On a quiet stretch of Holly Lane in unincorporated Lutz, a rezoning request for a private K‑8 school with up to 1,000 students has neighbors gearing up for a fight. Residents say the project is simply too big for the narrow local roads, would compound chronic flooding problems, and could chip away at the semi‑rural feel that has kept families rooted there for generations.
According to Tampa Bay 28, third‑generation resident Jennifer Miranda argues the proposal would add “significant strain and safety concerns to our already congested semi‑rural residential neighborhoods.” Neighbors have pulled together more than $12,000 to hire a traffic engineer, a land‑use expert and an attorney to oppose the project. Public records list the campus under the name APEX Academy, and a spokesperson for the applicant told the outlet they believe there is a need for a private school in the area but declined to elaborate.
Land‑Use Hearing Set For June 15
Hillsborough County’s Land Use Hearing Officer has scheduled a public hearing on the special‑use rezoning request for Monday, June 15, at 9 a.m. EDT in the County Center boardroom. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format with options to participate virtually, according to Hillsborough County. The county’s event page details how residents can sign up to speak at the hearing or submit written comments for the LUHO record.
Roads, Flooding And Nearby Schools
Opponents point to the area’s narrow two‑lane streets, a lack of sidewalks and ongoing storm‑drain issues as warning signs that the site is not built to handle heavy school pick‑up and drop‑off traffic twice a day. Longtime resident Belinda Pope notes that “Within 4 miles, we have eight K‑8 schools,” a point neighbors use to question whether another school is needed in the immediate area, Tampa Bay 28 reports. Residents say their core worry is safety, from potential traffic crashes to increased flood risk, if long car lines end up stacking along Holly Lane every morning and afternoon.
What To Watch At The Hearing
The LUHO is expected to weigh the proposal against county criteria for traffic, drainage and compatibility with future land‑use designations, in line with zoning guidance from Hillsborough County. Neighbors say they plan to press county staff and the applicant for detailed traffic studies and firm mitigation commitments at the June 15 hearing. The decision will determine whether the request is approved as is, denied outright or forwarded for additional review by the Board.
