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Board approves Elite State Road 52 plan after applicant agrees to two‑story limit for homes
Summary
After neighbor testimony about airport proximity and loss of privacy, the board approved a comprehensive plan amendment and companion MPD for the 156‑acre Elite State Road 52 project; the applicant agreed on the record to a two‑story height limit for residential lots and to conservation easements and right‑of‑way dedication for State Road 52.
The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt a comprehensive plan amendment and to approve a companion master planned unit development (MPD) for the Elite State Road 52 project, which proposes a mixed‑use development on about 156 acres including 175,000 square feet of commercial space, a 120‑room hotel and 108 single‑family homes.
Planning staff presented the proposal and recommended adoption, saying the applicant had offered a conservation easement to protect category‑1 wetlands and would convey right‑of‑way for State Road 52. William Vermillion of Planning, Development and Economic Growth described the revised plan and explained the applicant reduced an earlier proposal of 300 townhomes to 108 single‑family detached units to improve compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.
Nearby residents urged the board to tighten controls on lot size, building height and safety near the airport. "The density of the lots combined with the height of the buildings is going to remove any privacy I have in my own backyard," said Caitlyn Bule, who identified herself as a Pilot Country resident, flight nurse and private pilot. Bule asked that homes bordering Pilot Country be limited to two stories and that the required barrier be a wall, not a fence.
Barbara Wilhight, attorney for the applicant, told the board her client agreed on the record to a two‑story height limitation on the residential homes and confirmed the conservation easement and donation of the State Road 52 right‑of‑way at no cost to the county. "My client agreed to convey that at no cost to the county," Wilhight said.
Commissioners asked about buffers, setbacks from airport influence areas and tree mitigation. Staff and the applicant described an enhanced landscape buffer, a 15‑foot planting strip with southern red cedar trees and an 8‑foot wall or fence, plus additional design measures for compatibility with the nearby Pilot Country neighborhood.
The board approved the comprehensive plan amendment and the MPD by roll call vote with District Two Commissioner Wakeman recorded as excused. District One Commissioner Oakley, District Three Commissioner Starkley, District Four Commissioner Jagger and Chairman Mariano voted in favor.
The approvals include conditions described in staff and MPD materials, including the conservation easement, right‑of‑way dedication and the recorded two‑story residential height limit. The developer will amend MPD plan documents to reflect those dimensional standards and implement the enhanced buffers and other conditions required by the board.
