Quegiebo
July 27th, 2007, 07:21 AM
All Neighborhoods To Have Preview Of Zoning Bids
By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 27, 2007
TAMPA - Two neighborhood groups will soon lose a privilege that they alone enjoyed: the right to look at proposed zoning changes even before the city's staff reviewed them.
After the city council gives final approval to its decision, all neighborhood groups will receive an early look at the proposals.
In a 6-1 decision Thursday, the council chose to have developers send site plans not only to the West Tampa Community Development Corp. and the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership but to all of the city's neighborhood groups.
The city has more than 100 neighborhood associations.
The decision stems from an ongoing Tampa police investigation into allegations that some neighborhood activists have asked for money from developers in exchange for their support of a project.
Council Chairwoman Gwen Miller voted against the measure.
In a council chamber filled with West Tampa activists, city council members said their decision was a compromise. They had earlier considered dropping the requirement that developers mail petitions to the two groups.
One board member from the West Tampa CDC, Joe Robinson, appeared before the council Thursday to decry the city attorney's office as racist in its approach, a charge that City Attorney David Smith denied. Other West Tampa activists were more measured in their comments but just as pointed.
Councilman Tom Scott, who represents some of the West Tampa area, rejected the accusations of racism. Scott sees it solely as a legal matter.
'I don't think this is a racial issue,' Scott said. 'I'll be the first one to tell you everything is not racial.'
The city attorney's office had concerns about the provision for several reasons. For one, it treats those two groups differently from all other neighborhood groups.
The city attorney's office also is concerned about whether the groups should have been operating in compliance with the state's Sunshine Laws because they have been designated to give direct recommendations to the council.
Also, the code provisions require that the two groups receive developers' applications before city staff members have a chance to review them to determine whether technical requirements, such as traffic and zoning matters, have been met. Generally, neighborhood groups receive notices about zonings in their neighborhoods after city officials have reviewed the proposals.
'This has been happening for three years,' said Margaret Fisher, West Tampa CDC board chairwoman. 'What is the problem now?'
Payment Offer Raised Questions
Last month, Councilman Charlie Miranda questioned the appropriateness of a deal between developer Ken Morin and the CDC, a nonprofit organization that focuses on affordable housing in West Tampa. The developer was slated to give the group $225,000, which the CDC was to use for affordable housing projects.
Morin withdrew the offer after Miranda objected. Miranda has said he does not like the side deals between developers and nonprofit groups.
Last month, the Tampa Police Department launched an investigation into whether members of the Carver City/Lincoln Gardens neighborhood group inappropriately asked MetLife, developer of a major commercial and residential project, for money in exchange for the group's support.
On Thursday, Fisher defended the West Tampa CDC.
'We don't ever tie anything to zoning,' Fisher said. 'We don't do that.'
West Tampa activists said the group has helped foster a sense of neighborhood and empowerment in the community.
'That's Not Fair'
'We're being penalized for doing a good job,' Fisher said. 'We have not tied anything to zoning. Because something happened someplace else? That's not fair.'
Miranda said the CDC's opinion on zoning matters will continue to carry weight.
'There is no change in anybody's voice,' he said.
That didn't satisfy Michael Randolph, economic development director of the West Tampa CDC.
'Why would the city council pass this three years ago if these problems were at issue?' Randolph said. 'We are not here in confrontation. We are here pleading for the neighborhood.'
East Tampa residents did not attend Thursday's council meeting, but, reached later, some were as upset as those in West Tampa.
The provision helped communities, especially minority communities, find what was happening early in the process, said Sam Kinsey, chairman of the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership.
'I see it taking something away,' Kinsey said.
In other action, the council scheduled a public hearing Sept. 20 to consider allowing Busch Gardens and Adventure Island to sell beer, wine and liquor throughout the parks.
Reporter Kathy Steele contributed to this report. Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at
egedalius@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7679.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/jul/27/me-all-neighborhoods-to-have-preview-of-zoning-bid/?news-breaking
By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune
Published: July 27, 2007
TAMPA - Two neighborhood groups will soon lose a privilege that they alone enjoyed: the right to look at proposed zoning changes even before the city's staff reviewed them.
After the city council gives final approval to its decision, all neighborhood groups will receive an early look at the proposals.
In a 6-1 decision Thursday, the council chose to have developers send site plans not only to the West Tampa Community Development Corp. and the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership but to all of the city's neighborhood groups.
The city has more than 100 neighborhood associations.
The decision stems from an ongoing Tampa police investigation into allegations that some neighborhood activists have asked for money from developers in exchange for their support of a project.
Council Chairwoman Gwen Miller voted against the measure.
In a council chamber filled with West Tampa activists, city council members said their decision was a compromise. They had earlier considered dropping the requirement that developers mail petitions to the two groups.
One board member from the West Tampa CDC, Joe Robinson, appeared before the council Thursday to decry the city attorney's office as racist in its approach, a charge that City Attorney David Smith denied. Other West Tampa activists were more measured in their comments but just as pointed.
Councilman Tom Scott, who represents some of the West Tampa area, rejected the accusations of racism. Scott sees it solely as a legal matter.
'I don't think this is a racial issue,' Scott said. 'I'll be the first one to tell you everything is not racial.'
The city attorney's office had concerns about the provision for several reasons. For one, it treats those two groups differently from all other neighborhood groups.
The city attorney's office also is concerned about whether the groups should have been operating in compliance with the state's Sunshine Laws because they have been designated to give direct recommendations to the council.
Also, the code provisions require that the two groups receive developers' applications before city staff members have a chance to review them to determine whether technical requirements, such as traffic and zoning matters, have been met. Generally, neighborhood groups receive notices about zonings in their neighborhoods after city officials have reviewed the proposals.
'This has been happening for three years,' said Margaret Fisher, West Tampa CDC board chairwoman. 'What is the problem now?'
Payment Offer Raised Questions
Last month, Councilman Charlie Miranda questioned the appropriateness of a deal between developer Ken Morin and the CDC, a nonprofit organization that focuses on affordable housing in West Tampa. The developer was slated to give the group $225,000, which the CDC was to use for affordable housing projects.
Morin withdrew the offer after Miranda objected. Miranda has said he does not like the side deals between developers and nonprofit groups.
Last month, the Tampa Police Department launched an investigation into whether members of the Carver City/Lincoln Gardens neighborhood group inappropriately asked MetLife, developer of a major commercial and residential project, for money in exchange for the group's support.
On Thursday, Fisher defended the West Tampa CDC.
'We don't ever tie anything to zoning,' Fisher said. 'We don't do that.'
West Tampa activists said the group has helped foster a sense of neighborhood and empowerment in the community.
'That's Not Fair'
'We're being penalized for doing a good job,' Fisher said. 'We have not tied anything to zoning. Because something happened someplace else? That's not fair.'
Miranda said the CDC's opinion on zoning matters will continue to carry weight.
'There is no change in anybody's voice,' he said.
That didn't satisfy Michael Randolph, economic development director of the West Tampa CDC.
'Why would the city council pass this three years ago if these problems were at issue?' Randolph said. 'We are not here in confrontation. We are here pleading for the neighborhood.'
East Tampa residents did not attend Thursday's council meeting, but, reached later, some were as upset as those in West Tampa.
The provision helped communities, especially minority communities, find what was happening early in the process, said Sam Kinsey, chairman of the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership.
'I see it taking something away,' Kinsey said.
In other action, the council scheduled a public hearing Sept. 20 to consider allowing Busch Gardens and Adventure Island to sell beer, wine and liquor throughout the parks.
Reporter Kathy Steele contributed to this report. Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at
egedalius@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7679.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/jul/27/me-all-neighborhoods-to-have-preview-of-zoning-bid/?news-breaking