Pasco commissioners approve Ross Lane small‑scale plan amendment and MPUD with pedestrian and street‑tree conditions

The Pasco County Board adopted a small‑scale comprehensive plan amendment (Item P38) and approved the companion Master Planned Unit Development rezoning (Item P43) to allow up to 74 single‑family detached units on about 26.2 acres near Ross Lane and Little Road.

Staff told the board the amendment changes the future land‑use from Res 9 and commercial to Res 6, aligning the site to surrounding suburban densities. The MPUD master plan envisions 60‑foot minimum single‑family lots with pedestrian facilities, an eight‑foot nature trail, internal pedestrian connections and on‑site sidewalks. Staff recommended approval after a consistency analysis citing several comprehensive plan policies.

Commission discussion centered on whether the developer should provide vehicular interconnections to adjacent commercial lots. Staff and the applicant said deed restrictions and recorded declarations affecting commercial property ownership make direct vehicular connections infeasible in at least some locations, though staff and the applicant proposed pedestrian and frontage‑road solutions to close sidewalk gaps. The applicant agreed to provide off‑site sidewalk segments and add an eight‑foot trail to fill pedestrian gaps.

As part of final conditions, commissioners negotiated and approved language (to be finalized with county attorney) requiring each single‑family lot to have three trees, one of which must be a canopy street tree located between curb and sidewalk; the condition also specified the tree must be a shade species (not a crepe myrtle) and left final code wording to staff. The board recorded a roll‑call approval following the motion.

Public comment included a resident who warned of potential flooding impacts to nearby riparian systems; staff committed to follow up with engineering analysis of local spillways and drainage outfalls.

The board directed county staff to work with the applicant to finalize condition wording and to provide required off‑site pedestrian improvements. No appeals or legal challenges were announced at the hearing.