PINELLAS PARK – Preliminary plans for a new 71-room Comfort Inn received on Jan. 10 the blessings of the City Council.
The inn will be constructed at the corner of U.S. 19 and 110th Avenue, a B-1 General Commercial Zone that abuts a residentially-zoned property.
The four-story inn, the second one being built in the city by Host Associates, will be accessible by a service road and not the heavily-traveled U.S. 19. Developers did not know when construction would begin.
In other matters, the council approved a measure for a conditional use plan to increase density of 13.27 units per acre to 14.86 units per acre.
Developers want to build on a 6.93-acre lot at 4355 84th Ave. which is an R-6 Multifamily/Commercial District. A 92-unit, single story apartment complex already exists on the property. Plans call for the construction of an 11-unit, two-story multifamily building.
Richard Harris, an engineer representing developer Le Club LCC, said the project would be a welcome addition since it will provide affordable housing for future tenants. Councilman Rick Butler said that designation is for people whose rents represent only 33 percent of their income.
“The new units are in a good location, with easy access to transportation and other services,” Butler said.
The council also approved a request to allow the conditional use for a used car sales dealership in a B-1 General Commercial District at 9402 66th St.
The parcel is currently developed with a small office building that would be used by the dealership for office purposes. Restricted are outdoor loud speakers and telephone ringers, automotive repair work and vehicle storage.
Opposition for the project came from Edward Kosinski, a candidate for the city council seat presently held by Patricia Bailey-Snook who is retiring. He said there are too many car dealerships in the city. He later rescinded his opposition when the developer agreed to pave a portion of the property with pavers, turf blocks or concrete.
Approved also was an ordinance changing land use at 8021 60th St. from Residential Urban to Institutional. Veritas Preparatory Academy, the applicant, wants to develop an educational facility on the property.
In other matters, the council approved annexations for properties at 6064 108th Ave., 12511 69th St., 6056 109th Ave., 6148 105th Ave. and 6021 108th Ave. Also approved were annexations of road right-of-ways at 103rd, 104th and 105th avenues between 60th and 62nd streets.
The council approved a resolution calling upon the state legislature to support a series of issues during the 2008 session. Some of the issues include affordable housing, environmental permits, growth management, local business taxes, local government pension plans, mobile home park closures, municipal indebtedness, property tax reform, transportation and water.
The council accepted the resignations of George Race and Nancy Loehr from the Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee. Race served for six years and Loehr for 11 years. No reasons were given for the resignations.
