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Planners Support Community Plan

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By B.C. MANION, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

KEYSTONE - A request by Stephen J. Dibbs to remove 305 acres from the Keystone-Odessa community plan should be denied, planners for the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission say.

Planners also object to a second request by Dibbs to increase the development potential on 36.6 acres within the tract, which is on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road west of the Suncoast Parkway.

Dibbs' property was included in the Keystone-Odessa communitywide planning process and should remain, planners say.

They also note that Dibbs' proposal to increase development potential on the 36.6 acres conflicts with the community plan and policies regarding new development in rural areas.

Dibbs' requests are among proposed changes to the county's long-range plan that will be considered by the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission at a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The hearing will be on the 18th floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

The planning board makes recommendations to the Hillsborough County Commission on changes to the county's long-range plan. The plan establishes development parameters and steers the county's resources to support rural and urban lifestyles.

Planners also recommend denial of a request by Tommy Shannon to increase the development potential on 58 acres on the north and south side of Van Dyke Road at Gunn Highway. They say the request contradicts the county's goals to concentrate growth where urban services are available. They say it also is contrary to the county's rural-area policies.

Two other proposals that would extend public water and sewer lines into rural areas also are meeting resistance from planners.

One request calls for extending the lines to promote economic development. Planners say that conflicts with the county's goal to concentrate growth in the urban service area. It also is contrary to the county's rural policies, they say.

The other proposal would allow public water and sewer lines to extend to specific mixed-use developments in rural areas. That proposal undermines the county's intent to guide growth into areas designated for urban services, planners say.

The planning commission's recommendations will be considered by the county commission at a public hearing at 6 p.m. Feb. 7.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Hearing on proposed changes to Hillsborough County's long-range plan

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Meeting room of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, 18th floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.

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