Welcome to the spring issue of Partners in Planning Newsletter.  As always, the Planning Commission is working to keep our community informed about important planning topics affecting our future.  We have much work to do to ensure our citizens and communities maintain a high quality of life with choices in lifestyles, transportation, and positive employement oportunities. 

Over the next few months, our Interstate-4 Study Team will complete the I-4 Economic Corridor Study - "I-4: Florida's First Green Corridor."  The vision of this plan is on developing specific performance measures in a  land use category as well as new zoning categories (working with the County) for Corridor.  The new performance measures will define the economic generators/uses most desired for the Corridor and encourage strong economic growth and diversification of our economy.  The performance measures in these new land-use categories will expedite the project approval process, in concept, to a matter of 4-6 weeks.  Improving the process will encourage economic development serving the needs of the business community, including those from beyond Hillsborough County in search of locations to relocate or expand their operations.

Following the I-4 Study, the Planning Commission will initiate a performance measure study for specific sites in unincorporated Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa.  A prototype should be developed to promote shovel worthy/shovel ready sites for desired industries.  This prototype could serve as a model for the development of future site specific performance measures to encourage and promote infill development. 

The Planning Commission has afforded me the opportunity to serve as President of the 44,000 member American Planning Association for the past two years.  For this, I am truly grateful.  While my term as APA President recently ended, I hope to use what was learned from my interaction with leaders from around the United States and the world, here in Hillsborough County.  

Over the past several months, I have served as a member of the APA Infrastructure Task Force.  The Task Force is working to inform our elected officials at the state and national level about good planning and the infrastructure needs of our communities.  Another subject I have learned a great deal about, and an aspect the Planning Commission will begin to address shortly, is that of megaregions (see newsletter article on megaregions).  Today other communities are looking at their place in the world, not just their region.  Many communities, from across a wide geographic area, are now working together collectively.  This should be no different in our Tampa/Orlando/Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Megaregion.  The recent One Bay initiative led by the Tampa Bay Partnership got us thinking about regionalism, but we need to do more in this regard.  We are competing on a global scale and need to think outside the box and beyond this Bay Area.

There is a lot on the horizon as it relates to growth and planning. The Planning Commission can be and will be a regional leader.  This agency is unique in Florida and indeed the country.  I look forward to future challenges as we make our communities as livable and economically vibrant as possible.  As always, I look forward to working with our partners for a sustainable future.

Robert B. Hunter, FAICP

Executive Director