TAMPA - Republic Land Development of Fairfax, Va., envisions stores, restaurants, a soccer complex and even a monorail at the state fairgrounds, the company told the Florida State Fair Authority on Wednesday.

The company distanced itself from what had been the most controversial element of its plan, a possible Major League Baseball stadium. Company officials on Wednesday said a ballpark is not among their plans at the fairgrounds.

However, Republic Land appears to be keeping the door open. When pressed about a potential stadium after the Fair Authority meeting, Republic Land Development director Stacy Hornstein would only say the company will build infrastructure for whatever the community wants.

Republic Land has been eyeing the fairgrounds land for more than a year.

In December 2008, a senior executive for Republic Land flew to Tampa and toured the area looking for suitable sites for land projects. He immediately seized on the fairgrounds because of its potential as a gateway to the Tampa area, said Mark Cooney, a local commercial real estate broker on the project.

The developer has enlisted some of the area's biggest heavy hitters to assist in the project. Among the people or firms involved in the proposal are former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, a company affiliated with former Pinellas County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan, prominent land-use lawyer David Mechanik and the WilsonMiller engineering firm.

Its plans may change greatly, but for now Republic Land proposes to lease up to 162 acres of the fairgrounds' 350 acres. That would leave about 112 acres for the annual fair and additional land for other fair needs. On its leased property, Republic Land would build: a resort hotel; a shopping complex; a pedestrian mall; a golf-themed restaurant with driving range; a stadium for soccer or other sports events; and a monorail to transport people across the property.

In the past, the developer submitted documents to the Florida Department of Agriculture - which owns the fairgrounds - showing a potential 37,000-seat baseball stadium at the fairgrounds. That is especially significant because the Tampa Bay Rays have said they eventually will need a new stadium to replace the outdated Tropicana Field

However, the developer has since abandoned those plans.

On Wednesday, Greco told Fair Authority board members, "The baseball stadium has nothing to do with what we're presenting today."

Republic Land suggested the leasing revenue that the project would bring in could help turn around the Fair Authority's fortunes. The board has long-term plans to renovate and expand the fairgrounds' exhibit halls, but it hasn't had the money to carry out its dreams.

"You have a gold mine here if it's done correctly," Greco told the board.

Developers didn't estimate the cost of the project or a construction timeframe during the meeting.

The Fair Authority didn't vote on the developer's proposal, and it could be awhile before the board approves Republic Land's plan or kills it. Some on the board appeared to support it Wednesday, but others worried a shopping, restaurant and hotel project isn't the best fit for the fairgrounds.

Billy Bowman, a board member, said the Fair Authority's mission is agricultural.

"It says nothing about having a shopping center," Bowman said.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.