NEW PORT RICHEY – The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance Feb. 25 to amend the comprehensive plan to allow accessory dwelling units in future land use categories that allow single-family residential development.
Accessory dwelling units are a small, self-contained residential unit on the same property as a primary single-family home. They are often referred to as “granny flats,” “in-law units” or “backyard cottages,” and they can be either attached to the main house (like a basement or garage conversion) or detached (such as a separate small house in the backyard).
They will be generally smaller in size than the primary residence, often ranging from 200 to 1,200 square feet.
In many areas, accessory dwelling units would be subject to specific zoning laws that regulate their size, location and usage. They would offer flexible living solutions, help maximize property use and could be a source of rental income for homeowners.
Also, accessory dwelling units would provide additional housing ancillary to the principal dwelling unit to increase housing opportunities, promote mixed-income neighborhoods, encourage infill development, address the “missing middle” housing types, address affordable housing needs and provide housing opportunities for extended families.
Decision delayed on proposed 63-lot subdivision
Commissioners held off on a rezoning decision that would allow a 63-lot subdivision on 34.24 acres at Hudson Avenue and Colony Road in Hudson.
Several neighbors on Foxfire Drive told commissioners during a public hearing that they were opposed to DRB Group’s rezoning request.
Some of the reasons cited included concerns that the development would negatively affect property values and the agricultural and residential areas adjacent to it. Another concern was the unsafe conditions that would exist if increased traffic occurred on Foxfire Drive.
The applicant planned to have ingress and egress to the development via Foxfire Drive, a county-maintained road on the south side of the property. But many of the people speaking against the rezoning said they thought it would be better for ingress and egress to be from Colony Road.
Commissioners suggested Foxfire Drive only be used for emergency access to the subdivision.
The applicant agreed in its application to convey, at no cost to the county, the right-of-way for access by Palm Winds MPUD to the Colony Road Vision Road. That road has been under construction for a few years but doesn’t provide access to Hudson Avenue, which the county eventually hopes to achieve.
Commissioners extended the hearing to its March 25 meeting.
Decisions paves way for apartments
Commissioners approved a conditional use amendment made by Spanish Lakes Land Company LLC/Spanish Lakes CU that would allow the development of up to 360 apartments on 18.65 acres located 150 feet north of State Road 52, east of Deerbook Boulevard.
That approval also increased the height of the proposed apartments from three stories to a maximum of four stories.
Ingress and egress from the project would be through appropriate turn lanes on Shady Hills Road.
One of the conditions of the approval was also that the county engineer would work with the applicant to determine if a safe traffic lane could be developed to provide interconnection within the proposed project.
Other approvals included: 0
- A rezoning request by Walker Development Company that would allow the construction of a 7,500-square-foot office building within the Pristine Lake Preserve MPUD.
- The renaming of a portion of Pasco Road to Tradeway Boulevard. The affected area of the road extends 3,100 feet north of County Road 52. This was done since Old Pasco Road extends north and Pasco Road needs to extend east due to realignment of the road.
- Plats with performance guarantees were also approved. M/I Homes of Tampa, LLC, made its request for the development of 135 single-family lots and associated infrastructure on 69.639 acres within the Two Rivers development. The property is east of Morris Bridge Road and south of State Road 56. The county has received two surety bonds from M/I Homes totaling $6,570,261.64 to cover those costs.
Good Life Development Inc., made its request for the development of 20 residential lots and associated infrastructure on 31.2 acres within Spring Valley Estates. The property is located on the west side of Spring Valley Road at the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Clayton Road. The county has received a surety bond in the amount of $236,017.25 to cover those costs.
