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Special unit studies industrial development
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
| Article published on Friday, May 25, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/052507_par-02.jpg) |
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| Susan Walker, director of neighborhood services. |
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PINELLAS PARK – The City Council has ordered the formation of a special study group to look over a proposed ordinance to regulate light industrial districts abutting residential areas, a measure that recently sparked concern by developers and residents alike.
Named to create and head the special “study committee” was Susan Walker, director of neighborhood development, who with other city officials put together a team of three developers and three neighborhood representatives.
Dean Neal, city zoning director, also was named to provide documentation, technical assistance and preparation of additional code drafts based on the input from the committee.
Named from the industrial development community were Matthew Mosk of Yale, Mosk & Co., Terry England of England Brothers Construction, both based in Largo, and Robert Pergolizzi of Gulf Coast Consulting, Inc. of Clearwater.
All three companies are major movers and shakers in local industrial development.
Additionally, Shelly O’Dell of the Pinebrook Estates neighborhood, Leland Walker of The Lakes neighborhood and Steven Zagor of Mainlands were named to represent those residential communities.
Walker said the committee was formed to make recommendations for three sections of a proposed ordinance aimed at setting future standards for M-1 light industrial property abutting or functionally abutting residential and mixed use zoning districts.
Walker said the committee may continue operating after making its recommendations to study future legislation and other issues.
The first meeting of the committee will be on May 30 at 10 a.m. at the Technical Services Building, 6051 78th Ave.
The 10-page ordinance recently was approved by the city council on first reading, but then tabled after residents and the industrial development community complained about certain sections. That’s when Walker was ordered to create the committee that is charged with coming up with a compromise acceptable by both sides.
“The city is aware of the concerns and we want to create a measure that is fair and makes everyone happy,” Walker said.
Targeted by the committee are the three sections of the ordinance that relate to noise from mechanical equipment and related issues, outdoor storage concerns and waivers that might cause undue hardships.
The council postponed a second and final public hearing for the original ordinance until June 28, but that, too, can be postponed to a still later meeting if both sides cannot hammer out an agreeable measure.
Only three of the city’s neighborhoods are represented because they are directly affected by the ordinance. Walker said other neighborhood representatives could be invited to future meetings if they are directly or indirectly affected by industrial development issues.
Walker said all present businesses would be grandfathered in and not be affected by any future ordinance.
“Both sides, developers and residents, have concerns and the city is willing to help create a mutually acceptable ordinance,” Walker said. “We are here to serve everyone.”
Part of the problem is attributed to the lack of virgin land in the city and elsewhere within Pinellas County. While there is a need for industrial development to provide services and jobs, residents are unwilling to have environmentally unfriendly businesses within their midst. Due to the lack of land, new development generally comes from razing old structures to make way for new ones, or to redevelop present buildings for new use.
Neighborhood associations in recent years have been more vocal about blocking plans for industrial development. Pinebrook residents, whose homes are nearly surrounded by industrial properties, recently were successful in forcing the city council to reject a plan by a countertop manufacturer to move into the city.
That decision, however, was challenged in court and the city’s ruling was overturned.
The manufacturer, however, has reportedly since decided to move to another location, city officials said.
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Article published on Friday, May 25, 2007
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