Hillsborough County Planning Commission Meeting – August 10, 2026

The Planning Commission met to approve minutes, recognize a former commissioner, hear presentations on Waymo autonomous vehicles and the Sulfur Springs Neighborhood Action Plan, and take action on the Capital Improvement Program update and proposed bylaws changes regarding public comment times.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the minutes from the June 8, 2026 and July 13, 2026 meetings (regular and public hearings).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments for items not on the agenda.
• For the Capital Improvement Program update, one person signed up but did not appear.
• For the bylaws amendment, Cammy Corbett (attorney) spoke in favor of increasing applicant rebuttal time, noting that three minutes was insufficient after lengthy public testimony. She suggested allowing applicants to reserve time from their direct presentation or having a minimum of five minutes, especially when many speakers are present.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of Plaque: Former Commissioner Steve Kona was recognized for his service from 2023 to 2026. He thanked the commission.
• Waymo 101 Presentation: John Tupps, Southeast Policy Manager, presented on Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hailing service. He highlighted safety statistics (94% fewer serious injury crashes), planned rollout in Tampa (starting in central core), technology, first responder training, data sharing (pothole detection), and accessibility. Commissioners asked about service area, hurricane contingency, vehicle ethics ("trolley problem"), first responder interaction, and accountability. Chair Joseph emphasized the need for ethical discussions.
• Sulfur Springs Neighborhood Action Plan: Lauren Vasquez, City of Tampa, presented the plan focusing on community-driven revitalization. Key areas: advisory council, affordable housing, fresh food access (neighborhood is a food desert), safety, parks, and economic development. Commissioners discussed the role of land use regulations (R10 zoning limiting missing middle housing), the need for a coordinated plan, and the potential for a community land trust. Chair Joseph stressed the need for economic development in this historically underserved area.
• Capital Improvement Program and Capital Improvements Section Schedule of Projects Update: Erica Larson (via Katrina Corcoran) presented the annual update. Total CIP funding for FY27-31 is approximately $5 billion for 325 projects. 89% of projects address level of service. Breakdown by program area: Transportation, Water Enterprise, etc. 1.4 billion for eliminating deficiency, 1.1 billion for maintaining LOS, 1.9 billion for future growth. 159 projects ($1.1B) inside USA, 25 projects ($1.35B) outside. 24 projects in CHHA.
• Bylaws Amendment – Public Comment Time Limits: Sean College presented options to reduce public comment time based on number of speakers (3 min for 1-10, 2 min for 11-15, 90 sec for 15+). Discussion followed, including concern about limiting public input. A motion was made and seconded to separate the applicant rebuttal time issue. The board voted to have staff bring back a proposal for increased rebuttal time based on number of public commenters (as proposed by Commissioner Saben: 3 min if <10, 5 min if 10-15, 10 min if >15). The original public comment time limit changes will be brought back at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approval: Approved unanimously.
• CIP/CIS Update: Motion to find consistency carried 6-1 (Commissioner Lauk voted nay).
• Bylaws Amendment: Staff directed to bring back revised language for applicant rebuttal time based on the number of public commenters. The original public comment time limit changes will be reconsidered at the next meeting.
• Executive Director's Report: Melissa Zornita provided updates on City of Tampa Comp Plan (two remaining issues with state), Urban Service Area study facilitation (consultant selection underway, individual interviews planned), and upcoming joint meeting with Temple Terrace City Council. Commissioner Lauk expressed frustration with the pace of the USA study and requested information on facilitator candidates.
• Committee Reports: Commissioner Sink noted increased public interest in the TPO CAC meeting regarding the USA expansion, but with confusion about the project scope.