Pasco planning panel backs Gagne rezoning, residents raise flooding and traffic concerns

The Pasco County Planning Commission on June 24 recommended approval to the Board of County Commissioners for a comprehensive plan amendment and companion rezoning (PC‑8/PC‑9) for the Gagne MPUD, which would change a parcel near the intersection of U.S. 301 (Gall Boulevard) and Chancey Road from RES‑9 to RES‑24 and allow up to 300 multifamily units and about 30,000 square feet of commercial development.

Planning staff presented the proposal as a targeted land‑use change for an approximately 18.63‑acre site and recommended that the commission find the amendment consistent with the county comprehensive plan. ‘‘This amendment would enable a maximum of 300 multifamily dwelling units on approximately 15.27 acres,’’ said Hayat Mizzali, planning development and economic growth staff, during the presentation.

Residents who live near the site urged caution. Wayne Shuler of Zephyrhills told the commission the ‘‘cumulative, the accumulative impact of these proposals…and recently completed developments…worsen already significant travel in this area’’ and warned of wetland loss, groundwater impacts and more flooding if the project proceeds without additional mitigation. Neighbors also cited a recent bicycle crash on Chancey Road and said local intersections are already congested.

The applicant team and staff responded with engineering and mitigation details. Applicant Shelly Johnson said the development will connect to a shared stormwater system previously planned with the adjacent Cobblestone MPUD, pointing to ‘‘Pond 4’’ as the designed stormwater basin and saying the project will comply with SWFWMD permitting and county codes. William Vermillion of planning and development clarified that FDOT has completed design work for improvements on U.S. 301 but does not yet have construction funding; he noted the applicant’s timing/phasing analysis estimated the project would contribute roughly 13 percent of area trips and therefore is not responsible for pre‑existing failures on SR‑301.

After commissioners discussed traffic, stormwater and the planned multimodal improvements (a multiuse path and sidewalks on Crystal Springs Boulevard and pedestrian connections on Chancey and 301), the commission voted to recommend approval of both PC‑8 and PC‑9 to the Board of County Commissioners. The staff record and the transcript show the recommendation will now move to the Board for final action.

What happens next: the Board of County Commissioners will consider the commission’s recommendation; county staff said additional engineering and permitting (including stormwater and FDOT coordination) remain necessary before construction permits would be issued.