Commissioners got their first look at an ordinance that would control what type of development, if any, would occur at highway interchanges for the Suncoast Parkway 2, the proposed 26-mile-long toll road through Citrus County.

The board followed Commissioner Jim Fowler's lead in suggesting there should be no development at the interchanges. Commissioners said they would prefer to leave the interchanges in a natural state, rather than have them look like interchanges to the south where gas stations and fast food restaurants spring up alongside major highway interchanges.

The staff has developed tentative land development rules for Interchange Management Areas (IMA's) at County Road 488 north of Crystal River, County Road 495 (Citrus Avenue) near Crystal River, State Road 44 in Lecanto, Cardinal Street and U.S. 98 near the county's southern border. Commissioners indicated they had no interest in an interchange at Cardinal due to the presence of a large residential area.

Staff proposed establishing (IMA's) a half-mile wide at intersections with major arterial roads and a quarter-mile wide for lesser collector roads. However, commissioners said they want the IMA's to be double that size.

Suncoast Parkway 2 is bogged down in litigation. Maidhof said it might be 2008 before the ongoing environmental study is completed.

There is no guarantee the four-lane toll road will ever be constructed. However, if it is built, commissioners said they want total control of land uses in the IMA's. They want a letter sent to the state expressing their intention.