Bellamy Traffic

5/30/26 Update

As expected, a new application was filed to rezone the land at 14702 Bellamy Road & 5911 Ehrlich Road for a proposed 7 Eleven. The new case number is RZ-PD 26-0974.

The rezoning proposal has been scheduled for the 08/24/2026 Zoning Master Hearing. However the county says that date could change. A new sign will go up when the new hearing date is finalized.

Public comments will need to be re-submitted. Please email your remarks to the zoning leaders at Hillsborough County. You must include the case number, RZ-PD 26-0974 with your correspondence (the subject line is ideal).

Send your message to: hearings@hcfl.gov

Include your proximity to the site, your concerns/reasons for opposition, your full name, and a respectful request to deny this application.

Some Key Points In The Application

⚠️ The developer is requesting an exception to Hillsborough County's normal driveway spacing standards. County standards require 245 feet of separation between driveways in this location. The proposed 7 Eleven driveway would be approximately 130 feet from a neighboring residential driveway.

⚠️ The traffic study projects approximately 2,814 vehicle trips per day to and from the site.

⚠️ The site plan includes diesel fuel sales in addition to gasoline. A 12,000-gallon diesel fuel tank is proposed as part of the project.

⚠️ The proposal includes alterations to wetlands and wetland buffer areas on the property.

✅ The proposed store would be approximately 4,852 square feet.

✅ The fueling area would include 12 fueling positions.

✅ Access would be limited to right turns in and right turns out from both Bellamy Road and Ehrlich Road.

✅ A 4' concrete traffic separator is proposed on Bellamy Road to prevent left turns into and out of the site.

✅ Landscape buffers are proposed between the development and nearby residential properties.

Questions Residents Are Asking

❓ If customers of 7 Eleven can only enter via right turns from Bellamy and Ehrlich, is an increase in u-turns on these already busy roads likely?

❓ Is it expected that customers coming from Ehrlich Road will cut through Sugarwood Grove to access the store?

❓ How will additional traffic affect safety for nearby residents, pedestrians, cyclists, and school traffic?

❓Are the proposed wetland modifications appropriate for this location and its many interconnected ponds?

❓What safeguards will be in place to prevent fuel leaks or contamination from reaching the wetland ecosystem?

❓If any modifications are required to wetlands, roadways, drainage systems, sidewalks, utilities, or other public infrastructure, who will pay for those improvements?

❓Is the requested driveway spacing rule exception appropriate for this site?

❓Will diesel fuel sales attract additional trucks, commercial vehicles, and delivery traffic to the area?

❓Will the store operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? If so, what measures will be taken to reduce noise, lighting impacts, and overnight disturbances for nearby residents?

❓Most 7 Elevens sell alcohol. Will the 7 Eleven comply with county proximity buffers to the church, academy, and pre-school?

❓Given the requested driveway spacing rule exception, wetland impacts, alcohol sales concerns, and other site constraints - is this property truly suitable for a gas station and store - or is the project being forced onto a site that may not be ideal for this type of development?

 

What Happens Next?

The application is currently under review by Hillsborough County staff.

County planners and reviewers will evaluate the rezoning request, traffic study, environmental impacts, and other supporting documents before making recommendations and confirming public hearings.

As additional information becomes available, including staff reports, hearing dates, and other meeting schedules - updates will be posted here.

5/12/26 Update

The Public Hearing signs have been removed from both Bellamy Road and Ehrlich Road. It seems the applicant may now be preparing a new Planned Development (PD) submission, which would receive a new case number and future hearing date. No new filing has appeared in the public records portal at this time. Updates will be posted here as they become available.

4/20/26 Update

WHAT'S GOING ON?

The Developer Withdrew Their Application So They Can Submit a New Application That Attempts to Get All Needed Approvals at One Time

You may have noticed that the original application (RZ-STD 26-0481) was officially withdrawn on April 14th. While this is a temporary victory, it is actually a strategy by the developer. They are now preparing a Planned Development (PD) application.

 

What's a PD/Planned Development? 

Think of a standard rezoning application and approval as a "blank check" - if passed, the owner can put anything permitted in that type of zoning on the property. A PD, however, is a site-specific contract between the developer and the County where a detailed plan is agreed upon.

• Why the developer went this route: The County’s professional staff already found the standard gas station plan "not supportable" due to traffic and compatibility issues. By switching to a PD, the developer is trying to negotiate around these rules.

• The Trade-Off: In exchange for being allowed to build something the current rules don't permit (like a gas station near homes and alcohol sales near a church), the developer will offer "mitigations" such as specific landscaping, wall heights, or lighting restrictions. It's a way for the developer to say, "Here - we've pre-addressed all of the neighborhood's concerns, now please approve us."

• The Goal: They are trying to "bundle" the rezoning with a special waiver to sell alcohol near the church hoping to get it all approved in one swipe.

 

The Good News

A PD gives the community a specific target. Instead of arguing against a general idea, we will get to see their site plan and point at specific things that will harm the neighborhood. A few examples:

• Knowing exactly where the fuel tankers turn in & out and asking for how they will ensure safety

• We can make requests for crime prevention. Asking things like how the developer will prevent loitering, ensure safety, and provide security - especially since they are seeking to have offsite-consumed alcohol sold at this gas station

• We will ask how they will address the fact that they will be filling in wetlands and adding gas tanks in an area that sees droughts, water restrictions, and burn bans

• We can insist on plans for students and pedestrians  who use Bellamy & Ehrlich to go to and from school, walk, ride their bikes, run, and walk their pets

 

Next Steps: The old case (RZ-STD-26-0481) is now closed. We are waiting for the new PD Case Number to be assigned. Once it is, it will be posted here so neighborhood residents and church parishoners can send fresh, targeted comments to the County. We'll need more comments once the new application goes live. Stay tuned. Also, click on the Public Record link to see all of the correspondence regarding this project. 

 

4/15/26 Update

The rezoning application for the proposed 7-Eleven gas station at Bellamy and Ehrlich has been withdrawn before the scheduled hearing. This is not a final decision. A revised proposal is likely to be submitted in the future.

Additional updates will be posted here as they happen.

STOP THE 7-ELEVEN GAS STATION

CASE # RZ-STD-26-0481

This proposal would bring a 24-hour gas station and increased traffic to a residential intersection.

Ehrlich Road & Bellamy Road

INCREASED TRAFFIC, OVERNIGHT ACTIVITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE COMING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

There's still time to voice your concerns to the Hillsborough County Zoning Commission.