City of Tampa's Upland Habitat Protection Ordinance

City of Tampa's Upland Habitat Protection Ordinance

Tampa and Hillsborough County have an “Upland Habitat Protection” ordinance for “the protection of the few high quality xeric and mesic natural plant communities and wildlife habitat.

City of Tampa – Upland Habitat Protection Ordinance 17-5, Article V, Section 91-133

• Appendix A – Significant Wildlife Habitat Minimum Width/Size Criteria

• Appendix B – Habitat Management Guidelines
• Appendix C – General Guidelines for Listed Species

Below - DRAFT Development Review Manual (Technical Manual)

• City of Tampa Upland Habitat Development Review Manual (DRAFT)

• Appendix A – Preliminary Evaluation Form (Author - Dave Sumpter)

• Appendix B – Standard state-listed animal survey procedures for SFWMD ERP Projects (Author - Jim Beaver)
• Appendix C – Regulated Upland Habitat Determination/Request for Additional Information (Author - Dave Sumpter)

• Appendix D – Preservation Area Management Plan Guidelines (Author - Dave Sumpter)
• Appendix E. Wildlife Undercrossing Design of Roadways (Author - Dave Sumpter)
• Appendix F – Passive Recreation in Significant Wildlife Habitat (Author - Gregory Howe)

Checking Out Tampa’s Upland Habitat Protection Ordinance In October 2006 we went to Tampa to meet with Greg Howe, a Naturalist working for the City’s Parks & Recreation Department. Tampa and Hillsborough County have an “Upland Habitat Protection” ordinance for “the protection of the few high quality xeric and mesic natural plant communities and wildlife habitat ..., and for the protection of remaining large contiguous environmentally sensitive areas, in order to retain habitat diversity and wildlife corridors and to maintain the quality of life in the City of Tampa and protect the health, safety, welfare and general well being of the citizens of the City of Tampa.”

The trip was quite interesting.
Tampa and the majority of the north end of Hillsborough County as well as large parts of adjoining Pasco County are being subdivided and developed under various large Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) and Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs). A map of the various developments looks like a jig-saw puzzle where very little, if any, of the original natural habitats will remain open or unaffected by the development. After a buildout of the area the only remaining wildlife habitat will be

Greg’s job is to work with each of these landowners/developers as they go through the development review processes and to try to implement the City’s Upland Habitat Protection requirements such that some useful and logical habitat may remain after development occurs. This is no easy task. The developer of course, is trying to maximize use of every acre of land to get as many developable units as possible. From a natural plant and wildlife perspective over the long-term, Greg’s work has most lasting value if he can cobble together enough area, linking from one development to the next, such that some wildlife and plant communities will stand a change of sustaining viable populations into our future.

From a landscape mapping description what often happens is this:
• Jurisdictional wetlands, streams and linked cypress domes form a core of undeveloped lands ( A wildlife corridor);
• Significant wildlife habitat is then added or layered along these corridor areas where possible (Significant Habitat is defined in the ordinance).
• Then, where the opportunity present itself, these areas of Wildlife Corridors and Significant Wildlife Habitat are linked to other existing “environmentally sensitive areas” to enlarge the effect and follow the accepted logic that the larger a core area of natural habitat you can get the better in regards to long-term sustainabiltiy. For a number of the development in North Tampa there is the possibility of linking to a large SWFWMD property or larger protected parcels acquired under the County’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).
• As an added buffer, stormwater facilities are often placed against the protected wildlife areas (see photo).


1 In the picture above a layering of protected upland habitat against a stream corridor of wetlands (off in the distance – dark woods) and layered on the other side by a stormwater management facility. This layering allows a significant area to provide habitat within a development that not only provides intended wildlife habitat but acts as an amenity to people that move in.


This picture shows a wildlife area protection sign within a new development in north Tampa.

This picture shows an at grade wildlife crossong area within a Tampa suburban neighborhood.  The crossing follows a wetland and stream crossing.  The planning did not include bridge of culvert designs friendly to wildlife but the city planners are moving in this direction.  The road speed is very slow (25 to 30 miles per hour) and the visibility is good so that wildlife crossing at this point should not be in particular danger from cars.

This picture shows Cranes in a new north Tampa neighborhood - confused since last visit when this area was natural and their home.