Developer's vision for Seffner community center moving forward

A years-long plan to build a gathering place for the community, is taking a step forward.

K.T. John has, for years, envisioned a cultural meeting place where people can meet, marry or otherwise socially and culturally engage.

It is something the area does not now have.

The 6-acre parcel on which John is seeking a major zoning modification is located on Williams Road at the southwest quadrant of U.S. 301. It is already zoned to allow for 80,000 square feet of business and professional offices, mini warehouses, wholesale distribution, office and warehouse and minor industrial uses.

John and his wife, Mary, will take their proposal to Hillsborough County's zoning hearing master July 27. The public can comment on the plan at that time.

The more neighborhood-oriented development would be in addition to what is already approved for the property, said Principal Planner Michael Horner, who represents the Johns.

"It's not your typical development request," Horner said. "We're trying to amend it to give my clients some more flexibility." The Johns are "trying to build a cultural meeting facility with some ceremonial aspects to it and public access," he said. "It is something the area really doesn't have at all."

The couple also wants the flexibility to build a theater or restaurant with catering, Horner said.

The community gathering place would go on the property's southern edge and act as a buffer between the more intense warehouse uses and nearby residents, Horner said.

That may or may not be enough to protect nearby residents, said Terry Flott, director of the Seffner Alliance, which oversees growth issues in the area.

"The devil's in the details and we don't have a lot of details right now," Flott said. "Until we really know more of the details, it's difficult to really take a position."

The Johns could not be reached for comment.