Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Actions Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brooksville commission OKs three variances, recommends Jefferson Street rezoning to city council
Summary
At its Aug. 14 meeting the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended rezoning a 0.68‑acre West Jefferson Street parcel to light industrial, approved a Waffle House setback/buffer variance at 832 S. Broad St., and approved a city hall sign‑setback variance at 201 Howell Ave.; actions were voice votes and will be followed by council consideration where applicable.
The City of Brooksville Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 14 voted to recommend rezoning a 0.68‑acre West Jefferson Street parcel from Hernando County C2 to City I2, and approved two other variances: a setback/buffer variance for a proposed Waffle House at 832 South Broad Street and a sign‑setback variance for a City Hall sign at 201 Howell Avenue.
On Ordinance 982, staff said the parcel (Hernando property appraiser key number 354100) was annexed in June 2023 and a companion comprehensive‑plan amendment had already received a favorable recommendation; staff recommended the commission find the rezoning consistent with the comprehensive plan. Holly Grama, a civil engineer qualified as an expert for the applicant, said the rezoning would allow the applicant to submit construction plans and address existing code‑enforcement issues. In absence of further discussion Commissioner (speaker 11) moved to recommend approval of the rezoning from C2 to I2 and the commission approved the recommendation by voice vote. Staff said the city council would hear the matter Sept. 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers.
For VR2024‑1 (variance for Waffle House on behalf of Brooksville Car Wash LLC), applicant representative Mercedes Field told the commission the small, oddly shaped lot requires a 5‑foot reduction to the northern side‑yard setback and a 1‑foot reduction to the southern buffer so the building and drive‑through circulation fit. Wade James, owner of the adjacent Birksdale car wash, told the commission he and other nearby business owners support the project: ‘‘Waffle House is gonna be a perfect spot, you know, with the other restaurants,’’ he said. The commission approved the requested setback and buffer variances by voice vote; staff said a confirmation letter would be sent to the applicant.
On VR2024‑2 the city sought a 10‑foot variance to the code’s 10‑foot monument‑sign setback to allow a like‑for‑like replacement of the existing City Hall sign at 201 Howell Avenue. Staff noted the existing sign is nonconforming and argued the replacement would not increase the degree of nonconformity and could be administratively approvable, but the variance was taken for the record. Commissioners asked about sign legibility, illumination and landscaping; staff said the sign would be illuminated by remote LED lighting and landscaped per code. The commission approved the sign‑setback variance by voice vote.
All approvals at the Aug. 14 meeting were voice votes; where the commission approved a rezoning recommendation that matter will proceed to city council for final action.
