The Dade City Commission unanimously approved a package of measures on Sept. 8 that annexed two parcels totaling about 0.6 acres on Marlou Lane, amended the city’s future land use map, and rezoned the parcels to permit development compatible with the Morningside Drive extension.

The three related legislative and quasi-judicial actions were presented together by staff as a coordinated package needed to support the city-initiated road project linking U.S. Highway 301 to Fort King Road.

What the commission approved
- Ordinance 2025-05 (Second reading, voluntary annexation): Annex approximately 0.6 acres east of Fort King Road and north of Medical Drive; parcels include an office building and a residential structure (one parcel previously demolished for the Morningside project). Vote: 5–0.
- Ordinance 2025-06 (Small-scale comprehensive plan amendment): Change future land use from Pasco County’s RES-6 to Dade City’s Public/Semi-Public designation for the subject parcels. Vote: 5–0.
- Ordinance 2025-07 (Zoning amendment; quasi-judicial): Rezone the parcels from Pasco County R-3 to Dade City Residential Institutional Office (RIO) district. Affected parcels total approximately 0.6 acres. Vote: 5–0.

Staff context
City staff told the commission the annexation and concurrent land-use and zoning changes are intended to support the Morningside Drive extension and achieve consistent land-use, zoning and jurisdictional oversight for the connector road project. The city was the applicant for the comprehensive-plan amendment and the rezoning; staff described the area as contiguous to the municipal boundary and appropriate for the road project.

Public input and procedure
For the zoning item (Ordinance 2025-07) the city conducted the required quasi-judicial process; staff swore in witnesses and noted that competent, substantial evidence for the rezoning was included in the staff report. No affected parties or members of the public spoke during the hearings; the commission proceeded to adopt all three ordinances by unanimous vote.

Ending: The annexation and related plan and zoning approvals clear a legal path for the city to continue the Morningside Drive extension project and to manage the newly annexed parcels under Dade City land-use and zoning rules.