Zephyrhills council transmits new housing element and a north‑area mixed‑use plan to state for review

The Zephyrhills City Council voted unanimously April 13 to transmit two related updates to the city’s comprehensive plan — a new housing element aimed at preserving and expanding affordable housing and a map‑and‑text amendment that establishes a compact mixed‑use subarea on the north US‑301 corridor.

Planning staff presented the changes at a public hearing and asked the council to forward the package to state agencies for the statutorily required coordinated review. Tammy Vera, a consultant working with the city, said the housing element’s goal is "to provide a diverse, affordable, and resilient housing supply that meets the needs of residents of all incomes, ages, and abilities," and outlined objectives for protecting naturally occurring affordable housing, supporting workforce housing partnerships and creating 'missing middle' housing types such as duplexes, cottage courts and accessory dwelling units.

The council also approved the Zephr mixed‑use subarea, a future‑land‑use designation covering about 71.5 acres adjacent to US‑301. The new category is intended to promote walkable neighborhood activity hubs with neighborhood‑serving retail, offices, civic space and residential uses up to 14 dwelling units per acre and a 1.0 floor‑area‑ratio for non‑residential uses. Staff said projects in the designation would be processed through a Planned Unit Development (PUD) with a 13‑point review checklist covering circulation, stormwater, parks and transitions to adjacent neighborhoods.

Council members pressed staff on implementation constraints. Several members noted the city’s current water‑service moratorium and a service‑area policy that affect developers’ ability to build immediately in some locations, and staff said those infrastructure constraints will be part of later implementation work. Planning Director Todd Vanderberg said the transmittal is the next step: staff will send the amendment package to state reviewing agencies and return to council with any agency comments and a second public hearing.

The council voted to transmit both amendments without opposition. The transmittal begins a statutory review timeline that includes agency comments before the council holds a final public hearing and considers adoption.