The House has approved a proposal by Apollo Beach Republican Rep. Michael Owen to create a new special district in southern Hillsborough County.
HB 4061 cruised through the House with a swift 110-4 vote. But a companion bill has not yet been filed in the Senate, leaving the fate of the measure up in the air.
The bill would establish the Land Reserve Stewardship District, a single-purpose special district designed to plan, finance and manage infrastructure and public services within a defined area of land in southern Hillsborough.
“This is a land stewardship in south Hillsborough County in conjunction with Chapter 189 and 190,” Owen told Representatives on Monday. “The stewardship does not supersede local government and is subject to the comp plan.”
The District would have authority to build, operate and maintain infrastructure such as roads, stormwater systems, water and sewer utilities and conservation areas. It could levy non-ad valorem assessments, issue bonds and impose user fees within its boundaries.
Any debt incurred by the District would not constitute a financial obligation of Hillsborough County. The District would not have zoning or land-use authority and would remain subject to Hillsborough County’s comprehensive plan and development regulations.
The District would initially be governed by a landowner-controlled board. As population increases, control would gradually transition to residents. Once the District reaches 14,000 qualified electors, one of five supervisors would be elected by residents, with additional resident seats added at 21,000, 28,000, 35,000 and 40,000 electors, at which point all five supervisors would be elected by District voters in nonpartisan General Elections.
The bill also outlines procedures for expansion, contraction or termination of the District, authorizes potential mergers with other districts, and requires disclosures to purchasers when residential property is located in the District.
If approved by the full Legislature and signed by the Governor, the measure would create the Land Reserve Stewardship District immediately upon becoming law. But its authority to levy ad valorem taxes would require approval by voters within the District at a General Election.
