Commission approves rezoning to allow Hernando County animal shelter expansion; 27 kennels planned

The City of Brooksville Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to rezone a parcel at 19450 Oliver Street (about 1,440 feet east of Broad Street/US 441) to permit an expansion of the Hernando County animal shelter. Commissioners approved the rezoning with nine specified conditions.

Eric Van de Bogard, construction projects coordinator for Hernando County, told the commission the county began planning the shelter expansion about two years ago and determined the parcel was not in the correct zoning category following earlier annexation and code changes. He said the county asked for rezoning rather than repeatedly renewing a special‑use exemption so the sites zoning would permanently match the countys planned use. Van de Bogard said the project aims to add roughly 27–28 kennels and that fire‑rescue access requirements will be incorporated in the final design and permitting documents.

Captain John Cameron of the Hernando County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Division said the shelter currently has 56 kennels across existing runs and that the county sometimes uses a removable divider (described in the record as a guillotine door) to reconfigure stalls when intake surges occur. Van de Bogard and Cameron said plans also include a smaller, separate intake/isolation building to handle sick animals; Van de Bogard described that building as approximately 40 by 40 feet. Van de Bogard estimated the primary addition at about 8,400 square feet; he characterized that figure as approximate during discussion.

City staff confirmed the parcel was notified in accordance with state code and noted it was originally annexed into the city in 1993 as agricultural property; a land‑development code change in 2011 required the site to operate under a special‑use permit prior to this rezoning. Staff also said the county had met with fire officials and that nine conditions were recommended as part of approval.

Commissioners moved to rezone the parcel to agricultural zoning with the listed conditions; the motion passed unanimously. The county will submit final design documents and apply for permits consistent with the approved zoning and conditions. The rezoning removes the need for a future special‑use amendment triggered by the size of the expansion, the commission was told.