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Commission approves AS‑1 rezoning for longstanding sod business, omits Type B buffer requirement
Summary
The board rezoned a 3.03‑acre Palm River parcel to AS‑1 with restrictions to regularize a sod/landscape contractor operation, directing that the Type B buffer requirement be reviewed during subsequent conditional use/site‑plan review and omitting it from the rezoning conditions.
Hillsborough County commissioners on March 11 voted 7–0 to rezone a 3.03‑acre parcel on Hartford Street and South 70th Street in Palm River from ASC‑1 to AS‑1 with restrictions to allow a landscape contractor nursery and to resolve citations against the operator.
The rezoning recognizes a long‑running sod and landscaping operation at the site; the applicant and staff agreed to most restrictions but requested that a required Type B buffer be omitted from the rezoning and handled at later site plan/conditional‑use review because of site geometry and operational needs.
Bridal Grady of Development Services presented the request and described the offered restrictions to limit vehicular access, require shared access with an adjacent parcel upon redevelopment, and address structures encroaching into setbacks. Susan Swift, an AICP‑certified planner representing Hartford LLC and owner Panaranda, said the owner has operated the sod business at the location for about 30 years and that the rezoning is intended to resolve a code citation. Swift asked the board to omit the Type B buffer from the rezoning and instead let the buffer be evaluated during conditional‑use/site‑plan review, arguing the standard buffer requirements are impractical for the L‑shaped site and could require moving usable materials on and off the property in ways that do not match the operation.
Planning Commission staff recommended denial, finding the request inconsistent with the Residential‑6 future land use and commercial locational criteria; the zoning hearing master and Development Services recommended approval. Jillian Massey of Planning Commission staff told the board the site does not meet the 900‑foot commercial locational criteria and identified residential neighbors and community plan compatibility concerns. The zoning hearing master concluded the rezoning with restrictions was consistent with the code and recommended approval.
During board deliberations, a motion to approve the rezoning while omitting the Type B buffer was made and seconded; the motion passed 7–0. The board’s action rezoned the parcel to AS‑1 with the agreed restrictions except for the Type B buffer, which the board left to be resolved at site plan/conditional‑use review.
The board’s approval does not remove the requirement that the owner obtain any required conditional‑use approvals, site‑plan reviews, or permits; those reviews will evaluate buffers, screening, setbacks and other site details.
