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Dunedin Townhouse Project Approved

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: December 15, 2007

DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - Architectural guidelines: Are they "suggestions" builders can't refuse?

At the Nov. 1 City Commission meeting, Louis Leousis, developer of Alinda Villas, was sent back to the drawing board to provide renderings more in line with the city's architectural guidelines. At the time, commissioners were told the developer had not had enough time to incorporate the guidelines into his new site plan design.

Leousis, who plans to construct two buildings with a total of 13 townhouses at 1341 Bayshore Blvd., at the corner of Wilson Street, let an earlier site plan approval on the property lapse and had to begin the planning process again.

This time he ran afoul of the city's architectural guidelines, which went into effect after he won the initial, now lapsed, site approval.

During last week's City Commission meeting, Commissioners Julie Ward Bujalski and Deborah Kynes suggested additions they would like to see incorporated into the building design.

Mayor Bob Hackworth said the commission can accept or reject a site plan based on compatibility and architectural guidelines but should not attempt to redesign a project.

Bujalski said she only wanted to know if the developer can make the back of the building, which abuts the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, look like the structure's more ornate front.

Kynes said she would like to see a 3-dimensional model of Alinda Villas so design features are more easily identifiable.

Leousis said he incorporated many amenities into his Mediterranean style villas, such as roof top terraces, mosaics, and ornate windows, so it does not look like a box.

Commissioner Dave Eggers said the developer listened to what commissioners said about architectural guidelines at the last meeting and the site plan submitted suits him just fine.

After all the discussion, commissioners voted 4-1 to grant preliminary site plan approval to Alinda Villas. Kynes cast the dissenting vote.

Leousis is being further hampered in his attempt to get the project off the ground by the cancellation of the Local Planning Agency meeting for December because of a lack of a quorum. He will now have to wait until the January meeting for LPA approval.

Finally, the City Commission will have to hear the case again, in late January, for final site plan approval.

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