Hillsborough County commissioners review proposed urban service area expansions; staff to prepare public FAQs

Hillsborough County commissioners on Jan. 22 reviewed publicly initiated text and map amendments that would expand the county's urban service area in parts of southeast Hillsborough County. Planning staff said the workshop was informational only and no formal action would be taken.

Planning commission staff member Sofia Guarantiva told the board the two text amendments (HCCPA 2444 and 2446) would expand the urban service area by "a total of approximately 12,253 acres," with roughly 4,000 acres in CPA 2444 and about 8,000 acres in CPA 2446. She said companion map amendments (HCCPA 2445 and 2447) together involve about 15,812 acres, with roughly 5,000 acres in CPA 2445 and just over 10,000 acres in CPA 2447. The areas under consideration lie south of Lithia Pinecrest and east of U.S. 301 within community-plan areas the presentation identified as Waimama, Balm, and Riverview.

Guarantiva said the proposals would reclassify parcels from rural and agricultural categories to a mix of future land uses including multiple residential densities, agricultural reserve categories and some public/quasi-public and natural preservation designations. "If approved, the proposed amendments would increase residential density," she said, and she pointed the board to a detailed impact breakdown in the project briefing packet.

Commissioners focused much of their discussion on public outreach and how residents are being informed about costs and infrastructure consequences. "Do we do any type of education saying that we've increased those impact fees, that we have ongoing rate studies every 2 to 3 years, that we ... we're planning for stormwater management?" Commissioner Wilson asked, urging staff to make critical financial and service information more accessible to residents.

Several commissioners asked for a concise, single-page information product to help board members and residents understand common questions about roads, schools, public safety and funding. "I think something like a frequently asked questions portion of the project page would be very helpful," planning staff said, and staff and commissioners agreed to coordinate distribution so the same materials appear on commissioners' websites and the project page.

Commissioner Cohen noted county and regional investments intended to support growth, pointing to the Tampa Bay Water pipeline scheduled to come online in 2028, a planned county wastewater treatment plant and recently passed capital improvements the county said include new fire stations in South County.

Staff described current outreach steps: two in-person meetings held in November, an online survey, and an upcoming community meeting on Jan. 30 with multiple county departments invited. Guarantiva told the board the items will return to the board for a public hearing and transmittal on March 13.

The workshop was strictly informational: no motions or votes were taken. Planning staff said they would work with county communications and other departments to develop FAQ materials, coordinate technical answers from subject-matter agencies, and provide the board with materials to post on their websites and distribute at community meetings.

The board adjourned after the discussion; the amendments remain scheduled for the March 13 public hearing and transmittal.