OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hillsborough County Planning Commission Public Hearings on Tampa and County Plan Amendments and Redistricting - February 9, 2026

Hillsborough County Archive View PageMonday, February 9, 2026
BodyHillsborough County, Florida
SessionHillsborough County Archive View Page
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:57:27

Transcript — Verbatim
6:00

Welcome to a meeting of your planning commission, the official local planning agency for the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plan City, and unincorporated Hillsborough County.

6:12

The Planning Commission provides innovative leadership and long-range vision that contributes to the creation of a thriving, prosperous community that offers opportunity, fairness, and choice in how we live, move, learn, work, and play.

6:31

For more information about the Planning Commission, please call 813-272-5940.

6:41

Follow us on social media or visit our website at PlanHillsborough.org.

6:57

Welcome everybody to the February 9th, 2026 public hearing of the Planning Commission on City of Tampa Comprehensive Plan Amendments.

7:04

We thank you for attending this meeting.

7:05

Your comments and participation are encouraged.

7:08

For those attending in person and wishing to speak on any agenda item, please sign the register at the rear of the room and turn off any devices that may be a distraction.

7:15

To minimize feedback in the audio, all online participants in the meeting will be muted until it is their opportunity to speak.

7:21

Planning commissioners should unmute themselves to indicate that they would like to speak.

7:25

Please be sure to state your name at the beginning of your remarks for the benefit of the clerk.

7:40

If anyone has difficulties or is watching via HTV and would like to provide comments to be included in the record for the local government hearing, please email them to Planner at Plancom.org.

7:51

For those of those of you who are not familiar with our process, the meeting will be conducted as follows.

8:05

Following presentations, members of the public may address the planning commission when recognized by the chairman.

8:11

Public comment will be heard for three minutes per person.

8:29

Presentation should not include matters related to zoning applications and site plans that are not before the commission.

10:00

The request is to go from a residential 20 future land use category to community mixed use 35.

10:07

The subject site is located within the South Tampa Planning District as well as the Fair Oaks Manhattan neighborhood.

10:15

This is an aerial of the subject site and surrounding area with the subject site outlined in yellow.

10:20

The surrounding area is a mixture of uses, including light commercial office and retail uses to the south and west to the south and west, and single family to the north, east, and directly west, with scattered industrial and two family uses to the east.

10:37

These are our site photos starting looking directly at the subject site.

10:42

This is looking south of the subject site at the back entrance of Britain Plaza.

10:48

This is directly west, showing the single family uh the single family dwelling units to the west along West Euclid Avenue.

10:57

This is east of the subject site showing the intersection of West Euclid Avenue and South Himes Avenue.

11:04

This is looking south of the subject site along South Hims Avenue.

11:09

This is the adopted future land use map with the subject site outlined in black under the designated designated under the residential 20 future land use category.

11:19

To the north and east of the site is the residential 10 category.

11:23

South is community commercial 35 with residential 20, community mixed use 35 along West Euclid and South Himes Avenue, including adopted TACPA 2512 located to the west.

11:36

This is the proposed future land use map showing the site under the proposed community mixed use 35 designation.

11:45

Under the adopted future land use of residential 20, the site may be considered for four dwelling units.

11:50

The site could be considered for just over 6,000 square feet of neighborhood serving commercial uses.

11:56

Under the proposed community mixed use 35 designation, the site may be considered for eight residential development units and just over 25,000 square feet of commercial uses.

12:06

The proposed CMU 35 designation would result in the increase of residential density and commercial intensity, as well as introduce the possibility of CG uses to the subject site.

12:18

We would also like to note that our we would this application was sent to our partner agencies, and there were no objections to the request.

12:25

Policies that were considered taken into consideration when evaluating this amendment included in field development policies.

13:13

And this concludes my presentation.

13:14

I'm available for any questions.

13:16

Alright, we didn't have anyone sign up in the public comment for this one.

13:21

Oh, sorry, does the applicant have a presentation?

13:23

Jumping ahead.

13:51

I know there's a full room tonight.

13:53

Um I think Megan set this up perfectly.

13:55

This is right here at the corner of Euclid and Himes.

13:57

As you can see, this is directly adjacent to Britain Plaza, which is obviously a commercial use.

14:03

Over time, a lot of these uses along the southern portion of Euclid Avenue have transitioned from single-family residential to other commercial uses, including office and just general commercial.

14:15

This is the location of the property.

14:17

Again, this is at the corner of Himes and Euclid.

14:20

You can see it here from the corner.

14:23

Again, the overview of the request says this is just adjacent to Britain Plaza.

14:27

This is currently operating as a law office.

14:29

It's an individual who owns this property.

14:30

It's not a corporation.

14:32

We just see this future development trend again along this portion of Euclid and believe that this is a justified request.

14:39

So this presentation might look familiar to some of you.

14:42

We were here a little bit ago for this other corner piece adjacent to Britain Plaza at the corner of Sterling and Euclid.

14:50

That was found consistent by this board and eventually adopted by City Council.

14:54

Here is a justification for this request again.

14:56

It's at the corner of two collectors.

15:00

The commercial nature in which this portion of Euclid is trending.

15:02

We don't believe that single family residential is as compatible here as commercial would be today as it is exists today and continuing into the future.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Urban Planning████████████████████████24%
Environmental Protection██████████████████18%
Land Use Hearing█████████████13%
Redistricting████████8%
Zoning███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Procedural█████5%
Wildlife Conservation█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Hillsborough County Planning Commission Public Hearings on Tampa and County Plan Amendments and Redistricting - February 9, 2026

The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission convened on February 9, 2026, for a Regular Meeting at 3:00 PM and multiple public hearings starting at 5:30 PM. The meeting addressed City of Tampa Comprehensive Plan amendments, Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan amendments, and a City of Tampa redistricting public hearing. The sessions included staff presentations, public testimony, and commissioner deliberations. Key outcomes included approval of several plan amendments and a divided vote on a large-scale rural land use change.

City of Tampa Comprehensive Plan Amendments (Public Hearing)

  • TA/CPA 25-18: Request to change 0.28 acres from Residential-20 to Community Mixed Use-35 at the corner of West Euclid Avenue and South Himes Avenue. Staff found it consistent; public comment was closed with no speakers. The commission voted unanimously to find it consistent.
  • TA/CPA 25-19: Request to unify 11.25 acres at the Museum of Science and Innovation (MOSI) from Light Industrial and Public Semi-Public to Public Semi-Public. Staff found it consistent; no public comment. Unanimously approved.
  • TA/CPA 25-20: Request to change 62.8 acres at 11315 North 46th Street and associated parcels from Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, and Public Semi-Public to Urban Mixed Use-60 and Community Mixed Use-35. Staff found it inconsistent due to industrial preservation and compatibility, but the commission (led by Chair Joseph) found it consistent, citing multiple policies (1.1.7, 1.2.8, 2.1.1, 4.4.3, 6.1.3, 6.1.10, 6.1.13, 9.4.1, 9.6.2, 9.8.4, 1.1.18). The motion carried unanimously.

Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan Amendments (Public Hearing)

  • HC/CPA 25-26: Text amendment to rename the South Shore Area-wide Systems Plan to the South Hillsborough County Plan within the Livable Communities Element. Staff found it consistent; no public comment. Unanimously approved.
  • HC/CPA 25-29: Text amendment to create a new Rural Light Industrial future land use category and define "limited light industrial uses." Staff found it consistent; one public speaker raised questions about compatibility. The commission unanimously approved, with Commissioner Kugler noting the category fills a market need while limiting intensity.
  • HC/CPA 25-37: Map amendment for approximately 7,944 acres at 40 Ranch Road to change from Agricultural Mining 1-20, Agricultural Mining 1-10, Agricultural Rural 1-5, and Natural Preservation to Planned Environmental Community 1-2 (PEC 1-2). Staff found it inconsistent, citing incompatibility with rural character, infrastructure deficiencies (water, wastewater, fire, emergency services), environmental pressure on the Hillsborough River, and school capacity issues. The applicant argued the PEC category provides enhanced environmental protections (larger buffers, wildlife corridors, stormwater treatment, environmental management plan). Extensive public testimony from approximately 30 speakers, including residents, a 15-year-old, and an 18-year-old, all opposed the change, citing traffic, flooding, loss of rural lifestyle, environmental degradation, and lack of infrastructure. A petition with over 1,300 signatures was submitted. The commission voted 8-1 to find it inconsistent (Chair Joseph dissenting). Chair Joseph noted the PEC category offers superior environmental safeguards and that this is only a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

City of Tampa Redistricting (Public Hearing)

  • Item 2A: Staff presented four alternatives to reduce population deviation across City Council districts from 8.36% to under 5%, as required by law. Alternative 2 (moving precinct 345 from District 7 to District 5) was the simplest and most publicly preferred. One public speaker, Hope Carissa (President of Sulfur Springs Neighborhood Association), supported Alternative 2 for keeping neighborhoods intact. No vote was taken; the commission received the information for a future final hearing in March 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • TA/CPA 25-18: Found consistent (unanimous).
  • TA/CPA 25-19: Found consistent (unanimous).
  • TA/CPA 25-20: Found consistent (unanimous, overriding staff recommendation).
  • HC/CPA 25-26: Found consistent (unanimous).
  • HC/CPA 25-29: Found consistent (unanimous).
  • HC/CPA 25-37: Found inconsistent (8-1 vote; Chair Joseph dissenting). Final decision rests with the Board of County Commissioners.
  • Redistricting: Informational; no action taken. Next public hearing scheduled for March 2026.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:25 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to a meeting of your planning commission, the official local planning agency for the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plan City, and unincorporated Hillsborough County. The Planning Commission provides innovative leadership and long-range vision that contributes to the creation of a thriving, prosperous community that offers opportunity, fairness, and choice in how we live, move, learn, work, and play. For more information about the Planning Commission, please call 813-272-5940. Follow us on social media or visit our website at PlanHillsborough.org. Welcome everybody to the February 9th, 2026 public hearing of the Planning Commission on City of Tampa Comprehensive Plan Amendments. We thank you for attending this meeting. Your comments and participation are encouraged. For those attending in person and wishing to speak on any agenda item, please sign the register at the rear of the room and turn off any devices that may be a distraction. To minimize feedback in the audio, all online participants in the meeting will be muted until it is their opportunity to speak. Planning commissioners should unmute themselves to indicate that they would like to speak. Please be sure to state your name at the beginning of your remarks for the benefit of the clerk. If anyone has difficulties or is watching via HTV and would like to provide comments to be included in the record for the local government hearing, please email them to Planner at Plancom.org. For those of those of you who are not familiar with our process, the meeting will be conducted as follows. Following presentations, members of the public may address the planning commission when recognized by the chairman. Public comment will be heard for three minutes per person. Presentation should not include matters related to zoning applications and site plans that are not before the commission. The request is to go from a residential 20 future land use category to community mixed use 35. The subject site is located within the South Tampa Planning District as well as the Fair Oaks Manhattan neighborhood. This is an aerial of the subject site and surrounding area with the subject site outlined in yellow. The surrounding area is a mixture of uses, including light commercial office and retail uses to the south and west to the south and west, and single family to the north, east, and directly west, with scattered industrial and two family uses to the east. These are our site photos starting looking directly at the subject site. This is looking south of the subject site at the back entrance of Britain Plaza. This is directly west, showing the single family uh the single family dwelling units to the west along West Euclid Avenue. This is east of the subject site showing the intersection of West Euclid Avenue and South Himes Avenue. This is looking south of the subject site along South Hims Avenue. This is the adopted future land use map with the subject site outlined in black under the designated designated under the residential 20 future land use category. To the north and east of the site is the residential 10 category. South is community commercial 35 with residential 20, community mixed use 35 along West Euclid and South Himes Avenue, including adopted TACPA 2512 located to the west. This is the proposed future land use map showing the site under the proposed community mixed use 35 designation. Under the adopted future land use of residential 20, the site may be considered for four dwelling units. The site could be considered for just over 6,000 square feet of neighborhood serving commercial uses. Under the proposed community mixed use 35 designation, the site may be considered for eight residential development units and just over 25,000 square feet of commercial uses. The proposed CMU 35 designation would result in the increase of residential density and commercial intensity, as well as introduce the possibility of CG uses to the subject site. We would also like to note that our we would this application was sent to our partner agencies, and there were no objections to the request. Policies that were considered taken into consideration when evaluating this amendment included in field development policies. And this concludes my presentation. I'm available for any questions. Alright, we didn't have anyone sign up in the public comment for this one. Oh, sorry, does the applicant have a presentation? Jumping ahead. I know there's a full room tonight. Um I think Megan set this up perfectly. This is right here at the corner of Euclid and Himes. As you can see, this is directly adjacent to Britain Plaza, which is obviously a commercial use. Over time, a lot of these uses along the southern portion of Euclid Avenue have transitioned from single-family residential to other commercial uses, including office and just general commercial. This is the location of the property. Again, this is at the corner of Himes and Euclid. You can see it here from the corner. Again, the overview of the request says this is just adjacent to Britain Plaza. This is currently operating as a law office.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com