Resident urges Pasco MPO to oppose Denton Avenue rezoning over wildlife and flood concerns

During the public comment period, Michaela Krauss, a Pasco County resident, urged the board to oppose a proposed Denton Avenue rezoning that she said would transform 331 acres of rural land into dense development.

Krauss told the board the project as proposed would allow 832 single‑family homes, about 75,000 square feet of commercial space and approximately 440,000 square feet of light industrial floor area. She told commissioners the rezoning would be incompatible with the existing rural and agricultural character and risk significant environmental impacts, including loss of wetlands, damage to wildlife corridors and increased flood risk for neighborhoods on Kitten Trail, Mattis Road and Dennis Drive.

She listed species she said rely on the area, including bald eagles and gopher tortoises, and asked commissioners to "not prioritize developer profits over our endangered wildlife and our rural heritage." The board acknowledged the comment during public comment closure and proceeded to other agenda business.

Krauss’s remarks were made as public comment; the board did not take a formal vote on the specific rezoning item during the portion of the transcript provided. Her presentation identified the acreage, housing and nonresidential square footage figures above as the primary factual claims she wanted the board and the public record to consider.