We are pleased to announce our...
33rd Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by

The Planning Commission is proud to announce our 33rd annual celebration of great planning in Hillsborough County. With the emphasis on the importance of great planning in our own region, our awards program is now held in October to align with the many national festivities during the American Planning Association's (APA) National Community Planning Month and celebration of Great Places in America!
Call for Entries

See a project built in the last five years that is improving the quality of life in Hillsborough County? 

 

Enter your favorite projects in our 33rd Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas! Submissions are due by August 27th. Check out the Call for Entries for details on criteria and how to submit your entry. Everything you need to know is right here!
Tampa Electric & Peoples Gas present the Planning Commission 33rd Annual Planning & Design Awards
Save the Date

Plan to join us | Save the Date

October 29, 2015 | Winners Announced 

T Pepin's Hospitality Centre | 4121 N 50th Street | Tampa 

Tampa Bay Times Reception | 6:15 p.m.
Dinner & Awards | 7:15 p.m.
Tickets | $50 per person |On sale in September
Congratulations Chair Thrower!
APA National Planning Officials Committee Appointment
As of May 1, Planning Commission Chair Mitch Thrower has been appointed by the American Planning Association (APA) Board of Directors to serve on the APA Planning Officials Committee. Commissioner Thrower will represent Region III,  encompassing Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and South America.

The charge of the Planning Officials Committee is to advocate and to help educate planning officials about implementing sound, ethical, inclusionary and non-discriminatory planning practice. Most work of the committee relates to the educational programs for the audience of planning commissioners, through publications, distance learning, and at the National Planning Conference.

We are confident the APA Planning Officials Committee will benefit from your leadership and dedication as much as we do!
Plant City - Right. Now.
Ready for economic growth and development

Plant City and its leaders are dedicated to its growth and development. "Plant City's proximity to major roadways as well as Port Tampa Bay is ideal for corporations in industries such as manufacturing, distribution, and logistics," said Mayor Rick Lott, City of Plant City. "Many agencies are working together to streamline the process for new commercial development and corporate relocations here, creating a welcoming environment that is friendly to companies looking to expand their operations and impact on the market."

 

The City has developed a Strategic Guide for future growth and development that specifically includes an action plan to meet goals in the following areas:  

  • Unique Sense of Place
  • Thriving Local Economy
  • Superior Education/Skills
  • Quality Services and Infrastructure
  • Citizen Involvement
Poised to capitalize on its untapped business district, Plant City held an economic development forum on May 6 with a jam-packed crowd of energized supporters. The forum highlighted why Plant City is a great place to do business.

Plant City quality of life video
Plant City quality of life video

The Planning Commission, on behalf of the City of Plant City, applied for a technical assistance grant from the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) in the amount of $20,000 to develop the zoning district and related land development regulations to implement the strategies that were adopted as part of the I-4 Tech Corridor Overlay. In addition to supporting the vision, the overlay district:
  • Discourages Urban Sprawl
  • Advances Energy-Efficient Land Use Patterns
  • Promotes Mixed Land Uses
  • Directs Development to areas served by Public Facilities
  • Preserves Open Space & Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Plant City in October 2010, this overlay district intends to build, diversify, and expand the local employment opportunities in Plant City. In December 2014, the DEO grant was awarded, allowing the Planning Commission to engage Michael Lauer of Planning Works, LLC, who had assisted with the original study and related plan amendments. The land development regulations are expected to be adopted in July, providing one more piece of the puzzle making Plant City Right. Now.
 
Temple Terrace rolls out Cyclovia
Sunday, May 17, 2015, 9a - 2p on 56th Street
Cyclovia Temple Terrace is so street! So, get ready to walk, run, bike, skate, scoot, dance, eat, drink, and play on a carless 56th Street from Whiteway Drive to Busch Boulevard.

Put on your pedal
pushers and ride into
Temple Terrace history
at the Temple Terrace
History Bike Tour at 10a.
Enjoy a variety of other
family-friendly activities
and demos, including:

Story Bike

KIDZ Zone

Tai Chi

Tae Kwon Do

Yoga

Line dancing

Food trucks

Song, dance & more!

 
Hillsborough County At Your Service
24/7 expanded customer service

Talk about user-friendly! Hillsborough County has expanded its customer service capabilities with  At Your Service. The mobile-friendly website adjusts to all devices and allows residents to submit a service request and track the progress online 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

 
Innovations in resiliency planning
Hillsborough 2040 Transportation Plan featured on TV

The Discovery Channel will feature the Hillsborough 2040 Transportation Plan on an episode of its series Innovations with Ed Begley, Jr. The first airing is expected on May 29, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. ET and 7:30 a.m. PT and will rerun on future dates. The episode on sustainability features a seven-minute segment focused on planning for resilience to extreme weather risk in the transportation sector.

County Commissioner Les Miller, Chair of the Hillsborough MPO and the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC), recently discussed the importance of preparing our roads and transit for extreme weather events for the award winning television series. The segment also includes expert perspectives from Cambridge Systematics, Florida Atlantic University, and the South Florida Regional Planning Council, who are working to address the risks posed to transportation infrastructure.

Innovations is an educational series that focuses on breakthroughs and advancements in all areas of society. The story will also air on FOX Business this summer. Tune in to hear Commissioner Miller discuss more about mitigation efforts related to resiliency and extreme weather.
Imagine 2040 takes two top honors!
TBRPC's One Bay & Future of the Region Awards

 

On March 27, the  Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) held its 23rd Annual Future of the Region Awards program, recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions benefiting the regional community. Imagine Hillsborough 2040 was pleased to receive two top honors - First Place in the Public Education category and the One Bay Award. 

 

Read more.  

 
Issue 23 | May 2015
ePublications & eNews from our agency are always associated with an email address ending in:

@plancom.org 

 
In this issue
Become a Sponsor
If you'd like to become a sponsor of our 33rd Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, please complete our sponsorship form. Thank you!
Thank you, sponsors!
Title Sponsor
Reception Sponsor
Tampa Bay Times logo
Good Neighbor Sponsor
C.E.D. / Raybro /
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Pike
Final meetings in the series:
May 18, 6p-8p
Town 'N Country Regional Library

May 19, 6p-8p
Trinkle Center, Plant City

May 21, 7p-8p
Telephone Town Hall
Call toll free: 877.229.8493
Pin # when prompted: 110301

RSVP and more information at:
2015 Be Ready Tampa Bay Hurricane Expo
Saturday, May 30
10a - 4p
at
FREE Parking!
FREE Expo Admission!
FREE MOSI Admission!

This year's Hurricane Expo theme, Be Ready Tampa Bay,

will focus on the importance of taking actions before a major disaster to ensure you can

recover successfully and thrive after a storm. Enjoy activities

for adults and children,

educational displays, tips

from the experts, safety demos, emergency vehicle displays,

and vendors of safety products, personal disaster preparedness and home retrofit products, plus more - it's all FREE! 
In accordance with Title VI ofthe Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination laws, public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status.  Read more about our commitment to non-discrimination and other requirements.