HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — After more than a dozen residents spoke in opposition, the Board voted to transmit to state review a privately initiated request (HCCPA 24-33) to expand the urban service area and an associated map amendment (HCCPA 24-34) to change about 31.83 acres at 1620 South Dover Road from Residential 1 to Residential 4.

Planning commission staff Jillian Massey presented the items and said the applications are contiguous to the urban service area and that public utilities, schools, fire stations and transportation networks are nearby. Staff told the board that agency reviewers raised no objections to transmittal and that the planning commission found the requests consistent with applicable comprehensive plan policies on urban expansion and compatibility. Staff noted that under Residential 1 the site could be considered for about 31 dwelling units, while Residential 4 would increase theoretical capacity to roughly 127 dwelling units; staff and the applicant cautioned that actual build-out is constrained by development standards and stormwater rules.

More than a half dozen residents and neighborhood representatives told the board they oppose the expansion. Penny Martin said the change is inconsistent with the county’s rural character and raised flooding and traffic concerns. George Nieman, representing the Fairchildsboro Neighborhood Coalition, said the planning commission misrepresented surrounding lot sizes and that the site would create an isolated suburban enclave surrounded by larger rural lots; he urged the board to remand the matter for further review. Deborah Holiday said residents were shown differing project maps at separate meetings and disputed technical claims about flooding fixes and capacity. Other speakers raised petitions, school-capacity and emergency-access concerns.

Applicant representatives said the item at this hearing is a transmittal to state agencies and that engineering, circulation and stormwater will be addressed at rezoning and site-plan stages. Applicant counsel Cammy Corbett and planner Isabel Albert said public facilities are adjacent and that the proposal meets the county criteria for urban service area expansion. Corbett told commissioners the applicant plans a planned development and estimated realistic unit counts near 62 units given new stormwater rules; the applicant also has filed a PD that will come before the board in months.

Commissioner Whistell moved to transmit HCCPA 24-33 to state reviewers; Commissioner Myers seconded. The board recorded a 6–1 vote in favor of transmittal of HCCPA 24-33. The transcript record shows the no vote recorded for that item with a different name in two places; the board tally was 6–1. The board then voted 6–1 to transmit HCCPA 24-34. By transmitting, the board does not approve development; transmittal initiates the state and agency review period. Any rezoning, planned development, drainage and traffic studies will be reviewed in later proceedings.