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Two developers are seeking approval to build distribution centers of up to 1.1 million square feet each along Kettering Road.

JD Kettering, LLC is seeking to reestablish a master plan for a 76.2-acre property just south of the Walmart distribution center. The proposal would increase the previously approved building size from 600,000 square feet to as much as 1.1 million square feet, with an 85-foot height deviation from the previously approved 60 feet.

Nearby, DMMD I, LLC is seeking a similar master-plan change on 76.3 acres at Kettering Road and Dashbach Street. That proposal would increase the previously approved building size from 750,000 square feet to as much as 1.1 million square feet, also with an 85-foot height deviation.

Both proposals include space for truck and employee parking, loading and circulation. We were unable to verify the identity of the future occupant at this time.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of both requests. The final decisions will go before the County Commission, with hearings scheduled for Nov. 10.

Sources: Hernando County Planning & Zoning Agenda Packet — Sept. 14, 2026

An existing off-road vehicle track on Citrus Way is getting a larger footprint, with the Planning and Zoning Commission approving an expansion that includes additional property and a second electric-vehicle track.

The approved expansion adds 19 acres at 16063 Citrus Way for parking, camping and buffering, along with another 10 acres at 16398 Hodge Road for the electric-vehicle track. The expansion brings the overall site to about 49.6 acres.

The final approval was narrower than the original request. The proposal originally included up to 12 competition events a year, with as many as 500 participants and spectators, along with additional event camping. Those competition events and the additional event camping were removed from the request approved by the commission.

The expansion and electric-vehicle track were retained, along with operating and noise-related conditions.

Sources: Hernando County Planning & Zoning — Sept. 14, 2026 Agenda Packet

Crystal River officials are looking at ways to better manage activity on Kings Bay, where boating, anchoring, commercial activity and the bay's capacity have become management concerns.

The city is considering issues including where boats should be allowed to anchor, whether additional mooring areas could help organize boat traffic, and how to deal with derelict vessels. Officials are also looking at commercial water-based businesses and how much activity the bay can reasonably accommodate while protecting the resource.

Another challenge is enforcement. Managing the bay involves multiple jurisdictions and agencies, including the city and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, making coordination an important part of the discussion.

The city has already identified some potential tools in previous planning work, including managed mooring and anchoring areas. The current effort is about deciding which of those ideas should move forward and whether additional regulations or other measures are needed.

No new Kings Bay regulations were adopted during the Sept. 14 discussion.

Sources: City of Crystal River — Council Meeting Records

Christmas may still be a few months away, but one local organization is already asking the community for help making sure Citrus County children have presents under the tree.

According to CUB's Kelly Selph, Citrus County is not being served by Toys for Tots this year. Selph said she learned of the change from another organization and then checked the Toys for Tots website.

CUB has worked with Toys for Tots for about 15 years, with Paul Pilny leading the Citrus County effort for more than 20 years and Clarence Perez serving as his right-hand man for 18 years. Last year was the final year for both.

CUB distributes the toys through a makeshift toy store at First Christian Church in Inverness and serves about 1,000 children from birth through age 12.

The organization still has some toys left over from last year, Perez said, but not nearly enough to meet the need.

Selph is asking organizations that previously collected toys for Toys for Tots to continue collecting for CUB, while also encouraging new organizations to get involved.

Organizations interested in helping can contact Kelly Selph at 352-344-2242 or [email protected]

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle — Toys for Tots leaves gap

Tom Varn Park, Brooksville • 7 p.m.

Grab the family and settle in for a movie night at Tom Varn Park featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Event details → Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Night

Yankeetown • Sept. 26–27

A weekend of fishing and festivities on the Nature Coast, with a $5,000 grand prize.

Event details → Blackwater Angler Festival & Fishing Tournament

Crystal River • 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

A full-day safe boating course from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Successful completion provides the Florida Safe Boater Card.

Event details → USCG Auxiliary Safe Boating Course

Inverness • 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Grab your car and follow the clues around the Nature Coast, visiting local destinations along the way. Entry is $40 per car, with proceeds supporting community projects, including the inclusive playground at Bryant Park.

Event details → Nature Coast Road Rally 2026

Citrus Springs • 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity celebrates its 300th build with a groundbreaking event featuring family activities and vendors.

Event details → 300th Build Groundbreaking

Hernando County • Sept. 26–27 • 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sweetfields Farm gets into the fall season with family-friendly activities and seasonal fun.

Event details → Sweetfields Farm Fall Season

Brooksville • 10 a.m., noon or 2 p.m.

Take a guided tour of the historic Chinsegut Hill House and learn about more than 170 years of Florida history on the 114-acre preserve.

Event details → Chinsegut Hill House Tour

Last weeks question: Who has the best pizza in the Nature Coast?

Results: La Pergola's — Inverness and Hernando

I haven’t had the opportunity to try it. Personally I am partial to Michael Anthony's Pizza in Homosassa but going to give La Pergola a shot.

Who has the best margarita in the Nature Coast? 🍹

I’ll publish the results in next week’s 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.

Whether you're heading out to an event, keeping an eye on what's happening in your community, or just trying to keep up with everything going on around here, thanks for spending a few minutes with us.

Know something we should be covering? Have an event you'd like to see in a future issue? Send it our way.

Until next week — stay local, stay curious, and we'll see you around the Nature Coast.

— Mike
Nature Coast Digest

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