Hillsborough County seeks special use for 60‑foot communications tower at planned sheriff operations center

Hillsborough County sought a special‑use permit for a 60‑foot communications monopole at 9927 Delaney Creek Drive to support a planned Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office operations center and county‑wide public‑safety communications.

John Mueller, Facilities Management Real Estate Services for Hillsborough County, told the hearing officer the county is finalizing acquisition of the Grow Financial building site for the sheriff’s operations center and that the communications tower is necessary to relocate 911 operations and dispatch. “The Delaney site for this application allows us to place the tower securely in the rear of the property,” Mueller said, noting buffers provided by the Selmon Crosstown Expressway and a large drainage pond.

County staff described two requested waivers to the Land Development Code. One waiver would allow the county to decline the usual colocation requirement because the tower must be dedicated to secure criminal‑justice communications subject to background checks and FDLE criminal‑justice user agreements. Staff also recommended allowing a non‑camouflaged monopole because the county intends to match existing high‑pole and expressway structures in the area rather than use a specific camouflage option in the code.

Development Services and Planning Commission staff both reported no objections to the site’s special use so long as conditions in the staff report are met; staff noted the tower exceeds minimum setback distances and that the sheriff’s security requirements make colocation impractical. The county held a public siting outreach and reported a mix of online comments with most supportive or neutral; one nearby property owner commented favorably, and another raised concerns about traffic and trees. The hearing officer closed the item; staff conditions will be reflected in the administrative record.