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Times Staff WriterThough the Planning Commission annexes the parcel, it rejects a similar request by Woodshed Development Corp.
ZEPHYRHILLS - Planning Commission members on Tuesday approved annexation of the 350-acre Gore's Dairy on U.S. 301 north of the city, but they voted down a similar plan for land at Chancey Road and State Road 39.
Gore's Dairy, under contract with developer Bob Starnes, is targeted for residential and commercial development, with part of it to be built into a neighborhood for seniors.
Drainage is a major concern on the property, which has been elevated over the past couple of years with fill dirt.
Starnes sought to reassure that the land would not be developed so as to create flooding on surrounding parcels. "We are extremely sensitive to that," he said.
The other parcel - a 270-acre dairy owned by Neil and Rita Rucks - also is targeted for a mixed-use development.
But Woodshed Development Corp. was seeking rezoning, in addition to annexation, for its plan to build 400 homes and 270,000 square feet of commercial space. The developer wants to build townhouses and single-family homes, about 100 of which would sit on 40-foot lots.
City leaders in recent months have expressed a firm opinion that high-density neighborhoods with houses packed tightly together are not the type of development they want to allow in Zephyrhills. Current conventional zoning sets 60 feet as the minimum width for home lots.
After the commission rejected the annexation and rezoning petition, Woodshed representatives said they would take their plans before the City Council.
Planning Commission votes are only advisory; the City Council has the final say on all annexations and rezonings.
The City Council will probably address the two petitions at its next meeting, May 24.