The Pasco County Commission recently finalized a long-standing issue regarding Oaks Park, a 41-acre wooded area that was once proposed for a 240-apartment development. The development plan was rejected by residents a decade ago due to concerns about increased traffic and other issues.
After the county purchased the land for $3 million in 2014 with the intention of preserving it as a green space, the process to recover the costs through a special assessment was delayed. Despite efforts to secure state funds, the county ultimately decided to impose an annual assessment on local residents to cover the purchase price.
The approved plan involves a $143 annual assessment for 15 years, followed by a $25 annual assessment thereafter. Some residents opposed the assessment, citing concerns about affordability, especially for seniors, and the fairness of making local residents pay for the county’s decision to reject the development and buy the land.
However, many residents, including original community members and newcomers, supported the assessment, emphasizing the benefits of preserving the green space for the neighborhood’s quality of life and environmental reasons, such as preventing flooding issues associated with new development. The commission unanimously approved the assessment plan, bringing an end to the prolonged discussion.
