Volume 31 Issue 25 December 12, 2023 Scan the QR code to your left with your phone to access our website!
What’s Happening With Morris Bridge Rd?
Tampa City Council Denies Proposal To Allow New Development On The East Side Of Morris Bridge Rd. By GARY NAGER
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When Cory Lake Isles first began developing in the late 1980s, the only entrance to that now-built-out community was off Morris Bridge Rd. — at that time a little-known, little-used, two-lane arterial roadway that connected to Fletcher Ave. and I-75, four miles south of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit off I-75, which K-Bar Ranch turned north towards (and continuing past) the Pasco County line. It wasn’t until several years later, when Cory Lake Isles developer Gene Thomason was able to get a new entrance to his fledgling community off Cross Creek Blvd., that home sales in Cory Lake Isles really began in earnest. Until then, Morris Bridge Rd. was — pun intended — a bridge too far for most of the people who wanted to move into the suddenly burgeoning community that first began being called “New Tampa” in the mid-1990s. But, while it took about another decade for any significant new development along Morris Bridge Rd. to take hold, the huge K-Bar Ranch development started with the Easton Park subdivision just north of Pride Elementary. Today, K-Bar/Easton Park is the only community in the entire City of Tampa experiencing significant growth. Easton Park To that end, on Nov. 30, District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera and his fellow City Council members unanimously voted down a Rejected proposed comprehensive plan amendment for 28.36 total acres in two Comp Plan parcels (see map) on the east side of Morris Bridge Rd. (property that Amendment was annexed into the city in 2007), that would have allowed for up to Parcels 43 new single-family homes (and more) to be built across Morris Bridge Rd. from an undeveloped portion of the Easton Park subdivision. “My constituents who live in K-Bar Ranch, Easton Park and Cory Lake Isles all tell me that Tampa shouldn’t allow any additional development along Morris Bridge Road,” Viera told me after The blue outline above represents the city limits of the City of Tampa. The portion outlined in purple is the property that was proposed for new development that was unanimously voted down by the Tampa City Council on Nov. 30. the Nov. 30 public hearing. “They all say, ‘Morris Bridge is full,’ and I definitely agree with that.” See page 4 for more details. (Map Source: City of Tampa; modified by Neighborhood News)
EDITORIAL
A detached retina is no big deal? Our editor says “My Eye!” See page 3
HOLIDAY EVENTS IN NEW TAMPA! The City of Tampa hosts Christmas & Hanukkah celebrations here. See page 12
BUSINESS ACADEMY AT FREEDOM! The new tech-heavy attractor program seeks local students. See page 16
SO, WHO WON???!
We announce our readers’ 2023 Dining Favorites & our gift card winners! See pages 31-36
Check Out The Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen!
Quality Beer & Delicious Food Just South Of New Tampa!
See story on page 38! 1 For Advertising Information, Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 31, Issue 25 • December 12, 2023 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net
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