TAMPA - Developers who want county water and sewer lines extended to new projects in rural areas got no cooperation Monday night from the Hillsborough Planning Commission.

Planning commissioners overwhelmingly rejected three developments proposed for outside the boundary for high-density, city-like development. Commissioners found the developments inconsistent with the county comprehensive plan, a blueprint for county growth meant to discourage urban sprawl.

Their recommendations for denial now go to the Hillsborough County commission, which makes the final decision.

The planning commission was especially critical of the developments because they violated the Keystone-Odessa Community Plan, which seeks to protect rural lifestyles with low-density developments of one home per 5 acres. The plan was developed over several years in meetings between residents and county planners.

Developer Stephen Dibbs sought two plan amendments that would allow him to develop a shopping center and homes on 305 acres on Lutz-Lake Fern Road near Suncoast Parkway. One amendment would have withdrawn Dibbs' land from the Keystone-Odessa Plan so he could increase the density from one house per 5 acres to two houses per acre, a tenfold increase.

The change also would have increased Dibbs' allowable commercial floor space from 40,000 square feet to 175,000 square feet.

Dibbs' second amendment was to extend water and sewer to his land, which is outside the urban service area, the boundary beyond which intense development usually is prohibited.

Lawyer Vincent Marchetti and planner Steve Allison, representing Dibbs, argued the land surrounding the 305 acres is more suburban than rural. Land to the north and east are zoned for higher densities, they said. To the south, the upscale Cheval development is contiguous to Dibbs' land.

"This site bears no functional relationship to what I would consider the heart of Keystone," Allison said. "This parcel is in the context of a suburban area."

But commissioners were sympathetic to residents' argument that Dibbs bought the land in 2004, three years after the Keystone-Odessa Plan was implemented.

"There have to be areas where people can live without development encroaching in on them," commissioner Terri Cobb said.

Marchetti also failed to convince the commission the comprehensive plan should be amended in the name of economic development. They rejected his proposal to extend water and sewer lines to 94 acres next to Interstate 4 near McIntosh Road. The property's western border touches the urban service area.

Marchetti argued the parcel should get county utilities because it would create jobs.

The third development rejected Monday was for a mixed-use development with 174 homes at Gunn Highway and Van Dyke road.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.