Commissioners approve extension request process for Allen Road to enable parcel split

Hardee County staff presented a request on Feb. 6 from the Thao family to extend 120 feet of Allen Road into their property so they can subdivide parcels and create new building lots.

Project coordinator Tara Holt told the board that Allen Road has been county maintained for more than seven years and that the Thao family constructed the 120-foot extension at their expense and had the work inspected by county staff; the county’s right-of-way width was reported as 20 feet and the department found the extension met county standards for acceptance into county maintenance. Staff noted that other parcels in the vicinity have access from Terrell Road and that the newly created lots would require new driveway and culvert permits.

Commissioners asked whether the newly extended roadway provides adequate turnaround space for county equipment; staff said the right-of-way and layout were reviewed and allow grader turnarounds for maintenance. Commissioners noted the county’s pavement-prioritization process generally ranks dead-end roads lower for paving but that accepting the extension into maintenance fits county practice for providing public access when privately built to standards.

Staff recommended approval of the resolution to accept the extension and add the 120 feet to county-maintained mileage; the board discussed but did not record a formal separate vote at the workshop. The item will be processed administratively per county policy for acceptance of dedicated road extensions and the property owners will be required to secure driveway/culvert permits for new lots.