at 19905 Long Leaf Drive, said the overlay district should be kept intact.

Kevin O'Brien objects to any intensification.

"We've got the Super Target. They're talking about a Wal-Mart. Cypress Creek Mall is under construction," said O'Brien of 19810 Deer Hollow Lane. "The only people who are in favor of it are people who own property who want to maximize their profits."

But Jo Ann Diaz, who lives across the street from Pasco Town Center on County Line Road, said it's unfair to characterize the property owners as greedy.

Property owners along North Dale Mabry Highway are looking for practical ways to use their land, she said.

"Would you buy a piece of property to build a house on Dale Mabry?" Diaz asked, in a recent interview. Houses only make sense if there's enough land to provide an adequate buffer, she added.

Diaz said she can empathize with the Dale Mabry property owners.

"The Target has changed the whole scenario for everybody on County Line Road," she said. "We didn't ask for this."

Tom Mead, of 18718 Geraci Road, said increasing development potential would change the fabric of Lutz.

"We don't want Lutz to be Carrollwood," Mead said.

No changes should be made to the district before a frontage road is built, said Todd Mark, of 19808 Deer Hollow Lane. "I don't want it to turn into South Dale Mabry Highway."

Although there are opponents to increased development, real estate agent Joel Grainger says they are in the minority.

"If it were ever put to a ballot, I believe those people would be voted down," said Grainger, who represents some large landowners in the overlay district.

Grainger said it was reasonable for his clients to expect that land in the corridor ultimately would be used for commercial development.

"Dale Mabry is a major highway," Grainger said.

Planning and growth management staff is expected to take a report on the issue to the Hillsborough County Commission on Dec. 11.

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

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