County holds first public hearing on five land‑development code amendments; adoption set for May 8

TAMPA — Hillsborough County Development Services on Thursday presented the first of two public hearings on proposed amendments to the county Land Development Code. The Board of County Commissioners heard a staff overview of five separate text amendments; the adoption public hearing for these amendments is scheduled for May 8.

Brian Grady of Development Services introduced the five items and described the intent of each briefly: LDC 205-399 would permit the outdoor storage of recreational vehicles, private pleasure crafts and utility trailers as a distinct category in planned-development rezoning reviews, recognizing that storage of boats and RVs often serves neighborhood-serving commercial uses rather than general outdoor storage. LDC 205-400 would create a subdivision procedure to recognize nonconforming lots created after adoption of the comprehensive plan (07/26/1989) and allow certain lots in existence as of 02/01/2025 to be platted to meet subdivision requirements while not exceeding current future-land-use density. LDC 205-401 would allow applicants to elect to have rezoning applications heard concurrently with companion comprehensive-plan amendments and to make the rezoning contingent on the plan amendment. LDC 205-402 would align the Land Development Code’s maximum building-height definition with the Florida Building Code to avoid inconsistency in permit review. LDC 205-404 would expand the set of minor plan-development administrative modifications an administrator may approve, including certain interior driveway/parking configuration adjustments that do not affect setbacks, buffers or access and conversions of mobile home units to single-family units.

Grady told the board staff was available for questions; no members of the public spoke on these items during the first hearing. The board will hold the adoption public hearing on May 8, at which time commissioners may take final action or request additional changes.

What happens next: The items will return for adoption on May 8. If adopted, the LDC changes would take effect in accordance with county procedures and would be applied in future planned-development reviews and permit reviews.

Votes at a glance: No final votes taken on April 10; adoption public hearing scheduled for May 8.