TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A public meeting is being held in Tampa on Thursday to go over the South Howard Flood Relief Project.

The city said the effort will improve drainage, but business owners have been raising concerns about the potential impacts of the project.

Areas like Parkland Estates are notorious for flooding during not only hurricanes, but even heavy thunderstorms.

The multi-million-dollar project is designed to bring relief to those residents who have become accustomed to the flooding.

“Everyone who lives in this whole area is impacted by regular summer storms, not just a hurricane scenario,” said Kelsey Unsworth, a homeowner.

Tampa leaders now hope to ease this type of flooding for neighborhoods like Parkland Estates, Palma Ceia Pines, and others, with their plan to bury a box culvert under South Howard Avenue to direct stormwater to the bay.

While neighbors said they welcome the relief, business owners in the area said the project will force them to close their doors.

“I mean, it’s going to put about 300 to 500 employees out of work because it’s no way it’s sustainable where guests can’t get to the business,” said Jason Brunetti, a restaurant owner.

The project involves digging up South Howard Avenue, which would be sectioned off three blocks at a time.

Business owners said that could force them to shut down for weeks, if not months.

“Shut, closed, done, that’s it. We do not have the ability to take commercial deliveries. We do not have the ability for waste disposal. We do not have the ability to have first responder access in case of emergencies,” said Jordan Warshavsky, a South Howard business owner.

The city said besides helping with flood relief, this project will bring a new streetscape on South Howard, including upgraded utilities.

The city of Tampa said no businesses will lose access due to this project, but there will be temporarily alternative access that will be provided.

No business will lose access, though there will temporarily be alternative access provided.

The plans are currently in the design phase, with major construction set to begin next Spring.

Thursday night’s meeting will be held at the Tampa Garden Club at 6:00 p.m. For more on their presentation, click here.