At the regular Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on February 25th, Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve a modified settlement agreement that will allow development of a multifamily complex on Osowaw Boulevard to move forward.
The property is located on the south side of Osowaw Boulevard, just east of Buccaneer Boulevard, the entrance to the Forest Glenn subdivision. The petitioner, Michael Raysor, President of Raysor Ventures, sought to add workforce and affordable housing consisting of 90 rental units. Commissioners Ryan Amsler and Jerry Campbell were the opposing votes.
Commissioner Steve Champion praised the new plan as “vastly improved,” before the number of dwelling units was reduced during the meeting to 90 from the already-reduced 100.
The request for rezoning of the 13.6-acre parcel currently zoned Agricultural (AG) was first heard on June 10, 2024 and approved 4-1 by the Planning and Zoning Commission for rezoning to Planned Development Project – Muli Family (PDP – MH). The BOCC denied the petition in a 5-0 vote on June 28.
Raysor filed a Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution (FLUEDRA) request on July 25 and on December 10, the approved settlement agreement was signed.
Special Magistrate Derek Schroth cautioned the BOCC that if they did not approve the terms of the settlement agreement, an evidentiary hearing would be the next step, taking place in 14 days.
The mediated settlement agreement reduced the number of dwelling units from the formerly proposed 125. The original proposal set the maximum number of units per building at 60 and has been reduced to 50, also decreasing density. The previously planned 4-story buildings will be limited to 3 stories, and the buffer along Osowaw has been increased to 25 feet from 20 feet.
The layout of the complex has also been revised with changes to building orientations and the placement of a clubhouse near the entrance to shield visible parking areas from the planned entrance on Osowaw. A neighborhood park has also been added to the plan.
The new proposal rezones the entire southern end of the parcel – approximately 8 acres – as a conservation district and must comply with the Land Use Regulations of Hernando County.
Area residents speaking during the Citizens’ Comments segment opposed the development for several reasons, including increased traffic, a lack of sidewalks, and inconsistency with the surrounding parcels. The property is adjacent to the Forest Glenn mobile home community, just north of the Walmart shopping center, the Spring Hill Convenience Center, the Spring Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church and the West Hernando Christian School.
