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PDC approves conditional use for wholesale nursery on West Dunnellon Road; staff, neighbors discussed wells and pesticides
Summary
The Planning and Development Commission approved a conditional use allowing a wholesale plant nursery on a rural residential parcel that currently carries general‑commercial zoning but a rural land‑use designation. Commissioners approved conditions; a resident raised groundwater and pesticide concerns.
The Citrus County Planning and Development Commission approved conditional use application CU‑2025‑00005 on June 10 to permit a wholesale plant nursery on a property fronting West Dunnellon Road (two driveways: West Dunnellon and Rainelle). The motion, which found the use consistent with the comprehensive plan when conditioned, passed with a majority vote (recorded as 5–1).
Applicant Summer Ermatinger told the commission she purchased the site in October and had expected general commercial entitlements; staff advised the property’s future land‑use designation is rural residential (ROR) and that conditional‑use approval is the route to permit a nursery without changing the future land use. Ermatinger said the business would be predominantly wholesale — “we broker a lot of plant material, we grow a lot of our own plant material” — with deliveries by gooseneck trailers and dually trucks rather than long tractor‑trailers. She said an existing well has been permitted and that the operation has used generators because power service is not yet installed.
Staff planner Melissa Morris confirmed current zoning is general commercial while the future land use is rural residential; she noted both the Dunnellon Road and Rainelle entrances and pointed to neighboring commercial activities (a storage facility, fencing business and a power substation) near the site.
Public comment focused on pesticides, fertilizer and traffic. Cassandra Trickkel, who lives nearby, asked whether pesticides or agricultural chemicals would affect well water, noting most area properties use private wells. Paul Daugherty, a local septic inspector, said soils on the site permeate and cautioned that fertilizers and pesticides “will go down to the first aquaclude,” but added that similar nurseries in the county have not created documented well water problems.
Commissioners approved the conditional use with staff‑recommended conditions; several members noted the conditional‑use route limits the nursery to the proposed operation and that any future change of use would require further review. The application will proceed under the permitting process once the conditional use is final; the applicant acknowledged she must obtain building and site permits and any required infrastructure approvals.
