BROOKSVILLE — The county goes to should do one thing in regards to the housing crunch if it’s going to maintain attracting corporations and staff to the realm, county Administrator Jeff Rogers advised commissioners on March 22.
It’s attending to the purpose the place staff making $50,000 to $60,000 per 12 months can’t discover an inexpensive place to dwell and have to maneuver into different counties, stressing the street system.
Builders are concentrating on the excessive finish of the market, which is nice if somebody has the money and is keen to attend a number of months or longer for a brand new home in a brand new subdivision, however once more leaves single individuals and people simply beginning out with few viable choices in addition to residing on the streets, of their automotive or in a horrible cell house or motel.
Commissioners had requested for a presentation on the legal guidelines surrounding “tiny houses,” which many individuals have seen on actuality TV.
Fee Chairman Steve Champion stated he has a tiny house on quite a bit in Tennessee, and it’s nice. You nearly should buy one at Residence Depot in that state, he stated, take it to your land and simply plop it on there with none authorities interference.
That’s a far cry from what occurs in Hernando County, commissioners heard from senior planner Michelle Miller.
It’s about “residing with much less,” Miller stated, in a downsized residing area of 100 to 500 sq. toes. There are a number of kinds of tiny houses, starting from particular person houses which are positioned on an everyday housing lot to communities of tiny houses, accent models off a foremost home on a property and tiny houses for rental and recreation.
“We needed to take a look at what constructing code necessities might and needs to be, and the affect on surrounding communities and infrastructure,” Miller stated.
The 2 ranges of regulation within the county depend upon whether or not the tiny house is on a basis or on wheels. On a basis, it has to fulfill constructing code guidelines; on wheels, it goes by the motorized vehicle division for a tag, and there aren’t any relevant constructing codes.
The factor with a tiny house on wheels, Commissioner John Allocco famous, is that there must be tie-down necessities so the house didn’t turn out to be a missile in a hurricane.
Hernando’s constructing code limits houses constructed on foundations to a minimal of 600 sq. toes, Miller stated, although no builder desires to construct a house that small due to the small or nonexistent revenue, in addition to the possible and vocal opposition from close by householders, particularly if that decrease restrict was lowered, she advised Rogers.
As for the Accent Dwelling Models off a foremost home, in Hernando County the principles say the accent unit must be related to the primary home.
Allocco expressed frustration, noting he needed to put in a breezeway simply to adjust to the principles.
Miller confirmed examples from round Florida of tiny houses. In Rockledge, one of many first cities to ascertain tiny house laws, the homes vary from 170 to 1,100 sq. toes, require open area and a householders affiliation to take care of the frequent floor. A method sq. footage is grown is thru “loft” area within the house, Miller stated.
The houses can have back and front porches and different designs in order that they’re not simply packing containers.
Longwood permits for particular person houses in addition to communities, Miller stated, and it makes use of medium density classifications for the houses. Brevard County’s tiny house group is just like a deliberate improvement mission centered solely on tiny houses, with no commonplace for density.
And in Key West, Miller stated, the tiny houses are trip leases on wheels with no everlasting residences allowed.
A approach to get tiny houses allowed in Hernando County can be to ascertain an overlay district, and see the place they will go, and modify land improvement laws.
A number of commissioners talked about Tangerine Estates particularly and different previous and decrepit cell house parks, the place the brand new tiny houses can be a boon, uplifting the neighborhood and growing the tax base, particularly in areas the place there aren’t any different communities close by.
Commissioner Wayne Dukes stated he has seen such houses on Little Highway in Pasco County, and so they regarded “good.”
In public remark, Josh Hofstedt of the inexpensive housing committee stated if the tiny houses may very well be constructed to a typical they may very well be an answer. “The largest factor just isn’t what we wish,” he stated, “it’s what we want.”
If somebody desires to dwell merely, it’s higher for the setting, he added, and the NIMBYism — “not in my again yard” sentiment — must go away.
“We’ve got to do one thing,” he stated. “We are able to’t sit round and have our emotions damage as a result of somebody desires to dwell subsequent to us.”
Jo-Ann Peck, a licensed constructing contractor, stated she has constructed tiny homes on foundations.
“We don’t construct on this county,” she stated, due to the laws.
They constructed a 150-square-foot cottage for a girl in Hillsborough County, and have even constructed tiny houses in Pasco County.
They’re not low-cost, although, she stated, costing about $200 a sq. foot, however you could possibly meet the constructing code with a 150-square-foot home.
“What can we do to attenuate the hurdles for somebody wanting to do that? What modifications to the code can be wanted?” Rogers requested.
Miller stated they might convey again a modification to the agricultural-residential zoning to permit for tiny houses, establishing a deliberate improvement course of for tiny house developments and create an overlay district.
The presentation was for info, so there was no vote taken.
In different motion
• Commissioners voted 5-0 to call a brand new facility at Anderson Snow Park after the late Harry Johnson, who labored for the county for many years as its supervisor of parks and recreation. A constructing on the park shall be known as the Harry A. Johnson Recreation Complicated, the board determined.
• Rogers talked about park enhancements, and Commissioner Jeff Holcomb was among the many members expressing frustration with political candidates going round and working down the parks. They’re getting used each weekend, Holcomb stated, and deserve public help. Champion talked about the half-cent gross sales tax and likewise identified — once more — that residents of Hernando Seaside preserve saying they need residents of different elements of the county to keep away from the path system and different park facilities, whereas the residents he hears from who don’t converse out at county fee conferences say they need parking and different facilities to allow them to use the park amenities in Hernando Seaside.
• Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve spending $6,500 on an evaluation of financial improvement efforts within the county and Brooksville.
• A resident complained about delays in dredging on Pine Island, and Rogers defined that the issue is discovering a supervisor for the mission. “That mission is de facto sort of held up proper now. We’re promoting that place,” Rogers stated. “New tasks require effort and time and I don’t have a supervisor presently. After we rent a supervisor, we’ll get that cash pulled down and get it began.”
