Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing - April 9, 2026
Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing - April 9, 2026
The Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to consider adoption of comprehensive plan amendments and a concurrent rezoning. The meeting began with a continuance request for one item and proceeded to staff presentations, applicant testimony, and board discussion. All votes were unanimous (7-0 or 6-0) except where noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public offered testimony on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Continuance of HC/CPA 25-37 (Ranch Road): The applicant requested a continuance to the July 2026 amendment cycle. The board voted 6-0 to grant the continuance.
- HC/CPA 25-27 and HC/CPA 25-28 (Saffold Road): Planning Commission staff presented two associated small-scale plan amendments for a 19.94-acre site at 5008-5044 Saffold Road. The proposals sought to expand the Urban Service Area boundary (25-27) and change the future land use from Agricultural/Rural-1/5 to Residential-4 (25-28). Staff noted the site is within the South Shore Area Wide Systems Plan and Wimauma Village Plan, and the change would allow up to 79 dwelling units (compared to 3 under current designation) or 217,146 sq ft of non-residential uses. The board voted 7-0 to approve both amendments without public comment.
- HC/CPA 25-34 and RZ MM 26-0216 (Waters Avenue): Staff presented a privately initiated plan amendment for 41.92 acres at 8400 West Waters Avenue, requesting a change from Residential-9 to Residential-16 to align with existing development density. The companion major modification to Planned Development PD 13-0177 sought to allow a maximum of 669 dwelling units on the site, which currently operates as a mobile home and modular unit park. The applicant (Nicole McKinnon) explained that the site was originally developed in 1970 as a mobile home park and later included an assisted living facility (ALF) that closed due to COVID-19. The density recalculation due to ALF closure created a non-conforming situation; the amendments would "right-size" the project and allow residents to remain. David Smith (Stearns Weaver Miller) noted that traffic and emergency service impacts would not increase because the number of actual occupants remains unchanged. A community meeting drew no opposition. The Zoning Hearing Master recommended approval. Commissioner Wistel requested a restrictive covenant to prevent future density increases; the applicant agreed to a 10-year covenant. The board voted 7-0 to approve CPA 25-34 with the covenant, and 7-0 to approve the major modification.
Key Outcomes
- HC/CPA 25-37: Continued to July 2026 amendment cycle (6-0 vote).
- HC/CPA 25-27 and HC/CPA 25-28: Approved (7-0 each) – Urban Service Area expansion and land use change to Residential-4 for 19.94 acres on Saffold Road.
- HC/CPA 25-34: Approved (7-0) – Land use change from Residential-9 to Residential-16 for 41.92 acres on Waters Avenue, subject to a 10-year restrictive covenant limiting future density increases.
- RZ MM 26-0216: Approved (7-0) – Major modification to PD 13-0177 to allow up to 669 dwelling units on the Waters Avenue site, with conditions including access restrictions and a unit trade-off mechanism.
Note: The meeting was adjourned after these items.
Meeting Transcript
Show up and adopt today. For more information, visit HCFL.gov slash. Welcome to the Board of County Commissioners Comprehensive Plan Amendment Public Hearing. The Board of County Commissioners will consider the adoption of amendments to the comprehensive plan. The board will also consider an application for rezoning, which will be considered concurrently with the related application for a future land use map amendment. Yes. Yes. Commissioner Myers. I'm sorry. Regarding CPA twenty five thirty-seven, the application, uh, the applicant has requested a continuance until the July twenty twenty six amendment cycle. Can we have a motion for continuance? Second. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Motion carried six to zero. I will now request the planning commission staff introduce the first item on this evening's agenda. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Melissa Leinhard Planning Commission staff. The items B1 and B2 will be presented by Miss Lily Ann Lineah. Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners. Lillian Lennihan, Planning Commission staff here to present HCCPA 2527 located at 5008 to 5044 Saffold Road. This is a publicly initiated map amendment that is small in scale and approximately 19.94 acres. The applicant is requesting to expand the urban service area. This amendment is associated with HCCPA 2528, which is a request to change the future land use category from agricultural rule 1 to 5 to residential 4. This is the general location map. As mentioned in the last slide, this is associated with HCCPA 2528. It is in the rural area and within the limits of the South Shore Area Wide Systems Plan and Wymama Village Plan. It is located north of Saffold Road and west of County Road 579. Here is an area of the site. The site is outlined in pink, and the blue line indicates the existing urban service area boundary. This was approved in applications HCCPA 2519 and 2020 2520 by the board on January 15th, 2026. However, all the maps in this presentation and the one for 2528 won't reflect that change as these maps were done before those were approved. The proposed amendment would bring approximately 19.94 acres into the urban service area, requiring at a minimum connection to public water and sewer. The proposed amendment is consistent with the following objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan. The proposal meets the intent of Flu's Objective 1.1 and FLU's policy 1.1.9, which directs 80% of the population growth into the urban service area and establishes criteria for publicly and privately initiated urban service area amendments. In this case, the subject site is adjacent and contiguous to the established urban service area. The site is also adjacent to publicly initiated amendments that were directed by the Board of County Commissioners. The request meets all of the criteria listed in Flu's Policy 1.1.9 according to FLU's objective 3.1 and policies 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 compatibility and gradual transitions of intensities and densities between different land uses shall be provided for as new development is proposed. The residential four future land use designation surrounds the site, and there are low density residential developments on all sides. The transition to residential four on the subject site with an urban service area expansion would allow for density and intensity as compatible with the existing existing area. Food's objective 4.4 and its associated policies seek to protect existing neighborhoods and communities, and those that will emerge in the future. South of Saffold, there are mainly public, quasi-public, and institutional uses, and the pros proposed request complements the existing community character and existing development pattern. Lastly, the proposal meets goal five of the Wai Mama Village Community Plan. Goal five of the plan seeks to encourage housing to accommodate a diverse population and range of income levels. The expansion of the urban service area and change of the future land use designation increases the type of housing allowed on the subject site as well as allows for housing on a smaller lot size, which can be more affordable for the residents in the Wimama village area. The planning commission recommends that the proposed map amendment be found consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the unincorporated Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan. This concludes my presentation.
openpublica.com