In the Trib
Permit Rejection Puts Developer On Spot The Tampa Tribune Thu, 04 May 2006 6:47 AM PDT
"SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - It seemed like a done deal for a developer who won city council approval almost a year ago to build seven town houses.
However, the city's construction services department recently nixed a permit because of issues with balcony overhangs and air-conditioning units, sending North Bay Associates back to the council with a revised plan."
Residents also apparently objectedbecause "they said the town houses would not blend with the neighborhood's historical character. Attorney Pamela Jo Hatley also said residents' rights were violated last year because they were not properly notified of a rescheduled hearing."
One thing I wish the City would do. Create system so you could sign up for notification of variance hearings by neighborhood. People would be caught off guard less if they would get emails. I saw a variance sign by the Victorian house south of Genessee on Nebraska. By the time I looked it the deadline had passed for the tree variance.
Good point. The notification system of a sign in the yard and a newspaper ad is antiquated. We should be able to choose a zip code and get e-mail notification of variance/re-zoning requests.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the antiquated system. Also when they schedule something to be heard 22nd on the agenda, they shouldn't be allowed to move it to first. Or not hear it at all. It is so frustrating to go downtown to speak about something - variance or code or historic preservation - and then after you get there to find out that the agenda has been changed (item removed or moved from end to beginning so you've missed it or moved from beginnhing to end so you have to take a whole day off work instead of only 1/2. tHIS IS RIDICULOUS. If items are set for public comment, then they ought to be kept wherever they were scheduled on the agenda. Unless, the change is made days before the fact. Frustrating!!!
ReplyDeleteyeah, or if you own the land and want to do something within your rights, eventually you'll prevail no matter how many whining neighbors there are.
ReplyDelete