BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
On Tuesday evening in City Council Chambers, a public hearing was held to discuss the process to consider the inclusion of the V. M. Ybor Neighborhood into the Ybor City Local Historic District. The area being considered is the community north of I-4, starting at Columbus Drive and stretching north to 21st Avenue.
V. M. Ybor Neighborhood Association and Crime Watch President, Kim Headland, said the public hearing lasted a little over an hour, and about 35 people attended.
“Dennis Fernandez (City of Tampa Historic Preservation and Urban Design Manager) gave us a history of the area, and where the original boundaries were.
“The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to continue the process for the expansion. Those in attendance who took advantage of the public comment part of the hearing, all supported expanding the boundary. The final decision will be made by the City Council after it’s gone to the Planning Commission and cleared a few hurdles.”
City Councilman Frank Reddick said he didn’t attend the meeting, because he was notified of it only a couple of days earlier.
“I’d like to talk to Dennis Fernandez about sending out these notices in a timely manner to give people a more advanced notice. That’s why I didn’t attend.
“My position now is to encourage everyone in the area of the proposed change to take notice of what they will be required to do if this is approved. Residents also need to be more attentive to these meetings and make sure they are there.”
Councilman Reddick said when the issue comes before the Council, he will listen to his colleagues before he makes a final decision.
City of Tampa Growth Management and Development Services Director, Tom Snelling, said more than 500 notices were sent out to residents and businesses within the boundary, 30 days prior to the public hearing.
“Anyone outside those boundaries would not have gotten a notice. The notices are sent to property owners within 250 feet of the district, and there were signs posted throughout the area about the public hearing.”
According to Snelling, the boundary expansion request is for the area of Columbus Drive to the south; 21st Avenue to the north; 15th Street to the east, and Nebraska Avenue to the west.
