The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning for a mixed-use project on nearly 21 acres of vacant land at the southeast quadrant of State Road 54 and Henley Road, in Lutz.
The project calls for 45,000 square feet of medical office space, up to 280 apartments, 5,000 square feet of commercial incorporated vertically in the apartment development and 5,000 square feet of additional commercial.
The medical office building must be constructed on the frontage of State Road 54, with the apartment project located to the rear, according to the conditions for approval.
The project also allows a free-standing emergency facility.
A pet center is planned along the frontage of State Road 54, with a pet park behind it.
The site is about 1 mile west of U.S. 41.
The project has cleared approvals of both a land use change and a zoning change, and can now proceed. The county board voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning at its Aug. 9 meeting, with Commissioner Mike Moore voting against the project.
Moore has consistently opposed the conversion of land that can be used for job-creating uses to residential developments, instead.
He maintained that position in this case, despite testimony by S. Elise Batsel, an attorney representing Liv Development, the applicant. Batsel said that an economic analysis revealed that more jobs would be created under the proposed use than otherwise would have been generated.
Moore questioned the accuracy of the analysis.
He also reiterated concerns that changes that are being granted will result in a proliferation of multi-family developments along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, which is contrary to the county’s quest to increase the availability of jobs in Pasco.
Published August 17, 2022
