Suncoast Investment Group of Hernando County, LLC requested a change to the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) between the Suncoast Parkway and Trillium Boulevard on County Line Road. Since the property in question is larger than 10 acres, the proposed amendment change is considered “large-scale”.
A large portion of the 51-acre site was approved for commercial use in 2005 – 375,000 square feet of commercial use, and 75,000 square feet of office and limited commercial. A 15.3 acre portion is currently zoned residential but can be used for office space and limited commercial use, which includes sit-down restaurants, banks, and pharmacies. The developer would like more flexibility in where on the property and the types of businesses that can be built, so they have asked for a general commercial designation.
As part of the Transportation Improvement Plan, the DOT intends to move County Line Road at Trillium Boulevard, in what is termed a realignment. County Line Road would be become an arc behind the residential area of Masaryktown, and intersect US 41 at Ayers Road. Rather than the current two-lane road, the new road will be a four-lane divided highway. Though it has been needed since the 1990s, construction on this project (and possibly the widening of County Line Road toward US 19) is expected to begin by July 2018, which is the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 for DOT. The State has already purchased the rights of way for this project.
The 15.3-acre property is already adjacent to land designated for commercial use. The developer explained that proposed businesses on the properties might include office space, veterinary services, drive-in restaurant, and a gas station.
Multi-family units are also expected to be built on another property that lies between the commercial space and the single-family homes of Trillium, with appropriate buffers and landscaping, and will provide a compatible and reasonable transition. A large retention pond is already in place.
The BOCC approved both the zoning change to General Commercial with some C-2 uses, and the FLUM change unanimously. The FLUM will be sent to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), and will then be reviewed by other agencies.