Commission to decide future of Fruitville Road Park

Residents who have fought for years against the sale of Fruitville Road Park may score a victory today, as the City Commission considers amending its comprehensive plan to allow for the development of the parkland.

The city agreed to sell 11 acres of land — slated to become a retail shopping center — to Benderson Development Co. in 2012 for $1.45 million, with the park making up 7.7 acres of that package. Over the past year, however, a number of obstacles to finalizing that agreement have arisen.

As part of the purchase and sale agreement with Benderson, the city was required to update its Future Land Use Map to allow for commercial development on the land, located at the northeast corner of Fruitville Road and Beneva Road. In May, residents near the park spoke against the sale at a Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board meeting. In December, the Planning Board voted 4-0 to recommend against processing the comprehensive plan amendment.

Staff is also recommending against the changes, stating that the amendment would not benefit the public. At today’s meeting, the City Commission will consider submitting that amendment for state review, a move that would require the support of at least 4 City Commissioners.

In a report, city staff criticizes the burden the proposed commercial project would put onto the roadway at Beneva and Fruitville. The report also points out that residents in the area use the park’s multi-use recreational trail — and residents have tried to emphasize how important the park is to their neighborhoods.

“We don’t need another shopping center,” Glen Oaks Manor resident Edith Kaplan said at the May parks board meeting. “We need more parks and recreation.”

The full agenda for today’s commission meeting can be found on the city website.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].