Gates High School Zoning Hearing - Who, What, Where

Here is some information about whom you can contact to share your opinion, what to say, and where to go regarding the zoning hearing on the Gates High School (aka Learning Gate Community School - high school) - SU 11-0731.

Who to contact:


To let Zoning be aware of your opinion on the hearing you can use the contact form, or email Isabelle A. Albert (alberti@hillsboroughcounty.org) - Senior Planner - Planning and Zoning Services Division -813.276.8396.  I recommend cc'ing David Croft (dcroft@hillsboroughcounty.org)  Make sure you  include SU 11-0731 in all emails / correspondence.

Here is some information when the hearing is finally held:

Date/Time: March 19, 2012 6:00PM


What to say:


Prepare in advance what you want to say. Write it down and keep it under 3 minutes. Practice it a few times. Research. The more you know in advance what the issues are the better you can address them. I've tried to put the information out in my prior posts. If there is something you want to know email me and I will see about locating the information,

It might help to watch a hearing on Hillsborough TV in advance. Brighthouse Networks Channel 622  or Verizon Fios Channel 22 or via Live Webcast.  Here is the Programmming Schedule.  Or you could watch a video on demand.  There are no specific zoning hearings on the on demand service, but any of the Land Use Hearings could substitute.  By watching a hearing you will get a general idea on how things flow, and what the room looks like and what other citizens are like presenting.

When presenting I recommend facts and stories and not simply emotion.  It's not good enough that you support or oppose event, but why.  When you watch a hearing on TV put yourself in place of those on the board and see which presenters might sway you.  You don't have to be a hypnotic preacher to make a good case. You are not expected to be a professional presenter.  Simply tell the board members how this will affect you.

There will be other cases heard before the hearing board so you will wait.

Where to go:


It's more fun to carpool and go in groups. Ggive you self time to park and walk to the building.

The zoning hearings are held at the Hillsborough County Center Building at 601 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL in the County board room on the 2nd floor.  From I-275 take the Jefferson Street exit.  Note that there are many one way streets so if you are unfamiliar with Downtown Tampa, study the map carefully.  There are two entrances to the building.

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

Parking

There is metered parking along the streets, as well as hourly parking in the Pierce Street garage and private parking lots in the area. The metered spots are using new solar-powered pay stations that will make visiting downtown much easier. The pay stations accept nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollar coins as well as Visa and MasterCard credit or debit cards. The entrance to the Pierce Street garage is on Jackson Street; the exit is onto Pierce Street

Prior Posts:
http://wordfromlutz.blogspot.com/2012/02/gates-high-school-next-hearing-march-19.html

http://wordfromlutz.blogspot.com/2012/02/gates-high-school-response-by-executive.html

http://wordfromlutz.blogspot.com/2012/02/learning-gate-new-high-school-update.html

http://wordfromlutz.blogspot.com/2011/12/learning-gate-community-school.html

Winter in Lutz

This is why we live in Lutz. It may be 45 degrees in New Jersey but we have have blooming azaleas and bumblebees.

Gates High School - Next Hearing March 19, 2012

The next hearing for the Gates High School will be on March 19, 2012.

Here is how you can research the source documents for the school yourself.

Go to  the PGM Store http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/pgm/resources/onlineservices/pgmstore/

Click on the link Enter Store http://pgm.hillsboroughcounty.org:8080/optix-web-71/Logon.jsp

A PGM Optix log On screen will appear.

Log on using:
Userid: public
Password: public

The Optix Screen list comes up.

Click on the Query button after  Document Repository 

Enter 11-0731 in the Tracking Number field

Click on open

Find the folder you want to look at and click on it. Application, Agency Comments, and Party of Records all have documents of interest.

John's Butcher Shop

You work or live  in Lutz and want a change from your usual lunch meal.   Or you've been to the Lutz Dog Park and you've worked up an appetite watching your dog run around.  


Where to do to get something to eat?  John's Butcher Shop - literally located next to the large dog area. Aside from serving up a good deal on meat with the $100 Family Pack, they also have food you can eat immediately. Sweet tea and soft drinks, burgers, hot dogs,corns dogs, quesadillas, tuna sandwiches, cubans, grilled chicken sandwiches, stuffed potato balls, devil crabs, chef salad and lots more including ice cream.  Although you can't eat in the dog park, the Veteran's Park has benches, or the Lutz Depot has a great covered place to sit and eat, or you can wander on down to the nature trail and eat at the picnic tables there.

Located at 102 1st Ave SW, Lutz Fl 33549 (Off US 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road)
Phone (813) 909-9746 
Hours Tues to Sat 9AM to 6PM

History of the business in the Lutz Community News.

Food to Go Items

Ready to Cook Items

cross posted in Lutz Dog Park News

Gates High School - Response by the Executive Director

(Prior posts on the subject Learning Gate new High School update, and  Learning Gate Community School Apparently Plans for High School at US 41 and Sunset)


I emailed Learning Gate / Gates High School asking sharing concerns about the traffic.  I received the following excerpted reply from Patti Girard - Executive Director:

"We have been working with the residents that are adjacent to the property and have been working out many issues.  Traffic being the main one. . . . . As it stands right now the primary entrance and exit of the school will be off of 41.  The traffic studies that we have done shows a high volume of cars between the hours of 7:00 am and 8:15.  The road off of Sunset will be used by only the staff, deliveries, emergency vehicles and possibly 12th grade students who drive.   The total amount of students will be 1,000 but that growth will happen over 10 years. See attachment.(editors note 10 Year Growth Projection -  see below)    So the first year we are on the property the maximum number of students who might drive is 25 if we assume all 11th graders can and will drive..  (WE require our students to carpool).  The following year those 11th graders will be in 12th grade.again max. 25.  We have agreed to put in a right deceleration lane at Sunset and 41 as well as a left turn lane at  Sunset.   We are staggering starting and dismissal times in order to help with the traffic load.  The DOT has approved the following times.

12th grade-8:15-3:45
10th and 11th grade-8:30-4:00
8th and 9th grade-8:45-4:15
6th and 7th grade 9:00-4:30.

We have explored the option of fixing the intersection at Sunset and 41 but our hands are tied because of the lack of easements.  Only the county can come in and take what it needs in order to improve the intersection.

I have also attached a draft site plan (editors note Conceptual Site Plan - see below).  You will notice that our structures are small and spaced out to avoid impact of the environment.. . . . "

Attachments

10 Year Projection 6-12


Conceptual Site Plan 1-20-12

Learning Gate New High School update

As noted in the Lutz Community news, the hearing for the Learning Gate High School (Gates High School) was postponed to 2/20/11 at 6PM at the County Center. So far  is apparently still on.

Interestingly the FDOT noted  on 2/3/12 that "Our office met with the Transportation and Land Development Review Section at the County Center planning offices yesterday afternoon. We had asked for a transportation analysis that supported the subject application to understand the transportation impacts that could possibly affect proposed access along US Highway 41. County transportation staff advised us that a transportation analysis had not been provided as of yesterday afternoon. Therefore, since a transportation analysis has not been provided we cannot support the prospect of additional access until such time as we receive and review a transportation analysis which identifies the type of access requested along US 41 and the impacts generated by the maximum entitlement requested by the subject application."


Apparently there is a committee of neighboring affected neighbors.  They are come up with a document for the county on the issue.


FW_ Proposed Learning Gate GATES Middle and Hig...