Keystone Land Use Update 6-10-2025

Reminder!

Van Dyke Road from Gunn Highway to East of Whirley Road Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study

Public Hearing

Date: June 17, 2025

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Northdale Recreation Center

15510 Hooting Owls Place

Tampa, FL 33624

We have TWO map amendment locations pending in Keystone. These set a DANGEROUS precedent if approved! These rural properties would be rezoned urban and allow density development that goes against not only the Keystone-Odessa Community Plan but the very foundation of our rural community.

These outrageous density increases take away the resources our community depends on by overburdening our first responders/firefighters, our police officers, and ignoring school capacity for our children. These densities destroy our wetlands and wildlife in our rural community. We watch as our Grand Oaks and necessary shade trees are cut down to make way for overdevelopment.

And if you are frustrated with the traffic now, these map amendments would add hundreds of additional vehicles to our area. Think about all these additional vehicles if you evacuate during hurricane season.

Pending Amendments (HC/CPA 25-03 and HC/CPA 25-04 and RZ-PD 25-0934) : Stephen Dibbs has applied for a rezoning of almost 300 acres on Lutz Lake Fern for an RV Park. This rezoning goes hand in hand with the map amendments to expand the urban service area to his property, add county utilities (water and sewer) and approve up to 4 dwelling units per gross acre and Neighborhood commercial, office or multi-purpose projects up to 175,000 sq. ft.

Pending Amendments (HC/CPA 25-11 and HC/CPA 25-12): Van Dyke/Tobacco Rd Hayfield for up to 155 townhouses by DR Horton. As you recall last year, there was a Live Local application to build townhomes on the hayfield next to Van Dyke Farms. These amendments address a total of 21.73 acres (the 12.97 acres at 6720 Van Dyke Rd and the 8.76 acres at 17635 Tobacco Rd).

The SAME reasons we fought against the Live Local at this location STILL exist with this proposed amendment. It sends our schools over capacity and the traffic produced would affect all of us. We have no control over an owner renting their property.

We, the taxpayers, have already paid $309,000 when they dug in the wetlands on this property.

Last year the CIP that ballooned to over $6.6 million to repave and add sidewalks to Tobacco Rd was paused . But THIS Capitol Improvement Project IS STILL ON THE BOOKS! Developments of this magnitude change the requirements of our rural roadways. AND the June 17, 2025 public meeting scheduled to change Van Dyke to 4 lanes is projected at $169 million.

We will be sending a separate email with a suggested letter to send to both Plan Hillsborough BOCC and Hillsborough County BOCC asking that they DENY these amendments.

ANYONE can and should call your Hillsborough County Commissioners and tell them to deny these amendments!