I understand Mr. Moos' concern with the additional traffic. The McMullen Booth and SR 590 are already busy and this addition will not help. There will not be 300 additional cars at any one time but there will be an impact. On the other hand it is good to see the home building going on the Safety Harbor. I love this town and the Firminich property is a prime spot. I just hope that the traffic concerns are fully addressed. The council has done well in working with the developer to limit the impact while making the project viable. Brian Dean

Does anyone remember going to the Thursday morning market at the corner of Main and Bayshore with a beautiful unimpeded view of the bay? We all know how that turned out with the huge monstrosity of a building there on that corner. The owners and elected officals didn't care about the citizens views then and evidently they still don't care. I believe we should have a referendum and allow the citizens to vote on this proposal. Can anyone say petition drive? If the majority of citizens in Safety Harbor want the new development, then so be it.

Brian, there will definitely be an impact on traffic, AND I don't understand why they cannot use 1 or 2 of the 3 aprons already on McMullen for this division entrance. However, I am concerned about your other statement also. You state " On the other hand it is good to see the home building going on the Safety Harbor." These are not homes that they are building. They are building 276, 1-3 bedroom apartments. Economists are making predictions that apartment "RENTERS" are slowing down. Why are we messing with transient renters and not building homes/condo's that would bring in stable, buy-in to Safety Harbor, home-owners? Research was just done on the closest complex...they have 108 units unrented at this time. What happens when the units don't rent? I am 2 blocks away AND live on SR 590. I think the whole plan should be scrubbed for one that everybody can live with.

What about the impact of the development on the ability for residents to leave Safety Harbor in the event of a hurricane?

As it stands now, MLK, Main Street, SR590 and Phillippe Parkway are the routes to the major arteries for evacuation. It is very likely that Phillippe Parkway / Bayshore Drive would be impassible due to flooding and likely that the Courtney Campbell Causeway would be closed for the same reason. (See Hurricane Elena in 1985.) So one less road for egress. Then, consider the northbound traffic on McMullen Booth Road in the event of evacuation because that is the direction you would be evacuating to. Now... McMullen Booth is stuffed because of evacuators coming from areas south of Safety Harbor. See the picture?

What about the impact upon eastbound SR590 traffic while people are trying to make a left hand turn into the new development at the end of the work day. Think about where the property is located and count the number of cars using that route to get home. Now think about the backup...

When does this idea get good for the other residents of Safety Harbor?

This is about property tax revenue and other sources of revenue from those residents. Not a problem if you have the space and resources to accept the extra residents.

What a way to start or end your commute to work on a normal day!

Just what does it take to get the point across that we don't want this project passed? It's all been said very eloquently by others here, and at the meetings, yet here we are still struggling to have our voices heard. The negatives far out weigh the positives but those that have the control seem not to care.

What is the bottom line? Why is the P and Z committee (less Karen) so anxious to have this pass? What is in it for them, and better yet, the City of Safety Harbor? Our neighborhood is all single family homes and home owners that care about our homes, city and community. How much care do you think renters will care?

I hope our city commissioners understand and see this is not the way the city should go.

Please come out to the city commissioners meeting on February 4th, and let your voices be heard, once again, whether yea or nay, it's important to let our city know how we feel.

I just want to set the record straight; I don't think that the council has anything but the best intentions for the community. I'm just guessing that they have a "we know what's best" attitude. But that is sheer speculation. What is not speculation is that they were absolutely wrong in raising money for street lights with an assessment rather than a tax. By doing so they have rewarded a group  of homeowners who voluntarily segregated  themselves from the rest of the city, and punished many who can not afford to live in a gated community with a de facto regressive tax. That being said, I do wonder how many on the council live in gated communities and if they recused themselves.