BY YVETTE C. HAMMETT
Published: January 12, 2010
TAMPA - Chalk up one for the neighborhoods. The Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2 today to deny a Valrico rezoning that dozens of residents have fought against for months. Residents living off Lithia-Pinecrest Road near Valrico and Brooker roads filled the county commission chambers this morning, donning red T-shirts showing their disdain for a rezoning that would have converted a 19.2-acre former orange grove into strip commercial. But don't tuck away those red T-shirts just yet. The property owner who sought to rezone his land for commercial development isn't done yet. "There will be another step," said attorney Vin Marchetti, representing land owner Greg Henderson. "I can't say exactly what that will be, but there will be another step." The triangular property is located between Valrico, Brooker and Lithia-Pinecrest roads. Commissioner Mark Sharpe moved to reject the project based on a lack of compatibility with the surrounding community and what he sees as major traffic issues on area roads. He also called the development plans "premature." Commissioners Kevin White and Jim Norman, voted no on the motion rejecting the project. Community activists were elated with the commission's vote to deny the change. "We're thrilled with the outcome," said activist Lynea D'Angelo, who helped spearhead the opposition. "We were poised for at least a remand (to the zoning hearing master), but this is better." "It's nice to see the commission did weigh all the issues rather than voting on the want of one property owner," said community activist Deborah Humphrey. Commissioners had given Marchetti the option of sending the matter back to the county's zoning hearing master to work out the traffic issues and try to find some neutral ground with residents, but he declined. Marchetti said those issues have already been addressed.
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