REZONING APPLICATION - RZ 09-0773 Muck Pond Rd. & Barrington Oaks Dr. -  West of McIntosh     In brief, Charter Partners, LLC has filed a request with Hillsborough County to rezone approximately  19 a/c from Agricultural 1 unit per 5 acres to a mixed use Planned Development (PD). According to the applicant’s “project narrative”  the proposed development will comprise a mixture of office and commercial uses up to 206,365 s.f floor area.  A 7,500 s.f. freestanding building is proposed near the northeast corner of the site.  It is anticipated this building will be developed for occupancy by a child daycare center and professional/medical office and/or professional services. The remainder of the site, up to 198,865 s.f., is proposed to be used for office, commercial, warehouse/distribution and flex space.   Access will be via Muck Pond Rd and Burlington Oaks Drive.   To read the entire project narrative and review site plan click here.     SCA is facilitating a meeting between area residents and applicant on:   July 23, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.   Quest @ Kingsway - Social Hall 501 S. Kingsway Ave. Seffner, Florida  33584 Quest is a yellow church located on the west side of Kingsway - approximately 1.5 miles south of Hwy 92     The Zoning Hearing is currently scheduled for    August 24, 2009 - 6:00 p.m. at County Center 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 2nd floor Tampa, Florida  33601         BORROW PIT APPROVED - 5.4.09   Area residents couldn't have worked harder to argue, had petitions signed, and wrote letters of opposition.  Thank you to each and everyone of you - with an extra special thank you to Charles and Grace McComas who world long hard hours obtaining petitions and speaking with area residents.   Borrow Pits are historically difficult to win due to the flaws in the Land Development Code.  In fact, there has only ever been one (Lorton) that was denied - before the Hearing Officer - overturned his own original decision.   This particular case has so many problems with it that I believe is is yet another example of the problem within our own government offices as well as the Land Development Code (LDC) itself.  Unfortunately, in order to fight this further and through the courts it will be extremely costly and it becomes a battle of the financially fittest.    A resident of Shangri La subdivision did file an appeal to the prior hearing; however, we have received no notice of such hearing.   We will post an update regarding this issue sometime next week.   The Land Use Hearing Officer's decision can be reviewed by clicking here.     BORROW PIT - TO BE REHEARD    APRIL 13, 2009  -   6:00 P.M. 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., , 2nd Fl Tampa, Florida  33601   As noted below, the Special Use Application (SU 09-0191)- Land Excavation (Borrow Pit) was approved.  However, we have learned that this case must be heard again due to a technicality (legal description).   At the same time, the applicant may seeking to increase the acreage to which the "special use" application will apply to.    At this point, SCA has no further information (3/6/09) and will be seeking further information early next week.       YOUR ATTENDANCE IS NEEDED.  PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW,       LAND USE HEARING OFFICER (LUHO) APPROVES BORROW PIT   Land Use Hearing Officer, James Scarola, approves borrow pit application SU-09-0191 (Hwy 92 @ Old Darby).   You can read his full report by clicking here:  http://www.box.net/shared/ov5fk96flv .  While the decision was not totally unexpected, it is disappointing.    Options to appeal his decision are limited and any appeals to the Land Use Appeals Board (LUAB) must be files within 30 calendar days from the date of Mr. Scarola's decision (2/10/09).    There are strict guidelines for filing an appeal and expenses involved in doing so.  Anyone wishing to file an appeal must be a party of record.  Click here to view the Land Development Code which defines this process.  Special Use Permit Request New application number SU09-0191(prevsiously SU 08-1296) Land Excavation (Borrow Pit)   NEW HEARING DATE Land Use Hearing Date:  January 20, 6:00 pm   County Center Bldg. 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.,  26th Floor Tampa, Florida   This is a request for a land excavation permit for 800,000 cubic yards of soil.  The designated haul route will be east and west on 92 - exiting property at Old Darby and Hwy 92.  The reqeust is for an initial 5 year period.  The application has been submitted citing it will be a dry land excavation. No reclamation plan was submitted despite the applicant's submission of a  comprehensive plan amendment seeking a land use designation change to Light Industrial (see below CPA 08-15) in order to allow for an outdoor watersports park.    The volume of excavation will result in approximately 100+/- trucks per day traveling the same route as high school students, rush hour traffic, students walking to school, school bus traffic etc.    Seffner Community Alliance, Inc. is OPPOSED TO THIS APPLICATION!!  Please make every attempt to attend the above hearing to show your opposition.   Click here to see location of proposed site.

CPA 08-15 – Hwy 92 next to the Hammocks at Kingsway & across from Shangri La (Click here to view aerial of site)   THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO THE SECOND ROUND 2009 CYCLE AND IS PENDING OUTCOME OF BORROW PIT APPLICATION SU#09-0191   UPDATE:  10-25-08 --  THIS APPLICATION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED AND WILL BE HEARD ON JANUARY 12, 2009 - NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN APPLICATION TO REPORT.      UPDATE:  6.10.08  -  Applicant requested and received a continuance to the next round of Comprehensive Plan Amendments and will be participating in the Community Plan in order to seek changes to land use on this site.      We need your help by attending the Community Planning Meetings!  For more information on Community Plan, go to link on our web site.   McCormick Rd., LLC (no relationship to McCormick Ski School) the owner of folio # 061976.0020 a 90 acre parcel (approx) is seeking a change of Comprehensive Plan land use designation as is currently set forth for unincorporated Hillsborough County (click here to view document "What is the Comprehensive Plan").  The applicant is seeking a land use change to approx 60+/- acres of the 90+/- acre parcel.  The property fronts Hwy 92 and lies directly to the east of The Hammocks on Kingsway/92 and across from the Shangri La subdivision extending east to Pasadena Rd. (click on link above). The change proposes to allow for Light Industrial land use from a future land use designation of Res-1 (Residential, one unit per gross acre).    The light industrial designation would allow for uses such as processing, manufacturing, recycling and storage of materials as the predominate uses; including support offices, warehousing and many other intensive uses that would otherwise not be allowed on this parcel (click here to view staff summary).  The applicant states they are proposing a recreational cable water park, or similar, and that would “fit with the rest of the parcels’ mixed uses proposed for the area”.   However, changes in the Future Land Use designations ARE NOT contingent upon stated proposed use.  Therefore, this application must be considered for all that is allowed within the  light industrial land use.  Prior to the proposed recreational cable water park, the area would first be a borrow pit (the earth is dug out and sold).  In this case the resulting pits/man-made “lake” would then be used for part of the water park.  Depending on the size of the man-made lakes/pits and the amount of earth to be removed, the borrow pit could result in years of operation and hundreds of trips per day of dump trucks traveling to and from the site.  A transportation analysis generated by the County indicates an expected increase of daily vehicle trips from 555  if developed Residential 1 to 3,031 if developed as light industrial (which is routinely underestimated) and does not account for the potential traffic of a borrow pit.    Seffner Community Alliance is opposed to the proposed amendment to Light Industrial uses as it would be incompatible with the existing agricultural/rural-residential/suburban development pattern in this area.  Armwood HS and Burnett Middle School directly fronting Hwy 92 and two elementary schools within blocks of Hwy 92  A new high school is currently under construction near the intersection of 92 and McIntosh (with an elementary and middle school planned at the same location) which will place more cars on Hwy 92 between CR579 and McIntosh Rd. (and beyond).  The increase in land use intensity would have would establish a precedent of light industrial land use the area, would negatively impact the community and is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan.   LINKS TO DOCUMENTS:   What is the Comprehensive Plan – http://www.box.net/shared/hm68mxzc4g Aerial of Site – http://www.box.net/shared/hpj7hlsgg Schedule of Hearings relating to this Plan Amendment – http://www.box.net/shared/qqsbqlick4 Workshop Materials relating to CPA 08-15 –  http://www.box.net/shared/v1sqr5pwcc   Planning and Growth Management’s Comments - http://www.box.net/shared/33s5lbkgcc Directions to Planning Commission Offices-http://www.theplanningcommission.org/contactus/maptooffice