URBON REZONING APPROVED BY PLANNING BOARD.
At the corner of James L. Redman Parkway (SR 39) and Trapnell Road East sits 45 acres named the Oakmont Landing Planned Development District. In March 2022, the development was approved for 150 single-family residential houses where no more than 55 of these homes could be townhomes. The project would include roadway with access to James L. Redman Parkway. In December 2023, the northern portion of this area was rezoned to the HP Plant City Planned Development District, which allows for 350 multifamily units (i.e. apartments) to be constructed in the Gateway District.
The developer submitted a new application for rezoning that proposes two major changes. The first is rezoning 19 acres of the southern portion of Oakmont Landing to create Urbon (PB-2024-27) at Plant City Planned Development District. The second is revising the allowed uses of this planned development district from single-family detached homes and townhouses to 267 multifamily units with a northbound exit onto James L. Redman Parkway.
As a part of this rezoning, the developer requested these approvals:
1. Relief from the Plant City Code, Section 102-1421, to allow for a 12 percent reduction of required parking spaces.
2. Relief from the Plant City Code, Section 94-138 not to require reclaimed water connections for Urbon at Plant City.
3. Relief from Plant City Code, Sections 102-1413 and 102-2062 to eliminate the requirement to construct streets to the properties to the north and south on the site plan for Urbon.
In the Imagine 2040: Plant City Comprehensive Plan, the 19-acre site has a land use designation of Gateway District. This district specifies a .35 floor area ratio (FAR) and up to 16 dwelling units per gross acre (DU/GA). The Oakmont Landing Planned Development District , in 2021, was approved for single-family detached homes and townhouses with a density of approximately 5 DU/GA. The developer’s Urbon request, which replace the prior approved land use, is for 267 multi-family units in seven three-story buildings. This means the residential density would then be 14 DU/GA. The plan meets development criteria including building setbacks and height limitations. This proposed multifamily use is permitted on this land, and the proposal is under the allowed density maximum of the Gateway District.
Roadway from Urbon to the adjacent parcel on the north is not needed because of the designated use of the property—also in the Gateway District— which has been approved for 350 multi-family residential units (PB-2023-16).
To the east of the land are various Hillsborough County parcels zoned for future land use (FLU) as Residential-1 and AS-1.The developer is proposing an enhanced setback to the proposed apartment buildings along the east property line with enhanced landscaping and open space. The aim is for the landscaping to offer an aesthetically pleasing flow between the apartment community and the existing agricultural and single-family uses to the east.
The adjacent land on the south side of Urbon is within the Gateway District FLU and Residential-3 zoning. The parcels are undeveloped, but this zoning district permits multifamily development in addition to hotels, motels, funeral homes, nursing homes, private clubs, mobile home parks, and medical offices. While these parcels are currently undeveloped, Urbon is consistent with the anticipated future development of this land.
To the west, on the other side of James L Redman Parkway (which runs north toward downtown Plant City) is a single-family subdivision that is still under construction, and has one entrance and exit from West Trapnell Road.
The land use objectives of the Urbon development are first, to continue to maintain adequate land designated for residential uses for projected population growth and provide safe, decent, sanitary, and affordable housing for the residents of Plant City. The second objective is to encourage the development of a wide variety of housing types consistent with the housing needs that fit the incomes of Plant City households through building varied residential densities within the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations.
A traffic study linked to Urbon estimated it would generate an average of 1,844 daily new trips in and out of the area.
The Hillsborough County Planning Commission has reviewed this proposal and had no objections to the changed site development plan. According to the Planned Development District and Article XII in the Gateway District Supplemental Regulations, The City of Plant City Planning and Zoning Department review has found Urbon would meet the requirements related to permitted uses, review standards including compatibility with surrounding properties, and design quality of the project. The next step for approval is for the new plan to be brought before the Plant City Commission.
