TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Officials Consider Corridor Plan

ADVERTISEMENT

By B.C. MANION

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

LUTZ - Planning commissioners, property owners and residents can weigh in Monday on a proposal to boost commercial potential at two spots on North Dale Mabry Highway north of Van Dyke Road.

The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission is slated to take up the issue as one of several proposed amendments to the county's land development code.

The meeting begins at 2 p.m., but this item is not expected to be considered before 4:30 p.m.

Planners from Hillsborough County's Planning and Growth Management department have recommended changes to the North Dale Mabry Highway Overlay District, adopted in 1989 to guide development along a four-mile stretch of the highway between Van Dyke and County Line roads.

The district seeks to avoid stripping out the highway with gas stations, restaurants, stores and other commercial enterprises.

The proposed changes to the district would come through amendments to the county's land development code.

One change would boost commercial potential on two acres near Sunlake Boulevard and North Dale Mabry Highway.
County planners have called for that change, in light of the future widening of Lutz Lake-Fern Road and growth in nearby Pasco County.

The other change - that would increase potential commercial at the southeast corner of Lutz-Lake Fern Road and North Dale Mabry - comes at the direction of the Hillsborough County Commission.

Commissioners told planners to change the plan to reflect the same commercial potential as the corner had when the overlay district was created - and before the state Department of Transportation took a portion of the property through eminent domain.

The current potential for commercial is 68,000 square feet; the new maximum would go to 110,000 square feet.

The proposals were discussed at a community meeting in July, where they drew overwhelming opposition. Residents said no additional commercial development is justified and that the owner of the property at Lutz-Lake Fern Road already has been compensated for the land taken by the state roads department.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT