Council approves rezoning, property buy, signage contract and schedules workshop; water-rate increase set for first reading

The Zephyrhills City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 13 to adopt a second-reading zoning ordinance for an AdventHealth parcel, to purchase a single-family lot to enlarge a city retention pond, and to select a vendor for park entrance signage. Council also approved on first reading a 3 percent increase to water and sewer rates effective on or after Nov. 1, 2025, and voted to cancel two upcoming meetings and schedule a planning-and-water workshop on Nov. 17.

The council passed all 10 consent items at the start of the meeting by unanimous voice vote. Later votes included: adoption of ordinance 1508-25 (rezoning), approval of a $250,000 contract to buy 6109 Sixteenth Street for stormwater work, selection of Kinko Signs & Awnings for park signage, and a first reading approval of ordinance 1509-25 to raise water and sewer rates 3 percent. The council also voted unanimously to cancel the Nov. 24 and Dec. 22 regular meetings and to hold a workshop addressing the comprehensive plan/visioning and preliminary water-supply discussions on Nov. 17.

Ordinance 1508-25: rezoning and deed restrictions Adopted on second reading, ordinance 1508-25 changes roughly 22.7 acres east of Dairy Road and north of Daughtry Road from City R-4 multifamily residential and PUD to City C-3 general commercial. City planning staff and the applicant negotiated voluntary deed restrictions that will be recorded with the ordinance; those restrictions prohibit mini-warehouse and recreational-vehicle storage uses…