Tampa City Council Approves Controversial Bayshore Rezoning

TAMPA, FL – Following the Tampa City Council’s approval of a proposal to turn a historic Bayshore Boulevard home into a private social club with a five-unit bed and breakfast, neighbors say they plan to make sure the developer honors all of his promises.

On Thursday, the Tampa City Council voted 5-2 to permit the 1909 Stovall-Lee House at 4621 Bayshore Blvd. to be converted into a private social club and a five-unit bed and breakfast. The council simultaneously approved a special use permit for the social club to sell alcohol.

While the vote wasn’t completely unexpected, members of Keep Our Bayshore Beautiful left the council chambers disappointed.

The group composed of residents spent countless hours over the past six months working to defeat the proposal filed by Blake Casper, developer of the Oxford Exchange in Tampa.

They argued that turning the home into a social club that serves alcohol constitutes commercial intrusion into a residential neighborhood.

The residents pointed to the city’s own comprehensive land use plan evidence that a social club doesn’t belong in a single-family residential neighborhood.

“The plan allows limited neighborhood-serving commercial uses” such as gas stations and convenience stores, said Keep Our Bayshore Beautiful President Kirk Kumagai.

“A highly exclusive entertainment venue for the wealthy few doesn’t serve the neighborhood,” he said. “This project will forever damage the character of our residential neighborhood.”

Council members Mike Suarez and Charlie Miranda agreed.

Miranda said the very fact that the council heard more than 13 hours of testimony at the preliminary hearing on Aug. 30 and Thursday’s final hearing gave him pause (see related story).

“When you have this much debate, there’s something wrong somewhere,” he said. “There’s something that doesn’t jive.”

Suarez agreed.

“There is lots of conflicting evidence,” he said. “I voted against it the first time because of the issues with parking, the nature of the neighborhood and our rights as homeowners to enjoy our homes.”

Suarez said he didn’t hear any evidence at Thursday’s hearing to change his mind.

“I think it’s a great idea but I don’t think this particular project fits the nature of the neighborhood,” he said. “It is not the right spot for it in my mind.”

But Councilman Harry Cohen said he felt Casper had included substantial conditions to protect the neighborhood and mitigate concerns about traffic and noise.

Casper promised there will be no amplified sound on the property except for special events four times a year. And alcohol will not be served past 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

Additionally, patrons and employees of the social club won’t be allowed to park on neighborhood streets. If an event overflows the 80 parking spaces on the property, Casper said they will set up a remote parking area and shuttle patrons to the club.

“I personally believe there is substantial evidence to support this endeavor and substantial conditions to protect the neighborhood,” he said. “Bayshore is probably the crown jewel of the city of Tampa. I think this endeavor in no way will undermine that.”

Under city zoning guidelines, he said, Casper could conceivably have the rezoning proposal approved administratively.

The fact that Casper chose to rezone the property as a planned development, requiring public debate, detailed conditions and a vote of the council, shows Casper is committed to being a good neighbor, he said.

By the same token, Cohen said Casper didn’t have to file for an alcohol use permit. As is frequently done at the Tampa Woman’s Club at 2901 Bayshore Blvd., and the Tampa Garden Club at 2629 Bayshore Blvd., which rent out their facilities for private events, Cohen said Casper could legally bring in caterers to serve alcohol without getting a permit.

“If we deny it, he can sell alcohol anyway without restrictions,” Cohen said. “We have no ability to regulate a catering service. It’s better to set the guidelines here.”

Resident Louis Conti warned the council that it may be setting a precedent it will regret.

“Just wait until the next home comes up for sale on Bayshore,” he said.

That might be sooner rather than later, said residents.

Coachman Avenue resident Dennis LeVine, whose home abuts the Stovall-Lee House, said he and his wife planned to use the property for their retirement home. Now they’ll be putting it on the market.

Bayshore resident Zhenya Nichols said she and her husband plan to do the same.

Image via Tampa City Council and Realtor.com

Developer Blake Casper addresses the city council.

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