Companies that want to establish Build-To-Rent communities that resemble traditional single-family communities will have to follow the traditional single-family development rules, under a policy adopted by the Pasco County Commission.
The action came during the county board’s April 18 meeting.
It addresses a concern raised months ago by Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, who wants to ensure the quality control of such developments.
Before the board took its action, Sally Sherman, assistant county administrator for planning and development services, provided an overview of the emerging trend of Build-To-Rent housing products.
The product typically has been referred to as “build-to-rent” (BTR), B2R homes, “build-for-rent” (BFR) homes, or “single-family for rent” (SFR), according to the county board’s backup agenda materials.
Within this new form of multifamily housing, there is a range of housing types, such as “deconstructed” or “horizontal” apartments/cottage rental, townhouses/quadplexes, and single-family detached on unplatted lots.
The unplatted build-to-rent communities, often referred to as horizontal apartments, are typically owned, designed, constructed and managed in the same way as a traditional apartment community – one-, two- and three-bedroom units, one common lot, single owner in perpetuity, common parking with drive aisles, minimal attached garages, no driveways, and apartment-style amenities, the agenda materials say.
The platted build-to-rent communities typically resemble a single-family neighborhood design with three-, four- and five-bedroom homes, streets, attached/detached garages, driveways, limited amenities, and the ability to sell off individual lots in the future.
The board’s recent action pertains only to the traditional style single-family detached lots, with driveways and garages. It will address other elements of Build-To-Rent development later.
The new policy applies to any new Build-To-Rent proposal for single-family detached that the board has not yet considered.
The policy requires that houses within the development are individually platted.
That will enable them to be sold off individually, if a future need or desire to do that arises.
The homes will need to have driveways and attached garages to accommodate parking needs. They also must comply with the county’s architectural design and monotony controls for single-family neighborhoods.
Ongoing enforcement also will be required through a homeowner association or a property maintenance group, to prevent the communities from falling into disrepair.
Plus, the projects must be designed with a connectivity plan to provide a variety of ways to get into and out of the neighborhood.
While noting that the policy doesn’t address the entire issue of Build-To-Rent, Weightman said it’s a good start.
The board is expected to consider additional policies in the future that address the other categories of Build-To-Rent developments.
A board discussion also is expected in the future regarding development issues relating to houses proposed for lots that are 40 feet or 50 feet wide.
Published May 03, 2023
