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Planning Board Delays On Changes

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By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

TAMPA - The city-county Planning Commission will have until at least January to analyze 13 land-use amendments that recently were proposed, county commissioners decided Tuesday.

Planning Commission Executive Director Robert Hunter told commissioners that his agency wouldn't be able to properly evaluate the changes unless it was granted more time. In order to meet a state deadline, the amendments were supposed to be reviewed by planners in time for a public hearing next month.

The spate of proposed amendments came as a surprise, Hunter said.

He surmised that developers - who typically petition for the changes - were trying to get on the books before next year's vote on Hometown Democracy, or so they could remain under current planning regulations, and not new guidelines that will be approved next year

The Hometown Democracy initiative would require any changes to the county's long-term growth plan to be approved by voters.

Hunter said the 13 amendments ranged from minor wording changes to sweeping proposals that would expand the county's 'urban service boundary.' An expansion could force Hillsborough County to provide water and sewer services into undeveloped areas.

Developers say there are few large tracts of developable land within the current boundary; opponents argue that moving the boundary would encourage more sprawl.

Hunter said he was pleased with commissioners' decision to give his agency more time to evaluate the proposed amendments. The board ultimately will decide whether those changes become part of the county's growth plan.

The move will delay state approval of changes to its long-range plan. That approval was expected to come early next year; it will now come as late as August.

Commissioner Rose Ferlita opposed the delay, saying the county should not postpone sending its amended comprehensive plan, which is used as the basis for zoning and land-use decisions. Hillsborough already has been granted one extension to get its plan sent to a state oversight agency.

Reporter Anthony McCartney can be reached at amccartney@tampatrib

.com or (813) 259-7616.

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