Hernando Today
P&Z OKs Tent Permit
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 17, 2008
SPRING HILL - The "Big Tent" is coming to the Timber Pines Plaza strip mall.
Planning and zoning commissioners Monday voted 4-1 to approve a "blanket" conditional use permit that allows a business owner to erect a covered tent in the parking lot of the strip mall that will serve as a multi-use retail venture.
It will operate no more than 76 days per year and, depending on the month, would sell such items as tools, fireworks, furniture, arts and crafts. It would also serve occasionally as a spot for carnival rides and food vendors.
That plaza, located on the northwest corner of U.S. 19 and Pine Forest Drive, is also home to the Coffee Workshop, a portable covered stand. The owner there also had to recently obtain a conditional use permit to operate.
P&Z Chairwoman Anna Liisa Covell said she is discouraged by the sudden increase in portable businesses that are being erected there and in other places throughout the county because it conflicts with permanent establishments that are forced to jump through more zoning hoops. Covell said she also has a problem with the lack of accessible bathroom facilities on-site and the possibility of fewer parking spaces for patrons visiting Chili's restaurant, the business outlet mall and other stores at the strip mall. The applicant plans to use the restrooms inside the outlet mall, when it is open. When the mall is closed, apparently there will be a person stationed at the mall to let people inside to use the bathroom, according to Planning Director Anthony Palmieri.
Palmieri said the owner of the tent establishment will lease space to various vendors and - as an extra monitoring safeguard - will have to get an individual permit from the development department for each function.
There have already been tent sales in that parking lot, so this is nothing new, Palmieri said. The size of the tent will vary depending on the particular use.
Palmieri said the board also negotiated the number of days for events down from 162 to 76.
Unless someone complains, the P&Z decision stands and would not go before county commissioners for approval.
Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)
* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
* Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
* See Member Agreement for details