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For the record …
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 |
Mall project runs into snags
LARGO – City Manager Steve Stanton reported last week that plans for the new Towne Square Mall on East Bay Drive have run into some problems with city planners.
Stanton said changes in parking, sidewalks and public areas have been changed at the request of potential retail tenants. He said the changes would reduce the emphasis placed on residents of the proposed townhouses, as well as pedestrian access and the public spaces “vital to the success of a town center (concept).”
As a result, Stanton said, negotiations were under way to restore the city’s vision of the mixed-use project. He added that, although the City Commission voted to require no “development agreement” with the developer, Boulder Venture, LLC, the city staff might require one.
In a development agreement, the city can require certain things of the developer in return for city utilities, services and roadwork.
City says ground saturated
City workers are anxiously awaiting the end of this year’s “rainy season” in the next two weeks, reporting the ground is saturated from rain from Aug. 24 to Sept. 9. City Manager Steve Stanton said that during those two weeks rain gauges recorded that 5 to 20 inches of rain had fallen. The average rainfall for September is 7 inches, which was reached this year in just the first two weeks of the month, Stanton said. During the first week of September, Stanton said, the city received 52 complaints from residents reporting flooded yards. In every case, he said, the storm drains were working but the problems were mostly caused by the amount of rain.
“The groundwater table has reached the surface and for that situation to abate,” the manager told City Commissioners, “there has to be at least a week of no rain.”
Library lawn sprinklers computerized
A state-of-the-art irrigation system has been installed around the new Largo Public Library, according to City Manager Steve Stanton.
The entire system is integrated and computer-controlled, he said. A computer monitors water flow through each segment of the system and most segments can be isolated and shut off if that section’s flow suddenly rises or drops.
If the computer deems it necessary, it may report the problem to an employee by phone or computer.
Similar systems are planned for the Clearwater-Largo Road “treescaping” and along Central Park Drive.
City sees growth in programs for young and the elderly
Social programs for both seniors and teens are showing growth in participants according to the city staff.
Community Center Manager Warren Ankerberg has reported that in August, the monthly Tea Dances last month had twice as many dancers as previous months. He said more than 75 seniors participated. He added that more than 100 have been taking part in the weekly Swing Dance program.
And, said City Manager Steve Stanton, more than 40 teenagers took part in the first teen dance at the Southwest Recreation Center Sept. 9. He said the new Southwest Teen Council is planning daily activities at the recreation center for teens who just drop in.
“The average number of teens participating each day is 20 and that number continues to grow,” Stanton said.
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Article published on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006
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