Brooksville approves first reading of large-scale comprehensive-plan amendment to add transition zone for annexations

The Brooksville City Council voted 5-0 on first reading to approve Ordinance 996, a citywide comprehensive-plan text amendment that creates a transition zone intended for newly annexed land along the city’s border.

Community Development Director David Hainley told the council the amendment was requested by council to provide a stepping-down zone between city densities and adjacent low-density county uses. "This is capped at 2 [units per acre] and has specific lot sizes and setbacks," Hainley said, and he noted the amendment would not change land already inside the city limits. The amendment applies to future development on newly annexed parcels and includes restrictions on lot sizes, garage setbacks, and floor‑area coverage to reduce impacts on neighboring properties.

Hainley said the amendment is a large-scale change because it could affect large sites citywide and that the Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval at its April 9 hearing. He also said the city will transmit the amendment to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity following the second reading. Council directed the ordinance be scheduled for second and final reading on May 19, 2025.

Council members asked whether the change would affect projected fees; Hainley said connection fees for a large county-site currently going through county zoning would remain the same because that development is in the city’s first-right-to-serve area. No public speakers addressed the amendment at the meeting.

Ordinance 996 was read by headnote and advanced on a roll-call vote; the second reading is scheduled for the council’s May 19 meeting, when adoption would become final if approved.