Planning commission recommends approval of Southern Hills Phase 3A-2 preliminary plat for 21 homes

The Brooksville Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the preliminary plat for Southern Hills Plantation Phase 3A‑2, a proposed 21‑lot single‑family subdivision, sending the item to the City Council for final action.

Don Lacey, representing Coastal Engineering Associates, presented the application. City staff member Steve provided project background, saying, “This request is a petition to approve the preliminary plat for Southern Hills Plantation Phase 3 A‑2 containing 21 single family detached dwelling units.” He said the property sits immediately west of Hope Hill Road at the current terminus of Evening Ray Drive and is part of the larger Southern Hills Plantation planned development.

The commission’s staff report and Steve noted that the property was annexed into the city in February 2003 and that, in February 2004, the development received a planned‑development mixed‑use zoning that allows up to 1,163 residential units, about 240,000 square feet of retail or office space, 45,000 square feet of clubhouse floor area and a minimum of 350 acres of open space or recreational uses. To date, staff said, 839 single‑family lots have been platted in the project; the 21 proposed lots would add to that total.

Resident Deborah McCormick, who gave her address as 19390 Bristolwood Place and identified herself as a Southern Hills Plantation resident, asked questions about the site location, construction traffic through the community gatehouse and tree removal. McCormick said she was “trying to learn more about what’s going on with development of our city” and expressed concern about preserving trees and the neighborhood’s appearance.

Staff told the commission there is a development agreement in place that prescribes tree removal and replanting requirements, and that the land‑development code requires landscaping on individual lots; those requirements are reviewed at the time each residence applies for construction. Staff also corrected a detail in the packet’s utilities table: water and sewer utility ownership for the project is the City of Brooksville Utilities Department (not Hernando County), and the city has reserved capacity for the development.

The commission’s recommendation is conditioned on a timing requirement. As stated in the staff report, the applicant must submit a final subdivision plat within one year of preliminary plat approval; if that time limit expires after the initiation of final plat review procedures, the applicant may apply for a 60‑day extension. Staff explained that the developer may either submit concurrent final plat and construction plans to proceed to construction or plat and bond for improvements, and that certificates of occupancy will not be issued until the final plat is approved by the City Council. The city also uses a contracted state‑certified surveyor to review final plats.

Commissioner action: a motion to recommend approval of PP2024‑2 with conditions carried on a roll‑call vote. Commissioners recorded “I” votes from Lee Johnson, Jim Russell and Jennifer McCoskry; the motion passed and the item was scheduled to go to City Council for final consideration.

The commission did not alter the proposed lot count or the substantive items in the preliminary plat; the recommendation passed with the single timing condition described above. The City Council will consider the final plat on the date posted in the city’s public calendar.