Jeter Hits A Homer at City Hall

The Tampa Variance and Review Board voted unanimously to approve Derek Jeter’s request for a six foot fence at his new home on Bahama Circle.

The board heard testimony for more than an hour from city officials, attorneys, neighbors and the civic association.

Jeter’s Tampa attorney Jonathan Koch,  testified the fence was needed to ensure Jeter’s safety and cover large electrical boxes serving the house. “Mr. Jeter doesn’t live there at the moment, he only owns a construction site, and already there are traffic problems and gawkers in the neighborhood.”

That theme was continued throughout the night as most neighbors agreed a larger six foot fence was appropriate to protect Jeter and the neighborhood. David Lowry lives across the street from the Jeter mansion and spoke in favor of the variance. He warned neighbors are already feeling the effects of traffic driving by the house. “The gawkers are already out of control, a fence will add value to the neighborhood and to the Jeter property, I’m sure it will be first class.”

One neighbor spoke against not only the variance, but the fact that the house “looms” over the neighborhood. Taylor Ward says she has security concerns too, but doesn’t think a higher fence would help. Ward spoke overall in opposition against the house and it’s impact on the street. “I am not among the people who think this is a good addition to our neighborhood , asthestically. It’s already a wall, we call it the great wall of Jeter. It is gigantic!”

Kris Kral, representing the Davis Islands Civic Association delivered the news that the organization had voted against the variance. The civic board voted last week to maintain the four foot front yard fence code, already in place.

There were two concerns the Variance Review Board had with the request, and those were echoed by city staff, a Grand Oak tree on the corner of the property had to be preserved, and the gates to the property must be set back 18 feet from the front property line.

Koch presented an interesting picture during his presentation, a transformer box at the Peter O’Knight airport, used to power the terminal building. He mentioned this was similar to the two electrical boxes needed to power the Jeter estate when completed.