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Hernando Today

Upscale RV Park Headed To U.S. 41

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: February 13, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - With the economy in the dumper, some may not think it wise to spend money on a new RV park.
Or maybe it is.
County commissioners on Wednesday voted 5-0 to approve a recreational vehicle park at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Ancient Trail.
The 20-acre park would have space for 143 RVs, 54 of which will be used as models.
This, however, is not a typical RV park.
It would be a high-end vacation resort, with such proposed amenities as valet parking, swimming pool, outdoor theater, dog park, billiard room, nature trail and wireless Internet.
And the standards are stringent: no pop-up campers, no tents, no RV older than 12 years and no permanent attachments to the RV (such as a sunroom or porch).
All guests would be required to stay a maximum of six months at a time and be required to use a golf cart while staying there. This resort is meant to be for vacationers, not permanent lodging.
The minimum size for the RVs on the property will be 2,100 square feet.
Jim Trefz, a partner with the development company, said many RV parks in Florida bought by developers were degraded and became permanent lodging places.
As a result, Trefz said there is a shortage of higher-end vacation resorts for RV enthusiasts.
"We have identified that niche," Trefz said.
It will bring a desirable crowd to Hernando County who will have money and spend it locally, he added.
A report issued this week by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds shows sales for these rolling juggernauts are up, despite the economy going down.
Some neighbors Wednesday spoke against the project, saying it would be too noisy. But others said the owners would improve the property, keep the park clean and that local businesses would profit from the vacationers.
The new resort will be created out of the existing Brentwood RV Park, which had been in operation since 1970.
Also at Wednesday's land use hearing:
A new apartment complex is headed to Fort Dade Avenue in Brooksville.
County commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a Miami developer's request to reestablish a master plan to go ahead with the project.
The project calls for 408 units on 40 acres on the west side of Cobb Road and the north side of Fort Dade Avenue. The buildings would be no higher than three stories and at least 20 percent of the apartments would be designated as "workforce housing."
The developer is Jose Padilla, a partner with Miami-based Realty Partners.
The Federal Urban Land Institute defines workforce housing as that which is affordable to those between 60 and 120 percent of the area's median income.
Planning Director Ron Pianta said Hernando County uses the 120 percent rate.
At the end of Dec. 31, 2008, the average median household income in Hernando County was $44,172.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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