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 approximately 154,000 square feet. "This is a site located on the North Side of Cracknell Road, West Of Timberland Drive," Kelly said during her presentation.

The applicant, represented by Tu Mai of HTMI Inc., said the request was submitted together with an annexation petition (8ANX202415) and a planned‑development rezoning application (PB2024‑47). "We have demonstrated that this proposed amendment achieves the land use policies and objectives of the comprehensive plan," Tu Mai said, and asked the commission to forward a recommendation of consistency to the Plant City Commission.

Neighbors who spoke during public comment urged denial. Alyssa Gerard said the parcel's agricultural character drew her family to the area and asked planners to avoid multifamily development and preserve the "aesthetics of the surrounding homes." She warned that the intersection of Trapnell Road and Turkey Creek Road already handles heavy traffic and said, "Do not allow multifamily units to be built in the single family home area. The traffic that would increase on these narrow 2 lane roads would be atrocious." Mike Skolitsky, whose home abuts the parcel, said he and his wife were "in complete opposition" and argued that higher‑density housing adjacent to single‑family neighborhoods would harm property values and quality of life. Duc Lee, a resident who lives next to the field, described morning delays getting out of his driveway.

Commissioners asked staff several process and compatibility questions. One commissioner noted they had not seen substantive comment from the City of Plant City other than confirmation of water capacity; staff said Plant City did not submit a comment in the record beyond the utilities confirmation. Staff also said the county's residential 6 allowance generally aligns with Plant City's Residential 6 in terms of six units per acre, though locational criteria for nonresidential uses differ and county staff could provide additional detail.

Commissioner Kona moved to find PCCPA 24‑11 consistent with the Plant City comprehensive plan; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call, 5–2. The planning commission's action is a recommendation that will be forwarded to the Plant City Commission as part of the annexation and rezoning review process.

Clarifying details: the parcel is approximately 14.2 acres; staff said approval would allow up to about 85 dwelling units (an increase of about 71 dwelling units compared with the current county designation) while leaving nonresidential square footage at roughly 154,000 square feet. The application was submitted with annexation petition 8ANX202415 and PD rezoning PB2024‑47. The site abuts the Walden Lakes planned development to the north and east and is currently in an agricultural use with a single‑family residence and accessory structures.

The commission's recommendation does not itself rezone the property or complete annexation; those are separate legal steps for the City of Plant City and any developer rezoning and site‑plan review. The record shows public opposition focused on agricultural preservation, neighborhood compatibility, and traffic on Trapnell and Turkey Creek/Trapnell Road.

The planning commission packet and staff report identify the specific Plant City comprehensive plan policies relied on in staff’s consistency finding; the recommendation will be included in the materials forwarded to the Plant City Commission for their decision.