EAST TAMPA - The city council sent a 31-unit town home project back to the drawing board so developers and city staff can search for a compromise on its design.

City planners said the town homes don't meet East Tampa design guidelines. Issues with trees, setbacks, a wall, a bus stop and garages are among the sticking points.

The council will review the project again March 27.

"We need some changes here," said Councilman Thomas Scott, who proposed continuing Thursday's public hearing.

Developers said they have made many changes and would continue working with city staff.

"We have simply been as cooperative as we can be," said A.G. Spicola, an attorney for Poinsetta Development and College Hill Church of God in Christ.

He ticked off a list: entry and exit redesigned, setbacks increased, a wall moved and meetings with parks and recreation staff about trees.

The church and Poinsetta propose the town homes on about 2 acres near the southwest corner of East Osborne Avenue and North 22nd Street. The entrance would be on Osborne.

The two-story, prefabricated town homes would be about 1,300 square feet and sell for about $165,000. About half of them would have attached garages.

The project will cost about $5.5 million, Spicola said.

College Hill's pastor, Charles Davis, said the initial idea was for 12 single-family homes, then nine. But to make a profit, the homes would have to sell for $300,000 to $400,000, and the goal is affordable housing, he said.

Several people spoke in favor of building town homes.

"East Tampa is a very difficult place to attract private money," said former state Sen. James Hargrett Jr. "There's a lot of property vacant for 25 years, and here we have somebody willing to invest private money."

The East Tampa Business & Civic Association also supports the project.

"We want to send a good message to developers when they bring forth a good project," executive director Betty Wiggins said. "We are asking you to let this one be a winner."

Town home projects have not fared well in East Tampa.

In July, developers withdrew a 28-unit proposal at 2106 E. Osborne Ave. after neighbors objected to the council.

In April, the council narrowly rejected a 32-unit project on a dead-end stretch of nearby East Palifox Street.

Residents have said town homes would be out of character with single-family homes and worry the units would degrade into rentals.

The council has approved the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership's recommendation to contribute $150,000 in local property taxes for construction of an internal road for the Poinsetta project.

Joseph Perez lives on Osborne, west of the proposed complex and next to the planned entry.

"It's really too close for comfort," he said. "I also have concerns about traffic. It seems like they're trying to put a square peg into a round hole."

Councilman John Dingfelder asked developers to consider shifting some units five feet farther from Perez's home.

Councilwoman Gwen Miller said the town homes would add to parking problems at a nearby church.

"I just can't see that fitting," she said.

Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena found a proposed 47-foot-long wall on 22nd Street unattractive. She also asked about additional windows and whether some units could be turned to face 22nd.

"I would not agree to have units facing 22nd Street," Scott said, though he agreed more windows are needed.

HART wants a new bus stop, but Spicola said a protected tree is in the way.

The garages extend seven feet from some town homes and don't meet design guidelines, but city staff said the prefabricated town homes cannot be changed.

With so many unresolved issues, Saul-Sena asked city staff, "At what point do you figure it's not going to work?"

No one answered.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.