Is a RELOCATION to Tampa’s MacDill AFB in your future?

You will want to read this news article pertaining to some of the largest tracks of land looking to be rezoned in the flight path.  

This is good information for home buyers looking to relocate to Tampa who want to be in a reasonable driving distance to Mac Dill AFB. 

Which neighborhoods are best for you?

Give us a call or email us with any Tampa Bay Real Estate questions 813 784 7744.

 

MacDill fights zoning change

By Elisabeth Parker, Times Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, March 18, 2009

INTERBAY — The neighborhood surrounding MacDill Air Force Base might be described a number of ways.

People who live there call it home.

Others call it a buffer for military operations.

And those who own property in the area, including two with parcels of 25 and 26 acres, say it’s an area in transition.

The two landowners have asked the city of Tampa to rezone their properties from light industrial to mixed use, which would pave the way for more homes to be built.

City Council members voted last August to amend the Future Land Use Map to allow the change.

But officials at the base and at the Florida Department of Community Affairs, the state’s land planning agency, want to limit density and have filed an objection. They say more neighbors limit the hours of operation for military airports and increase the potential for accidents.

They also expect more complaints if more residents come. Air traffic noise is easier to tolerate during day hours in an office or warehouse than at night, while sleeping.

Now, the case is headed in May to the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings for a ruling.

Military bases across the nation are grappling with land-use conflicts in surrounding areas as more houses are built and people move closer.

Florida enacted a law in 2005 intended to keep land development and base plans in harmony.

The law says land use around bases must be “compatible with base operations.” It lets base commanders voice their opinion about safety and noise standards when potential zoning changes come up near their bases.

James Miller, spokesman for the Department of Community Affairs, says the city’s plan violates that law and increases the people who would live in a potentially dangerous area, which the military calls an “accident potential zone.” The zone includes about 866 acres extending from the base runway almost to the east end of Gandy Boulevard.

Also, people living directly outside the zone may be inconvenienced by aircraft noise.

Miller wants the city to notify current, as well as future, residents within a mile or so of the base that military aircraft will fly overhead.

Stephen Diaco owns property a half mile north of the base along Hillsborough Bay.

In a letter last year, he asked a MacDill official to consider building an east-west runway “to protect residential areas from an accident and mitigate the noise issues.”

In response, Col. Timothy Smith reminded him that the base was there first, having been dedicated in 1941. “We … pride ourselves on being a good neighbor,” Smith wrote. “I am not aware of any Department of Defense initiatives to add an additional east-west runway.”

The two property owners requesting the latest zoning change are Florida Rock and Tank Lines Inc. and Spray Miser International.

“They’re the two biggest vacant tracts of land down there,” said their attorney, Mark Bentley. His clients’ zoning requests should be granted because most land in the area has already been rezoned to mixed use, he said.

If the zoning is changed, owners plan to sell, although Bentley said he couldn’t speculate on who the buyers might be. One property south of Interbay Boulevard is home to an old processing company.

City attorney Chip Fletcher said the request to rezone is consistent with the land use map for the area. Tampa’s planning commission recommended that the City Council approve the request with conditions, leading to its vote last fall.

Because of the flight path, building heights would be limited and housing would be restricted from wetlands. However, buildings could be created directly under flight paths on both parcels.

With these exceptions, Fletcher said the zoning change complies with the law and is compatible with the trend in the area near the base.

“We can’t figure out what their issues are,” he said of base officials and the state’s community affairs department.

Miller, on the other hand, said he’s surprised by the city’s request. “What will be accomplished by adding people?”

Relocating? Consider three things when moving to Tampa Bay

Determining the most desirable neighborhoods means considering three things……….
Convenience, Location and PriceConvenience: I recently began working with a couple who has rented for the past five years in the Feather Sound area of St. Petersburg, but have realized that there is no better time to buy a condominium in the Tampa/St. Pete area than now. They are getting ready to retire which means the maintenance of a home is something they want to avoid. Isn’t that what retirement is all about?

Location: These neighborhoods are located in a very convenient locations. They provide easy access to Tampa, St. Pete and major highways. Shopping and restaurants are all within a couple miles. For people who work at Raymond James Headquarters in St. Pete, or Franklin Templeton, the Feather Sound Community is an ideal location! Feather Sound is also 10 minutes to Tampa Int’l Airport and the Westshore Plaza Shopping mall.

Price: Although there are many great deals for all types of buyers today; buyer’s who have the best chance of getting a great deal are able to pay cash and close quickly. My clients are in the driver’s seat because they can do both! In this tight seller’s market with almost a 2 year supply of housing inventory on the market Cash IS King! Every property on the market is negotiable; so ask for comparable properties sold with in the past year. Offer less and negotiate, negotiate….you are in the driver’s seat.

As an experienced realtor who believes in showing properties matched to the buyers’ needs, I was able to show them several properties in the Audubon Condominiums in Feather Sound and have located several more condos for them to preview as well in Clearwater.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa Bay

If you are relocating to the Tampa, St. Pete or Clearwater areas and need advice on the best places to live, give me a call.

See also: Feather Sound Community-Clearwater, FL

Thinking about buying or selling real estate in the Tampa Bay Area? Have a Real Estate question?
Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese and Michelle Jordan
Realtors.

Search MLS
Prudential Tropical Realty

What is most important to you? Pick one of the three and narrow your search from there.

What makes a neighborhood desirable? Tampa, Fl

Picture a walkable neighborhood. You lose weight each time you walk to the grocery store. You stumble home from last call without waiting for a cab. You spend less money on your car—or you don’t own a car. When you shop, you support your local economy. You talk to your neighbors.

What is Walk Score? We help people find houses and apartments in walkable neighborhoods. Walk Score shows you a map of what’s nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Living in a walkable neighborhood is good for the environment and good for your health.

What makes a neighborhood walkable?
Walkable communities tend to have the following characteristics:

A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a discernible center, whether it’s a shopping district, a main street, or a public space.

Density: The neighborhood is dense enough for local businesses to flourish and for public transportation to be cost effective.

Mixed income, mixed use: Housing is provided for everyone who works in the neighborhood: young and old, singles and families, rich and poor. Businesses and residences are located near each other.

Parks and public space: There are plenty of public places to gather and play.

Accessibility: The neighborhood is accessible to everyone and has wheelchair access, plenty of benches with shade, sidewalks on all streets, etc.

Well connected, speed controlled streets: Streets form a connected grid that improves traffic by providing many routes to any destination. Streets are narrow to control speed, and shaded by trees to protect pedestrians.

Pedestrian-centric design: Buildings are placed close to the street to cater to foot traffic, with parking lots relegated to the back.

Close schools and workplaces: Schools and workplaces are close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.

You can go to the Walk Score site directly to find out information about any neighborhood. Just type in an address and go.

Hyde Park Village-Tampa, Fl

Some of our neighborhoods in Tampa that are popular and have these characteristics are:

• Hyde Park Historic District–Hyde Park Village, offers quaint shopping and dinning
• Palma Ceia
• Davis Islands
• Harbour Island
• Channelside District
• Downtown Tampa
• Bayshore
• Ballast Point
• Seminole Heights Historic District
• Downtown Tampa

To receive a list of homes, condos or townhomes for sale in these popular neighborhoods you may search MLS listings here,

or send us an email with your request.

Feel free to email or call us 813-784-7744
Rae Catanese and Michelle Jordan

Realtors.

Resources for Relocating to the Tampa Bay Area-Tampa, Florida

Here’s a list of resources we’ve put together to help you in your move to the Tampa Bay Area. 

Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau

 Tampa Chamber of Commerce Relocation and Information Guide

Tampa Tribune”Tampa Bay Area Relocation Guide”

Tampa Tribune tourist oriented, “Florida Info”

Tampa Tribune”virtual tour of Tampa

Tampa Bay Home Search

 

 

 If you would like to speak with a Real Estate Agent regarding housing options for relocating to the Tampa Bay area, or need advice on the best neighborhoods, please contact us at 813-784-7744 or email