P&Z Denies Paver Project

BROOKSVILLE - A local paving company's plan to store some of its equipment on a parcel near its existing building at Lark and Howell avenues got shot down Monday by planning and zoning commissioners.

Three of the five board members had concerns about excess traffic, drainage and the kind of fence to shield the pavers from the neighborhood.

"I really don't like what this plan looks like right now," Planning Commissioner Robert Widmar said.

Especially in the rainy season, when portions of Howell Road can flood, the addition of these pavers and other improvements to the building could cause accessibility problems, he said.

Planning Commissioner Anna Lisa Covell said there is not enough room there to have the workers drop off and move their trucks.

"I think it's far too intense for the residential neighborhood," she said.

Rather than a zoning denial, Planning Commissioner Anthony Palmieri favored a postponement to give A&E Inter-Locking Pavers time to work up a more detailed plan addressing storage and drainage concerns.

He said he was especially confused because planning staffers reviewed the project and found it compatible with the county's land development regulations.

"What policy are we using to support this denial?" Palmieri asked.

The final vote was 3-2 to deny the zoning, with Palmieri and Planning Commissioner Kenneth Smith on the losing end.

The paving company will get another chance to present its case before county commissioners at next month's land use hearing.

Planning commissioners can only recommend. County commissioners have the final word on zoning cases.

Also at Monday's P&Z meeting:

The board voted 5-0 to approve a developer's request to rezone a 2.29-acre portion of a 17-acre recreation tract to allow for the construction of 24 two-story apartment buildings on the west side of Outerbanks Drive, north of Glen Lakes Boulevard.

Planning members approved a special exception use permit to allow construction of a 158-unit assisted living facility within a designated business park south of Quality Drive and north of County Line Road.

Anna Liisa Covell was appointed 2008 chairwoman of the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Robert DeWitt was named vice chairman.