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County Commission Delays Hearing On Soccer Stadium

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2008

TAMPA - About 40 people, many retirees, rode a school bus downtown today to oppose a professional soccer stadium planned for a site near their homes in Town 'N Country.

They could have skipped the trip and saved the $400 they paid to rent the bus.

The Hillsborough County Commission granted a request by the stadium developers to postpone today's scheduled rezoning hearing until Jan. 13.

The developers wanted to consolidate zoning on several parcels for the stadium and 20,000 square feet of retail space. The stadium will be home to a professional soccer team called the Rowdies.

Vincent Marchetti, attorney for the developers, filed a motion Friday asking for the delay. County rules say requests to postpone rezoning hearings must be made two weeks in advance.

But a loophole in the rule says a request made after the deadline can be approved by commissioners at the land-use meeting.

Commissioner Rose Ferlita, though voting for the continuance, asked a member of the county's planning staff to speed up work to tighten the notice requirements for postponements.

"It would make it a lot easier for our citizens," Ferlita said.

Marchetti was not available for comment.

Pamela Jo Hatley, an attorney hired by the Twelve Oaks Civic Association to oppose the project, said she thought Marchetti's request for a continuance was reasonable. She said the developers need time to study concerns about parking raised by a land-use hearing officer in October.

"So with those conditions recommended by [county] staff and the hearing officer, they've got some work to do," Hatley said.

Rosemarie Middleton, president of the Twelve Oaks association, said commissioners saw how many had come to oppose the stadium when they all rose to leave.

"We'll be back," she said.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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