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Planning commission denies Lake Lindsay resort rezoning after hours of public opposition
Summary
The Hernando County Planning & Zoning Commission voted to deny rezoning request H2420 for a private golf-resort near Lake Lindsay after extended public comment raised concerns about water use, habitat loss, traffic and precedent. The denial will move to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.
The Hernando County Planning & Zoning Commission voted to deny rezoning petition H2420 from Society Hill Capital Partners LLC, which proposed a private golf-resort with a membership clubhouse and 68 lodging cottages on roughly 292 acres near Lake Lindsay.
Commissioner Mike Fulford moved to deny the request “based on substantial competent material evidence” that the project would not provide a net benefit to county residents; the motion carried after deliberation and public comment. The denial now advances to the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners for final consideration.
The hearing ran for hours as dozens of residents, conservation groups and scientists told the commission the site is incompatible with the rural and conservation lands that surround it. Public commenters repeatedly raised concerns about potable-water supply and well drawdowns, pesticide and fertilizer runoff from golf-course maintenance, and the loss of wildlife habitat for species such as gopher tortoises and migratory birds.
“We were told there are no sinkholes in Hernando County, which is not true,” resident Carol Eckenroth told commissioners, urging them to reject the rezoning. “No infrastructure to proceed… Just say no.”
Applicant representatives—including Coastal Engineering’s Ford Manuel—described a revised plan that reduced lodging from 120 to 68 units, reserved the southern portion as conservation or recreation, expanded buffer widths to 100 feet and pledged a 5‑acre donation for a future fire station. Engineers said irrigation would rely primarily on stored stormwater and permitted wells and that stormwater ponds would be lined and internally drained.
The school district and a range of residents and organizations pressed the commission on long-term impacts. Commissioners said they had to weigh technical mitigations against the substantial public opposition raised in the hearing. After debate, Commissioner Fulford introduced the motion to deny, which the commission approved. The commission’s denial will be transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.
What’s next: the county will forward the file and public record to the BOCC; residents and the applicant may provide additional briefs or supplemental materials to that hearing.
