A Ruskin rezoning request moved forward at the Hillsborough County Zoning Hearing Master hearing on Monday, July 20, while a repeatedly continued Apollo Beach development proposal was postponed for at least the fourth time.

The hearing master heard application RZ-STD 26-0901, which would rezone a 0.98-acre parcel at 1115 E. Shell Point Road in Ruskin from CN and RSC-3 to CN(R), a neighborhood commercial category with a residential overlay. Applicants Ofelia Ramirez Rojas and Catalino Mendiola filed the request. The property carries a RES-6 Comprehensive Plan designation and sits in the county's urban service area.

The hearing officer will file a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners within 15 working days of the July 20 hearing, per county procedural rules.

Meanwhile, application MM 26-0062, a major modification to a planned development on 9.48 acres along Apollo Beach Boulevard, was continued to the Monday, August 24 ZHM hearing. The site sits about 900 feet southeast of the Golf and Sea Boulevard intersection, on the east side of the road. Applicant Chris Doherty filed the request to modify the existing PD (77-0123) zoning.

County records show the Apollo Beach Boulevard case has been continued at every ZHM hearing since at least Monday, April 27, with additional postponements on May 26, June 22, and July 20. The agenda does not state a reason for the latest continuance.

What residents can do

Once the hearing officer files a recommendation on the Shell Point Road case, residents have 10 calendar days to submit requests for additional evidence to the Clerk of the BOCC. The exact deadline depends on when the recommendation is filed; residents should confirm with the Clerk's office.

Evidence requests can be submitted by email to [email protected], in person at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa, or at 419 Pierce Street, Room 140, Tampa. The phone number is (813) 276-8100, ext. 4567.

To qualify as a party of record and speak before the BOCC, a person must have testified or submitted evidence at the ZHM hearing, been notified by proof of mailing, or submitted documentary evidence to the master file at least two business days before the hearing.

Based on standard county timelines, both applications would come before the BOCC at its land use meeting in late September. Residents should confirm the exact hearing date with the Clerk's office.

On Tuesday, July 21, the BOCC approved RZ-PD 26-0217, a 124-acre planned development rezoning on Big Bend Road in the Apollo Beach/Riverview/SouthShore community plan area. Commissioner Wostal made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Cohen, and it passed on consent.

The next ZHM hearing is Monday, August 24, when the Apollo Beach Boulevard modification will appear on the docket again. Residents can call 813-272-5600 for information about participating.