Brooksville planning commission continues rezoning by Hawkland Investors to June 11 to allow city to recognize expired development agreement

The City of Brooksville Planning and Zoning Commission on April 9 voted to continue consideration of Ordinance 994, a rezoning application filed by Hawkland Investors New LLC on behalf of Majestic Oaks Partners LLC and American Collegiate Academy LLC, to the June 11, 2025 Planning & Zoning meeting so the City Council can formally recognize the expiration of a development agreement tied to the property.

The continuance was requested by city planning staff because the development agreement—authorized in February 2005 and subject to a 10-year term—had previously been extended by two years and, staff said, must be formally declared expired by City Council in compliance with Florida statute procedures that require two public hearings. Steve Goldman, city planner, told the commission the council hearings are slated for May 5 and May 19 and that until council acts the development agreement will remain on the record.

Staff said the development agreement “had a 10 year expiration date” and that an extension moved its effective expiration to 2017; Goldman said the city attorney advised that the agreement must be formally recognized by council as expired before the commission acts on the rezoning. Goldman said the rezoning under consideration is intended to modify the previously approved site plan, including removing a southern school location from the plan.

Donald Lacey, representing Coastal Engineering Associates Inc. for the applicant, said the applicant “has no comment” and that they “recognize what action is being taken and why it’s being taken.”

Several nearby property owners spoke during the public comment period focused on the continuance. Mike Casey asked whether the expiration “means they start over completely,” and Goldman replied that the development agreement and the rezoning are separate actions. Tom Bambard asked whether any development could occur on the property if no new development agreement is filed; Goldman explained that development agreements are optional and that rezonings can proceed without them but stressed that the city must first have council formally recognize the prior agreement’s expiration. Jim Bird raised concerns about flooding and traffic tied to the property; Goldman advised Bird that those issues are likely to be addressed during the formal rezoning hearing and suggested contacting Hernando County for drainage concerns if the property is outside city limits.

After public comment, a motion to continue the item to the June 11, 2025 Planning & Zoning meeting passed by voice vote.

The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; commissioners’ names for the motion and second were not specified on the record. Staff said interested parties who received notice of the April meeting would receive a separate notice about the City Council hearings to decide the development-agreement expiration.

What happens next: If City Council formally recognizes the development agreement as expired following the public hearings in May, the rezoning application will return to Planning & Zoning on June 11 for further consideration based on the modified site plan submitted by the applicant.