The county has a meeting July 24th, at which it will consider the developer's request. We need to have a presence at that meeting, either in person, or by petition.
The county made its plans for a reason. It envisioned a "downtown Riverview," for which we would be part of its uptown district. It wanted buildings built near the road with parking in the back to create a more community feel. This is especially important for St. Charles Place because we have 268 units in very close proximity to the parcel.
If the developer gets its waiver, it could not only tear down the trees that make our beautiful entrance along Lake St. Charles Blvd., it could build a mega-gas station like a Race-Trac basically on top of us. Or any number of things that we would hate. Who knows? And while we have planted trees on our side of Dartmouth Hill Road, they would not be able to shut out all the light from such a giant store, operating 24/7.
Don't misunderstand: That parcel is zoned for commercial development. Something will go in there at some point. But county planners worked for more than a year to create a comprehensive plan designed to make Riverview and its US-301 corridor more than another strip mall way station on the way to the next major shopping center.
So what can you do? Write a letter to the Board of County Commissioners asking it to reject the application. Send it to the planner with Hillsborough Countyu Development Services that is leading the review of this application. Her name is Isabelle Albert. And her email is AlbertI@hillsboroughcounty.org. The application number is PRS 12-0600.
In addition to the email and mailing address listed above, you can send comments or testimony to either Hearings@HillsboroughCounty.org or by regular mail to:
PGM - ZONING HEARING SECTIONYou do not need to be a homeowner to do this. If you live here, this is your community, too.
PO BOX 1110
TAMPA, FL 33601
Here is the letter I'm going to send. You're welcome to use that as a template for what you write. It will mean more if you use your own words, rather than simply copying and pasting this.
Board of County Commissioners
c/o Ms. Isabelle Albert
Hillsborough County
Development Services Department
20th Floor
601 East Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33601
RE: PRS 12-0600
Dear Commissioners:
I own a home in the St. Charles Place townhome community in Riverview, and I ask that you reject the application PRS 12-0600 to waive the development standards within Section 03.20.00 (the Riverview Downtown - Uptown Overlay District) of the Land Development Code. Our tightly-packed community of 268 homes sits next to the planned development site and I fear that approving the developer's request will damage the quality of life and community, as well as home values, of my neighbors and me.
When I bought my home, it was explained that development would happen in that spot, so I understand that. But I also understand that county planners worked with citizens for more than a year to create a long-term development plan to help distinguish the Riverview Community from the miles of suburban development that line US-301 to its north and south. County Commissioners approved the rules. If we couldn't keep the green space in that parcel, being part of a downtown offered the next best thing.
Now someone, probably for the sake of another gas station, wants to erase not only the hard work of county planners and Riverview residents, but the unspoken agreement all of us in St. Charles Place made when we bought our homes. If you approve this waiver, we could lose the chance to make Riverview a distinctive community, built with thoughtful plans and original charm, that will bring higher quality development, and ultimately more tax revenue for the county.
I urge you to stand for the county's long-term plan for the Overlay District, and reject PRS 12-0600.
Sincerely,
John McQuiston
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