Presidents Message
John Hyde
September 23, 2026
On Monday, September 21, a number of Pine Ridge residents attended the 1:00 p.m. Citrus County Board of County Commissioners meeting. We were there to express our opposition to what we believed was a proposed “Band-Aid” approach to addressing the Court’s ruling concerning how changes to existing legacy Developments of Regional Impact, or DRIs, should be handled.
We raised an important question:
How did we get here?
Pine Ridge has spent considerable resources, including through our attorneys, trying to understand the history and legal basis for the County’s actions. In preparing for our first two appearances before the Board, our attorneys encountered missing documentation, incomplete records, and a history of actions that was difficult to reconstruct.
That experience raises legitimate questions about how land-use and development decisions have been handled in Citrus County over the years and whether the County’s procedures and documentation have always kept pace with the complexity of those decisions.
Those are questions worth answering—not because anyone should be presumed to have acted improperly, but because the public should be able to understand the legal and practical consequences of changes to its land-use regulations.
People who purchased homes in established communities made those purchases based, in part, on the character, structure, recreational opportunities, open spaces, and development plans that existed within those communities.
Before Citrus County moves forward with changes of this magnitude, we believe the County should hear from all affected stakeholders—including existing residents and property owners, community associations, developers, planning professionals, County staff, and appropriate legal authorities.
If we are going to change the way Citrus County handles development within established communities and existing DRI areas, we should take the time to understand exactly what is being changed, what the consequences may be, and how those changes will affect the people who already live here.
A Proposed Blue Ribbon Panel
Pine Ridge POA has suggested that the BOCC consider establishing a Blue Ribbon Panel of citizens and subject-matter professionals to examine the current state of land-use and growth management in Citrus County.
The purpose of the Panel would not be to advocate for a particular development, community, or outcome. Its mission should be to conduct an objective examination of the existing framework and provide the BOCC with a written report.
The details of that framework should be developed by the Panel through an open and deliberative process, with the members reaching agreement on the recommendations contained in the final report.
Protecting Both Development Rights and Established Communities
The Panel should specifically examine the relationship between the vested rights of developers and the legitimate expectations and rights of established “legacy communities.”
Going forward, established communities should have an opportunity to participate with County staff from the earliest stages of any proposal that could fundamentally alter a legally recognized DRI, Master Plan, or similar development framework.
That participation should occur before major decisions are substantially developed, rather than after the process has already advanced to the point where affected communities are being asked to respond to a completed proposal.
We believe this is an important missing step in the current process.
The goal should not be to prevent development or to prevent reasonable changes to the County’s land-use regulations. The goal should be to establish a process that is clear, transparent, legally defensible, and predictable for everyone involved.
Developers need to understand the rules under which they are operating.
County staff needs clear direction and procedures.
And residents who have invested their homes, property, and lives in established communities need to have confidence that the plans and protections under which those communities were developed will not be fundamentally changed without meaningful consideration and participation.
A process like this could also provide a relatively low-cost form of protection for Pine Ridge and other established communities in the future. Rather than relying on costly legal action after a major land-use decision has already been made, a clear and legally defensible County process could help identify and address concerns before disputes reach that point.
For Pine Ridge, protecting the character, structure, and established plans of our community is important. Establishing a better process now could help accomplish that without continually relying on significant legal fees to protect the community later.
If Citrus County is going to change the rules, we should first understand the rules we have, why they exist, what went wrong, and what a better process should look like going forward.
Presidents Message
John Hyde
May 27, 2026
This is the first meeting of Pine Ridge’s new Board of Directors. First, I would like to thank everyone who supported Diane, Bob, and me by electing us to the Board. I would also like to thank my fellow Board members for the confidence they showed in electing me to lead this Board.
This was a contentious election, but it clearly reflected two different visions for Pine Ridge’s future. I have been asked whether I believe the election result represents a mandate. I would not characterize it that way. Rather, I would say the community voted for continuity. The three candidates elected all ran on maintaining the direction Pine Ridge has followed over the past four years: preserving our Master Plan and zoning protections while maintaining the character of our community.
Over the last several months, we spoke with many residents while campaigning. The three of us knocked on many doors, and if you are an early morning walker, there is a good chance I stopped to speak with you as well. The clearest message we heard throughout the community was simple: “Keep Pine Ridge, Pine Ridge.”
We also heard other important concerns. Residents want stronger enforcement of our deed restrictions — and we agree. We are currently developing new processes that will be rolled out shortly to improve enforcement and responsiveness. I will continue serving as Chair of the Deed Restriction Violation Review Committee in the near term as these improvements are implemented, and you will be hearing more about those efforts soon.
The community also expects better customer service from our staff. When residents come to the office with a concern, they want to leave with a solution. We will be evaluating what changes are necessary to make that happen. Pine Ridge has experienced significant growth in recent years, and as we approach 4,000 homes, we must adapt our operations and business model to better serve our expanding membership.
Road conditions and traffic enforcement are also major concerns for many residents. Fortunately, we have encouraging news on both fronts. Through a great deal of hard work and persistence, we are beginning to see real progress. I would like to thank Mark Sevestka and the Roads Committee for their efforts. This year, Pine Ridge will receive 28 miles of road refurbishment — that’s 66% more than we have received in in the last two years combined. In addition, since the conclusion of our off-duty Deputy Sheriff engagement, we have seen increased patrol activity throughout Pine Ridge. The Committee’s proactive engagement and advocacy are producing meaningful results for our community.
This Board will continue taking a proactive approach to the issues facing Pine Ridge. One emerging concern involves the Interchange Management Area (IMA). There is discussion about potentially rezoning portions of that area for Heavy Industrial use rather than the Light Industrial and Manufacturing uses originally envisioned. Heavy Industrial development could bring increased noise, traffic, and other negative impacts, including traffic flow affecting the southwest side of Pine Ridge. We will closely monitor these developments and keep residents informed as more information becomes available.
The new Board remains fully committed to maintaining the confidence of the community while protecting the character and future of Pine Ridge. I also hope that the candidates who were not elected, along with their supporters, will remain active in the governance of the POA by participating on committees, keeping an open mind, and helping us take a constructive, proactive approach to the challenges facing Pine Ridge.
John Hyde, President