Quarry Preserve project back on track
BROOKSVILLE –
The mega-development called the Quarry Preserve is back on track.
The project had suffered a temporary setback after the Florida Department of Community Affairs (FDEP) identified some concerns in its review of the project last fall.
County commissioners Tuesday voted 4-1 to accept a comprehensive plan amendment after getting assurances from the developer that all state concerns had been addressed.
The state report said the project was in non-compliance with state laws that define urban sprawl and inconsistent with the state’s comprehensive plan.
The developer’s representative, Jake Varn, said all the items addressed in the report have been addressed and there is no longer any question of urban sprawl.
“The objections they had were, in our view, not that big of a deal,” Varn told commissioners.
This, he said, will be what is called a “new town” and function as an independent community.
County Commissioner Jeff Stabins said the 4,300-acre Quarry Preserve development has the potential for adding scores of new jobs needed to boost the local economy.
“It’s certainly something that the county needs, I think we can all agree, (is) jobs,” Stabins said.
County Commissioner Dave Russell said even though the developer has made some changes to the plan, especially the density of homes, he couldn’t support the amendment because it doesn’t go far enough.
County Commissioner John Druzbick said the “bar has been raised” substantially as to what can be built in this county and the Quarry Preserve meets that criteria.
This county’s population will continue to increase and the developments must be in place to accommodate that growth, he said.
The developer, Brooksville Quarry LLC, plans to build up to 5,800 houses, 200 lodges, 850,000 square feet of industrial and office uses, a community park, golf courses, a future school and other amenities.
The development will be built in a played-out rock mine north of Brooksville at U.S. 98 and Lake Lindsey Road.
In light of the FDEP report, the developer reduced made the following changes:
•The number of age-restricted units for people 55-and older was reduced from 1,300 to 650.
•Clarified what areas of the Quarry Preserve will contain gated communities.
•Better laid out the completion of the business park within the community.
Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or [email protected].
