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Long-Term Plans For Port 'Not Finished'

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By TED JACKOVICS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2007

Updated: 12/11/2007 04:11 pm

TAMPA - Tenants at the Port of Tampa eager for a look at details of the port's new long-term plans must wait at least until Christmas, when the lead consultant on the planning process said he will complete a draft proposal and share it with the port director.

The lack of detailed information raised a measure of concern Monday, following a public workshop to set the stage for plans that have been two years in the making.

"We are still reserving opinion until we get the facts," said Arthur Savage, president of the Port of Tampa Maritime Industries Association, a group representing port tenants.

Consultant Jim Brennan, a partner in the Massachusetts firm of Norbridge Inc., said neither port Director Richard Wainio nor port authority commissioners have seen the plans.

"That's because it is not finished," he said after the meeting attended by about 35 port officials and tenants and four of the seven port commissioners.

The vision underlying the new strategic plan could encourage land-use changes over the next 20 years and possibly encourage some tenants to move their facilities in the face of Tampa's expected growth.

A shorter-term master plan will recommend projects that could cost the port authority more than $1 billion and private enterprise millions of dollars more to improve and expand port infrastructure.

Conspicuously absent from Monday's 2 hour and 10 minute presentation, similar to a workshop Nov. 29, was discussion of the port's shipyard industry, which has faced pressure from commercial development.

However, Brennan said the land-use plan will reflect a vision, requiring feedback from myriad interests before the port authority considers adopting it in part or in whole.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at tjackovics@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7817.

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