The Pasco County Planning Commission on a voice vote recommended that the Board of County Commissioners adopt a comprehensive‑plan amendment and a companion substantial modification and rezoning that would amend roughly 49.58 acres to Employment Center and increase development entitlements for the project now called Double Branch (formerly Pasco Town Center).

The change, staff and the applicant said, is intended to increase employment‑generating land in the area and align portions of the Future Land Use Map with the existing master planned unit development. William Vermillion, planning staff, told commissioners the third economic development agreement approved by the board in December 2024 required processing the amendment and that the substantial modification raises industrial entitlements by 2,000,000 square feet to a total of 6,000,000 square feet and increases office entitlements from 725,000 to 1,725,000 square feet.

Why it matters: the modification and rezoning would enable a larger employment campus south of State Road 52 while creating obligations in the MPUD for on‑site connectivity, trails and transit stops intended to link residential and employment areas.

Staff presentation and commission discussion focused on connectivity and commitments for trails and transit. Planner Brian Juncker described the proposed future‑land‑use change and staff’s recommendation that the local planning agency find the amendment consistent with the comprehensive plan. Commissioners pressed staff to reflect in the agenda memo the trail and transit facilities the applicant is committing to provide through the MPUD approval; planning staff Amy Toll agreed to amend the memo to note those future developer obligations.

Neighbors and the applicant discussed buffers along the project edge. Dr. Judy Horvath, who identified herself as owner of a property with an equine sanctuary at 9249 McKendree Road adjacent to the project area, said: "My concern is . . . that we have an adequate barrier or trails . . . so that we don't have an impact to the ag portion that we currently have." The applicant's consultant, Joel Tu, told the commission there is a "98% probability" the southernmost parcel adjacent to Horvath's property will be used for stormwater detention rather than active development, and that if engineering changed and the parcel were proposed for development the applicant would return through the site‑plan and rezoning processes and engage with the neighbor on buffering.

Will Vermillion and other staff showed the MPUD connectivity plan that includes several trail segments, neighborhood parks and transit stops. Commissioners asked questions about longer‑term roadway improvements near I‑75 and State Road 52; staff said DOT has approved circulation adjustments and is planning a capital project to improve ramping, and that an Ozzie Murphy extension being built as part of the I‑75 Gateway will provide an additional vehicular bypass and a crossing for the county trail underneath I‑75.

Action and next steps: a commissioner moved to "recommend approval of item PC 5" (the comprehensive plan amendment) and later to "recommend approval of item PC 6" (the rezoning/MPUD substantial modification). Both motions received seconds and carried on voice votes; the Planning Commission transmitted recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for final action. The applicant, staff and commissioners noted that technical site‑plan and engineering reviews remain and that buffering and specific trail/transit locations will be addressed during subsequent permitting and MPUD/site‑plan review.

Ending note: the project team said the proposal is intended to support employment growth in the South Market area within the urban service area. The Board of County Commissioners will consider the Planning Commission's recommendations at future public hearings; specific dates for board hearings were not set in the Planning Commission record.