DADE CITY – The Pasco County Planning Commission considered a text amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan Dec. 12 that would offer a new way for affordable housing to be available.
If adopted by county commissioners on Feb. 25, the text amendment would specifically cover accessory dwelling units. These are defined as “independent units contained within, attached to, or detached from a single-family dwelling on the same zoning lot.”
After a lengthy discussion, members of the planning commission agreed that they thought the text amendment was consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan.
This decision came after a single word towards the end of the proposal about ADUs was changed.
It had originally said “In order to create additional and affordable rental living opportunities and to provide greater flexibility for homeowners, accessory dwelling units shall be permitted in Future Land Use categories that allow single-family residential development, subject to regulations designed to limit impacts and protect neighborhood character. “
The word “shall” was changed to “may” in that sentence.
This was done to provide greater flexibility in the way in which accessory dwelling units could be permitted if the proposed ordinance is adopted.
The county is also considering amending its land development code through a subsequent ordinance to allow for accessory dwelling units as an alternative housing option 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.
Prior to the vote, some concerns were expressed about whether increased density could be created in a way where it wouldn’t be appropriate.
Member Jon Moody said it appeared that property zoned RES-6 – which is six dwelling units per gross acre – could possibly contain 12 dwelling units under the proposed text amendment.
Moody went on to say it could also mean that property zoned RES-9 could possibly contain 18 dwelling units and property zoned RES-12 could possibly contain 24 dwelling units.
Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said developers don’t always use the full capacity of properties that are zoned in that way.
In other business on Dec. 12, the planning commission:
- Recommended commissioners approve a change in zoning from an A-C Agricultural District to an A-R Agricultural-Residential District for 6.08 acres on the east side of Powerline Road, one-quarter mile north of Frazee Hill Road, in rural Dade City. The application, made in the name of Sarah Jones/Barnyard Rezoning, is intends to carve out the area from a 20-acre parcel to develop a single-family home.
- Found a proposed amendment, State Road 54 Office, to be consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan. The applicant has requested for the future land use to be amended from RES-12 to OF-Office to allow for the development of a 6,000-square-foot office use along State Road 54, which is a county arterial roadway.
