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Neighborhood news
Water protection on residents' minds
By Times staff
Published February 9, 2007
The Hillsborough County Planning Commission has handed environmental activists a tentative victory in a debate about development near waterways. More than 50 residents showed up at Monday's commission meeting, many wearing badges declaring, "Protect my land and water." A dozen of them spoke to commissioners. In a 5-3 vote, the commission gave them part of what they wanted. Residents had asked to increase mandatory setbacks for new development - the required minimum distance between developments and wetlands - from 30 to 50 feet. The change would protect wetlands, they argued, and reduce chances of flooding. The commission agreed to consider establishing 50-foot setbacks while county staff members develop guidelines for determining setbacks on a case-by-case basis. When the guidelines are finished in February 2008, planners will phase out fixed setbacks in favor of site-specific "buffer zones," which determined boundaries according to what kind of water is nearby. "Presumably a man-made cow pond would get less restrictive buffering than a pristine river," said Mariella Smith, who supported the commission's decision. Planners could also assign buffer zones wider than 50 feet in some areas. Commissioner Edward Giunta voted against the change because, he said, no scientific evidence existed to show that it was needed. He was joined by Seth Boots and Jerry King in the minority. WIMAUMA: A developer appears before the County Commission on Tuesday to modify a site plan northeast of Lightfoot and Timberlee roads. The request would relax the county's density requirements at the site, although the overall number of proposed homes would not change. Property owner Allison Repetto wants to build 224 houses on 262 acres. The request seeks to shrink lot sizes to one unit per one-half acre on part of the property. Petition 06-2274 Andrew Meacham can be reached at 661-2431 or ameacham@sptimes.com.
[Last modified February 8, 2007, 08:23:37]
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