HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — The Board of County Commissioners on the evening approved a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and a companion rezoning to formalize existing industrial activity on a roughly 4.18-acre site in the Palm River area.

Planning commission staff presented HCCPA 25-02, which would change the future land use designation at 115 South 70 Eighth Street and 7749 East Adamo Drive from Residential 12 to Light Industrial Planned (LIP). Planning staff said the site sits inside the urban service area, within the Greater Palm River community plan boundary and in a coastal high-hazard area.

The change removes the possibility of residential development on the parcel and would allow increased nonresidential intensity: staff told commissioners that under Residential 12 the site could be considered for about 50 dwelling units or roughly 91,040 square feet of nonresidential floor area, while LIP would preclude residential uses and could allow about 136,560 square feet of nonresidential uses.

Planning commission staff Jillian Massey said the proposal aligns with multiple comprehensive plan objectives and policies and that the surrounding pattern of heavy and light industrial and commercial uses supports the requested LIP designation. Massey also noted that the Office of Emergency Management commented the amendment does not align with the objectives in the local mitigation strategy.

Applicant counsel Elise Botzel of Stearns Weaver Miller told commissioners the property has hosted industrial uses for years and that the applicant is requesting map and zoning changes to bring the future land use and zoning into alignment with those existing uses. The zoning hearing master recommended approval, finding the requested plan development consistent with the Land Development Code and comprehensive plan.

Commissioner Cohen moved approval of HCCPA 25-02; Commissioner Cepeda seconded. The board voted 6–0 to adopt the comprehensive plan amendment. The board then approved rezoning RZ25-0321 to a planned development to permit up to 52,000 square feet of manufacturing and open storage, with a 6–0 vote on a motion by Commissioner Cohen and second by Commissioner Whistell.

The rezoning includes a request for waivers to certain buffering and screening requirements along boundaries adjacent to the Tampa Bay Bypass Canal. The applicant said the western boundary is separated from residential areas in the City of Tampa by roughly 80 feet of dense, natural vegetation on Southwest Florida Water Management District property and that the planned development conditions and a trip cap would limit future intensity and vehicle trips.

Planning staff and the zoning hearing master both recommended approval; the Office of Emergency Management’s comment about the local mitigation strategy was noted in the record but did not block the approvals. Next steps for the property will be site-plan–level review and any required development conditions under the planned development zoning.

Commissioners and staff emphasized compatibility with surrounding industrial character while noting the site is in a coastal high-hazard zone and has limited potential for residential use under the current land use map.