The OSHNA Board has scheduled a Special Board Meeting on Monday, February 1, 2010, starting at 6:30pm, at the Seminole Heights Branch Library, 4711 Central Avenue.
The purpose of the meeting is for Board members, as well as residents of Old Seminole Heights, to have an opportunity to voice opinions regarding the proposed CVS Pharmacy at Nebraska & Sligh Avenues. Your participation is encouraged. CVS Pharmacy has requested OSHNA’s support on this project, and in order to determine what position OSHNA will take, we are asking for input from the residents of OSH.
CVS went before City Council late Thursday evening to request a zoning change from commercial intensive to planned development in preparation for locating their store at Sligh and Nebraska Avenues. A number of residents were present for the meeting, as were the presidents of all three Seminole Heights Neighborhood Associations and the Business Guild.
City Staff recommended against approval.
Councilmember Linda Saul-Sena made a motion to deny the request on the basis that it did not meet the comprehensive plan and was not a sufficient use of the unusually large 2.7 acre parcel. Voting to deny approval for the project was Charlie Miranda, Linda Saul-Sena and Thomas Scott. OSH falls within Councilmember Scott’s district. Voting against denial was John Dingfelder and Joseph Caetano. Mary Mulhern and Gwen Miller were absent. A vote to deny requires a minimum of four votes to pass. The motion was carried over to this coming Thursday, February 6th. If four councilmembers vote in the negative this Thursday, CVS has stated it will seek another location for the proposed pharmacy.
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OSHNA encourages its members and residents to contact city council and share their opinion, for or against, the CVS project. You may use an online form to reach all councilmembers with one email by clicking here:
Contact City Council. Or, you may contact councilmembers individually, as listed below:
Mary Mulhern (At Large)
Mary.Mulhern@tampagov.net
(813) 274-7071
Linda Saul-Sena (At large)
(813) 274-8134
John Dingfelder
John.Dingfelder@tampagov.net(813) 274-8133
Thomas Scott (OSH Representative)
(813) 274-8189
Gwen Miller (At Large)
(813) 274-7072
Joseph Caetano
(813) 274-7073
Charlie Miranda
(813) 274-7074
Editor and moderator. 
The OSHNA Board voted to support CVS. I sent emails to the entire council in the hope that it may do some good. My preference would be to have the denial voted down and a continuance offered (again) to CVS. I think this project can still go forward if staff is willing.
Thanks to everyone that came out to the meeting on Monday. Your efforts are to be applauded. OSH residents spoke for and against the project.
I can see how this decision may give the impression that Form-based Zoning is less flexible. I still believe the residents have the ultimate say here and we can impress upon city council and staff that a more organic approach to redevelopment here would be in the area’s best interests. Can anyone think of a single, resident-oriented development or redevelopment on Nebraska Avenue between Hillsborough Ave and the Hillsborough river completed since the Publix was rebuilt in 1995? The only one I can think of is Family Dollar.
Rick, I could not agree more.
I don’t think we can comply with the comprehensive plan overnight but we’re being forced to… I always thought of this process as a long-term goal.
With no other buildings placed to the sidewalk along this stretch (and corner) of Nebraska and the speed in which the traffic flows, I truly believe having the building to the sidewalk is inappropriate for both aesthetic and safety reasons.
Personally, I was really looking forward to having a CVS nearby. The Walgreens at Hillsborough and 22nd is horrible. Theft is so prevalent that everything is locked up. You have to get a manager to unlock a cabinet to purchase anything priced over $5.
I hope that we can make a last-ditch effort to show City Council how much the neighborhood supports this development. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic but I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed…….
A correction to which City council member represents SH. Most of SH is in Charlie Miranda’s district, not Tom Scott’s.
The public hearing was closed. Then a motion was made to deny. It received a 3/2 vote. It is unfinished business for council but there is not opportunity for further public comment. The council members that have not voted can review the transcripts and audio. A denial means it can not come before council for 1 year.
I have posted the 7 waivers that CVS asked for on “life in seminole heights” with clarifications. As you can see there the waivers were not some big deal. Also current city code does not and cannot require the location of the building up to the sidewalk. Under current city code that to would have had to be a requested waiver.
The neighborhood embraced FBZ following promises that it would give us the flexibility that was a problem for Cappy’s, Ella’s, Starbucks and the Independent. It seems clear that this new code will be no more flexible than the old code. One of the points that Abbye Feeley made about the proposed CVS site was that it was being under utilized. She stated that the site was suitable for a 220,000 sq ft building. Please go look at that parcel and envision that corner with 146 1,500 sq ft homes on it. Does that make your head spin? It is more than 5x the size of the Publix on Nebraska. If that is what it will take to comply with the Comp Plan then commericial redevelopment in our neighborhood is screwed.
Just a reminder that CVS Pharmacy will come before City Council Thursday morning at 10:30 am. Neighbors wishing to support a CVS Pharmacy at Sligh and Nebraska Avenues may attend and be visible in City Council Chambers. The public comment period has ended. While anyone may attend the hearing, no one from the public will be allowed to speak on this issue tomorrow.
City Council Chambers are located at 315 East Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Floor.