Hillsborough County staff backs waivers for proposed 30-million-gallon wastewater plant; decision pending

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — Hillsborough County’s Land Use Hearing Officer on Dec. 15 heard a special-use application from the county’s Water Resource Department for a large wastewater treatment facility and for variances and waivers to local separation and planting rules. Development Services and Planning Commission staff recommended approval subject to conditions; the hearing officer closed the public hearing and will file a written decision within 15 business days.

County representatives described the site as just over 200 acres along County Road 672 (Baum Picnic Road) and said the proposed Type 3 treatment plant is being planned with an initial design capacity of about 30,000,000 gallons per day and master-planned capacity of up to 45,000,000 gallons per day at full build-out. The application seeks waivers from a 500-foot buffer and from several landscaping/tree-count requirements, and asks that no plotted lots or dwelling units be required within the reduced buffers shown on the site plans.

"This is a project intended to serve the community through 2050," a county representative said during the hearing, summarizing the plant’s role in long-term wastewater planning. County staff said large pond areas and administrative buildings were placed near the southern perimeter to provide a geographical and visual buffer between the facility and adjacent agricultural and residential properties.

Development Services staff told the hearing officer that the project design includes mitigation measures — screening, landscaping, noise and odor controls — and found the requested waivers and variances supportable with conditions. Planning Commission staff (Alexis Maris) also told the hearing officer the application is consistent with the unincorporated Hillsborough County comprehensive plan provided the proposed conditions and mitigation are implemented.

Planning and county staff recommended conditions to preserve the rural scenic character along County Road 672, to provide perimeter buffering and screening, and to require noise and odor-control measures and ongoing monitoring. Staff noted a corrected address in the revised report and said the applicant had included additional survey pages required to document the wet-zone and setback distances.

No members of the public registered opposition during the hearing. Planning Commission staff noted the site’s large single-parcel configuration and said appropriate site design could minimize impacts on nearby residences.

The hearing officer closed the matter for decision; no final approval was recorded at the hearing. A written decision is expected within 15 business days and will be part of the official record.