Dade City approves preliminary plan for large development with traffic-study condition

The Dade City Commission on Oct. 12 approved a preliminary plan for a large residential subdivision under an existing 2021 planned development (PD) ordinance, voting 3-2 to grant approval with conditions that include a third‑party traffic study examining ingress and egress along Happy Hill Road.

The vote comes after residents and commissioners raised concerns about changes between the 2021 PD master plan and the new preliminary layout, the location of a proposed access point on Happy Hill Road, potential floodplain and stormwater issues and whether a corner house on the property would be removed or used for another purpose. The motion passed 3 to 2, with Mayor Pro Tem Woodard and Commissioner Church voting no.

The preliminary plan covers roughly 70 acres that were previously entitled for about 496 lots; the applicant proposed a reduced plan of 381 detached‑home lots. The applicant told the commission the proposal includes 8.85 acres of parks (exceeding a 4.38‑acre minimum) and 18.37 acres of open space (above the 16.86‑acre requirement). The applicant also told the commission it has received approval from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for the project.

Residents at the public hearing said the new lot layout departs from what they remembered in the PD…