Commission Approves Old Dixie Highway Marina with Conditions after Neighbors Voice Hurricane, Noise and Traffic Concerns

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved a conditional‑use request to develop a commercial marina at Old Dixie Highway and Harbor Drive (Item P‑53) after staff, the applicant and multiple neighbors discussed conditions intended to reduce noise, traffic and storm‑related hazards. The Planning Department and Planning Commission both recommended approval with conditions.

Planning staff described the proposal as a commercial marina including up to 25 dry boat storage spaces and eight wet slips, with associated upland support facilities. Staff noted the proposal must meet the county’s marina standards (citing comprehensive‑plan policy COA‑2.105) and recommended conditions including a hurricane preparedness plan, a fuel‑management plan, signage to create an idle‑speed basin, compliance with Pasco County manatee protections and verification of adequate upland storage and support facilities.

Several nearby residents spoke in opposition, describing extensive damage from recent storms and expressing worry that additional boats and trailer traffic at the canal entrance would increase public‑safety risk and local noise. “There is no way to describe the stench and the smell of oil and gas from those boats on the canals,” said Elizabeth Donatello, who lives on Clark Street. Pete Vito, another resident, said he could find “not one person who is in favor of this” among neighbors and raised conflict‑of‑interest concerns about a planning commissioner’s prior association with an individual connected to the project.

Applicant representatives said they will restrict operating hours and submit a hurricane plan. Attorney Barbara Wilhite said the applicant will work with staff to revise Condition 7 to limit boat‑ramp hours to “no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 7 p.m.” and to otherwise comply with the county’s rules. Tim Lowe, an experienced local marina operator who addressed the board, said most stored boats are on trailers and that his operations communicated evacuation plans to customers before storms.

Why it matters: neighbors said recent hurricanes created concentrated debris and contamination risks in canals and that the marina’s location at a canal terminus and near a residential street could complicate evacuation and emergency access. The board required a hurricane preparedness plan and other operational conditions intended to reduce such risks.

Outcome and conditions: the board approved the conditional use with the recommended conditions and the edited hours of operation; the motion passed on a roll call vote with all present commissioners voting yes. Staff will condition final approval on submission of the specified plans (hurricane preparedness, fuel management), compliance with manatee protection measures, lighting that minimizes neighborhood glare and a demonstration of sufficient upland support areas for trailers and boats.

Next steps: the applicant will submit the required plans and demonstrate compliance with the conditions before receiving building permits and operational approvals. The county will monitor compliance with the conditions of approval and may enforce code provisions if violations occur.