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Developer seeks wetland-setback variance for proposed Riverview office building
Summary
An applicant for a two-story commercial office project asked Hillsborough County for a variance to allow a portion of building, sidewalk and vehicular area to encroach into the 30-foot wetland conservation setback; staff said a mitigation planting plan is on file and recommended conditioning approval on that plan.
A developer seeking to build an 8,000-square-foot, two‑story professional office on the north side of Rodine Road asked the Hillsborough County land use hearing officer on Feb. 9 for a variance to allow encroachment into a 30-foot wetland conservation setback.
Wayne Doyen of Development Services told the hearing that the application (variance 260296) requests a maximum 22.9-foot encroachment that would leave a 7.1-foot remaining setback, and that a wetland setback compensation plan is included with the project packet. He referenced LDC Section 4.01.7.B.4 as the controlling code provision and warned that county approval would not substitute for any permits required by the county Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).
Chris Mears of Native Engineering, speaking for the applicant, walked the officer through a series of design revisions that reduced wetland impacts: splitting one building into two, adding retaining and stem walls, and revising the pond wall to meet county limits on pond walling. Mears said the applicant’s revised plan removed direct wetland impacts and that EPC had indicated the revised plan did not require wetland permitting; he said the encroachment area the variance covers totals roughly 1,800 square feet.
Hearing Officer Steve Luce asked whether the planting/mitigation plan was available; staff and natural resources reviewers confirmed the plan was submitted and represents the minimum mitigation standard to be required on the construction plans. Luce said he would consider a condition requiring the applicant to meet the planting plan as presented, while allowing staff to require additional measures during site development review if appropriate.
No members of the public spoke in support or opposition at the hearing, and staff indicated there was nothing further to present. The hearing officer closed the application record. A written decision will be filed within 15 working days.
What happens next: the hearing officer will issue a written decision in the case record; any appeal of that decision would be heard by the Land Use Appeals Board and limited to the evidence presented at this hearing.
