Commission recommends Take 5 PUD after questions on oil containment and flood elevation

The Citrus County Planning & Development Commission voted Sept. 3 to recommend approval of PUD-2025-00009, a planned-unit development that would allow a Take 5 quick-oil-change facility on the west side of US 19, within the county's Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA). Principal planner Joe Hockadell told the commission staff proposes a condition that "all oil holding tanks will be above the base flood elevation as proffered by the applicant."

Civil engineer Edward McDonald told the commission the facility's finished floor elevation will be 14 feet, about 4 feet above the FEMA 100-year elevation cited in the presentation, and described site plans that include a 3-bay service building, stacking lanes and a bypass lane. McDonald and John Kamen, district manager for Take 5 Oil Change, explained the company's above-ground oil-handling system: recessed service pits/trenches, 225-gallon above-ground storage drums, epoxy-coated floors, daily/weekly checks and manifests, and on-site spill kits. Kamen said Take 5 maintains weekly waste-oil servicing and routine inspections, describing standard practices and manifests for waste-oil collection.

Commissioners focused questions on secondary containment, whether tanks would be above FEMA Base Flood Elevation, how storm events are handled, and whether buffers and loading zones meet Land Development Code standards. McDonald said secondary containment exists for new and used oil and that tanks and containment meet OSHA and DOT standards; the applicant agreed to the staff condition committing tanks to remain above base flood elevation. Staff confirmed the project no longer requests variances or subdivision and said, if PDC recommends approval, the item will move to the Board of County Commissioners (scheduled for Oct. 26) where conditions could be amended or accepted.