Zoning: Revamped development gets first okay

LUTZ: Windward Homes came to a February zoning hearing master meeting with hopes for a 206-home development on the east side of Livingston Avenue, south of Silver Forest Lane. The proposal carried the endorsement of county officials but met the opposition of nearly 30 residents.

Ultimately zoning hearing master Martin H. Smith Jr. recommended denial of the 40-acre project and called the development of 110 townhomes and 96 single-family homes "inappropriate" for the area.

So rather than facing the possibility of denial at the upcoming County Commission land use hearing, Windward removed the townhomes and instead asked for 116 homes on 5,000-square-foot lots.

Last month the company, again, went before Smith with its plans, and this time, won his approval.

In a written statement released last week, Smith endorsed the plans but only if the development includes a 6-foot concrete buffer wall. And, he wrote, the wetland area on the property must remained untouched.

County commissioners are scheduled to hear the proposal on June 11. (Petition 02-0063)

CARROLLWOOD: Zoning hearing master James A. Scarola recommended denial of a request to convert a 3,800-square-foot home into an office. County staff and Scarola agreed that the rezoning of the 0.88-acre site on Cain Road, north of Gunn Highway, would be not be compatible with the residential characteristics of the neighborhood. (Petition 02-0307)

TOWN 'N COUNTRY: Scarola endorsed a request to develop 24 homes on the east side of Wilsky Road, north of Bretton Wood Drive. The 8.76-acre property is now zoned to allow up to 15,500-square-feet of commercial development. (Petition 02-0311)

When and where

Hearings of county zoning hearing masters and land use hearing officers, and land use meetings of the County Commission are held on the second floor of the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Zoning hearings begin at 6 p.m., and commission meetings begin at 9 a.m. Both are televised on government access channels. Land use hearing officer hearings, which are not televised, begin at 9 a.m. For information, call (813) 272-5920.

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