Citrus County commissioners deny Lecanto sand‑mine rezoning after residents, staff cite code and environmental gaps

The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 11 to deny a request from Lecanto (Locanto) Sand LLC to reclassify roughly 44–70 acres for extractive use and to approve a planned unit development for a new sand mine.

The application, which the board treated as a quasi‑judicial matter, drew objections from county staff, the special master and dozens of residents and nearby property owners who said the applicant had not shown continuous legal mining use nor secured required state permits. County planner Joanna Coutu summarized staff findings that the proposal would create “a new sand mine” subject to current land‑development standards — including 500‑foot setbacks from residential parcels, paved access to collector roads and financial assurance — and that the application had not met several of those requirements.

Intervener Megan Horak said she filed to intervene “due to the safety and environmental concerns,” arguing the site has sensitive sand‑hill habitat and numerous gopher tortoise burrows. Horak told commissioners, “The constant traffic places strains on our roads that are not designed for heavy truck traffic,” and asked the board to enforce code standards rather than approve an expanded extractive district. County staff pointed to an open code case and SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) correspondence showing an incomplete ERP (environmental resource permit) for the newly disturbed acreage.

Applicant Chris Carollo disputed some claims and told the board he had been proactive in addressing neighbors and regulators, but he acknowledged he lacked a current mining permit and described reclamation plans that would convert worked areas to pasture. In the hearing, staff and the intervener questioned whether that reclamation would restore sand‑hill habitat or the gopher tortoise habitat the comprehensive plan seeks to protect.

After public testimony that included residents who described dust, heavy truck traffic and damaged private roads, Commissioner [name listed on record] moved to deny the CPA/Atlas/PUD application “based on competent, substantial evidence in the record and the applicant’s failure to demonstrate compliance with the applicable provisions of the Citrus County comprehensive plan and land development code,” including setback, traffic, reclamation and financial responsibility requirements. Commissioner Jeff Kennard seconded the motion. The board voted 5–0 to deny the rezoning and related PUD request.

The clerk’s record shows the board also directed county counsel and staff to pursue enforcement options for unpermitted activity on the site. The board’s denial preserves the existing comprehensive‑plan designations and leaves potential remedies — including a future resubmitted application that meets code, or enforcement actions against current unpermitted operations — to county staff and the courts.