Tampa council upholds denial of design exception for 4001 E. Hillsborough Ave.

Tampa City Council on Thursday affirmed the zoning administrator’s denial of a design-exception request for 4001 East Hillsborough Avenue, rejecting a proposal that would have allowed a 138-foot front-yard setback, a principal façade not facing the public right-of-way, and parking in the front yard.

The hearing, conducted de novo under city code section 27-61, featured staff presentations, testimony from the property owner and his engineer, and public comment. Eric Cotton, development coordination, told council that staff’s position was the parcel could be reconfigured to meet the East Tampa Overlay’s intent — narrow build-to front setbacks, principal facades facing public streets and parking located to the rear. "The staff's position is the building could be flipped and a different design could be utilized to bring the…