Planning commission finds Plant City map amendment consistent; residents oppose higher-density change north of Trapnell Road

The Hillsborough County Planning Commission on April 7 recommended that PCCPA 24‑11—a privately initiated future land use map amendment and voluntary annexation petition for a 14.2‑acre parcel north of Trapnell Road west of Timberlane Drive—be found consistent with the City of Plant City comprehensive plan by a 5–2 vote.

Planning commission staff presented the proposal as a change in future land use from Hillsborough County Residential 1 to Plant City Residential 6 to allow residential development after voluntary annexation into Plant City. Krista Kelly, planning commission staff, told commissioners the site is currently agricultural and that Plant City Utilities confirmed existing water and sewer capacity to serve the property.

Staff recommended consistency with multiple Plant City comprehensive plan policies that encourage a variety of housing types and the logical coordination of annexation with public facilities. Kelly said the request would increase allowable density on the site from roughly 1 unit per acre to 6 units per acre and could allow up to about 85 dwelling units; nonresidential square footage would remain…