The City of Plant City City Commission unanimously adopted a resolution at its regularly-scheduled commission meeting this week to direct staff to transmit a map amendment to the Florida Division of Community Development (DOC) and other state and local agencies for their review and comment, despite objections from local landowners.
The 243.4 acre property, located north of Swindell Road between the Polk County line and east of Charlie Taylor Road, consists of agricultural land within Plant City and unincorporated Hillsborough County. The applicant is requesting a future land use designation of Plant City Industrial.
During the meeting, commissioners heard presentations by Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission Executive Planner Krista Kelly and Plant City Zoning Coordinator Robyn Baker, who offered differing expert opinions about whether the application was consistent with the Northeast Plant City Master Plan. Kelly said the Planning Commission’s recommendation was the map amendment was inconsistent with the goals and policies of Plant City’s Comprehensive Plan. Baker said city staff reviewed the proposed amendment and found it consistent based on land use policy that address future growth and development in the area. “A portion of this project is zoned Industrial, if we look to the other side of County Line Road you’ll see how it extends almost to this property, it makes sense for this area to be considered Industrial,” said Baker.
Land use attorney Jake Cremer of Stearns Weaver Miller who represented the applicant, Blue Steel Development, stated Kelly’s staff made its decision without pertinent facts concerning Blue Steel’s plan to build an extension off County Line Road that would be the only access point to the property.
“We’re only here tonight on a request to transmit to the state so you can get feedback and bring all of that back to be heard again,” said Cremer. “All we’re asking is to move this forward to the next step and we’re looking forward to feedback.”
Certified Planner Cynthia Spidell of Stearns Weaver Miller also spoke out in favor of the transmittal.
During public comment, residents, some coming from as far as Palm Harbor, each had three minutes to share their thoughts about the plan. While a couple of people spoke out in support of the project, dozens expressed their opposition and wore green bandanas, some tied around their heads, others around their necks or arms, in a show of solidarity.
Many expressed concerns about flooding impacts the industrial development would have on their properties, located near the Itchepackesassa Creek. Several shared photos of their properties after storm surge left their land underwater. “We live in a troubled area,” said Josh Briggs. “The water goes to the creek, it fills up and floods everybody’s area and puts my house in a bowl.”
After public comment, Kremer addressed residents’ flooding concerns. “Your comprehensive plan doesn’t talk about flooding but we’re addressing those issues,” he said. “You’ll hear a lot more about it in rezoning and permitting.”
Mayor Nate Kilton was quick to speak out in support of the transmittal. “Don’t take this as me being in support or against this project but I want to see a full detailed analysis,” he said.
Commissioner Mary Mathis concurred with Mayor Kilton. “I listened to every comment and I agree with the mayor this should not be a process that stops here, we need to transmit it to the state to get all the information we need to make the best decision for this project,” she said.
When the meeting concluded, Travis Luttrell, a citizen who lives on Charlie Taylor Road and opposes the project, congratulated Blue Steel Development principal Austin Jones on the win. “I have no issues with Blue Steel Development and when it was over I shook hands with Austin Jones, congratulated him and wished him a Merry Christmas,” he said.
He will continue to fight agains the project. “It doesn’t make any sense to put an impervious surface in an environmentally sensitive area,” he said. “Annexing this land into the city would give the city the chance to make a considerable amount of money but you have to balance that with what it’s going to cost current residents, even if they don’t live in the city of Plant City.”
The map amendment will be reviewed by state agencies. A minimum of 30 days is required for the state review agencies to provide their comments. Upon receipt of a comment letter, the City Commission has 180 days to adopt, adopt with changes or decline to adopt the amendment. It is anticipated that a public hearing on the annexation and rezoning will be scheduled spring 2024.