Brooksville council denies rezoning for 14.97-acre West Jefferson proposal

The Brooksville City Council voted to deny a rezoning request (Ordinance 979) for roughly 14.97 acres on the south side of West Jefferson Street on Aug. 19, after hearing a second-reading presentation from the petitioner and extended council questioning.

Troy Carter, who identified himself as the developer and an engineer, told the council he had removed single-family uses and was seeking multifamily options (townhomes or apartments), and that the drainage report and plans are on file. Carter said utilities — particularly sewer and wastewater capacity — and road access are unresolved and that actual development could be years away.

Planning and Zoning had unanimously recommended approval at an earlier meeting, and staff (Mr. Goldman) told council the request was compatible with the comprehensive plan. Nonetheless, several council members said the city’s existing water/wastewater infrastructure and current traffic conditions make approving new multifamily entitlements premature. A motion to deny the rezoning carried on a roll-call vote recorded 5–0.

Council members asked whether deed restrictions or other mechanisms could limit future uses, and the developer said he would need legal counsel to determine enforceable limits. The council also noted that the property is under contract (owner identified in the record as Argus LLC, associated with Jim Clendenny) and that a rezoning approval would increase land value even if construction is delayed.

Because this was a quasi-judicial item, council confirmed no ex parte communications or conflicts prior to voting. The denial leaves the existing entitlements unchanged and defers any future site-planning, traffic studies or utility solutions until the city’s infrastructure capacity is addressed.

The council’s action was procedural — denying the rezoning request at second reading — and does not preclude future applications after infrastructure improvements.