Executive Directors Message

Beyond constitutional amendments and tax cuts, 2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Hillsborough County.  The Comprehensive Plan updates for the four governments in Hillsborough County are on track and will soon serve as new guiding documents for sustainable growth.

After countless public hearings, open house events, and stakeholder meetings, the Future of Hillsborough Comprehensive Plan Update for Unincorporated Hillsborough County is in its final stages of approval and will soon be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.  The plan will serve as the guiding document for the next five years.

Updates to the Comprehensive Plans for the three cities are also underway.  The Planning Commission has been working intensely to complete the updates to the plans before upcoming public hearings and final meetings with the public.  The City of Tampa Comprehensive Plan: Building Our Legacy: A Livable City focuses on building sustainable value and an interconnected urban system in the City of Tampa.  The Planning Commission will begin public hearings on changes to the City of Tampa Comprehensive Plan in March. Updates to Temple Terrace and Plant City Comprehensive Plans will follow in the coming months. 

In other exciting news, the Planning Commission has partnered with the University of South Florida and several other businesses and organizations to put together the “Going Green by Getting Green 2008 Expo” to be held April 12 at the USF Sun Dome.  This dynamic exposition will showcase alternative energy, energy efficiency, sustainable design, resource efficient development, and green/high performance building, as well as serve as the central event of a two week-long Going Green Tampa Bay event.  The Expo will bring together over 150 businesses and numerous speakers to demonstrate how to live sustainably and build a future that values conservation of resources and saves money.  You can find more information at www.goinggreentampabay.org.  

Finally, our Annual Community Design Awards Program is just around the corner.  For the 26^th year, the Planning Commission will host what has become a premier event in Hillsborough County.  The Design Awards aims to recognize Excellence in Planning, landscape architecture, environmental sensitivity and architectural design in building and development projects throughout Hillsborough County.  We hope you join us the evening of April 3, 2008 at Tampa Theatre for this prestigious event.  For more information visit www.theplanningcommission.org.

As you can see we have a busy winter and spring ahead of us.  Despite recent budget cuts and the possibility of more to come, the Planning Commission is here to serve Hillsborough County and its citizens.  We provide comprehensive and coordinated planning.  Only when planning takes place in this type of coordinated manner will the County and its three cities fully succeed in sustainable and efficient development.

Robert B. Hunter, FAICP