A request for a Master Plan revision to build an RV and mobile home park was denied 4-1 by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) at the December 3, 2024 meeting. Commissioner Jerry Campbell voted to approve. The 110-acre property is located at the west of Mondon Hill Road, on the north side of Cortez Boulevard (SR-50).
The original Master Plan was approved in 2012 for 160,000 feet of commercial space and a maximum of 499 spaces for primitive camping, recreational vehicles (RVs) and park-model homes. This plan expired since development did not begin within two years following the approval.
This request by Sunny Pines of Hernando, LLC sought modifications allowing for 300 park model mobile home sites, allowing RVs to use the sites for up to three years until the homes would be installed. Primitive camping was removed from the current request. The commercial portion was not addressed in the petition. Park model homes are placed on foundations, connected to central water and sewer and are designed for long-term and permanent use.
Ford Manuel of Coastal Engineering presented the request, addressing some of the questions and modifications intended following a Public Information Workshop that was held on November 6, 2024.
The intention was to restrict residency to those over age 55. Density was reduced by reducing the number of park models and limiting lot size to 5,000 square feet throughout rather than building five different lot sizes. Traffic access was changed from Mondon Hill to Cortez.
Several area residents addressed the board, but all were against the proposal.
V. Valerie Vessey of Gallant Oaks Farm wrote to Commissioner Champion and included photos of the area, which was still flooded after Hurricane Milton. Vessey’s four-page letter echoed concerns voiced by residents at the meeting, citing the potential of a large transient rental community being incompatible with the surrounding area and an increase in vehicular traffic posing safety issues.
