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Hillsborough Needs To Sharpen Plans, Commissioners Say

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough County needs to quit talking about attracting high-paying jobs and start getting specific about what it will take to become an economic powerhouse, county commissioners said today.

At their annual goal-setting meeting, several commissioners expressed frustration with vague notions such as visions and strategic goals that never move the county off dead center.

Commissioner Jim Norman, the longest-serving board member, said the county needs to get serious about buying land that can be made ready for industries. The county has also procrastinated on modifying the county's urban service boundary to allow water and sewer lines to be extended east along the Interstate 4 corridor.

"We have conflicts throughout comprehensive plans," Norman said. "That's why Polk County, that's why Lakeland have jumped way ahead of us."

Other commissioners argued that strategic planning is important, but that the plans ought to be sharpened with specific goals and timelines.

"From what I see, it's not really a plan," said Commissioner Kevin White. "In any plan, you've got to prioritize and find out what's actionable. Some of these goals we ought to be able to achieve sooner rather than later."

Commissioner Mark Sharpe said a strategic plan with specifics is important to assure residents who worry about hidden agendas, such as sprawling development. For instance, residents who live in residential areas along the I-4 corridor worry that if the urban service boundary is moved outward, their rural lifestyle will be smothered by intense development. By letting people know that an industrial corridor will be defined and development will be limited to the corridor, the commission will get neighborhood buy-in, he said.

Commissioner Rose Ferlita agreed, saying residents should be brought into the planning process early and consulted along the way.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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