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Hernando Today

Developer Seeks Workforce Apartments

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 11, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - A Miami developer will ask planning and zoning commissioners Monday to reestablish a master plan to build "workforce" apartments near an industrial hub in Brooksville.

In December 2006, county commissioners approved a request from Jose Padilla to rezone 40 acres on the west side of Cobb Road and the north side of Fort Dade Avenue, for 408 units, with buildings no higher than three stories. At least 20 percent of the apartments would be designated for the workforce.

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.

At the end of Dec. 31, 2008, the average median household income in Hernando County $44,172.

At the time, commissioners insisted that the developer install a frontage road.

Padilla is requesting no changes to that original master plan except for the road requirement. He wants that condition waived because Fort Dade Avenue has been designated a canopy road and a frontage road would cause a significant impact.

Fort Dade Avenue has trees bordering both sides of the road and there has been concern in previous meetings related to this project that construction there may violate the county's canopy road ordinance.

That ordinance ensures that the board "preserve and maintain the historic, natural beauty and ambience of Hernando County."

The developer has also indicated deep mining pits to the north of the property that would prohibit him from extending that road to the north.

The county engineer has reviewed this latest request and has voiced no objection on waiving the frontage road request.

Planning and zoning commissioners will consider Padilla's request during their meeting which begins at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12 at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

Also at Tuesday's P&Z meeting:

•The Wesleyan Bible Conference Association will seek conditional plat approval for an RV park on 28.5 acres at State Road 50 and Redbud Lane.

The park would include 19 RV lots, with a minimum of 3,500 square feet and two storage buildings.

•The ARC Nature Coast is seeking a special exception use permit to build an educational facility on 6.3 acres on the southwest corner of Mariner Boulevard and Partridge Street. The proposed 12,000-square-foot center would be a training facility for adults with developmental disabilities and would be used as a hurricane shelter for people with disabilities.

•A developer will ask for the P&Z's approval to rezone 1.1 acres at Nicasio Jay Avenue and Wood Owl Avenue, east of U.S. 19, for a welding shop and light manufacturing facility with outside storage.

•The P&Z board will also hear a developer's request to develop an RV park on 25 acres at U.S. 41 and Ancient Trail. The request calls for a minimum of 197 individual RV spaces, of which 54 units will be used for park models.

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

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