Minutes - Board of County Commissioners

Hernando County

Board of County Commissioners

Land Use Meeting

Minutes

March 3, 2026

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in the John Law

Ayers County Commission Chambers, Government Center, Brooksville, Florida.

Attendee Name

Jerry Campbell

Ryan Amsler

Title

Chairman

Vice Chairman

Steve Champion

John Allocco

Second Vice Chairman

Commissioner

Brian Hawkins

Omar DePablo

Paul Hasenmeier

Scott Herring

Jon Jouben

Michelle Miller

Nienke Osinga

Heidi Prouse

Commissioner

Development Services Director

Public Safety Director/Fire Chief

Public Works Director

County Attorney

Senior Planner

Deputy Clerk

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

AGENDA

Motion

To approve the Agenda with changes.

(Note: Item No. E-9 [Special Exception Use Permit Petition for Place of Public Assembly,

Specifically to Operate Venue for Special Events, Submitted by Steven Berry and Christina

Berry for Property Located on Mizelle Road (SE2514) was postponed to a future meeting due

to insufficient advertising.)

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Ryan Amsler

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

CONSENT AGENDA

Resolution Revising Prior Approval of Petition Submitted by Alfred P. Martucci and

Sharon K. Martucci for Hardship Relief from Subdivision Regulations

Motion

To approve the Consent Agenda (Resolution No. 2026-040).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Brian Hawkins

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

CORRESPONDENCE TO NOTE

Notice of Conditional Use Permit Actions Taken by Planning and Zoning Commission

on February 9, 2026

Notice of Special Exception Use Permit Actions Taken by Planning and Zoning

Commission on February 9, 2026

Motion

To rehear the special exception request on a date certain of April 7, 2026 (SE2602).

(Note: The Motion pertained to a request for appeal to the decision made by the Planning and

Zoning Commission denying the request for a Special Exception Use Permit for Family

Mausoleum Submitted by Julie Vadell and Sabato Del Pozzo.)

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

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Petition Submitted by Gordon Eugene McMann to Vacate Utility and Drainage

Easements Located in Royal Highlands

There was no public input.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-041).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Brian Hawkins

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Petition Submitted by Sean Schrader and Crystal Schrader to Vacate Landscape

Easement Located in Storybook Estates

There was no public input.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-042).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Brian Hawkins

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Petition Submitted by Frank McDowell, III and Margaret M. McDowell to Vacate Utility

and Drainage Easements Located in Rolling Oaks (Key #196442)

There was no public input.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-043).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Petition Submitted by Frank McDowell, III and Margaret M. McDowell to Vacate Utility

and Drainage Easements Located in Rolling Oaks (Key #565819)

There was no public input.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-044)

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Brian Hawkins

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Petition Submitted by Suncoast Investment Group of Hernando County, LLC, f/k/a

Suncoast Development Group, LLC, to Vacate Utility and Lift Station Easements

Located in Suncoast Landing Phase 1 Subdivision

There was no public input.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-045).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Brian Hawkins

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Petition Submitted by Damon B. Croucher and Stephanie L. Croucher to Vacate Lake

Maintenance Easement Located in Spring Hill

There was no public input.

Motion

To continue to a date uncertain.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Variance Petition Submitted by Dominique Moglia Tilwick for Property Located on

Peach Bloom Road

The Board accepted public input on this matter.

Motion

To deny (Resolution No. 2026-046).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Jerry Campbell

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Comm. Champion temporarily left the meeting.

Special Exception Use Permit Petition for Limited At-Home Monument Business

Submitted by David L. Merritt and Lynette M. Merritt a Trustees of Merritt Family Trust

Agreement u/t/d August 29, 2007 for Property Located on Weatherly Road (SE2512)

Comm. Champion returned to the meeting.

There was Board consensus to accept George Foster as an expert witness.

The Board accepted public input on this matter.

Comm. Amsler made the following Motion.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

Comm. Champion seconded the Motion.

Comm. Amsler temporarily left the meeting.

RECESS/RECONVENE

The Board recessed at 11:10 a.m. and reconvened at 11:20 a.m.

Comm. Amsler was present when the meeting reconvened.

Special Exception Use Permit Petition for Limited At-Home Monument Business

Submitted by David L. Merritt and Lynette M. Merritt a Trustees of Merritt Family Trust

Agreement u/t/d August 29, 2007 for Property Located on Weatherly Road (SE2512)

Comm. Amsler amended his Motion as follows:

Amendment to Motion

To convert the special exception use request to a conditional use request.

Comm. Amsler restated his Motion as follows:

Restated Motion

To approve with the five stated conditions and the added 100% opacity as a conditional use

permit.

(Note: The Motion pertained to Modified Performance Conditions as requested by the

Petitioner and approved by the Planning Department.)

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion and Hawkins

Allocco

NAYES:

Special Exception Use Permit Petition for Place of Public Assembly, Specifically to

Operate Venue for Special Events Submitted by Steven Berry and Christina Berry for

Property Located on Mizelle Road (SE2514)

This item was postponed during approval of the Agenda.

Rezoning Petition Submitted by Dirt Doctor 11011, LLC, on Behalf of Dirt Doctor 0, LLC,

for Property Located on Sunshine Grove Road (H2552)

There was no public input.

Comm. Hawkins made the following Motion:

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation with the removal of the domestic and business service

establishment; and the repair establishment, the entire category.

Comm. Champion seconded the Motion.

Comm. Hawkins amended his Motion as follows:

Amendment to Motion

To include the condition for a 6-feet high opaque fence to the north for now, but if the property

to north becomes commercial, it could become hedges or bushes, and for any comparison

goods store, the developer will work with staff on commercial standards, elements, textures

and reliefs at the time of site development (Resolution No. 2026-047).

Comm. Champion confirmed his second on the Motion.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Brian Hawkins

Steve Champion

Campbell, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Amsler

NAYES:

Master Plan Revision Petition Submitted by Joseph Pastore on Behalf of Himself, Robin

Pastore, and Anthony Crescenzo for Property Located on US Highway 19 a/k/a

Commercial Way (H2554)

There was no public input.

Comm. Hawkins made the following Motion:

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

Comm. Champion seconded the Motion.

Comm. Hawkins amended his Motion as follows:

Amendment to Motion

To add "if warranted" to Performance Condition No. 4 as approved by Utilities Department

staff (Resolution No. 2026-048).

Comm. Champion confirmed his second on the Motion.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Brian Hawkins

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Master Plan Revision Petition Submitted by Solid Rock Property Group on Behalf of

DMMD I, LLC, for Property Located on Kettering Road and State Road 50 a/k/a Cortez

Boulevard (H2555)

There was no public input.

Comm. Amsler made the following Motion:

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

Comm. Champion seconded the Motion.

Comm. Amsler revised his Motion as follows:

Revised Motion

To remove the 80% opacity condition from the northern and western boundaries (Resolution

No. 2026-049).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

RECESS/RECONVENE

The Board recessed at 12:40 p.m. and reconvened at 12:50 p.m.

Master Plan Revision Petition Submitted by Dire Wolf Holdings, LLC, for Property

Located on Grand Entrada Boulevard and US Highway 41 a/k/a Broad Street (H2545)

The Board accepted public input on this matter.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Resolution No. 2026-050).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

Master Plan Revision Petition Submitted by SV Tampa Land LP, LLC, for Property

Located on Kelso Street (H2549)

Motion

To accept the additional exhibits provided to the Commissioners by the Planning Department

into the backup materials for evidence.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Brian Hawkins

Steve Champion

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

The Board accepted public input on this matter.

RECESS/RECONVENE

The Board recessed at 2:50 p.m. and reconvened at 2:55 p.m.

Master Plan Revision Petition Submitted by SV Tampa Land LP, LLC, for Property

Located on Kelso Street (H2549)

Comm. Champion made the following Motion:

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation with modifying Performance Condition No. 7 to allow for

4.5 units per acre with the limitation of one story, and to add a Performance Condition for up

to 5-acres within parcel key #1100007 shall be set aside for the construction of a future fire

station based on the need and demand of the fire chief.

Comm. Allocco seconded the Motion.

Comm. Champion restated his Motion as follows:

Restated Motion

To approve the 3400-units on the main parcel, for the "orange" parcel the developer is going

to give up to 5-acres for a fire station, and the density on the remaining of the property will be

no more than 4.5-units with the single story duplexes/villas/whatever rental property is in there

(Resolution No. 2026-051).

(Note: The Motion pertained to the "orange" parcel referencing parcel key #1100007.)

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

John Allocco

Campbell, Champion and Allocco

Amsler and Hawkins

NAYES:

Mediated Settlement Agreement With Mark Keschl of Meridien Development, LLC, on

Behalf of Gary Haber, Evelyn Haber, Kenneth L. Haber and Martha Haber, Dated January

27, 2026, and Associated Resolution

The Board accepted public input on this matter.

Comm. Allocco made the following Motion.

Motion

To deny.

Comm. Hawkins seconded the Motion.

Comm. Allocco called for the vote with Comm. Champion dissenting.

Comm. Allocco withdrew his call for the vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Brian Hawkins

Campbell, Amsler, Allocco and Hawkins

Champion

NAYES:

Second Public Hearing to Consider Amending Ordinance Relating to Conditional Use

Permits Allowable With Administrative Official Approval and Backyard Chickens

There was no public input.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation (Ordinance 2026-05).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

John Allocco

Campbell, Amsler, Champion, Allocco and Hawkins

First Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Amending Ordinance Relating to

Conditional Use Permits

There was no public input.

There was Board consensus to move forward and schedule the second public hearing.

First Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Amending Ordinance Relating to Zoning

Permit and Certificate of Use; Amending Size Requirements for Structures With

Impervious Roof Coverings That Require Zoning Permits Prior to Construction or

Permit

There was no public input.

There was Board consensus to move forward and schedule the second public hearing.

First Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Amending Ordinance Relating to

Residential Lot Landscaping Requirements and Compliance Inspections for Vacant

Residential Lots/Parcels

There was no public input.

There was Board consensus to move forward and schedule the second public hearing.

First Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance Amending Ordinance Relating to Specific

Regulations and Sidewalks

There was no public input.

There was Board consensus to move forward and schedule the second public hearing.