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Port To Discuss Future Land-Use Plan

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By TED JACKOVICS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 29, 2007

TAMPA - The Port of Tampa will begin discussing a 20-year plan this morning that could cost nearly $1 billion, including private investment, to modernize and expand one of the area's primary engines for economic growth.

The port's proposed land-use vision for 2027, detailed in a partial report released late Wednesday, shows a swath of land designated for commercial development from north of Channelside to east of Ybor Channel and south near Grant Street.

"It is a vision. We the port may never get there," said the report, which was developed over two years by a team of nine consultants hired by the port.

The strategic plan, to be presented at the port's 9:30 a.m. meeting today, outlines the long-term direction of the port over a five- to 20-year period. The master plan, which also will be discussed at this morning's public meeting, focuses on infrastructure needs for the next five to 10 years. The presentation will be at the port authority headquarters, 1101 Channelside Drive.

The overview of the strategic plan will include five issues:

•Providing sufficient land to meet growing demands for industrial property.

•Navigational requirements to sustain maritime business.

•Meeting the regional economy's energy requirements.

•Addressing transportation issues to support growth.

•Sustaining financial performance to reinvest in the port and its infrastructure.

Those factors would include enhancing the port's leasing strategies, determining potential landfill and property acquisitions, and studying the feasibility of a 45-foot channel deepening project, according to a PowerPoint summary presentation released by the port Wednesday.

The 20-year land-use vision suggests commercial, industrial, cruise and various bulk facilities at the Channelside-Port Ybor areas. Other bulk operations, as well as petroleum and container operations, are designated for other areas of the port.

Key market opportunities include operations for container cargo, energy, aggregates, refrigerated cargoes, cruise passengers, and prospects of trade and travel with Cuba, the report said.

Tampa's port includes 2,500 acres of land controlled by the Tampa Port Authority and another 2,500 acres controlled by private interests, including the vast petroleum facilities that supply fuel throughout Tampa Bay and into the Orlando area.

Today's presentation identifies five challenges for the port authority and another three challenges for the port.

The port must contend with an increasing urbanization of the waterfront, an ongoing, long-term decline in fertilizer trade, and future size and vessel draft requirements for international tanker fleets, the presentation states.

The port authority also must contend with Sunshine Skyway bridge size limitations on new cruise ships; navigational issues; land acquisition and development issues; accommodating growth in container, general cargo, dry bulk and petroleum businesses; and competition from other ports.

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

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