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Apartments Planned For Fort Dade

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 12, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Planning and zoning commissioners voted 4-1 Monday to approve a Miami developer's request to re-establish a master plan to build "workforce" apartments along Fort Dade Avenue in Brooksville.
The housing should be one of the selling points of the project.
"I like the fact that there is workforce housing close to Brooksville," said newly elected P&Z chairman Robert Widmar.
Donald Lacey, with Coastal Engineering, said the project "makes good sense" for Brooksville where there are many service-related jobs.
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 was $44,172.
The major sticking point at Monday's meeting was the frontage road at the site — or lack of one.
Jose Padilla, a partner with Miami-based Realty Partners, wanted the frontage road condition waived because Fort Dade Avenue has been designated a canopy road and a road would cause a significant impact.
County Engineer Charles Mixson said he is requiring the developer to stub out a road to the north of the site that could be used as a frontage road in the future. If needed, the developer would pay for that road.
Planning Director Ron Pianta said the frontage road connection would not lead out to Fort Dade Avenue.
In that way, Pianta said the canopy road would be protected.
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.
P&Z member Lisa Hammond said she couldn't vote for the project without the frontage road to facilitate traffic.
"I can't vote for it as it is," Hammond said. "I don't have a suggestion but I don't like it. I think it will create an issue in the future."
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 for the workforce.