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Dade City planning board recommends LDR future land use for contested mine site after split votes
Summary
The Dade City Planning Board voted 3–2 to recommend a future land-use change to Low Density Residential (LDR) for ordinance 2025-17 after earlier motions, debate over density and water issues, and public comment about possible contamination and runoff.
The Dade City Planning Board voted to recommend a future land-use designation of Low Density Residential (LDR) for the property under consideration in ordinance 2025-17, a move the board said balances local concerns about density and water runoff with the prospect the owner could withdraw annexation and seek county approval.
The board’s discussion centered on whether to allow Medium Density Residential (MDR) on part of the site. Speaker 1 moved "to recommend approval of ordinance 20 25-17 with amendment that the northernmost parcel be LDR, and the southernmost parcel be MDR," and the motion was seconded. After clarification of parcel IDs and two roll-call votes on differing proposals, the board ultimately approved a recommendation for LDR by a 3–2 vote.
Why it matters: LDR carries a lower maximum density than MDR and limits the types of housing that can be built, which neighbors said is important because of longstanding local concerns about water, runoff and the character of nearby properties. Multiple board members said there are still unanswered engineering questions for the site, including the status of test wells and stormwater management, and that annexation would not automatically negate any lawfully permitted mining activity on the site.
What the board said: During debate Speaker 8 said, "MDR is not it … All LDR," citing the area’s existing lot sizes and water issues. Speaker 1 warned that if the board denied higher density, the owner could withdraw the annexation and seek county approvals instead.
Public comment: A gallery speaker raised concerns about contamination and DEP inspections, noting retests ‘‘all came back polluted’’ and naming Ryan Armstrong as director of Swift Mud; staff told the meeting those DEP records are public but said they were not part of the packet used for the planning recommendation.
Next steps: The board’s recommendation will go forward to the city commission for final action. The planning board and staff noted that specific zoning designations would be handled at a later hearing if the commission accepts the recommendation.
