Downtown Development Vote Could Come Thursday

The battle over development in downtown Palm Harbor could heat up again Thursday morning during a public hearing held by the Local Planning Agency.

The agency was supposed to make a decision about a controversial transfer of development rights (TDR) proposal back in October, but members voted to delay the decision so they could have more time to examine the issue. TDRs allow for the transfer of unused development rights from one parcel of land to another.

Paul Toomey, who is the president of software company Geographic Solutions in downtown Palm Harbor, wants to build a 19,000-square-foot headquarters on Georgia Avenue across from the White Chapel Church using TDRs. The building would exceed the maximum density limit by 80 percent.

Gordon Beardslee, Pinellas County's Planning Manager, has told the LPA that he recommends the TDR proposal be passed with a restriction limiting rights transferred to 25 percent of the maximum density.

The proposal has been the topic of several town hall gatherings where there have been heated exchanges.

Neil Valk owns the building where restaurant is located in downtown Palm Harbor. Geographic Solutions also rents a space in the building. Valk thinks a new, three-story building would not fit in with the downtown historic district and could end up dominating the area. Valk is against the construction of the new Geographic Solutions Headquarters and is on a mission to stop the project. 

"This is a bunch of crap," Valk said. "This is a special interest ordinance. …. Who wants a 44-foot-tall building in Palm Harbor?"

Valk says he has more than 400 signatures on a petition against the proposal and he plans on presenting them to the Local Planning Agency during Thursday morning's meeting. 

Valk claims that the more than 100 employees at Geographic Solutions do not provide an economic boost to downtown Palm Harbor businesses, which has been an argument for the new headquarters.

"I want Geographic Solutions to move to an office park; they don't need to be in Palm Harbor," Valk said. "Not one of the restaurants in Palm Harbor says they are a viable part of their business."

However, local leaders are in favor of the proposed headquarters. 

Robin Husbands, Executive Director of Old Palm Harbor Main Street, spoke at the last Local Planning Agency meeting. 

“If Geographic Solutions leaves … we will be left with vacant buildings and undeveloped lots, and we will have a mass exodus of 150 people leaving,” she said. “We have a business that is thriving, and I do not want to see them leave the district because that would be disastrous for us.” 

The Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce has also shown its support for the new building. In September, the chamber's board of directors voted in support of Geographic Solutions' request, sending out the following statement in a news release:

Geographic Solutions is a valuable employer in Palm Harbor and Pinellas County with over 100 employees that bring a hugely positive economic impact to the downtown and outlying areas.  Service stations, restaurants, barbers, hair salons, banks, physicians, retail shops and other worthwhile enterprises enjoy the benefits of Mr. Toomey’s employees’ frequent and daily visits.

It would be extremely unfortunate to our community and Pinellas County as a whole for this valuable resource to be exploring alternatives outside of Palm Harbor. We need to be doing more for businesses like Geographic Solutions and continue to make Palm Harbor and Pinellas County an attractive place to live and work.

Respectfully,

Mona Lisa Johnson, Chairman of the Board

Connie Davis, President CEO

The Board of Directors of the Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce

Geographic Solutions owner Paul Toomey is a longtime Palm Harbor resident. He told Palm Harbor Patch, "We love Palm Harbor and we want to stay. …. We have tremendous loyalty to the community, and we've shown it in a hundred ways. Most people want us to stay."

Toomey says he sees it as a simple black and white issue.

"We have the ability to build in Palm Harbor, and if not, we go somewhere else," he said. "The issue is about jobs: Do we stay here and keep jobs in Palm Harbor? It's in the hands of the county commission."

The Local Planning Agency public hearing on the Master Plan Amendment for Transfer of Development Rights is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Board of County Commissioner's Assembly Room, fifth floor, 315 Court St., Clearwater. The LPA will pass along its recommendation to the Pinellas County Commission, which will make the final decision on the matter.