Council Not Scheduled to Discuss Redevelopment Sept. 18

There are several items on the Sept. 18 Temple Terrace City Council meeting agenda, but none of them have anything to do with the downtown redevelopment project.

Although earlier this month Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti and the City Council discussed having a final vote on the residential aspect of the project at the Sept. 18 meeting, the city has not received a final revision from developer Vlass Temple Terrace.

He said he would provide Vlass’ final proposal by the end of last week.

“The Vlass group has not submitted any written revisions/proposals since the Sept. 1 special TTRA workshop, and no TTRA meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18,” wrote Michael Dunn, the city’s public information officer, in an email Thursday.

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At the Sept. 1 workshop, Smith said the council needs to make a final decision on the project, and Affronti agreed.

“We have to decide one way or another,” Affronti said. “We can’t keep going—it’s been almost a year now.”

Both sides have been arguing about the residential aspect of the project since March when . The plan called for several changes to the master development agreement (MDA), a city document that outlines what the developer can and can’t do.

The major contention has revolved around the first floor of the apartment buildings. The council and many Temple Terrace residents have said they’d like to see retail on the first floor. The Vlass group has said obtaining financing for such construction isn’t possible in today’s market.

Both sides have negotiated, making concessions and revisions.

Although council members aren’t scheduled to discuss the redevelopment project Sept. 18, they are expected to take public comment and final votes on the . This is the last opportunity residents will have to speak on each issue.

Also during the meeting, Affronti and the council are expected to:

• hear a presentation on a SWAT rescue vehicle and decide whether to buy one for $249,883;
• consider a change order to the 56th Street improvements project in the amount of $95,933.36;
• hear public comment and take a final vote on an update to the Comprehensive Plan; and
• proclaim National Plug-In Day.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at . It will be  live on Verizon Channel 39 and Bright House Channel 950 and rebroadcast on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m.

Affronti and the council are also scheduled to meet Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall for a work session regarding fire contract negotiations.

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