April 6th, 2022 — Pasco County commissioners voted and approved a 550-space recreational vehicle resort in rural East Pasco. The development is located on a 132-acre parcel that sits between Interstate 75 and Lake Iola Road. Commissioners voted unanimously to make the change in the county’s comprehensive plan that would allow for the new resort.

County Commissioner, Ron Oakley, has been a proud supporter of the project and disbanded a rural citizens advisory committee for he found it to be too negative.

“This is going to be a very nice park,” said Oakley.

Commission chairperson Kathryn Starkey also defended the project, and commissioner Oakley when she told speakers repeatedly that they should not address a particular commissioner because it was against the commission’s public comment rules. County attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said that Oakley had no conflict of interest in the case, which may have been a concern to residents.

Additionally, planners said that this is a commercial property, which helped alleviate resident comments that is may be a residential site.

Supporter of the project, Commissioner Mike Moore referenced his own families experience with RV parks, and said they are often very environmentally friendly, and so he felt the location for the resort makes sense.

WRA is providing civil engineering, site planning, permitting, and adherence to SWFMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) rules and county rules to ensure proper drainage) on this resort.