In Monday’s city commission meeting, there was discussion about a proposal to rezone the parcel at 1909 E. Alsobrook St. from R-1A Single-family Dwelling District to C-1 General Commercial District. The site is located on the southwest corner of East Alsobrook Street and South Park Road. The developer plans to build a convenience store with gas pumps and a climate-controlled self-storage facility. Plant City residents had much to say about this.
The discussion of the proposal began approximately one hour and 41 seconds into the commission meeting, which was live-streamed Monday and it, along with full public comment, is viewable online at youtube.com/watch?v=XaEW5IUOdrA.
“We don’t know what improvements are going to be there, but it seems to me that a development of this size with this magnitude and this traffic — and we’re only being presented a concept — we are aware that there are concerns regarding the amount of traffic and trucks, and what the full extent and how intense the utilization of the property is going to be. It seems as thought all the concerns that were raised are best handled through a planned development where you, the commission, decide what can and cannot be done on that property within the zoning and then to approve everything.” — Bruce Sperry
“I do not believe that it should be a C-1… I do know that from my window, I already see the traffic backed up there on East Alsobrook every day because of the buses to and from school. That’s a busy road right now that’s getting heavy traffic for some reason. The people are having quite a difficult time getting in and out of their driveways there on East Alsobrook and on Maryland Avenue. I not only work in this area — I live here. This is my community… and for some reason, we’re adding traffic to an already problematic light. And for some reason, there’s an accident there monthly at the intersection. I’ve had an accident there myself. We don’t know what the problem is, but there’s a problem there.” — Pat Dexter
“Once the C-1 is there, you can do anything within that. You can change proposed plans. My concern is for the housing units that we manage and that we have been managing in the City of Plant City… I agree with Mr. Sperry that if we’re going to do anything, it should be in the planned unit development. And I’m concerned for the safety of our schoolchildren, light pollution, noise and no one mentioned crime.” — Marlene Moore