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A Hillsborough County land use hearing officer made the following recommendation:
TOWN 'N COUNTRY: A two-story complex of 68 townhomes is acceptable along Humphrey Street and Lois Avenue as long as a number of conditions are met.
Land use hearing officer David Borisenko said the applicant, Bert Barber, needed to set the complex 20 feet from the roads, as well as provide a transportation analysis to determine whether a right turn lane is needed for the townhomes. The study also must determine whether an acceleration lane out of the site is needed, as well as a left turn lane into the driveways. If there's not enough land for the added lanes, then Barber must submit new plans.
Barber must also submit a traffic analysis for the intersections at Dale Mabry Highway and Humphrey Street and at Lois and Waters avenues to determine whether any adjustments need to absorb the extra traffic generated by the project.
Borisenko said the development, to be called Carrollwood Gardens, must also build sidewalks along the roads next to the townhomes. And the design of the project must avoid removing several grand oaks that exist on the site now.
Hillsborough County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the rezoning at their Oct. 12 meeting. (Petition 04-1159)
CITRUS PARK: The range of proposed uses for 3.4 acres on Gunn Highway, south of Beaty Grove Drive, has varied since county staffers endorsed its rezoning four years ago.
It was originally proposed as a 36,000-square-foot commercial, office and cultural complex. But county staffers scaled those plans down in 2000 to a 13,500-square-foot office center and child-care center.
Some neighbors complained that such a use would generate too much traffic. County staffers scaled it back further in 2001 so that two office buildings could be built up to 7,000 square feet.
On Aug. 19, the project's planning consultant, Michael Horner, submitted new plans for the development. It's proposed now for 1 acre of land north of Sickles High School that is within the Citrus Park Village Master Plan.
Horner said two buildings, up to 3,500 square feet each, will be used for medical office buildings.
"We believe this proposed development is both appropriate and compatible given the proximity of this parcel to a major high school, approved and existing office uses, a major commercial activity center and a widened roadway," Horner wrote to Paula Harvey, the county's zoning administrator.
A 6-foot wall will shield the buildings on the west side. Along the south side of Beaty Grove Drive, the developer has to plant 10-foot-tall evergreen trees. (Petition 99-1318)