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Dade City planning board approves setback variance for proposed municipal building
Summary
The Dade City Planning Board voted to reduce the front-yard setback from 25 feet to 5 feet for a proposed two-story municipal building across from city hall; staff said the change would improve walkability and the plan gains parking, while final project funding remains pending before the city commission.
The Dade City Planning Board voted to approve a variance reducing the required front-yard setback for a proposed two-story municipal building from 25 feet to 5 feet, the board heard during its meeting.
Planner Cassie Van Lint, presenting the staff report, said the site sits across from city hall at Pasco Avenue and 4th Street — the former Dade City Police Department site — and that staff recommended the variance. "Staff does recommend the approval of the variance request to reduce required setback from 25 feet to 5 feet," Van Lint said.
Board members asked whether the change would cost parking; Van Lint told the board the plan would not lose parking and "We do not. We actually gain about 10 parking spots." The board also questioned why the building would face the parking lot rather than Pasco Avenue; a community and economic development staff member said the entrance was located near accessible parking to minimize travel distance for people with disabilities and that routing entrances differently would have reduced usable office space and complicated the floor plan.
The project team described design choices intended to limit impacts on nearby residents: the second-floor windows near the south side are mainly conference-room glazing rather than regular workstations so as to maintain privacy. The staff representative said the city has reached about 60% design and that a design-build contract was awarded to Ryman Construction; final budget approval for construction funding is expected at the commission meeting on March 24.
No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period for the variance. After discussion, a board member moved to approve the variance and another board member seconded; four members voted in favor during roll call and the motion carried.
The board's action was approval of the zoning variance only. Funding and final construction authorization were described by staff as separate steps to be considered by the city commission at a future meeting.
