Sowing the seeds of development

The 20-acre property along Philips Highway near San Marco and just off Interstate 95 should be in bloom soon. Developer Steve Cissel of First Star Development Inc. said that within several weeks, the land should be among the largest flower gardens in town. Last year, instead of developing property that wasn’t going to sell or leaving the land bare, Cissel promoted the planting of a huge wildflower garden. “We are working on it now. It is being re-seeded as we speak,” he said. As for the development, Cissel said he’s in the “entitlement phase” that includes zoning, infrastructure and concurrency. “We are monitoring the economy and waiting for it to turn stronger before we start anything,” he said.