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Transit Task Force Proposes Guidelines For Developers

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

TAMPA - Developers will be urged, but not required, to think mass transit when proposing projects in Hillsborough County.

The county's transportation task force today approved a set of guiding principles urging developers to make room for trains and buses when proposing shopping centers, mixed residential-commercial developments or any number of projects.

The principles require approval from county commissioners, likely in the coming spring or summer, before being inserted into the county's planning and zoning regulations. Even then, they will only be guidelines.

"We're not mandating anything on developers," said task force chairman and County Commissioner Ken Hagan after the meeting. "We're encouraging the private sector, when proposing future development, to take into consideration and to plan for transit."

Hagan said he went to Denver and Dallas where development has been designed to take advantage of those cities' train stations.

"These weren't skyscrapers. These were two- and three-story developments with mixed residential and commercial," he said. "These were beautiful developments."

The task force is studying ways to improve transportation in Hillsborough. Hagan said he expects to provide a package of recommendations to county commissioners in the spring or summer.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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