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Council delays action on bypass rezoning

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By TONY MARRERO

Published: November 21, 2007

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - The city council has put the brakes on a project that would bring a hotel, restaurant and business offices to a parcel on the truck route.

The council voted 3 to 2 to continue the second hearing on the issue to its Dec. 3 meeting after they learned that signs posted on the property meant to notify area residents of the possible land use and zoning changes had been missing.

That exacerbated existing reservations about the project and its proximity to a residential neighborhood along Mildred Avenue.

"My main concern is making sure (the signs) were out there for ample time and unfortunately we don't know they were," Mayor David Pugh said.

Vice-mayor Frankie Burnett and council member Richard Lewis dissented in the vote.

Lewis said the city had gone "above and beyond" to notify residents by posting signs and sending certified letter to residents within 150 feet of the parcel.

The council at its Nov. 5 meeting gave initial approval to the comp plan designation change from residential to commercial on a six acre portion of the tract. The county's current comp plan regulations allow the parcel to be changed to commercial since it's within 1,320 feet of an existing commercial node.

An additional two acres had already been annexed into the city with a commercial designation.

The developer, Innovators Investments Group LLC, is seeking a planned development designation for the entire eight acres for a hotel that could rise as high as three stories. The restaurant and office buildings would be one level.
Bradburn reiterated concerns about how close the parcel is to homes and that there is no guarantee that the conceptual plan will be what actually is developed on the parcel.

Michael Gaylor of Gaylor Engineering, who represents the developer, reminded the council about that the parcel's proximity to existing commercial allows for the change.

In other action, the council:

- Voted unanimously to disband the city's personnel board. The action came at the recommendation of the city attorney and city manager, who said the personnel policy needed to be updated and the current composition of the personnel board could run afoul of labor laws. Employees had said they disapproved of the move but none spoke at the meeting.

- Voted unanimously to divide the Cobb Road water reclamation facility expansion into two parts and require Hampton Ridge Developers LLC to complete the water reuse portion of the project by the April 2009 deadline. Hampton Ridge and the city are sharing the cost of the $9.4 million project. The city's share is $2.575 million. The developer sought to push back the completion date of the entire project by another three years.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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