55 Homes Planned for West Hill Estates

By Joe Potter

 Dade City Commissioner’s approved during their meeting on Jan. 13 the second reading following a public hearing on an ordinance for a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment for the proposed subdivision of West Hill Estates. The property contains 68. 67 acres and is located south of St. Joe Road and a quarter of a mile east of Happy Hill Road. The property was officially annexed into Dade City on April 9, 2024. The property’s zoning will be Dade City’s RES- 1 – one residence per gross acre. The applicant agreed to construct 55 single-family homes and associated infrastructure on the property, according to their agent, attorney Barbara Wilhite of New Port Richey.

This Ordinance shall become effective 31 days after Florida Commerce notifies the City that the plan amendment package is complete. However, if timely challenged, this Ordinance shall not become effective until Florida Commerce or the Administration Commission enters a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance. Also on Jan. 13, the Commissioners approved two proposed ordinances regarding approximately . 79 acres of property located at 37438 Meridian Ave. The property that is on the southwest corner of Meridian Avenue and 14th Street is located near the former First Baptist Church property on Church Avenue.

The first proposed ordinance was for a small- scale comprehensive plan amendment to change the property’s land use designation from Dade City’s R/O (Residential Office) designation to Dade City’s Low Density Residential (LDR) FLU designation. The second proposed ordinance was to change the zoning of the property from Dade City’s Residential Industrial Office (RIO) designation to Dade City’s Residential Single Family-2 (RS-2) designation. A second reading, public hearing, and possible adoption of both of these proposed ordinances are scheduled for the Commissioners meeting on Feb. 10. No development orders, development permits, or land uses dependent on this amendment may be issued or commence before it has become effective.

Also, an ordinance regarding the possible annexation of approximately 79. 38 acres of undeveloped property in the proposed Hidden Hills subdivision into Dade City wasn’t approved following its first reading and a lengthy public hearing. Several people spoke against the proposed annexation ordinance during the public hearing that preceded the Commissioners’ decision on whether to approve it. One of the primary reasons the proposed annexation ordinance wasn’t adopted was that a sand mill that is currently operating on five acres of the property would have been brought into Dade City under a grandfather clause.

This meant that environmental determination regarding the sand mill couldn’t precede the City’s decision on whether to annex the property. All three of these proposed ordinances had previously been notified for the Commissioners’ meeting on Dec. 9, 2025, but the applicant had requested a continuation to Jan. 13. The property owner, Josh Pashley of Palm Harbor, Fla. , said he would like 450 residential units and associated infrastructure to be developed on the property that is located at 35735 State Road 52 in Pasco County. It’s not known if the applicant is going to appeal the Commissioners’ decision not to allow the requested annexation into the City to occur. ♥