Philippine Cultural Foundation seeks rezoning to legalize events; neighbors raise noise, traffic and notice concerns

The Philippine Cultural Foundation asked the Hillsborough County zoning hearing master on June 21 to rezone about 10 acres at 14301 9 Eagles Drive, north of Racetrack Road, from agricultural-rural (AR) to planned development (PD) so its Bayanihan (Bayanihan Arts and Events) complex can continue and expand special-event uses, including the annual PhilFest.

The request, presented by land-use planner Kayla Harrell and attorney Jim Porter on behalf of the foundation, would formalize existing indoor and outdoor cultural events and add conditions describing three event sizes and limits on vehicle counts and hours. County staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions; the matter will return to the Board of County Commissioners for a final decision after the hearing officer files a written recommendation.

Planning staff said the PD would allow indoor and outdoor weddings, banquet and reception halls, neighborhood fairs, agricultural stands connected to PhilFest and cultural facility uses tied to the foundation. Sam Ball of County Development Services summarized the proposed limits: small events may use no more than 105 vehicles and are allowed seven days a week between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.; medium events (106–317 vehicles) would be limited to four occasions per year with specified weekly hours; large events would be limited to one occasion per year with up to 317 vehicles and must use approved off‑site parking connected by sidewalks and crosswalks. Ball also said the PD would recognize a previously approved wireless communications special use and a 2001 alcoholic‑beverage permit limited to the 14,300‑square‑foot indoor assembly area.

The applicant described site work including a new right‑turn lane at the north entry, conversion of the southern access to exit‑only, 105 paved on‑site parking spaces and room for 317 grass parking spaces during PhilFest with longstanding shuttle and off‑site parking agreements (schools and churches) to address distance to off‑site lots.

Supporters told the hearing the facility has served Filipino Americans and the broader region for decades. Jose (Joey) O’Mila, a founder of the Philippine Cultural Foundation, said the group bought the land in 1995, raised funds with 19 local Filipino organizations and built what he called the first Philippine cultural center in the state. “We then invited all existing Filipino organizations in the Tampa Bay to be part of our foundation,” he said, adding the festival once drew “more than 9,000 to 10,000 attendees yearly.” Several speakers described cultural programs, proms and tourism benefits and urged approval so the center could rent to a wider public and remain financially viable.

Opponents said the PD would legalize a higher intensity of events in a now‑residential area and flagged traffic, noise and notice issues. Opponent Fraser Henderson told the hearing, “This proposal is not a mere zoning request. It seeks to establish a high‑intensity, high‑usage, 7‑night‑a‑week until 11 p.m. events venue in the middle of a residential area.” Neighbors cited a county traffic estimate showing substantial trip increases for the site under the proposed entitlements, raised concerns about one‑way access on 9 Eagles Drive, and presented decibel measurements taken during PhilFest showing frequent readings in the 70–92 dB range. The Eagles Master Association and nearby residential communities said they did not receive mailed notice and asked for more time to review materials; county staff said notice was mailed as required and that the association did not appear on the county’s registered neighborhood list.

Traffic consultant Michael Yates (Palm Traffic) told the hearing the team prepared a traffic study using worst‑case assumptions, and that the proposed access changes — moving inbound traffic to the northern driveway with a right‑turn lane, converting the southern driveway to exit‑only and using off‑duty officers at medium and large events — would allow the driveway operations to function acceptably under the conditions proposed. Yates said the analysis assumed higher traffic than presently observed to test the worst case.

Planning Commission staff found the use allowable in the site’s future land‑use category and compatible with adjacent development when the applicant’s proposed conditions are applied. Development Services staff supported the PD subject to conditions that include limits on event sizes, hours and off‑site parking requirements.

No final decision was made by the hearing master at the June 21 hearing. The zoning hearing master will file a written recommendation with the clerk within 15 working days; the Board of County Commissioners will consider the record and the hearing officer’s recommendation at a publicly noticed meeting. The applicant noted that alcohol sales for non‑cultural events would require a separate permit and that the PD would recognize the previously approved wireless special use for a camouflage tower on site.

The hearing brought more than 20 people to speak for or against the application and underscored the tradeoffs county reviewers must weigh between cultural and economic activity and neighborhood impacts such as traffic, noise and infrastructure.