The Pasco County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a comprehensive plan amendment and a companion MPUD rezoning for the Blackwell Mixed Use project, allowing mixed‑use development on approximately 15.36 acres on the north side of State Road 54.

Staff planner Amy Toll told the commission the proposal would change the site’s future land use from commercial to planned development and create a sub‑area policy enabling up to 290 multifamily units and 100,000 square feet of nonresidential uses. The application includes a text amendment establishing a sub‑area policy and a coordinated rezoning to an MPUD.

“We recommend the Local Planning Agency find the proposed amendment consistent with the comprehensive plan and recommend approval to the Board of County Commissioners,” Toll said.

Applicant representatives described a pedestrian‑oriented master plan with internal parks, sidewalk connections to nearby schools and parks, and buffer plantings to screen adjacent neighborhoods. Planner Kurt Siverson said the developer will fund a proportionate share of a signal at the project access tied to the first phase and that the signal improvement will not be eligible for mobility fee credits.

An online neighbor, Jeff Wilson, told the commission he lives adjacent to the site and urged additional spot‑speed and sight‑distance studies because of a curve on State Road 54. “With this curve and the speed of traffic, 54 is extremely dangerous,” Wilson said, and asked that the commission delay approval until traffic and wetland analyses reflect recent nearby projects.

Staff and the applicant said required traffic, access management and wetlands permitting must be satisfied before construction and that access design must meet county standards. The commission’s questions focused on buffering, pedestrian access and how the project fits with adjacent MPDs.

After discussion the commission moved and approved the recommendations on PC4 and PC5 by voice vote. Conditions attached to the approval require the proportionate contribution to the signal and standard engineering and permitting for access and wetlands.

The local planning agency’s recommendation advances the project to the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, which will make the final decision.