Council and community begin visioning for Zephyrhills' comprehensive plan to 2050; housing and water drive discussion

The City of Zephyrhills convened a visioning and planning workshop on Nov. 17 to begin shaping its comprehensive-plan update through 2050. Planning Director Todd Vanderberg framed the session as the first in a series of public engagements to determine where new housing should go and how growth should be balanced with water supply planning.

Planners presented population projections to 2050 (a year-round estimate of roughly 44,092 residents in the scenario) and explained planning-level service standards (a water planning level of service of 114 gallons per day per person and an infrastructure planning standard of 300 gallons per dwelling unit). Participants were asked to choose growth strategies — inward (infill), outward (joint planning area expansion) or a hybrid — and to prioritize infrastructure investments.

Table exercises produced recurring themes: support for infill and a balanced "missing middle" mix of housing types (townhomes, duplexes, small multifamily) to preserve affordability, a desire to protect and enhance walkability and trails, and priority investments in water, sewer, stormwater, sidewalks and parks. One table summarized its 2050 postcard: "diversified land use and quality jobs, walkable communities, multiple transportation modes and vibrant parks."

Workshop leaders said the pilot results will be summarized and taken on the road in further community meetings; staff also flagged the joint planning area (JPA) interlocal agreement with the county as a near-term item for review so the city can better influence growth outside city limits.

Next steps: staff will compile input, run technical analyses for the three growth scenarios and coordinate outreach to HOAs and neighborhood groups. The planning team said the visioning will inform future amendments to the future land use element and community redevelopment strategies.