Commissioners approve major MPUD rezonings; R Lee Ranch must reserve 50‑foot right‑of‑way for future connection

Pasco County commissioners approved several master‑plan rezoning requests on March 11, including a notable condition requiring the R Lee Ranch MPUD applicant to reserve a 50‑foot right‑of‑way stub to the property line to preserve future connectivity across wetlands.

R Lee Ranch (PD 25‑7793): The board approved the rezoning and master plan for the project, which planning staff said covers about 441 acres with a rezoning plan on roughly 414 acres proposing up to 614 dwelling units distributed across three Villages of Pasadena Hills (Villages K, G and J). William Vermillion, Planning, Development & Economic Growth, reviewed the master plan and said the proposal includes a mix of estate lots, single‑family detached and townhomes, roughly 20,000 square feet reserved for neighborhood commercial uses, and internal trails. The plan shows multiple wetlands strands through the site. Applicant representatives said townhomes will be confined to village core areas and that the binding plan sets minimums and maximums for product types.

Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff about whether the plan should include an interconnect stub where a narrow upland corridor exists across a wetland strand. Several commissioners argued the physical connection — even if it were only a right‑of‑way rather than an immediate constructed road — would improve future circulation. Applicant counsel Clark Hobby said building a road into the lowest upland pocket would displace retention or floodplain‑compensation areas and that, in his view, the stub would be unlikely to be extended unless another large parcel developed on the far side of the wetland. Hobby told the board, “If that's what the board's pleasure is, we can do that,” and staff and applicant agreed to provide a 50‑foot right‑of‑way to the property line rather than immediate roadway construction. The board adopted that condition and approved the rezoning by roll‑call vote (aye: District 1 Commissioner Oakley; District 2 Commissioner Wake; District 4 Commissioner Yeager; District 5 Commissioner Mariano; District 3 Chairman Starkey).

Why it matters: The condition preserves the county’s ability to require a future connection without obligating the current developer to build a short road across sensitive wetlands and retention areas. Commissioners noted the adjacent Kirkland Ranch property has been the subject of conservation efforts and state grant proposals; staff and the applicant agreed the stub as a right‑of‑way is a reasonable compromise to avoid premature wetland impacts while preserving future options.

Harvest Hills West / Village F (PD 25‑7834): The board also approved a Galvin Land Services MPUD for the Harvest Hills West parcel in Village F of the Villages of Pasadena Hills. That plan calls for up to 279 dwelling units on about 100 acres. William Vermillion explained the project will build a new alignment of Prospect Road, including a figure‑eight or double roundabout that the applicant agreed to construct under a development agreement. Staff said the northern portion will carry the majority of density while the southern portion would remain wetlands and conservation. Commissioners discussed future connectivity to Leonard and existing dirt roads and asked that the parcel retain a future connection point/right‑of‑way if adjacent land develops; the board approved the zoning and the planned roadway approach statewide.

Colon (Village C) MPUD (PD 25‑7842): The board approved a smaller MPUD on about 60 acres at Williams Cemetery Road and Basin Lane for 117 single‑family units, including six estate lots. Staff noted the project will first use an emergency access that will become a full access once Williams Cemetery Road is brought to county standards. The board approved the project as presented.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the R Lee Ranch MPUD with the 50‑foot right‑of‑way condition (unanimous roll‑call). The Harvest Hills West MPUD and the Colon VOPH MPUD were also approved; P45 (Harvest Hills West) vote recorded as passed by the board, and P46 (Colon VOPH MPUD) approved on the consent motion.

Other approvals on consent: The consent agenda that preceded the regular docket included multiple planning and zoning items that were approved together; staff noted advertisement and transmittal dates when required.

Ending: Staff will draft and record the binding plan language and the right‑of‑way condition for R Lee Ranch; county staff and the applicant will coordinate the final exhibit language and right‑of‑way descriptions to ensure the condition appears in the approved MPUD documents.