Residents urged the Pasco County Commission to reject a request to allow multifamily zoning on a parcel on Clinton Avenue, but commissioners went along with the planning staff’s recommendation for approval.
The new zoning designation, requested under the name of Six Feet Under, LLC, will allow a maximum of 157 units, according to Carol Clarke, the county’s zoning administrator.
The 21.6-acre property is on the north side of Clinton Avenue, about 1,700 feet west of U.S. 301.
Opponents raised concerns about additional traffic that the project will create. They also said a multifamily project will change the character of the area.
“Please keep Dade City a small town,” said Abelardo Cruz, of 37451 Orange Blossom Lane. “We don’t have a problem with single-family.”
Dorothy Moore, president of The Ridge Homeowners Association, said her association is “very much against higher density.”
Donald Dempsey of 37510 Orange Blossom Lane, told commissioners: “We have enough problems with traffic.”
Another speaker told commissioners that he’s in the process of building a new home in the area, and he’s worried about his investment in the area and also concerned that others will be less likely to build a home there, if the multifamily project gained approval.
Allen Altman, one of the owners of the land up for rezoning, said he was approached by some people at his church about the possibility of creating some senior housing at the site.
“We don’t know exactly what’s going to be there,” he said, but he does know there’s a need for that kind of housing.
Altman also noted that he’d seen a petition submitted against the rezoning. The list contained several names of friends he has known for years.
They didn’t know who owned the land, Altman said. They were reacting to a rumor they heard that the multifamily housing was for low-income people.
Altman said his friends dropped their objections once they knew he was involved.
County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted that senior housing tends to be a wonderful addition to a community.
Commissioners approved the rezoning on a 5-0 vote, without debate.
Published January 21, 2015
