Board approves office‑commercial map change and restricted commercial‑intensive rezoning on Causeway Boulevard

Hillsborough County commissioners approved a future‑land‑use amendment and a companion rezoning for an 8.39‑acre site at 7812 Causeway Boulevard that the applicant and staff described as surrounded by intensive commercial and industrial uses.

Planning Commission staff Alexis Myers presented HCCPA 24‑40, a privately initiated small‑scale amendment seeking to change the site’s designation from Residential 9 to Office Commercial 20 (OC‑20). ‘‘This is HCCPA 24‑40 located at 7812 Causeway Boulevard,’’ Myers said. Staff noted the property lies in the urban service area and near Delaney Creek and that agency reviewers flagged infrastructure and community concerns.

Todd Pressman, representing the applicant, said the site is large and surrounded by intensive uses and that the Planning Commission had found the amendment consistent. Pressman and staff highlighted existing buffers and a creek to the north. Planning‑staff slides presented capacity comparisons and said that, under OC‑20, the site could consider a larger nonresidential floor‑area (staff cited figures showing increases from roughly 127,913 to 274,101 square feet in nonresidential potential under OC‑20) and higher residential density options.

Bridal Grady (Development Services) summarized the concurrent rezoning application RZ‑205‑175, asking that the parcel be rezoned from Commercial General (CG) to Commercial Intensive (CI) with restrictions. The restriction proffered by the applicant limited uses to outdoor storage of commercial trailer equipment, accessory minor motor vehicle repair, and a related small office. Grady told commissioners staff and the zoning hearing master found the restriction would promote compatibility.

Pressman told the board the change would reduce vehicle trips compared with other permitted uses; the applicant’s summary cited a modeled reduction of 12,610 average vehicle trips overall and peak‑period reductions for AM and PM peaks.

One resident, Dennis Chaney, spoke against residential conversions in the area and expressed concern about traffic. The applicant replied that notices were mailed (applicant reported roughly 148 notices were mailed with repeated noticing for related applications) and emphasized the site’s arterial location and buffering.

Commissioner Meyers moved to approve the map amendment (HCCPA 2440); Commissioner Whistell seconded. The board voted 7–0 to approve the comprehensive plan amendment. After separate consideration of the concurrent rezoning (RZ‑205‑175) — presented as CI with the applicant’s restrictions — the board approved the rezoning by a 7–0 vote. The zoning hearing master and planning staff had recommended approval subject to the offered restrictions.

What happened: The adopted future‑land‑use change makes the property eligible for OC‑20 land‑use consideration; the approved CI‑restricted zoning limits allowable uses to those the applicant proffered, which staff and the zoning hearing master said will limit impacts and improve compatibility along the Causeway corridor.

Clarifying details: the site area is approximately 8.39 acres; staff and the applicant referenced OC‑20 maximum floor‑area and nonresidential square‑footage figures during the presentation. The applicant reported notices mailed to property owners and provided a trip‑generation study excerpt that showed a modeled reduction of 12,610 average daily trips compared with alternative entitlements. The zoning restriction text limits the CI district uses to outdoor storage of commercial trailer equipment, accessory minor motor vehicle repair, and a related small office; any change to those restrictions would require an additional application.

Votes at a glance: HCCPA 24‑40 — transmittal/adoption approved, 7–0. Rezoning RZ‑205‑175 (CI‑restricted) — approved, 7–0.