The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Bakery company bringing 600 jobs to Pasco

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Bauducco Foods has purchased 72.5 acres of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s Ready Site and expects to hire more than 600 employees within the coming decade.

The news was announced during the Oct. 24 meeting of the Pasco County Commission, which approved an incentives package to help lure the company to the county.

The effort to attract the Brazilian-based company to North Tampa Bay was one that was about 10 months in the making, and involved Pasco County’s economic growth department, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the City of Zephyrhills and the state of Florida, among others.

The company expects to invest more than $200 million in the new facility, which will produce and distribute its baked items across the United States, according to a Pasco County Economic Development Council news release.

This group shot was taken after the Pasco County Commission approved an incentive deal to help bring Bauducco Foods to the county. The company plans to create a production facility in Zephyrhills. The deal to bring the Brazilian-based company here involved a collaboration between Pasco County, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the City of Zephyrhills and the state of Florida. (Courtesy of the Pasco Economic Development Council)

“The company manufactures baked goods including biscuits, wafers and breads, and is the largest producer of panettones in the world, and the market leader in the U.S.,” the Pasco EDC release says.

“The Bauducco brand is sold in all 50 states in regional supermarket chains, national grocery stores, pharmacies and more,” the release adds. 

Zephyrhills will become the company’s main production hub for the U.S. market, according to the release.

Stefano Mozzi, CEO of Bauducco USA, appeared at the county board’s meeting to celebrate the company’s decision to locate in Pasco.

To express its pleasure, the company passed out baked goods to all those attending the county board’s meeting.

A baking company for generations
Mozzi shared the company’s story with the county board and others gathered for the big announcement.

“We are a family owned business. We are in the third generation. It’s an Italian family that moved to Brazil in the ’50s and they started with a small bakery. Today, we are one of the largest bakery companies in Latin America.

“The company has five manufacturing plants in Brazil, with a capacity to produce more than 400,000 tons of baked goods annually with over 8,000 employees worldwide,” according to Pasco EDC’s release

Mozzi told the Pasco County board: “The family always had a dream that was to develop the business in the U.S. They started with a small office in Miami, in 2005. A couple of years back, we built our first facility in Miami.

“It was only a warehouse. It also became a factory. Today, we have over 130 employees there. “But we need to expand,” he said.

The company chose Pasco after a detailed analysis involving more than seven states and 10 counties, according to the Pasco EDC release.

Collaboration yields big jobs win for area
The company’s decision to come to Pasco County is the result of a coordinated effort between Pasco County, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the City of Zephyrhills and Florida Commerce.

Mozzi said Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Co. and the gas company also were involved in the effort.

The collaboration between the different entities, the company executive said, “made our life easy, in terms of selecting where to go.”

Bauducco is ready to get going as soon as it can obtain permits, Mozzi said. It has already hired architects and hopes contractors can start building as quickly as possible.

“We are very excited,” Mozzi told the board.

David Engel, Pasco’s economic growth manager, spelled out some of the specifics of the county’s deal.

The 72.5-acre site where the plant will be located is at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Chancey Road, which was recently annexed by the City of Zephyrhills. The project will be using city water and sewer.

The 72.5-acre site, which is colored in red, is where Bauducco Foods plans to have a production facility in Zephyrhills. The location is part of a Ready Sites program, initially launched by Duke Energy. The Pasco Economic Development Council has built on that concept, working with private landowners to make a number of sites around the county ready for light industrial and manufacturing uses.

When complete, the project will be about 403,000 square feet and will create 600 new Pasco jobs, Engel said.

The project will be done in two phases, he said.

The first phase will be 96,494 square feet and is expected to be completed in 2025-2026, Engel said.

Phase two will be 306,500 square feet and is expected to be completed around 2028-2029.

The county’s incentive in the agreement involves a 25% ad valorem equivalency grant — which is a rebate on their ad valorem tax payment to the general fund.

The property currently is vacant, so the project’s development represents “a tremendous gain into the general fund for tax revenue,” Engel said.

He also noted that the incentives are entirely performance-based, meaning no incentives will be paid until the company has completed phase one and has received a certificate of occupancy.

“No incentives will be paid on the second phase until there’s a CO (certificate of occupancy) on that property and taxes are commencing,” Engel added.

Training dollars are part of deal
Additionally, the county is providing a $100,000 discretionary training grant to the business out of tax revenues generated by Penny for Pasco, Engel said.

The company will be able to receive that money once it has received its shell certificate of completion for phase one. That will enable them to train and hire before receiving a certificate of occupancy for the buildings, Engel said.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, characterized the project as “probably one of the more exciting projects that we’ve had in quite a while.”

He said the Pasco EDC “worked together with the state of Florida and Enterprise Florida’s international offices. We worked together with the municipality of Zephyrhills, and of course, with our county and our county staff.

Cronin described the project as competitive, noting that Pasco competed with San Antonio, Texas, for the company.

“Usually we don’t mention our competitors, but in this case, I want you to know, this was truly a project where people came together, collaborated, worked together, not just on the incentive deals, but some of the nuances we have here in Florida.”

Laura DiBella, immediate past Florida Secretary of Commerce and president and CEO at Enterprise Florida, told the county board there was “heated competition from Texas.”

She said Bauducco’s footprint in Miami could no longer support what it needed to do.

“The state obviously is participating on the incentive side, as well,” she said.

She said the “wrap-around approach” involves working together with partners “to make sure that this project not only lands, but continues to succeed here.

“This is really, really a happy day for all of us,” she said.

Zephyrhills is delighted by Bauducco’s choice
Billy Poe, city manager for the City of Zephyrhills, said the city is appreciative of the partnership with the county board, the Pasco EDC and the state.

“We’re thrilled that Bauducco selected Zephyrhills and our growing landscape of business potential. The positive impact of these job openings goes beyond providing steady, high-wage employment. It strengthens the fabric of our community by fostering opportunities and prosperity.

He said the city already is known for its water, skydiving and tennis, and now, with Bauducco, will be known for its baked goods, too.

The City of Zephyrhills has approved incentives totaling $8.27 million, according to the Pasco EDC news release. That incentive is based on the company creating 120 new positions, with each having an average wage of 80% of the median one-person income in the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area.

The city’s incentive package also includes waiving transportation impact fees up to $331,000 and permit fees up to $660,750. Plus, the city will provide a job creation incentive cash grant equal to 50% of the ad valorem city property taxes paid for the first 10 years, according to the Pasco EDC release.

Mozzi said he hopes his company’s investment in Zephyrhills will be the first of many to come.

“I think it will happen. Normally, when one company goes to a place, a lot of others follow later on,” he said.

Published November 08, 2023

Pasco school board approves dress code change

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The Pasco County School Board has revised its student dress code to remove the phrase that requires a student’s blouse to “extend to the waist.”

But it’s unlikely that the vote will be the end of district discussion on the issue.

A specific committee will likely review the issue during an update of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year.

The school board voted 4-0 to approve the dress code for next school year during its Oct. 17 meeting. Board chairwoman Megan Harding was absent.

The Pasco County School Board has altered the district’s dress code to delete a phrase that required blouses to ‘extend to the waist.’ But discussions over appropriate student attire are expected to resume again next year, during the update of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year. (File)

The dress code change drew considerable debate during previous board discussions, with Harding and school board member Cynthia Armstrong wanting to keep the requirement and school board members Colleen Beaudoin, Alison Crumbley and Al Hernandez favoring the change.

At the Oct. 3 public hearing, two speakers raised objections to the proposed dress code.

Pat Rogers, who frequently appears at board meetings to question various policies, told the board: “This morning, on my way here, I saw a very young girl walking down the sidewalk going to her school with shorts with legs that were maybe this long on them,” she said, indicating a couple of inches.

“Granted, she was young, but that was still too short for school.

“That’s fine for when you are playing at home and out in the yard, but at school, I think there needs to be a length, like 2 inches above the knee or something. So that these short shorts are not being worn around in school because they’re just as distracting as everything else, especially when you get to the young teen boys, the pre-teens.

“Anyway, that needs to be taken care of. The dress code to me is still kind of vague,” she said.

She thinks the code needs more clarity so parents know precisely what the rules are, instead of trying to guess.

“I know you guys can do a better job than this,” she said.

In previous discussions regarding the dress code, Beaudoin urged her colleagues to remove the phrase “extend to the waist” regarding blouses.

Like her colleagues, Beaudoin said she’d like to see students dress professionally and appropriately, but she noted that she believes that ultimately that’s a parental right and responsibility.

Beaudoin also pointed to community norms and said the type of clothing being discussed is socially acceptable.

Plus, she said there are more important issues for the board’s focus, and the dress code is not a barrier to education.

But Nancy Christian, of Land O’ Lakes, told board members that she strongly disagreed with Beaudoin’s rationale.

Christian said she’s a mother and grandmother, a frequent school and community volunteer, a retired bus driver from another district, and a barber.

In those roles, she said she’s come into contact with young people of all ages for many years.

She told the board: “Clothing makes a difference. Certain clothing isn’t appropriate for school. Bare midriffs, bare backs and exposed cleavage isn’t appropriate for the classroom or walking around school.

“It can be distracting, and what is the purpose of such attire?

“A student’s clothing affects their attitude for the good or the bad. Maybe not so much from kindergarten to fourth grade, but after that it depends on the child, but it starts to make a difference.”

“Part of the parents’ responsibility is to teach their child the rules and how to follow them,” Christian said.

Board members said they received feedback on both sides of the issue.

During the Oct. 17 meeting, Armstrong said: “I just want to say that I really appreciate all of the emails I received, and the calls and the discussions about the dress code.

“As you know, I was the one who added on, ‘extend to the waist’ for the shirt.”

“I thought it was pretty clear what that meant, but apparently it was not.

“I do feel like we’ve opened up this discussion about ‘What is appropriate attire for a learning environment? How do we prepare our students to participate in the workforce after they leave school?’

“So, I’m hoping this discussion will continue when we have the committee meet for the next Code of Student Conduct next year and that they will consider some of the suggestions that we received in our emails about how maybe that could be better worded to avoid some of the controversy over it, and to make sure that it was clear and concise.”

Board member Crumbley agreed the discussion should continue next year.

She said she appreciated the comments she received on the issue.

“I see all of the sides. I think it was a good conversation.

“I believe our objective will be to maybe turn this over to a special task force within the Code of Conduct Committee,” Crumbley said, noting that the group can look at the suggestions and emails that came in, in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year.

Published November 08, 2023

These two Pasco students stand out from the crowd

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The Pasco County School Board recently celebrated two student standouts.

Leah Ifill, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, is the district’s U.S. Presidential Scholar nominee, and Miguel Rosario, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, is the district’s U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.

The scholar program, established in 1964, recognizes and honors superior high school seniors.

Diamela Vergne, assistant principal at Wiregrass Ranch High, wrote the submission on behalf of Ifill.

Wiregrass Ranch High School student Leah Ifill is Pasco County’s Nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. From left: Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Leah Ifill and Pasco County Schools Vice Chairwoman Alison Crumbley. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

In part, this is what she said: “Leah is well-rounded, hardworking, kind and an extremely driven student. She successfully and with great ease balances her multiple responsibilities, inside and outside of school, all while ensuring she tends to physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.

“Leah was out of school for two months during her freshman year. During that time, she had to re-learn how to do many things.

“Leah has been dancing since she was 2, learning how to dance before she could fully speak.

“Having to re-learn things, she was forced to stop dancing for an entire year. She was stripped of her only passion.

“It was during this time that she was introduced to musical theater, which became her new passion.

“She was forever changed, but it allowed her to become someone she thought she could never be.

“Eventually, she was able to land main roles in shows, through perseverance and hard work.

“The journey from dance to musical theater has been transformative. This could have been a setback, but it became a catalyst for her success. It taught her resilience, determination and the importance of pursuing her life’s passions.

“Leah currently has 111 approved community service hours. These hours have been completed in a variety of environments. 

“She has volunteered at Toys for Tots, distributing toys during the holidays. She also volunteers at the nursery from her church. She volunteers at the community theater, and at Wiregrass Ranch freshman orientation. She also sings the National Anthem at various events at her high school campus.

“She is an active member of the student council, as well.”

The assistant principal also noted that Ifill is enrolled in several Advanced Placement (AP) courses, as well as courses in the arts. She also is a member of concert chorus, social manager for the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Thespian president of Troupe 7142.

Rosario is the district’s Presidential Scholars nominee in Career and Technical Education.

Nathan Baker, the Career and Technical Education teacher at the Coyote Engineering Academy, wrote this about Miguel: “Miguel is the best student I’ve had within the last five years within the engineering academy at Cypress Creek High School.

Cypress Creek High School student Miguel Rosario was recognized as Pasco County Schools’ nominee for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Program. From left: Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Miguel Rosario and Pasco County Schools Vice Chairwoman Alison Crumbley.

“His intelligence and natural abilities are just phenomenal. He is currently taking AP calculus BC and AP computer science.

“Miguel has also spread his wings in other directions besides academia. He is very active in the student government association, a member of the Spirit Club, captain of the varsity soccer team and has a part-time job.

“I’ve watched Miguel demonstrate an atmosphere of mutual respect, hard work, good sportsmanship, prioritization and time management.

“Miguel is selfless and always willing to lend a hand. Miguel will make an amazing computer engineer one day. He has all of the characteristics necessary for success, including high intelligence, a strong work ethic, amazing problem-solving skills and the desire to succeed.

“He has excelled at every challenge given to him within the engineering program, including thermal dynamics, electricity, fluid dynamics, robotics, programming and team leadership.

“He has a gift for envisioning a solution to a problem and optimizing that solution. Whether it is a complicated mathematical problem, or a robotics program that needs to be written, I’ve never known Miguel not to succeed.

“Miguel was chosen as the outstanding student of engineering his freshman year and likely would have won it multiple times, except Cypress Creek High School limits ninth through 11th graders to winning it only once to spread the award around.

“He has earned numerous Student of the Week awards, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program, and recognized as being a member of multiple honor societies.

“Miguel has continued to add new tools to his technical toolbox. He spent a year in the Pasco Youth Leadership Program to learn about leadership, inspiring others and the projects taking place throughout the county.”

Baker noted that Rosario continues to add new programming languages to his arsenal.

“He is hands-on and can always be found tinkering with something in the lab.

“By spending time in the Pasco Youth Leadership Program and tutoring, it is evident that Miguel inspires others to be the best and instills in them a sense of duty to achieve more than they believe they can achieve.

“Miguel Rosario is the total package. He is highly intelligent, demonstrates common sense and possesses an amazing level of mechanical, hands-on ability and has limitless determination.

“He is truly the real deal.

“I could never ask for a better student,” Baker wrote.

Published November 08, 2023

Business Digest 11/08/2023

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(Courtesy of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay)

Board chair named
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay announced the nonprofit organization’s Board of Directors has named Mellissa Longo as chair of the board for the 2024 fiscal year. The board also named Tim Traud, of Jabil, as the chair-elect, according to a news release. Other board members are: 

  • Immediate past chair: Roger Boothroyd, Ph.D., professor emeritus at University of South Florida
  • Treasurer: Linda Miller, chief operating officer of Lake Charles Methanol LLC
  • Secretary: Attorney Lisa McGlynn, partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP

Longo has served on the board for nearly five years and has served as board secretary and chair-elect.

She has been practicing law for more than 20 years and currently is an associate general counsel for Pathways, a national behavioral health company.

“It’s a tremendous honor to serve as the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s Board Chair. I’m extremely passionate about behavioral health and I’ve seen the amazing impact the organization has had on people who need help. I look forward to working with the rest of the board and the Crisis Center leadership team to ensure that no one in our community has to face crisis alone,” Longo said, in the release.

Excellence in Business Awards
The North Tampa Bay Chamber will hold its 2023 Celebrating Excellence in Business Awards ceremony on Nov. 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will bestow honors in these categories:

  • Excellence in Innovation
  • Excellence in Collaboration
  • Excellence in Integrity
  • Excellence in Inclusivity
  • Community Hero

Networking begins at 5 p.m., with the awards presentation beginning at 6 p.m. Cost is $45 per person for the event, which features heavy hors d’oeuvres, with a cash bar. Cocktail attire is recommended.

The event will be at Treble Makers, Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant, 6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 100, in Wesley Chapel. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Financial assistance available
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced federal assistance opportunities for agricultural producers through such programs as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship program. Applications must be made by Nov. 17. Contact the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to find out more.

‘Most entrepreneurial state’
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that Florida is the most entrepreneurial state in the nation, according to a study published by researchers at The Digital Project Manager.

Florida has the highest percentage of the population that has started a business with 13,238 small businesses per 100,000 residents, which is 3,000 more small businesses per 100,000 residents than the second place state of Georgia, according to a state news release.

“Florida’s pro-business, freedom-first policies make Florida the best state in the nation to do business,” DeSantis said, in the release. “I appreciate those Floridians who have taken a risk to start their own ventures.”

The study also found that new start-up businesses in Florida also had the highest number of jobs created in the first year with 6.53 new jobs per 1,000 Floridians. Florida also leads the nation in new business formations with more than 2.6 million new businesses formed over the last four years.

Florida’s unemployment rate has remained below the national average for nearly three years and more than one million Floridians have joined the workforce. Florida also has outpaced the national rate for labor force growth and private sector job growth for over two years, the new release says.

East Pasco Networking Group
Marianne Brawer, a business services consultant for Pasco-Hernando Career Source, is the featured speaker at the Nov. 14 breakfast meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group. The group meets at 7:30 a.m., on the second Tuesday of each month, except for December, at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information or to suggest speakers, contact Nils R. Lenz at 813-782-9491 or

Community Leadership Award
Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, has received the 2023 Community Leadership Award from Women in Leadership & Philanthropy (WLP) at the University of South Florida (USF), according to a news release.

Reynolds received the honor on Oct. 4, during the 17th Annual WLP Fall Symposium at Tampa Marriott Water Street in downtown Tampa.

The Community Leadership Award honors visionary leaders and philanthropists throughout the community who are doing extraordinary things to make Tampa Bay a better place for women to live and work. With the award, WLP showcases individual excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work, and inspiration to others.

“I want to express my deepest appreciation to Women in Leadership & Philanthropy for the tremendous honor of being this year’s Community Leadership Award recipient. I started my career in social services to help people who are going through life’s most challenging circumstances. It was my daily motivation 30 years ago, and it’s still my motivation today. I am thankful and humbled to receive this recognition,” Reynolds said, in the release.

WLP was formed in 2005 with the leadership of USF President Emerita and Professor Judy Genshaft, longtime USF supporter Carol Morsani, and Tampa Bay’s leading philanthropists, business professionals and entrepreneurs to promote the educational and research endeavors of women at USF.

Colleen Chappell, chairman of the board of the ChappellRoberts advertising agency, received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oct. 4 event.

Florida ranks No. 3 for internet speed
HighSpeedInternet.com recently released its fourth annual report on The Fastest and Slowest States for Internet Speed, and this year Florida ranked No. 3. The report lists the top five states in this order: Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, Delaware and New Hampshire, according to a news release. Florida’s internet speed statistics say that it has a median download speed of 115.58 Mbps; it has an average download speed of 185.24 Mbps; its year-over-year change in its median speed is plus-0.29 Mbps and its 2022 rank is No. 7 in the U.S. For more information, visit HighSpeedInternet.com.

Will Pasco impose a moratorium in wake of Live Local Act?

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The Pasco County Commission doesn’t want to impose a moratorium on multifamily development, but board members say that may be their only option if they can’t get relief from the state’s Live Local Act requirements.

The Florida Legislature adopted the Live Local Act last session, as a way of spurring more development of affordable housing.

The Live Local law makes it impossible for local governments to block the conversion of existing commercial, industrial and mixed-use sites to be developed for multifamily use, if the project meets requirements regarding the provision of affordable housing units for a specified period. The law also provides a tax break for such projects.

Pasco has been getting around the issue with new requests for commercial, mixed use and industrial zoning by asking applicants to submit voluntary deed restrictions that would prohibit those lands from being converted to residential development.

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman vehemently opposes the conversion of the county’s prime commercial and industrial locations for multifamily development, under the state’s Live Local Act.

But the county has a multitude of sites that already are zoned for commercial and industrial use and developers are coming in, invoking the Live Local Act.

Pasco County board members have repeatedly raised concerns that the Live Local Act is undermining the county’s efforts to increase jobs so local residents won’t have to commute elsewhere for work.

The county has focused considerable effort in recent years — supporting efforts by the Pasco Economic Development Council — to get sites ready for development, and using incentive money to help attract industries to Pasco.

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman brings up concerns about Live Local’s impacts at nearly every board meeting.

But he said learning about two new Live Local sites in the county have pushed him over the edge on the issue.

He talked about those sites during the board’s Oct. 24 meeting.

One site is at Curley Road and State Road 54, where 300-plus multifamily units are planned.

The site had been designated for commercial use.

“It’s completely inappropriate and I’m vehemently opposed to it,” Weightman said.

The second site is at Old Pasco Road and Overpass Road, along Interstate 75.

The site “potentially would have been a fantastic light industrial site, but we’re unfortunately not going to get there,” Weightman said.

“We plan a long time. We have good actors who want to put multifamily. We go through the process of proper planning and make investment.

“This Live Local group that comes in, they’re not community partners. It’s an abomination of what they’re (good actors) are trying to do.

“It’s killing our jobs. It’s killing Pasco County jobs.

“The Live Local bill is not healthy for our community, especially when you’re going after properties like we’ve just shown.”

Weightman said he and David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, got together with some stakeholders to ask: How can we figure this thing out, without hurting the people who are following the rules, playing by the rules?

“The news wasn’t good,” Weightman said. In essence, the county’s option would be to impose a moratorium on multifamily development.

The commissioner said the county doesn’t want to do that because it’s not fair to those who are playing by the rules.

“But we’re literally stuck in the corner, and there is one option open, which is an unhealthy option for us to combat this,” he said.

County has limited options
Goldstein said the only thing the county controls under the Live Local Act is land development regulations.

A moratorium could be imposed to give the county time to do the work necessary to pass an ordinance amending its land development regulations, Goldstein said.

Weightman reiterated his outrage: “We’re about to spend a pile of money, widening Old Pasco Road, finally, and in that plan to widen that road and just north of it — schools and everything else, that was planned to be a commercial hub or potential industrial hub, job-creating, right there on that brand new interchange. But instead, it’s potentially 33 acres of some sort of vertical multifamily, not mixed use.”

Goldstein also noted that Live Local developments are entitled to a tax exemption.

“We zoned this property for commercial office, light industrial and hotel before Live Local occurred. That’s what we thought would occur here,” Goldstein added.

Kathryn Starkey asked: “So, how many properties are at risk here? Do we need to go back and do something to those?”

Goldstein: “The only thing I think you could do that would be safe from Live Local might be PO1 and PO2 (Professional Office 1 and Professional Office 2) because Live Local only applies to commercial, industrial and mixed use.”

The county could change the zoning on those properties and let the owners know they can come back to seek their zoning, but would need to voluntarily deed restrict their property, Starkey said.

But County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said: “You are downzoning property. That’s what you are doing.”

Goldstein added: “To be honest with you, it’d be easier to defend a moratorium, than what you are talking about.”

Starkey asked: “How long can we have a moratorium for?”

Goldstein replied: “You can’t have a moratorium for more than a year. To be clear, the moratorium’s purpose would be to develop regulations that would be applicable to multifamily projects.”

Goldstein continued: “I don’t know if you want to exercise that quote, nuclear option, because it’s going to affect projects that are not Live Local projects.”

Weightman said he knows that a lot of investment has made its way through the process and he doesn’t want those projects to suffer. But he said a moratorium seems to be the county’s only option.

Starkey agreed that the site at Overpass and Old Pasco roads is a prime location.

“This is one of our most valuable corners in the county. I hope the legislators like what they did,” she said.

Starkey puts the blame on the law
“You really shouldn’t put it on the bad actors that are out there. They’re doing what the law allows. I’m sorry. That’s a bad law for us,” Starkey said.

Weightman added: “This is such an awesome opportunity in this 54, Old Pasco Road, Curley Road, to have really something great built — and to get eaten up by discounted residential is just horrible.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said the Live Local Act adopted by the Florida Legislature last year is a bad law for Pasco County.

Starkey agreed: “This is a great example to show off the unintended bad consequences. I am very curious to know if we have any other very important corners like this that are at jeopardy.”

Longtime land use and zoning attorney Barbara Wilhite urged the board to avoid imposing any type of moratorium.

“I’ve been doing this all of my life. The conversation about big M, moratorium, kept me up all night. It is a nuclear option, and I would ask you to explore all other options.

“It would just stop everybody.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed with Wilhite’s point: “You’d hurt a lot of people,” he said.

Steinsnyder told the board: “You can do lesser things. We might be able to revitalize the old commercial node concept and create a moratorium on nodes on the major roadways for multifamily, if we’re trying to encourage other things in those corridors.

“You’d be able to describe it to finite property. It wouldn’t cover the entire county, but it would be those critical areas that you’re describing.”

The board expressed an interest in looking at that option.

County Administrator Mike Carballa said his staff could make that a priority, if that’s what the board wants.

“I don’t know what size of a task that is,” Carballa said.

Oakley responded: “We need to get started on it sooner than later.”

Starkey, like Weightman, expressed frustration.

“We paid for that Overpass interchange. We’re paying for the widening of Old Pasco Road. To have this kind of user come in, is just a kick in the gut,” she said.

The issue is expected to be discussed at a tri-county meeting of the county boards of Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and also during the upcoming legislative session.

Published November 01, 2023

Pasco budget hits get relief from tax collector’s surplus check to the county

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When the Pasco County Commission decided to reduce its property tax millage rate, the board said budget cuts should be across the board, including the county’s constitutional offices.

At the commission’s Oct. 24 meeting, though, Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano presented another idea to the board.

Every year, Fasano’s office estimates how much it will be able to save and give back to the county.

“We had proposed that we would give you back about $2.4 million. We’re giving you back today about $3.6 million,” Fasano said.

At that, there was applause and Commissioner Seth Weightman rang a bell, signaling approval of the good news.

“I got a bell,” Fasano said, surprised. “Normally, when people come into our office and put money into our charities, in the bucket, the bell goes off. It’s nice that we’re bringing you money and your bell is going off here.”

Fasano reminded the board that in the past 10 years his office has given back more than $24 million.

“But today, I come before you with an ask.”

He asked the board to “make whole” the Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office and the Supervisor of Elections Office, which all suffered budget cuts when the board voted to reduce the millage rate during its recent budget deliberations.

That move was made to reduce the sting of higher taxes due to the increase for the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit, and when the cut was made, the board decided the pain of the cuts should be shared.

In making his case for restoring the cuts to the sheriff, clerk and elections offices, Fasano noted: “Each of them, of course, had to put a budget together and rely on what they thought they were going to get, hoped they were going to get, based on what they need.

“We have a sheriff that’s trying to make certain that he protects our community, as it grows. Public safety should always be No. 1.

“We have a supervisor of elections that does provide the best, the best service when it comes time for elections. When the elections come in at night, where does everybody look? The first one, Pasco County, to see what direction Florida is going.

“We have a clerk of the court, like the tax collector, who sees thousands of people each month.”

As Fasano prepared to give the check to the county, he said: “So, I present this check to you with an ask, and hopefully, maybe with a motion, and a second, to use some of these dollars to make those constitutional officers whole, as you did yourselves.

“I will present the clerk with a check and also some documents, and hopefully, before I go back to the podium, I’ll hear a motion.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey: “I would make that motion to accept the check and to use this to make this as a payment to cover all of our losses, in the rollback.”

Weightman added: “I’ll happily second that, and thank you Senator (Fasano is a former state senator), for being a fiscal watchdog and bringing some good news to us today. I was proud to ring the bell in your honor.”

The board voted 4-0, with Commission Chairman Jack Mariano absent.

The action restored about $34,000 in funding for the clerk’s office, about $24,000 in funding for the election supervisor’s office and about $600,000 for the sheriff’s office, Fasano said, in an interview after the meeting.

He said he decided to make the request because he saw an opportunity to try to help his fellow constitutional officers and thought he should pursue it.

The tax collector also said he was pleased by the county board’s response.

Published November 01, 2023

Pasco County Commission approves cell tower in Angeline

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The approval of a cellphone tower on the campus of Angeline Academy of Innovation has again raised issues over the proper placement of such towers and whether more care should be taken when deciding where to locate them.

The Pasco County Commission approved the request for a conditional use request, clearing the way for a 154-foot above-ground monopole wireless communications tower on the northeast side of Angeline School Way, about one-half mile north of Ridge Road.

The site is owned by Pasco County Schools, and the applicant for the cell tower request is Vertex Development LLC.

The board’s 3-0 approval came despite a parent’s request to move the tower a greater distance away from the Angeline magnet school, which is at 8916 Angeline School Way, in Land O’ Lakes.

The Pasco County Commission has approved the request for a cellphone tower on the campus of Angeline Academy of Innovation. (Mike Camunas)

The magnet school ultimately will have sixth- through 12th-graders on the campus.

Robin Patel, who described herself as a parent, scientist and community member, said her primary concern is the health risk such towers can pose to people from prolonged exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation.

In this case, students will be exposed for six hours per school day, for up to seven years, she said.

“I have two children in the school district. One in elementary school and one currently at Angeline.

“I’m also interested because I’m a scientist. I have my PhD in biomedical sciences, and while my expertise is not in wireless communications, I have about 15 years doing research on human health, disease and biological systems.

“It should be noted that Angeline is a very tall, four-story building, with student classrooms on all levels. The upper floors are significantly closer to the antennas, compared to the ground level,” she said.

She also noted that “the strength and type of radiation that will be coming from this tower is not known. Proper cellphone tower placement is necessary to limit possible health effects and liability.”

“In the current research, cellphone towers would be cautiously placed 500 meters or about a third of a mile away from schools,” Patel said, but in the case of the Angeline tower, it is about 100 meters away from student classrooms.

Patel also pointed to a statement on the American Cancer Society’s website that says most expert organizations agree that more research is needed on the issue, especially for any long-term effects.

Patel did not request that the cell tower be eliminated, but simply relocated.

“Cellphone towers are a way of life and coverage is needed in the Angeline area, I agree.

“But we need to be thoughtful about where those cell towers are placed to achieve that coverage.

“Until we are sure there are no negative health effects on children’s growing bodies, we should not be placing cellphone towers near student areas,” she said. “Instead, place towers along roadways, fields or other unpopulated areas.”

Mary Solik, an attorney representing Vertex Development, told the county board: “I understand the sincerity of Miss Patel’s comments, but we meet all of the siting requirements that are set forth in your code and the (federal) Telecommunications Act has determined that local governments are preempted on the issue of the health effects of the towers. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulates that and you’re not allowed to approve or deny or regulate the placement of towers based on their health effects, no matter how sincere Miss Patel’s comments may be. The FCC has just taken that away from you and they regulate it.”

Solik also noted that the distance between the corner of the school building and the tower location is 389 feet.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey acknowledged that the board is preempted from considering health concerns. But she added: “I just want to say something to the school district. You know, we keep hearing this and I think it’s part of the 5G scare that’s out there, that people say they didn’t test enough.

“It would be better for us, if you would, when you start laying out your school sites, if you plan for your cell tower site. It could have been on the other side of that pond.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed with Starkey’s suggestion that the school district plan for cell towers on its campuses to be farther away from its school buildings.

Published November 01, 2023

Traffic signal may be coming to improve conditions in Watergrass area

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Watergrass area residents have turned out to recent Pasco County Commission meetings urging that something be done to improve traffic safety near their neighborhood.

At the Pasco County Commission’s Oct. 24 meeting, Commissioner Seth Weightman added his voice to underscore the urgency of the issue.

He called attention to an intersection at Overpass Road, near the Epperson lagoon.

Overpass Road carries some restrictions as residents urge improvement of traffic safety near their neighborhood. (Mike Camunas)

“That’s a pretty large intersection there,” Weightman said. “That’s a pretty hairy crossing going east-west. There’s currently, I don’t think, a red light there. At minimum, we need to take a look at that. We get a lot of emails.”

Brad Tippin, the county’s development review manager, responded: “There’s warrants that we need to do and different things that happen, to make sure that these are truly necessary lights. There are other options we can use to try to control the traffic.”

Weightman persisted: “The amount of golf cart traffic in the mornings, going eastbound to take kids to school — you’ve got a mix of commercial vehicles, residential traffic, parents on golf carts. It’s cringe-worthy.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted: “That’s all of the parents who have been coming here (to board meetings).”

Commissioner Ron Oakley noted: “You’ve got to remember that Watergrass was not set up to be a golf cart community, at all.”

Weightman reacted: “But they’re coming from Epperson.”

Tippin responded: “There’s a portion of Epperson, actually north of Watergrass, on that side of Curley Road, where there’s a charter school now. Some of that golf cart traffic tries to make that trip as well.

“We’re working with county engineers and several other folks to look at Watergrass, the scenario there.

“Overpass has some restrictions, as to what we can do with Overpass.

“But we’re trying to kind of look at all of that. We’re looking at the signalization of that intersection. I believe it is on the plans to be signalized, it’s just a matter of timing.”

Weightman responded: “It can’t happen soon enough.”

Tippin said he agrees,

Tippin also noted that while Watergrass was not designed for golf cart use, other communities nearby were intended for that use and it’s a good sign so many golf carts are being used in the area.

“These communities were designed to use golf carts and they’re actually panning out that way,” Tippin said.

Oakley explained that part of the problem is that the county has been delayed in extending Overpass Road over to Kossik Road and U.S. 301.

County staff is working to try to improve the situation near Watergrass, Oakley said, but he added that waiting for those solutions will require patience.

“It does take time to design and get things right.

“Good things are coming. Staff is really working hard on making that happen,” Oakley said.

Published November 01, 2023

Pasco eyes new drive-thru and car wash standards

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In a continuing quest to improve the overall look of the county, the Pasco County Commission is eying new standards for car washes and drive-thru facilities.

Pasco County is seeking new regulations that will help reduce the proliferation of car washes and will give a better appearance to both car wash operations and drive-thru facilities at banks, fast-food, pharmacies and other businesses. The county planning staff is expected to come back with proposed amendments to the county’s land development code. (Mike Camunas)

The board discussed the drive-thru issue at its Oct. 10 meeting and directed county planners to come back with recommended standards. It previously discussed during its Sept. 19 meeting the need for new car wash standards.

In both cases, the board is looking to update land development code regulations that affect the design and appearance of drive-thru facilities and car washes.

In the case of car washes, the board raised concerns about the number of such businesses popping up across Pasco.

It wants to adopt standards similar to the ones it has imposed on self-storage facilities that affect the location of car washes.

The board also is looking at drive-thru facilities associated with fast-food restaurants, financial institutions, pharmacies and other similar uses.

The new standards involve building placement, drive-thru placement, on-site parking, drive-thru stacking requirements and landscape buffering.

Regarding drive-thru facilities, that county board authorized the planners to come back with amendments to the land development code that consider:

  • Requiring drive-thru facilities to meet design and development requirements, such as placing parking to the side and rear of buildings and reducing stacking requirements
  • Requiring site plans to locate buildings close to the road or internal streets with guidelines to distinguish between major arterials and local roads/streets
  • Establishing flexibility in the code for sites that cannot meet the new requirements

The plan also should optimize landscaping. It also should be possible for commercial sites to have spaces between buildings without requiring buffer yards. That would result in more usable space within the public realm.

Regarding car washes, during its Sept. 19 meeting, the county board directed county planners to come back with recommendations that relate to the site design, the location of parking, vacuuming areas and so on.

During that meeting, Commissioner Seth Weightman raised concerns about the proliferation of car washes.

“They’re everywhere,” he said. “They’re taking up our prime job-generating sites.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed: “It seems like a new one is coming up every time you turn around.”

County planners will return to the board in coming months with proposed new requirements relating to both drive-thru facilities and car washes.

Published November 01, 2023

Senior citizens expected to get a property tax break in Pasco

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It won’t show up on this coming year’s property tax bills, but qualifying senior citizens are expected to get a tax break in Pasco County beginning in 2025.

The Pasco County Commission signaled its intention to provide an additional $50,000 homestead exemption for individuals over age 65 who own their own home, are a permanent resident and whose adjusted household income does not exceed $35,167 (based on this year’s eligibility requirements).

At its Oct. 24 meeting, the board voted 4-0, with Commission Chairman Jack Mariano absent, to schedule a public hearing on the proposed tax break at its Dec. 5 meeting.

The public hearing is required before the board can take action on an ordinance establishing the additional exemption for qualifying seniors.

To help senior citizens on limited incomes combat the high costs of living, the Pasco County Commission intends to provide an additional $50,000 homestead exemption for those meeting income eligibility requirements. The tax break would take effect in 2025. (File)

County Administrator Mike Carballa has calculated the estimated annual fiscal impacts of the tax break and he said it works out to be about $3 million.

The additional exemption is authorized under the Florida Constitution and the state’s general laws, according to Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder, who was directed to bring back an ordinance to enact the tax break.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey asked how the exemption would be administered.

“Who has to certify people’s incomes? How does that work?” she asked, noting that it seems like it will be a difficult task.

Pasco County Property Appraiser Mike Wells responded: “Yes, it is going to be a lot of work. We are going to have to hire a couple of more folks to do it. But we are willing to do it. I believe it is the right thing to do. I’m not on the board anymore, but I think with everything going on with —  you know — it’s the right thing to do and we’re obviously ready to do it.”

Steinsnyder noted that recipients will be required to file paperwork to obtain the exemption.

Wells agreed.

“Every year they would have to come back and reapply. It’s going to be a big job. But absolutely, they’ve earned it,” Wells said. In Pinellas County, he added, it has worked very well.

Starkey asked if those applying just need to supply their income tax information.

Wells responded: “There’s a process, but we will be able to manage that. We’re willing to do that. I think our seniors deserve it, especially the ones on the fixed incomes.”

Commissioner Seth Weightman, who championed the additional exemption during the board’s budget hearing, asked Steinsnyder if there is flexibility to reduce the exemption, if there were future changes in the market.

Steinsnyder replied: “I don’t see any (legal) reason why you couldn’t amend your ordinance to lower it. There may be some political ramifications to that.”

Weightman then made it clear that he supports the maximum exemption.

“I’m for the $50,000, with the expense of the world and our senior population getting priced out of here. I am happy to support this,” he said.

Wells said this isn’t the first time the proposed exemption has come up, because he recalls it coming up when he was serving on the county board. He said he’s happy it’s moving forward.

Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano praised the board’s action.

“I think what you’ve done just now is going to help our seniors … We have so many seniors in this community that call us; they can’t pay their bill.

“They hear that their neighbor in another county has been getting that additional $50,000 homestead, (and they ask) ‘Is it available for me?’

“I tell them, it will be one day. We’ve got a commission that’s going to be working diligently for you, making sure you get it,’” Fasano said.

A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for the 1:30 p.m. session on Dec. 5, at the West Pasco Government Center government board room, 8731 Citizens Drive, in New Port Richey.

Published November 01, 2023