The Pasco County Commission has approved transmitting a proposed land use change for state review to allow the designation of 318 acres in Central Pasco for conservation use.
The property is north of State Road 52, between the Suncoast Parkway and U.S. 41.
It previously was designated for residential and agricultural uses.
The county board approved the transmittal as part of its consent agenda, during the Feb. 6 meeting.
The consent agenda includes a batch of items that are approved in a single motion, unless a commissioner or member of the public requests the item be pulled for discussion.
This property was purchased by the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program (ELAMP), according to background materials in the board’s agenda packet.
The intent of the land use amendment is to meet the terms of a Florida Communities Trust grant, which will help the county leverage its ELAMP funding.
The grant requires that the long-range plan and the zoning for the site be a category that is dedicated to open space, conservation, or outdoor recreation uses, as appropriate.
The subject property is partially within both the Anclote/Cotee watershed Ecological Planning Unit (EPU) and the Starkey to Crossbar ecological corridor. There are approximately 50 acres of wetlands on the subject property, with the majority being Category 1 wetlands. This property also is adjacent to other acquired ELAMP properties and will result in over 1,800 acres of contiguous conservation land, according to the agenda materials.
Published February 21, 2024
