Hernando County panel denies special-exception request to park extra commercial trucks on Ayers Road property

The Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday denied a special-exception permit (SE2501) that would have allowed two additional commercial vehicles to be parked at a property on the northwest corner of Ayers Road and Colbert Road, voting 5-0.

The petition, filed by Centimeters Home Builders Inc. and represented at the hearing by attorney Kyle Bridal, asked the commission to allow a total of three commercial vehicles on a 4.2-acre parcel zoned agricultural. Under current county land‑development rules one commercial vehicle is allowed by right in the agricultural district; the applicant sought permission for two extras through a special exception.

Commissioners and staff disputed whether the operation on the parcel was a bona fide agricultural activity or the staging and maintenance of construction equipment. Kyle Bridal, representing the petitioner, told the panel the application was intended “to remedy a code enforcement violation for parking commercial vehicles,” and said the trucks and trailers are affiliated with Eddie’s Land Clearing, a business that does “forestry mulching, land clearing” and related work.

Neighbors testified at length that the parcel has become a maintenance site with frequent grinding and banging noises, on‑site welding and generators, and piles of crushed concrete and asphalt. “It has become a large construction vehicle maintenance facility,” said Catherine Seckar, a nearby resident who said the activity has impaired use of her property and forced her to consider selling. Her husband, Steven Seckar, presented video and drone images showing trucks and equipment on the site.

Staff recommended approval with performance conditions, focusing its review on the narrower question of the two additional parked vehicles. Planning staff noted that some equipment and ancillary activities can be permitted for agricultural uses, but staff interpreted the observed activities as exceeding what the code treats as agricultural operations and recommended conditions if the board approved the special exception.

Commission discussion centered on compatibility with adjacent homesteads, community character and enforcement history. Several commissioners said they were persuaded that allowing two additional vehicles would increase heavy use at the site and would not be compatible with the surrounding agricultural and residential properties. Commissioner Jonathan McDonald moved to deny the special exception for incompatibility and nonconformance; the motion was seconded and passed 5-0.

The denial means the special-exception application was rejected at this hearing. Staff and multiple residents noted that separate code‑enforcement matters and any earlier rezoning attempt remain distinct from the vote on SE2501. The commission also heard that the county code allows a special exception to include time limits or become null and void if not initiated within two years or if inactive for more than one year, but the commission’s action at this hearing denied the request for additional vehicle parking.

Community reaction at the meeting was strongly opposed to the application; residents urged enforcement and said permitting the vehicles would create a lasting entitlement that could transfer with the land. The applicant argued the request was limited to parking vehicles and that much of the equipment cited by neighbors is allowed as part of forestry and agricultural work.

The record of this hearing will be available in the planning department files and the applicant may pursue whatever administrative or legal options are available under county procedures.