The Sea Gate Village subdivision was first platted and approved by Hernando County on July 24, 2007. The property is currently vacant and undeveloped, except for sidewalks and water service that was installed to serve the future residential and commercial development.
Steve Gouldman from the Planning and Development Department spoke before the Brooksville City Council (acting as the Land Planning Agency) on July 6th about the planned development, just west of Broad Street and nestled between Wiscon Road to the north and Mason Smith Road to the south. The entire area is about 70.9 acres.
Plans for the T-shaped plat include 88 single family homes, and 216 multi-family units. A commercial building of 100,000 square feet is planned for the northeast corner of the property.
The site was annexed into the city of Brooksville on January 3, 2011, and presently has a Residential Hernando County Comprehensive Plan designation and a Hernando County Planned Development Project (PDP) zoning designation. According to Gouldman, the designation of Mixed Use will provide for “higher densities and higher intensities” and the language of the plan specifically states the goal is to increase number of dwelling units per acre, as well as commercial space. Gouldman also stated that the project was found to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan according to the Planning and Zoning Board.
Preliminary analyses show that the project would generate about 8,400 vehicle trips per day, 92,142 gallons per day of water consumption and 88,440 gallons of effluent drainage, or sewage. The current water and sewer capacities are expected to be adequate for this project.
Nearby schools are also expected to be able to accommodate the estimated 91 elementary students, 40 middle school students and 59 high school students. Students from the development will attend Moton Elementary School, Dolores Parrott Middle School and Hernando High School.
Upon reviewing forms, Council Member Natalie Kahler noticed that the Finance Department had not signed one of the approval areas, and Finance Director Jim Delach stated that they had not received the forms before this meeting, and that there is no financial impact to the city for this project, and gave his verbal approval.
Council Member Joe Bernardini had concerns about drainage, citing recent problems at the Horse Lake facility. Public Works Director Richard Radacky described the pump and draining facilities that are currently located on the project site, which will bypass the Horse Lake facility and flow directly to the water treatment facility.
The first hearing of the ordinance to amend the Comprehensive Plan designation to mixed use was passed unanimously.