EAST TAMPA - Five years into a 30-year strategy to wipe out blight and boost economic development, the city nearly is ready to unveil a long-range business plan for East Tampa.

The city and the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership are asking people to review an executive summary of the plan and comment on the proposed strategy by Aug. 31. The plan addresses issues such as parks, roadways, housing, business development and transportation.

The comments will be used to tweak the plan before URS, the planning consultant, makes a formal presentation of the draft plan to the partnership's volunteer board, and then to Tampa City Council on Sept. 10.

A public workshop also is planned for Oct. 13 as the city, the partnership and URS move to complete a final plan.

The city created the East Tampa Redevelopment Area in 2003. Its borders are Hillsborough Avenue, Interstates 275 and 4, and the city limits. A portion of property taxes collected within the area must be re-invested in the community.

Written comments on the plan should be sent to East Tampa Redevelopment Manager Ed Johnson at Ed.Johnson@tampa gov.net with a copy to the city's Economic Development Director Mark Huey at Mark.Huey@tampa gov.net. They can also be sent to the East Tampa Redevelopment Office, 3808 N. 22nd St., Tampa FL 33610, inside the Tampa Police District III headquarters.

The city also is seeking applicants for three vacancies on the partnership's executive board. Applications should be filed at Tampa's city clerk's office at 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

The plan's executive summary and applications for the board vacancies can be found online at www.tampagov.net/CRA by clicking on the East Tampa icon.

Copies also may be picked up at the redevelopment office.

For information, call the East Tampa Redevelopment Office at (813) 242-3807.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.