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Citrus County commissioners have approved a major increase in the amount of commercial space that can be developed along State Road 44.

On Sept. 8, the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted 5–0 to approve an amendment to the Clearview Estates Development of Regional Impact, increasing the allowable retail, commercial and office space from 550,000 square feet to 808,600 square feet.

That's an increase of 358,600 square feet of allowable commercial space.

The property is the commercial stretch along SR 44 that includes the new Home Depot site near North Kensington Avenue. County staff told commissioners that Home Depot and its outparcels are expected to account for about 200,000 square feet of the existing commercial allowance, although permitting for those outparcels had not yet been submitted.

The property has been designated for commercial use since 1978. The applicant told commissioners the request is intended to bring the development's commercial capacity more in line with current development standards.

The Planning and Development Commission recommended approval with two conditions: the commercial allowance would increase to 808,600 square feet, and development would continue to comply with existing DRI and Land Development Code standards.

Sources: Citrus County BOCC meeting / PUD decision · Red Tape Recordings — Sept. 8 BOCC meeting

A commercial property along Homosassa Trail is getting a major makeover.

On Sept. 8, Citrus County commissioners voted 5–0 to approve the One Oak Homosassa planned unit development.

The roughly 1.5-acre property includes several existing commercial buildings. The project calls for those buildings to be demolished and replaced with a quick-service restaurant with an online pickup window and a coffee shop with a drive-through.

The project covers properties at 3899 S. Suncoast Blvd., 8546 W. Homosassa Trail and 8535 W. Aquaduct St.

Sources: Citrus County Sept. 8 BOCC meeting and decision · One Oak Homosassa planning record

Citrus County's employee health-insurance costs have more than tripled since 2018, and commissioners are questioning how to manage those costs.

The county's health-insurance costs have grown from about $3.75 million in 2018 to roughly $12 million this year. The proposed FY2027 health-insurance fund is $17.33 million, with the county budgeting for another 10% increase in its base premiums.

Because the county is self-insured, it pays its employees' medical claims directly. It also carries stop-loss insurance to protect against very large claims. The county is proposing to raise the individual stop-loss threshold from $200,000 to $300,000, meaning the county would take on more risk before that protection kicks in.

Commissioners also questioned whether the county's roughly $1.45 million employee clinic is saving the health plan enough money to justify its cost, and whether the county should conduct a more competitive review of its health-plan administration.

Sources: Citrus County BOCC — Sept. 8 meeting

Levy County commissioners have set a proposed property-tax rate of 8.5 mills and adopted a $202 million tentative budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

The commission approved the proposed millage rate and tentative budget during its Sept. 8 budget hearing.

The 8.5-mill rate is 6.96% higher than the county's rolled-back rate of 7.9470 mills, according to the county's resolution.

The tentative budget totals $202,010,327. Because this was the first budget public hearing, these are still the county's proposed millage rate and tentative budget rather than the final numbers for the coming fiscal year.

The county also approved a $140-per-dwelling-unit solid-waste assessment for the new fiscal year. The assessment resolution says the rate was approved and reimposed for residential properties throughout Levy County.

The county's final millage and budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22.

Sources: Levy County Sept. 8 budget hearing / resolutions

E Care Ambulance is seeking permission to provide ALS and BLS ground ambulance transportation services throughout Hernando County.

The company asked the county for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, or COPCN, which is required for an ambulance service to operate in the county.

During the Sept. 10 County Commission hearing, supporters argued that another ambulance provider could add competition and provide another option as Hernando County continues to grow. They also pointed to hospital discharge needs, disaster response and additional transportation capacity.

The county's existing ambulance provider opposed the request, arguing that the current system is meeting the county's needs.

MedFleet's chief operating officer told commissioners that, through Sept. 8, county fire crews had transported 17 patients, including 11 cases that required that level of transport and six cases where MedFleet could not handle the transport. He also cited an average priority-call response time of 18 minutes, 36 seconds.

County staff recommended issuing E Care the certificate.

But we're not going to call this approved yet. The official meeting record has not given us a confirmed final vote, so we'll update this story once the county's final action is documented.

Sources: Hernando County — E Care Ambulance COPCN agenda item

Dunnellon City Council considered a site plan Sept. 9 for Rainbow Springs Creamery Restaurant at 20225 E. Pennsylvania Ave.

The project is listed as PZ2026-0004 and had already received a recommendation for approval from the city's Planning Commission.

The City Council agenda included a proposed motion to find the site plan consistent with the city's Comprehensive Plan and approve the project.

We're still waiting on the official meeting record to confirm the final council vote.

Sources: Dunnellon City Council Sept. 9 agenda

Four years ago, 352 Legends started as a 40-player flag football program.

Today, the Citrus County league has grown to roughly 1,000 kids.

This fall, 352 Legends launched its first recreational tackle football season, with 180 football players and 140 cheerleaders taking part. The first game day drew about 1,500 spectators.

The program was started by Corey Edwards, a 20-year coaching veteran, and has continued to grow while keeping the focus on giving kids a chance to play.

Registration is $175 and includes equipment, and the league says every kid plays. Children aren't turned away because their families can't afford registration.

Practices are being held at five county parks, with Saturday games scheduled through Oct. 17.

Source: Inside Crystal River — Sept. 9, 2026

Off The Wall Music has expanded its footprint in Inverness with a new location at 2418 Highway 44 West.

The locally owned music shop offers instruments and gear, music lessons, repairs and luthier services, giving local musicians another place to find equipment and get help without heading out of the area.

The Citrus County Chamber held a ribbon cutting at the new location on Sept. 15.

Sources: Off The Wall Music · Off The Wall Music — About / location · Citrus County Chamber events

After four months away, Hometown Deli is open again in downtown Inverness.

The deli, at 103 N. Apopka Ave., was forced to close after the April fire that damaged the business. On Sept. 1, the owners announced that they were back open and serving lunch, thanking customers for their patience and support while they worked to reopen.

The deli is currently serving customers from 11 AM to 4 PM.

For a small local restaurant, four months is a long time to have the doors closed. Seeing that NOW OPEN sign back up is a pretty good little bit of good news for downtown Inverness.

Source: Hometown Deli

If you're looking for somewhere to get outside without making a whole day of it, the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve in Yankeetown is worth a look.

The 413-acre preserve includes trails, wetlands, salt marsh, a salt-pond boardwalk and a canoe and kayak dock. There's also a 30-foot observation tower with views across the surrounding landscape.

The preserve's education center offers another stop along the way, with exhibits focused on the area's natural environment.

The gate is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Where: 1001 Old Rock Road, Yankeetown

Sources: Town of Yankeetown — Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve · Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

A Kaleidoscope of Color — Abilities Fine Art Gala
5–9 PM • 2644 N. Annapolis Ave., Hernando
Event information

An evening celebrating local artists and supporting the Abilities Fine Arts program.

Night Hike at Chinsegut
7:30–9:30 PM • Chinsegut Conservation Center, Brooksville
FWC event listing

Explore Chinsegut after dark on a guided night hike. Registration is required and space is limited.

Paint Your Pets — Ibizan Hound Rescue Fundraiser
5–8 PM • Citrus & Sage Bookshop, Brooksville
Event listing

Bring your creativity — and your pet photo — for an evening of painting that also raises money for Ibizan Hound Rescue.

Small Town Slam Wrestling
Gates 6:30 PM • Bell 7:30 PM • Depot Pavilion, Inverness
City of Inverness event listing

Live wrestling under the lights at the Depot Pavilion. The event is free.

UF/IFAS Hernando County Coastal Cleanup
8 AM–noon • Linda Pedersen Park, Spring Hill
UF/IFAS event information

Help clean up the local coastline and waterways as part of the annual coastal cleanup.

Market at the Depot
9 AM–1 PM • Depot Pavilion, Inverness
City of Inverness event listing

Shop local vendors and browse the goods at Inverness' regular Saturday market.

Downtown Street Market — Welcome to Fall
10 AM–2 PM • Downtown Brooksville
Brooksville Main Street event listing

Head downtown for a fall-themed street market with local vendors and community activities.

Downtown Inverness Art Walk
3–7 PM • Downtown Inverness
Inverness Art Co-op — event information

Stroll through downtown, check out local art and enjoy an evening in the heart of Inverness.

Songs of Celebration: America 250
2 PM • Art Center of Citrus County, Hernando

The America 250 celebration continues with a second afternoon performance.

A Bad Year for Tomatoes
2 PM • Valerie Theatre, Inverness
Valerie Theatre listing

Catch the Sunday afternoon performance of the comedy.

Grant Peeples in Concert
2–4:30 PM • Historic Dunnellon Train Depot
Will McLean Foundation / Historic Dunnellon Train Depot

Doors open at 1:15 PM. Admission is a $15 cash donation at the door.

Who has the best pizza in the Nature Coast?

Hit reply and tell me your thoughts. I will publish the results in next weeks edition and on Facebook/Instagram.

Nature Coast Digest reaches local readers across Citrus, Hernando and Levy counties every week. If you own a local business and want to reach them, we'd love to talk.

Interested? Email [email protected]

That’s it for this week’s Nature Coast Digest.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week.

— Mike
Nature Coast Digest

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