Pasco planning commission continues rezoning request for 672-home Murphy Road development

The Pasco County Planning Commission on a voice vote continued a rezoning request for a proposed master planned unit development that would allow up to 672 single-family homes on about 118.82 acres in southeastern Pasco County. The item, listed as PC 2 (PDE25-76666) and filed by Oakley Pasco County Property Trust for the Murphy Road MPUD, was continued to the Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 7, 2025, after several residents raised concerns about drainage, water supply, road capacity and school effects. The project would change zoning from RMH (mobile home district) to MPUD (master plan unit development) and proposes single-family detached units and town homes. “The property has been zoned largely RMA since 1975,” said William Vermillion, Planning, Development & Economic Growth staff, summarizing the site’s zoning history and noting the future land use has been residential since 2006. Vermillion also said the project’s overall density would be roughly 6.2 dwelling units per acre, below the allowable density for the site. Residents questioned infrastructure and environmental impacts. “Where’s the water gonna come from?” asked Jose Roldan, a Zephyrhills resident, adding later, “the building’s gotta stop,” as he voiced concerns about standing water observed after last year’s hurricane. Another resident, Nancy Hayswood, said flooding is happening now and urged changes to rules and regulations. Staff and other officials answered technical questions from the public: there is no access being proposed to Forbes Road or Chenkin Road, Vermillion said, and the applicant would dedicate right of way along those frontages for future improvements. Vermillion said the county’s current analysis indicates County Road 54 has adequate capacity to handle the project’s proposed traffic and that a traffic study in the public packet addresses vehicle impacts. On utilities, staff said the applicant has been negotiating with the City of Zephyrhills for water service. Vermillion said, “if the applicant cannot secure water capacity from the city of Zephyrhills, they will be required to extend county utilities from Island Boulevard to their site in order to develop.” School-capacity questions were raised during public comment. An unidentified school-district representative provided projections: Woodland Elementary and West Zephyrhills Elementary at about 80% projected capacity next year, Stewart Middle at about 88%, and Zephyrhills High at about 85%. Staff noted the district plans to open a K–8 in the 2 Rivers area in 2028, which officials said should affect future enrollment projections. Commission and staff explained how infrastructure funding would be provided: impact fees paid by developers at the time homes are built are used in part to pay for roads, utilities and school-related costs. A staff member said those impact fees “amount to almost $30,000 a home.” Public comment and technical answers continued before the commission voted to continue the item to the Aug. 7 meeting to allow the applicant and residents additional time; the motion to continue carried on a voice vote. The continuance means the commission took no final action on the rezoning at this meeting. The applicant will return for the public hearing on the new date and residents who spoke at this meeting were told they may not speak again at the August hearing if they already spoke at today’s session. The file for the proposal and the traffic analysis are on the meeting agenda and will be available to the public before the Aug. 7 hearing.