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Resident urges Pasco officials to act on Green Key encampment, county says it is pursuing property acquisition
Summary
A Port Richey resident told the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners the homeless encampment on Green Key continues to cause fires and flooding; county staff said a county real-estate purchase is being pursued to address drainage and the parcel where tents are concentrated.
Wanda Chasnoff, a Port Richey resident, told the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on May 20 that homeless encampments on Green Key are creating safety and flooding risks and that she has seen tents and an open fire near her home.
"The neighbors don't feel like we're getting anywhere. They're still there… I had to call the fire department," Chasnoff said during the meeting's public-comment period, adding that she woke to the smell of a fire and is worried about hurricane season.
The board responded with a commitment to follow up. Chairman Starkey asked staff to connect Chasnoff with county personnel, and a county official told the board the county is pursuing an acquisition of a parcel that staff believe is public and said the purchase would help with drainage and allow the county to address the concentrated encampment.
"We are working on buying the property. We think we could have the agreement coming together. It's gonna help with the drainage," a county representative said during the exchange and asked Chasnoff to meet with David Allen in real estate for further details.
Commissioners did not vote on a new policy at the meeting. The conversation was advisory and focused on staff follow-up: a county official said the real-estate negotiation is ongoing and invited Chasnoff to engage with David Allen to discuss enforcement and drainage solutions. No timeline for acquisition or specific funding source was given at the meeting.
Why this matters: Residents described risks that include fire hazards and repeated flooding; the county's intention to purchase the parcel ties the public-safety concern to a tangible property strategy but leaves questions about timing and operational plans. The board directed staff to continue working on the matter and to communicate with the resident.
The board took no formal vote during public comment; the county official characterized the next steps as staff-level negotiations and outreach rather than a board directive.
Next steps noted at the meeting: staff outreach to the resident and continued real-estate negotiations regarding the parcel that staff say will address drainage and the encampment.
