Rezoning for a proposed 500,000 sq.-ft. fertilizer storage warehouse building project near TECO at Mosaic Big Bend Phosphate Terminal Facility in Apollo Beach has been scheduled to go before the Hillsborough County Zoning Hearing Master at the end of this month.
According to Mosaic spokesperson Russell Schweiss, the new facility will save the company shipping and storage costs over the long run.“This new facility will help us lower the cost of distribution, thanks to the location as well as the additional automated conveyer technology system,” Schweiss said. While the start of the construction is planned for the summer of 2010, Schweiss was not able to comment on the cost. He did, however, mention that although the facility will only employ about 10 people, the construction project will provide jobs and boost the local economy.
Of course, as it is true with any new project, Mosaic also has a number of hurdles to get through before it can begin the construction of the facility located on U.S. 41, just north of the Tampa Electric Co.’s Big Bend Power Station. One of these hurdles is to address the concerns of the community, which Mosaic is happy to remedy hosting of a community meeting explaining its project. Schweiss explained that residents are mainly worried about noise and the increase in daily truck traffic, which will not be a notable increase in the community and should create very little noise.“Residents are encouraged to attend so all of the concerns can be addressed by company representatives present,” he said. The public meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Apollo Beach Recreation Center, located at 664 Golf-to-Sea Blvd.
Mosaic’s new $20 million, 110,000 sq.-ft. headquarters building under construction near FishHawk Ranch in Lithia is on schedule as well providing jobs to about 400 existing employees with room for expansion.
For more information about the new Mosaic warehouse expansion please visit www.mosaicco.com, or visit www.apollobeachchamber.com, or call the chamber at 645-1366.
