Board of County Commissioners (Special Meeting) - September 02, 2026

The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners held a special meeting on September 2, 2026, primarily to address a recent circuit court ruling that quashed the county's approval of a development plan related to the Pine Ridge community. The court found that the county failed to observe essential legal requirements in approving an amendment to the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) overlay, leading to a debate on whether to appeal the decision. Commissioners and public speakers expressed strong opinions on both sides, with concerns about taxpayer money being spent on litigation, the integrity of the county's land development code (LDC), and the impact of potential development on the Pine Ridge community. The board considered motions to either appeal the court ruling, potentially joining the developer's appeal at no cost to taxpayers, or to accept the ruling and focus on amending the LDC to prevent future issues. After discussion and public comment, the board voted 5-0 to accept the court ruling and move forward with amending the LDC, thereby deciding not to spend additional taxpayer funds on an appeal.