Hernando County  
Board of County Commissioners  
Land Use Meeting  
Minutes  
January 6, 2026  
CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in the John Law  
Ayers County Commission Chambers, Government Center, Brooksville, Florida.  
Attendee Name  
Jerry Campbell  
Ryan Amsler  
Steve Champion  
John Allocco  
Title  
Chairman  
Vice Chairman  
Second Vice Chairman  
Commissioner  
Brian Hawkins  
Omar DePablo  
Scott Herring  
Jon Jouben  
Michelle Miller  
Paige Jefferys  
Heidi Prouse  
Commissioner  
Development Services Director  
Public Works Director/County Engineer  
County Attorney  
Senior Planner  
Deputy Clerk  
Deputy Clerk  
Invocation  
Pledge of Allegiance  
AGENDA  
Motion  
To approve the Agenda with changes.  
(Note: Development Service Director Omar DePablo announced that Item No. E-1 [Petition  
Submitted by Joseph Cotroneo and Caitlin Cotroneo to Vacate Utility and Drainage  
Easements Located in Royal Highlands] would be continued to a future land use meeting due  
to advertising.)  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
CONSENT AGENDA  
Release of Performance Bond and Acceptance of Maintenance Bond for Glen Lakes  
Commons, LLC  
Release of Performance Bond and Acceptance of Maintenance Bond for Pine Cone  
Subdivision  
Request to Postpone Appeal of Planning and Zoning Commission’s Decision Submitted  
by Steven Berry and Christine Berry for Special Exception Use Permit (SE2514)  
Motion  
To approve the Consent Agenda.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Ryan Amsler  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
CORRESPONDENCE TO NOTE  
Notice of Conditional Permit Actions Taken by Planning and Zoning Commission on  
December 8, 2025  
Notice of Special Exception Use Permit Action Taken by Planning and Zoning  
Commission on December 8, 2025  
Motion  
To rehear the special exception request (SE2512).  
(Note: The Motion pertained to a request for appeal of decision made by the Planning and  
Zoning Commission denying the request for a Special Exception Use Permit for a Limited  
At-Home Monument Business by David L. Merritt and Lynette M. Merritt.)  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
PUBLIC HEARINGS  
Proofs of publication of Notices of Public Hearing were noted for the scheduled public  
hearings.  
Ex Parte Communications  
Chairman Campbell and Comms. Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins announced the ex  
parte communications that they had had concerning the quasi-judicial petitions being  
considered at this meeting.  
County Attorney Jon Jouben advised the Commissioners that any ex parte communications,  
however received, could play no part in their deliberations.  
Adoption of Informational Packet  
The Agenda packet that was submitted to the Board included written information regarding the  
cases to be considered which needed to be accepted into evidence for the hearings.  
The staff recommended that the Board accept the Agenda packet, including the staff reports,  
into evidence as if read aloud in their entirety.  
Motion  
To approve.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
John Allocco  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
Petition Submitted by Joseph Cotroneo and Caitlin Cotroneo to Vacate Utility and  
Drainage Easements Located in Royal Highlands  
This Item was continued to a future land use meeting during Approval of the Agenda.  
Master Plan Revision Petition Submitted by Sand Ridge Hernando 47, LLC, for Property  
Located Near Elwood Road and Elgin Boulevard (H2542)  
The Board accepted public input on this matter.  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-001).  
(Note: The Motion pertained to the following Modified Performance conditions: to include 131  
lots, 7.5-feet side setbacks, 25-feet front setback and for emergency only access to the west  
connection, as approved by the Planning Department.)  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
Master Plan Revision Submitted by Goettle Special Services CO, for Property Located  
at Downwind Way (H2543)  
The Board accepted public input on this matter.  
Comm. Champion temporarily left the meeting and returned shortly thereafter.  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-002).  
(Note: The Motion pertained to the following Modified Performance Conditions, a mixture of  
berm and fence not to exceed 20-feet, the fence along the Suncoast Parkway shall be located  
behind the drainage retention area upon final design, remove the word "white" from fence of  
Condition No. 9 and include language for a dark fence, Condition No. 13 would state that the  
outdoor storage shall not exceed 15-feet with exception of the crane that shall be no higher  
than 20-feet while in storage, as approved by the Planning Department.)  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Ryan Amsler  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
RECESS/RECONVENE  
The Board recessed at 10:40 a.m. and reconvened at 10:50 a.m.  
Master Plan Revision and Rezoning Petition Submitted by 520 SW 15 Street, LLC, for  
Property Located on Cortez Boulevard (H2527)  
Comm. Amsler temporarily left the meeting and returned shortly thereafter.  
The Board accepted public input on this matter.  
Comm. Hawkins temporarily left the meeting.  
Comm. Champion made the following Motion.  
Motion  
To approve with 8-vessels allowing the pontoon boat and grandfathering in the 1-RV slip,  
allowing 1-RV slip on the lot.  
Comm. Hawkins returned to the meeting.  
Comm. Champion restated his Motion as follows:  
Restated Motion  
To approve 8-slips with the pontoon boat and allowing the 1-slip for the RV that is already  
there.  
Comm. Champion amended his Motion as follows:  
Amendment to Motion  
To approve 8-slips with a pontoon boat, 1-RV that is already list and day passes if they are  
using your brand.  
Comm. Champion amended his Motion as follows:  
Amendment to Motion  
To allow the continuation of use contingent on maintaining the Livery permit with the state.  
Comm. Champion revised his Motion as follows:  
Revised Motion  
To five, two and one, with one of the five being a larger pontoon boat, the one recreation, for  
the day pass to only be for your properties, under your brand, and for continued use  
contingent on the Livery permit with the state (Resolution No. 2026-003).  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Ryan Amsler  
Amsler, Champion and Hawkins  
Campbell and Allocco  
NAYES:  
RECESS/RECONVENE  
The Board recessed at 1:05 p.m. and reconvened at 1:15 p.m.  
Rezoning Petition Submitted by Aaron Lee Branham, Sr., for Property Located on Alloy  
Street (H2534)  
There was no public input.  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-004).  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
Rezoning Petition Submitted by Maine Drilling and Blasting, Inc., on Behalf of Mark  
Harden and Josephine Elizabeth Harden for Property Located on Lake Lindsey Road  
and Ponce De Leon Boulevard (H2544)  
There was no public input.  
Comm. Champion made the following Motion:  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation.  
Comm. Hawkins seconded the Motion.  
Comm. Champion amended his Motion as follows:  
Amendment to Motion  
To allow the petitioner 30-days from the receipt of the Board of County Commissioners action  
from county staff, as opposed to by the Board (Resolution No. 2026-005).  
(Note: The Motion pertained to Modified Performance Condition No. 17.)  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
Rezoning Petition Submitted by Erran J. O’ Donnell, Sasha N. Ripa, David E. Soch and  
Maria C. Soch for Property Located on Mahoning Avenue (H2537)  
There was no public input.  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-006).  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Ryan Amsler  
Steve Champion  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
Rezoning Petition Submitted by Ville Di Toscana, LLC, for Property Located on Croom  
Rital Road (H2536)  
There was no public input.  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-007).  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Ryan Amsler  
Steve Champion  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PLANNING DIRECTOR OMAR DEPABLO  
Petition Submitted by James W. Beadling and Debra L. Beadling for Hardship Relief  
From Subdivision Regulations for Property Located on Root Road  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-008).  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
Petition Submitted by Sandra Weaver f/k/a Sandra Robinson and Kelton Weaver for  
Hardship Relief From Subdivision Regulations for Property Located North of Manecke  
Road  
Motion  
To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-009).  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins  
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS  
The Board commented on various issues.  
ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m.