The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Business Digest 07/24/2019

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(Courtesy of Sam Turgeon)

Sunlight Realty moves, offers space
Sunlight Realty has moved into Zephyrhills Executive Offices, at 5344 Ninth St., in Zephyrhills, and is leasing out 15 offices, according to a news release from Sam Turgeon, who owns the office complex, along with his wife, Winifred. They envision the office spaces available for lease being used by small businesses and start-ups. For more information, contact Sam Turgeon at (203) 623-7794 or at .

Aquarium names new vice president
Grant Martin has been named the new vice president of development for The Florida Aquarium. Martin previously served as the president of the capital campaign at the Tampa Bay History Center. The announcement comes as the aquarium increases its visibility in their conservation efforts and business growth, according to an Aquarium news release. “Grant’s arrival will allow us to broaden our donor engagement and deepen our connection to the community, both crucial to furthering our organization’s mission of conservation and education,” Roger Germann, president and CEO of the aquarium, said in the release.

Credit Union has new location
The San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union has moved to a new location at 38149 Sprocket Way, which is near the Dade City Publix, according to a credit union posting released by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. The credit union’s new location boasts a new building, expanded drive-through lanes and a drive-through ATM, which accepts deposits. The credit union’s former location will become an operations center for the credit union. For more information, visit SACFCU.org, or call (352) 588-2732.

Tampa ranked among top places to live
WalletHub, a personal-finance website, released its rankings for the Best Big Cities to Live In, and Tampa was ranked No. 15, out of the top 20. Virginia Beach, Virginia, ranked No. 1 and Boston, Massachusetts, ranked No. 20. No other Florida city ranked in the top 20 on the list.

The data set considerations included the quality of the public school system, job opportunities, and median annual property taxes, according to a release from WalletHub.

Temporary hold on mini-warehouses
The Pasco County Commission has adopted a temporary moratorium on consideration of any new mini-warehouse applications along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor. The moratorium is expected to last no longer than 120 days, but could increase to 180 days — upon the board’s approval of an extension. Board members have made it clear they want staff to finish its work within the 120-day window. The board is seeking greater control over where these types of projects are located, with the idea to preserve frontage along the corridor for job-generating businesses. Mini-warehouses tend to have few employees, said board members Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey, who pushed to give time for staff to research new standards before any additional mini-warehouses are approved in the corridor.

Recruiting speakers for Business week
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is planning ahead for the 27th annual Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce Business Development Week, which will be Jan. 27 through Jan. 31, 2020. The chamber is now making an open call for potential conference speakers. This year’s conference theme will be “Visualizing your success in 2020.” If you’re interested in becoming a speaker for the conference, submit a presentation proposal to the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce by Aug. 2. Some examples of presentation topics are: Increasing sales; Improving Customer Service; Increasing the use of technology in your business; Networking; Motivating employees; Improving Cash Flow; and, Human Resources. Potential presenters may choose other business-related topics, too. For more information on how to submit your presentations, visit GreaterPasco.com.

Grow Financial helps Thomas Promise
Grow Financial Federal Credit United donated $5,000 to the Thomas Promise Foundation through the Grow Financial Foundation, according to a news release from the Thomas Promise Foundation. The grant will provide enough money to assemble 10,000 meals for food-insecure students in Pasco County, Joe Simmons, executive director for The Thomas Promise Foundation, said in the release.

Commercial leasing workshop
Learn the best practices for leasing a commercial space at a free workshop presented by Gilit Kontny, of Berkshire Hathaway, on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class is being offered as part of the SMARTstart Entrepreneurship Education Series, at the East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

Sprouts to open in Trinity
Sprouts Farmers Market is set to open in Trinity, at 8840 Strength Ave., on July 31. The store is planning a ribbon cutting before doors open at 7 a.m. Numerous festivities are planned at the new 30,000-square-foot store. Visit Sprouts.com for more information.

Free business mentoring
If you need free, individual, confidential small business mentoring, chances are that Pasco Hernando SCORE can help. Visit PascoHernando.org to request a mentor.

SBA seeks research proposals
The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy has announced new funding opportunities for small business research. It is currently seeking research proposals in six areas: bank formation, cybersecurity, population dynamics, entrepreneur demographics, veteran entrepreneurship, and miscellaneous small business topics. Proposal submissions are due to by Aug. 16. For more information, go to FedBizOpps.gov.

Collaboration creates connectivity

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The opening of the State Road 56 Extension between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills has a personal benefit for Alora Butler, a student at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

She said the new road segment will cut her 30-minute commute to school in half.

Greg Lenners, general manager of The Shops at Wiregrass, expects to see an uptick in business, as the extension of State Road 56 over to the Zephyrhills area makes it easier for shoppers to get to the mall. (Christine Holtzman)

It also reduces the time that the Zephyrhills resident spends on the road, to get to leisure activities or do her banking in Wesley Chapel.

The new 6-mile stretch also makes life easier for her husband, too, as he makes his commute to work at a warehouse in Land O’ Lakes.

Butler is just one of the thousands who can now opt for a shorter, or less congested route, to and from the east side of Pasco County.

Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus, near the intersection of State Road 56 and Mansfield Boulevard, said he thinks the new road will even help students perform better academically.

Less time in traffic means less stress, in O’ Farrell’s opinion. And, because of that, he said, students “are more mentally ready to engage in class, they’re ready to focus more on their coursework.”

Greg Lenners, general manager for The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, expects the mall to experience an uptick in business because of the better access for shoppers coming from the east.

Laura Zimmerman, who lives on Meadow Pointe Boulevard, is happy to have another option for traveling to Zephyrhills. (Christine Holtzman)

Patrons at the mall said they’re glad to see the new road connection.

“I think it will ease the congestion and offer other alternatives,” said Laura Zimmerman, who lives on Meadow Pointe Boulevard and travels frequently to Zephyrhills.

McKenna Alkishawi, who lives in Zephyrhills, said the new route is “definitely 100 percent” beneficial.

Another Zephyrhills resident — Brenda Maass — is happy there’s a new way to get to Morris Bridge Road, where she can then head north at the new intersection.

For Zephyrhills resident John Skidmore, the new connection makes it easier for both him and his mother to get to doctor appointments.

“It’s about time. It’s going to be great,” Skidmore said.

Brenda Maass, a Zephyrhills resident and retiree, now has an alternative route in State Road 56 to visit friends and shop in the Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes region. (Christine Holtzman)

Donna Pacheco, a Wesley Chapel retiree, is pleased to have a more convenient way to get to Zephyrhills, where she goes three to four times a week to visit her brother, son and grandchildren.

“It’s really about time that they did that (extended the road),” she said.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., sees other benefits that improved connectivity will create.

“You’ve got the (State Road) 56 extension. You’ve got the potential widening of (U.S.) 301 in the north of the county, as well as the alignment of Clinton Avenue and (State Road) 39, which now starts to make us look a little more connected to Polk and some of those areas that we can access.

“We end up being much more strategically located for distribution activity,” Cronin said.

Numerous sources said the project’s success hinged on the collaboration of elected leaders and staff at the state, county and city levels; private landowners; and involved citizens.

Melonie Monson, executive director for The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said local efforts played a vital role in securing a four-lane road.

McKenna Alkishawi is a Zephyrhills resident who often travels into Wesley Chapel on her leisure time. The USF student said that the new State Road 56 extension will be ‘100 percent’ beneficial in cutting down her commute time. (Christine Holtzman)

“There were a lot of letters written to legislators, to city officials, to government officials — and everybody decided to work together,” Monson said.

Vonnie Mikkelsen, now president and CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce in Oregon, recalls those efforts. “It didn’t come top down. It came grassroots up,” she said.

“Honestly, it was a question of: Why hasn’t this happened sooner?” Mikkelsen said.

She credited then State Rep. Danny Burgess for playing a leading role.

“He listened and he understood immediately,” she said.

But, he wasn’t the only one.

“Our local government officials, they understood the importance. Our airport manager at the time, understood the opportunity that it presented. The Pasco EDC (knew, too).

“Everybody really rallied around the idea, even in the context of the first answer being, ‘No. No way.’

“Quite honestly, we thought, ‘OK. That’s not the final answer,’” Mikkelsen said.

“What really sealed the deal were some conversations at the state level.

Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, said the extension of State Road 56 will reduce commute times for students and staff traveling to the campus, near the intersection of Mansfield Boulevard and State Road 56. (Brian Fernandes)

“Lo, and behold, there was an opportunity. It required some innovative and creative thinking, and some collaborative partnerships at the local level to make it happen.”

Burgess, now executive director for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, agreed: “The public-private partnership aspect, and the various levels of  governments that were involved in this, was really a huge success story, and an example of what can happen when everybody comes together for the common good of a community.”

The partnership resulted in a $22,750,000 loan for the third and fourth lanes of the project, with the loan to be repaid by private development partners through a mobility fee surcharge and a special assessment, if necessary.

The City of Zephyrhills agreed to reimburse the county for 10 percent of any loan shortfall paid for by the county. The contractor, Cone & Graham Inc., also agreed to include all costs associated with the design, permitting and construction, and other costs within the loan amount.

It’s a success that Burgess said he will savor.

“In the Legislature, and politics, in general, you know — in this line of work — you somewhat have to get used to defeats more than victories, if I’m going to be quite honest with you. You actually have to learn to live with that.

“But, then a victory like this happens. It’s validation. This is why you do what you do. You fight every day, because when you do something this big — this will have a profound impact on your community,” he said.

State Road 56 Extension

  • $59.7 million project
  • Runs from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills
  • Signalized intersections added at Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301
  • Road design is curved, to minimize wetlands disruption
  • Amenities include: 10-foot multi-use path; 5-foot sidewalk; 7-foot-wide bicycle lanes on both shoulders

By B.C. Manion and Brian Fernandes

Published July 17, 2019

Flooding concerns prompt rezoning protest

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Pasco County Commissioners adopted a change to the county’s future land use map, and also approved a rezoning in the Sierra Pines area — despite concerns by neighbors that the planned project will add to the area’s flooding problems.

The rezoning and land use change involve 164.8 acres, on the south side of State Road 54, approximately 2,000 feet east of Meadowbrook Drive.

The property is surrounded by the Shoppes at Ballantrae Village to the north, single-family residential to the south and west; Long Lake Ranch, and a proposed Pasco County school site to the east.

The land use and zoning changes had received recommendations for approval, and had been going through the process without any apparent opposition.

Joel Tew, an attorney representing the applicants, told commissioners that the land already is entitled to develop 1,534 apartments and the requests would lower the proposed intensity to 400 apartments, and a maximum of 150 single-family homes and 150 townhomes.

The front of the site would retain its office and developments, with the apartments and gathering space behind them.

Opponents turned out in force at public hearings held on the two related requests.

Jessica Stempien, of 1102 Wildwood Lane, appeared on behalf of the Sierra Pines Coalition, which works on stormwater and flooding issues in the community.

“We are highly concerned about this development,” she said. “We’re concerned that it’s going to increase the intensity and the duration of the stormwater events in our neighborhood.

“We would like to propose for a delay, or a slowing down of this process, so we can get and have a third-party reviewer, an engineer, an advocate on our side when we sit down and talk with those developers. We’re just asking for time and transparency.”

Kevin Marks, of 1530 Woodfield Court, told commissioners: “It just gets worse every year. I think we need to fix the issues before we create any more issues.”

Scott Slone, of 17135 Gunn Lock Road, said “we bought property as a dream. And, year after year, that dream has eroded away because of the water that flows into our residences, erodes our property.”

His wife, Lisa Slone, said she can’t get out of her neighborhood during flooding events.

“I love my neighborhood, but I need to be able to leave my neighborhood,” she said.

“It’s not just flooding. It’s congestion and quality of life that needs to be thought about here, too,” she added.

Patrick Kennedy, of 17320 Raintree Road, owns one of the parcels that backs up to the planned 150 townhomes, which would be 15 feet from his property line.

He worries about negative impacts on his property values, and a loss of privacy for his family.

“We’re not saying, don’t build the townhomes. We’re saying, set them back. Give us some space,” Kennedy said.

Dr. Jessica Greer, of 17324 Raintree Road, said her family owns 2.5 acres backing up to the proposed townhomes.

“When we bought the lots there, were told that there would be a wildlife corridor right behind us. We were told that would be 100 to 150 feet,” she said. She and her husband wanted to buy land to provide a buffer to their property and were told it would cost $500,000 an acre, she said.

Other neighbors reminded commissioners how deluged their neighborhood was when Irma hit, dumping 8 ½ inches of rainfall. It was impossible for people to get in or out because of the floodwaters. They also asked commissioners to balance progress with the way of life they enjoy, and to fix existing flooding problems before adding projects that could make them worse.

Commissioner Jack Mariano asked county staff if additional drainage requirements could be imposed to protect the neighbors, as the county has done in some previous cases.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder agreed stricter standards have been required in some cases, but the attorney added: “You’ve never done that with an entitled project.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey reminded her colleagues that the applicant is reducing the amount of development that has already been approved for the site.

She said that’s an important first step.

The commissioner, whose district includes Sierra Pines, said “we’ve been trying to deal with flooding, very serious flooding that’s going on in Sierra Pines. There’s no doubt about it.

“We’ve been peeling away the layers of challenges in Sierra Pines.”

However, she added: “It’s not Smith54’s (the applicant) responsibility to fix the woes of Sierra Pines. It is Smith54’s responsibility to not make it worse,” Starkey said.

Both Starkey and Commissioner Mike Moore said they want better buffering provided for the properties backing up to the townhomes, and Tew agreed to a condition that would involve the county staff in addressing that concern.

Tew also agreed to a condition that provides the neighborhood 45 days to review and comment on the drainage and buffering plans, before they are implemented.

Published July 17, 2019

Pasco sets property tax rate for 2020 fiscal year

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The Pasco County Commission has adopted a tax rate for the 2020 fiscal year.

Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices that will be mailed out to property owners will reflect these rates:

TRIM notice:

  • Property tax: 7.6076
  • Municipal fire service unit: 1.8036
  • Jail (bond issue): .0277
  • Fire rescue (bond issue): .0222
  • Parks (bond issue): .0100
  • Library (bond issue): .0096

County Commission Aggregate Millage Rate: 9.3666

By law, the property tax rate on the TRIM notice can decrease but cannot increase before it’s adopted. The first public hearing is set for Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m., at the Historic Pasco Courthouse in Dade City

Overall, the county’s taxable values increased by 9.3 percent from its values last fiscal year, according to Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director.

That 9.3 percent increase generates an additional $18.1 million in ad valorum tax revenues. The county has an agreement that provides half of that increase to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The board and other constitutional officers receive the other half.

Sheriff Chris Nocco had built his budget on an assumption of a 9.5 percent increase, which had been predicted earlier, but that projection turned out to be too high.

So, the sheriff has trimmed his proposed budget by about $300,000 to comply with the agreement, Goehig said.

Under provisions of Florida’s Save Our Homes, a tax increase for a homesteaded property is capped at 3 percent, or the rate of inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. This year, the rate of inflation is 1.9 percent.

Published July 17, 2019

Commissioners resolve to have fewer resolutions

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There comes a point during Pasco County Commission meetings when formal votes are put on hold while various groups and individuals receive recognition through resolutions.

Typically, a somewhat lengthy resolution is read, commissioners offer their remarks, and the person being honored or a member of the group says a few words.

Then, there’s a customary photo with the commissioners.

Resolutions run the gamut.

Sometimes a long-term employee is retiring.

Other times, someone is being honored for his or her contributions to the community.

Sometimes, the resolution celebrates the success of a particular group or person.

And then, there are resolutions to put the focus on important issues, such as cancer prevention, or combating human trafficking or raising awareness about domestic violence.

All in all, that portion of the meeting can sometimes drag on.

Commissioners have been discussing the issue off and on, and at their July 9 meeting they agreed there’s a need for change.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey suggested: “Why don’t we move resolutions to 10 (a.m.)?”

That would shift the resolutions to the front of the meeting, before board business gets under way.

She also suggested limiting the number of resolutions that each commissioner brings forward.

“Shall we try one per commissioner?” Starkey asked.

“I’m in,” Commissioner Mike Moore said.

But just because commissioners can bring resolutions forward, doesn’t mean they should feel compelled to do so, Moore said.

The commissioner especially wants to avoid honoring the same groups or causes year after year.

“We’re so repetitive. There should be no repetition whatsoever,” Moore said.

Commissioner Mike Wells agreed to the need for change.

“It loses meaning when we do so many,” Wells said.

He suggested approving some resolutions by title only, with commissioners delivering the resolutions to the groups or individuals within their specific district.

“They love when you go out to their place and you present, with their folks,” Wells said.

Something needs to be done because the resolutions are holding up other business, Starkey said.

After all, she noted, “there have been times when we’ve spent an hour and a half (on resolutions),” Starkey said.

County Administrator Dan Biles took his cue from the board and said he will work to have the new approach implemented in August.

Published July 17, 2019

Laker/Lutz News captures seven Florida Press awards

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The Laker/Lutz News brought home a total of seven reporting and photography awards from the Florida Press Association 2018-2019 Weekly Newspaper Contest.

Staff photographer Christine Holtzman, and freelance contributors Richard K. Riley and Fred Bellet accounted for five of those awards.

The Laker/Lutz News received seven awards at the Florida Press Association 2018-2019 Weekly Newspaper Contest at The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club on July 12. Attending the luncheon, from left, were Kevin Weiss, Kathy Steele, B.C. Manion, Brian Fernandes and Christine Holtzman. They were accompanied by Diane Kortus, owner and publisher of The Laker/Lutz News. (Diane Kortus)

Holtzman won first place feature photo for an image she captured of a young girl from Land O’ Lakes, eyeing a giant bubble.

“This entry  has everything I want to see in a pic,” the judge wrote. “Focal point into bubble is spot on. The colors pop. Her concentration is on point. What’s not to love? Great job. Seriously perfect photo.”

Holtzman also won second place for a collection of photos, which included a sunset over an East Pasco pasture, a couple dancing at a Latin Festival, a color war at a Lutz church, a blessing of the pets at a Dade City church and the little girl with the bubble.

Riley won first place photo series for a wide selection of images he captured at the Pasco County Fair.

“These photos bring a reader right into the heart of the fair. The lights, the games, the rides and entertainment. Nice variety,” the judge wrote. “Special kudos on the delayed exposure and the sunset shots. Beautiful photos that are clear and crisp, and really tell a story.”

Bellet won second place photo series for images he captured of ukulele players enjoying a jam  at Ukulele Brand’s in Land O’ Lakes. The judge appreciated “the sheer joy of these photos,” and added, there were “some great angles coupled with interesting subject matter.”

Bellet also won second place in the sports photo category for his image of a jubilant reaction after a championship victory secured by Academy at the Lakes.

Staff writers Kathy Steele and Brian Fernandes teamed up on a series of stories about the Ridge Road Extension to win a third place in the roads and transportation category. The judge noted the reporters’ “extensive coverage” on the topic.

Staff writer Kevin Weiss also claimed a third place in the education feature category for his story entitled, “This summer camp offers insights into solving crimes,” based on a summer camp offered for youths by Saint Leo University in St. Leo.

The competition drew a total of 1,386 entries from 56 weekly newspaper. Experienced editors and publishers from Arizona, California, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York judged the entries.

The awards were presented on July 12 during a luncheon at The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club.

Published July 17, 2019

Business Digest 07/17/2019

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(Courtesy of America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses)

New vision store opens
America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses is now open at Cypress Creek Town Center, 25605 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. The town center is off State Road 56, west of Interstate 75. The store carries a wide selection of designer eyeglass frames, contact lenses and eyeglass accessories. It also offers a free eye exam by an optometrist, with two pairs of eyeglasses for $69.95.

 

Barre3 opens in Wesley Chapel
Barre3 had a ribbon cutting on July 12, at 1940 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Shoppes at New Tampa, in Wesley Chapel, with free giveaways, drinks and snacks. Barre3 is a full-body balanced workout combining strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness.

O’Reilly Auto Parts opens in Lutz
O’Reilly Auto Parts has opened a new store at 15215 N. Nebraska Ave., in Lutz, and has a grand opening that runs through July 30. As part of its celebration, the store has provided $200 to Idlewild Baptist Church’s food pantry.

O’Reilly is a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories. It was founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family, and the company operates more than 5,300 stores in the United States.

Suncoast Chiropractic opens in Lutz
Suncoast Chiropractic opened, with a celebration last month, at 18857 State Road 54 in Lutz. John Camacho, DC., offers a variety of services. The event drew a large crowd, and North Tampa Chamber of Commerce joined in the ribbon cutting festivities.

During a previous North Tampa luncheon, Hope Allen, the chamber’s president and CEO, said she wouldn’t miss the celebration. “He had the dream to open up his own practice. He has done the majority of the work himself,” she said, adding, “We thank you for investing in our community.”

Veterans job fair
DAV and RecruitMilitary are hosting a hiring event for veterans, transitioning military personnel, National Guard members, Reserve members and military spouses. The event is on July 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive in Tampa.

Workshop on commercial leasing
Learn the best practices for leasing a commercial space at a free workshop presented by Gilit Kontny, of Berkshire Hathaway, on July 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class is being offered as part of the SMARTstart Entrepreneurship Education Series, at the East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

East Pasco Networking Group
Roxxy Geisenheimer, executive director of The Samaritan Project, will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on July 23. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Counseling Center’s new location
The Counseling Center of Tampa Bay recently closed a long-term lease in the Bridgewater Professional Park, 4913 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. The new location is next to the center’s previous 1,200-square-foot office next door. Hold-Thyssen, a commercial real estate firm, closed the multi-year lease.

Coffee First
Network before work at Coffee First, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the First National Bank of Pasco, 23613 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Women of Wesley Chapel
Women of Wesley Chapel (WOW) meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., on the first Friday of each month, at Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch, 30070 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel. The group is the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s women-only networking group. The cost is $5, includes breakfast and networking. To RSVP, call (813) 994-8534, or email . Prepayment and registration is strongly encouraged.

Free business mentoring
If you need free, individual, confidential small business mentoring, chances are that Pasco Hernando SCORE can help. Visit PascoHernando.org to request a mentor.

Pasco zoning approvals
A number of zoning or use requests have been approved by the Pasco County Commission during recent meetings. The approvals include:

Central Pasco

  • Request by SDG Acquisition LLC to allow a maximum of 65 single-family residences on a 39.5-acre parcel, on the north side of Collier Parkway/County Line Road, approximately 550 feet west of Livingston Road

Wesley Chapel

  • Request by Tampa Premium Outlets LLC/Aloha for a conditional use to allow the sale of beer and wine, for on-premises consumption, in conjunction with a courtyard kiosk for outdoor sales and service. The 120-square-foot sales kiosk is within a 76,721-square-foot outdoor courtyard area, at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Unit 56.

East Pasco

  • Request in the Boger Ranch Master Planned Unit Development, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills Village F, to allow 215 single-family detached dwellings on approximately 85.8 acres. The proposed development is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Curley Road and Tyndall Road, approximately 2 miles south of State Road 52.
  • Request in the Evans Parcel Master Planned Unit Development, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills to allow 117 single-family residential dwelling units and 100,000 square feet of non-residential development on approximately 39 acres, at the southwest corner of Handcart and Kiefer roads, about 3.10 miles south of State Road 52.

Creating safe and compassionate schools

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When you ask an open-ended question, there’s no telling what the responses will be.

But that’s the point, actually, in a process that Pasco County Schools used to gather different perspectives, regarding the emotional and physical safety of district students and staff.

District officials conducted a ThoughtExchange that allows participants to use technology to share their thoughts and ideas, which are then rated by participants on a five-star scale.

Assistant superintendents Betsy Kuhn and David Scanga led the efforts for the district, and they shared results of the exchange with the Pasco County School Board at a workshop in June.

Steve LaVare, an armed school safety guard, monitors the parking lot area at Sanders Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes, as parents drop off kids on the second day of school last fall. In a ThoughtExchange on school safety, Pasco County parents said they like to see armed guards in visible spots on campus. (File)

The ThoughtExchange attracted 3,416 participants who shared 2,290 thoughts.

Because of the nature of an open-ended question, participants touched on a wide range of topics, said Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services.

“Some people viewed it very much on the building hardening topic, that I work mostly with —  and then a lot of other folks took it as the mental health type of approach,” Kuhn said.

One of the top thoughts overall was this: “Do not arm teachers. We cannot expect teachers to make the ‘right decision’ in the heat of the  moment.”

But that thought wasn’t universally shared, according to the ThoughtExchange. Another comment from community was this: “Allow the teachers to carry a gun. Not all teachers are cut out for it, but some are. Require training and qualifications, but it should be allowed, if the teacher wants it.”

A thought that resonated with parents was this one: “We need to take more action when bullying is reported. We need to listen to students and teachers. Bullying is at the core of many issues of mental health and violence.”

Another top thought in the parents’ category: “Keep the resource officer in a high visibility spot.”

Among students, improved bandwidth and longer lunch periods were among the most highly rated comments.

Staff comments gaining traction dealt with providing more support for teachers dealing with disruptive, disrespectful or potentially dangerous students.

And, this staff comment was rated highly, too: “The pay scales for staff need a major overhaul.”

Besides being broken down by stakeholder category, the ThoughtExchange was analyzed by region.

In West Pasco, for instance, a key concern related to traffic safety at River Ridge High School.

In East Pasco, concerns were raised about securing open campuses.

And, in Central Pasco, there were calls to increase the ways to report concerns anonymously, and for greater support of teachers.

When it comes to student safety, the district was encouraged to include bus drivers in those discussions.

“Bus drivers many times are the first people students see in the morning. Include them in all discussions regarding student safety, as well,” says a comment in the exchange.

The ThoughtExchange is intended to help inform the district’s work, provide feedback from the community and gather information to help the district advocate for additional support from the state legislature for safety improvements.

Kuhn told board members that the district is continuing to take action aimed at creating safer and more secure campuses.

On the facilities side, work on front office hardening continues. The district also is installing additional security cameras and is doing safety projects at strategic locations across the county, Kuhn said.

The work on door locks at all schools is expected to be completed before school starts in August, Kuhn said. The district also continues to collaborate with the sheriff’s office and municipal police departments.

On the mental health side, a theme that emerged in the ThoughtExchange was the request “for more people, more psychologists, more social workers, more assistance,” said Scanga, who is assistant superintendent for elementary schools.

“We know that’s something we need to explore and talk about. We know where that’s coming from, but it also runs up against our budget and what we can afford,” Scanga said.

Still, he added, “there’s room for us to consider how we utilize the people we already have in the system. What gap or what void can they fill to make sure we’re addressing student needs and family needs?”

The school board will explore that topic in deeper detail, when it has its workshop on mental health on July 23.

Published July 10, 2019

Commercial kitchen incubator to open in East Pasco

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An incubator commercial kitchen is expected to begin operating in September at 15029 14th St., in Dade City.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the Pasco Extension Office, which is part of the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, Pasco County and the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., with assistance from Welbilt.

Welbilt, a global manufacturer of commercial restaurant equipment, has provided equipment for the kitchen. It contributed a six-burner range, a single-door refrigerator, a single-door freezer, an under-the-counter ice machine, shelving, and stainless steel work tables.

Welbilt Inc., has delivered the kitchen equipment for a commercial kitchen incubator at the One Stop Shop, in the UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension One Stop Shop Stallings Building at 15029 14th St., in Dade City. From left: Mick Hughes, Welbilt; Elizabeth Urquiola, UF/IFAS; Steve Flook, Welbilt; Dan Mitchell, Pasco EDC; and, Michael Anderson, Welbilt. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

“They have been working with us, very closely, as an excellent partner, and we do appreciate that donation of equipment from them,” Dr. Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, told members of the Pasco County Commission at a meeting last month.

“They’ve worked closely with us, with facilities from Pasco County, to retrofit an older commercial kitchen space in that building, which has been actually fantastic,” Elmore added.

The new kitchen “is going to open up a lot of opportunities for us and the community,” Elmore added. It will be operating out of the One Stop Shop, located within the Stallings Building in East Pasco.

Dan Mitchell, program manager for Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart Incubator Program, said the updated commercial kitchen will be used for community classes and by SMARTstart.

“It will be used for our members who might need to use it to launch their food businesses,” Mitchell said. “They’ll be able to do a little bit of production out of there, if they’re one of our incubator members, as well as collaborate with local growers, local chefs, other food entrepreneurs.

“So, it will really be a space that will hopefully foster some food innovation, some excitement around food business in Pasco County. There’s a lot of that bubbling under the surface,” he said.

For instance, the kitchen makes it possible for a family living in the area to lease a garden plot for free, grow some vegetables and make a product they could sell at a farmer’s market.

“Once a business needs to grow beyond a farmer’s market, we have all of our SMARTstart programs, like co-starters, our microloan program, and everything else to support entrepreneurs,” Mitchell said.

The Pasco EDC offers a host of programs aimed at helping businesses grow, at whatever stage they happen to be in, Mitchell noted. And, Pasco County has incentives aimed to attract high-wage jobs to the county.

The idea of creating the incubator kitchen resulted from talks involving a variety of stakeholders, including the Pasco EDC, the Extension Office and others, Mitchell said.

“What we noticed is there’s a lot interest in food businesses. There’s a lot of agriculture in Pasco County. There’s citrus, beef, kumquats, blueberries out East. Then out West we have some breweries and some seafood production. And, one of the things that we don’t have, however, is a good local distribution model, where food can get from these different producers to our local restaurants,” Mitchell said.

But, he added, “there’s not a good easy way for these people to connect.”

“It became apparent that it would be nice if we had some kind of food hub. So, the Pasco EDC decided to go ahead and host what’s called its Food Hub Task Force.”

The group meets monthly, with the aim of creating a model that will encourage food-related partnerships and generate jobs, he said.

The commercial kitchen opens the door to new possibilities, Mitchell said.

“If you produce the food in your own home, you’re not allowed to sell other than direct to consumer. If you produce in a commercial kitchen, you’re suddenly allowed to do a lot more,” he explained.

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the incubator kitchen is planned for Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Another event has been planned, as well, to help explore the possibilities the new kitchen is creating. That event is set for Nov. 20 and has been dubbed, “Food is the Biggest Business.”

“We’re going to have four or five food entrepreneurs that are already successful. Maybe a successful restaurateur, maybe a food truck guy, maybe a celebrity chef. Those types of people,” Mitchell said.

“It will be open to anyone interested in those types of businesses, from any direction,” he said, and, it will give people a chance to know others who share an interest in the food industry — from a variety of perspectives.

From there, who knows?

“It really comes down to each individual entrepreneur and what their dreams are,” Mitchell said.

But, whatever path they choose to pursue, chances are Pasco EDC will be able to help them along the way, Mitchell said.

Published July 10, 2019

Business Digest 07/10/2019

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Brewery owner joins tourism board
Mike Bishop, owner of Big Storm Brewery, has been selected to fill a vacancy on the Tourist Development Council. Bishop will serve for a four-year term, running through June 2023. The board is made up of nine members.

Economic board opening
The Jobs and Economic Opportunities Committee is seeking new volunteer members to take part in the committee that oversees the use of Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund portion of the Penny for Pasco.

Responsibilities of JEOC members include ensuring Penny for Pasco spending meets the requirements to promote projects creating new jobs and economic growth. The committee consists of nine members, appointed by the Pasco County Commission, representing diverse knowledge and expertise from each of the following areas: finance/banking, agriculture, real estate, manufacturing and other private industries.

Anyone interested in serving on the JEOC is asked to submit a letter of interest and resume to Economic Growth Manager David Engel at: .

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 2.

The Committee meets, at minimum, on a quarterly basis and presents annual updates to the BCC. Each member of the committee serves a two-year term.

East Pasco Networking
Leja Apple, a professional actress and model, and former Miss Pasco, will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on July 9. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Zephyrhills chamber breakfast meeting
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have its business breakfast on July 11 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Coffee First
Network before work at Coffee First, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the First National Bank of Pasco, 23613 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Power Gals with a Latin Twist
This networking group for women meets the first Friday of each month from noon to 2 p.m., at Bahama Breeze, 25830 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz.

Power Gals
The next meeting of this no-obligation networking group for women is July 18 at 11 a.m., at Pizza Villa,  21501 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes. For more information, call Karla Arita at (813) 408-2038.

Pasco offers matching program
Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, the destination management organization for Pasco’s County’s tourism efforts, has launched a Marketing Matching Sponsorship Program. The program aims to support special event organizers and events that have the potential to attract tourists to the county. The sponsorship program provides up to $5,000 in funding to expand the overall marketing reach to visitors outside the Tampa Bay region.

For more information, call Experience Florida’s Sports Coast at (727) 847-812-8129, email , or visit bit.ly/FSCMarketingMatching.

Chamber goes global
Hope Allen, the president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce was invited to take part at the 2019 U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Summit in Washington D.C. The summit brought together hundreds of state leaders together to discuss the importance of global development and diplomacy for local success, according to a posting on the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s website.

On the website, Allen told chamber members: “I was absolutely honored to be on the elite list of attendees, as there were only 13 other leaders from across our state that were invited to be a part of this annual event.”

The chamber executive also said the summit involved high-level networking, foreign policy briefings, and an opportunity to meet members of Congress. Allen said she “quickly learned that The North Tampa Bay region has not only received the attention of fellow Floridians, but also families, individuals and policymakers of all generations at a national level.”

Pasco planning wins award
Pasco County Planning and Development has received its fourth award related to Connected City: America’s First Smart Gigabit Community Built From the Ground Up.

The latest accolade is the Florida Counties Foundation 2019 County Government Best Practices Award, recognizing Pasco County’s outstanding achievements in creating new, efficient and effective solutions to challenges facing local governments, according to a Pasco County news release.

The project also has received awards from the American Planning Association, Florida Chapter; The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and the American Planning Association Florida Chapter Sun Coast.

Hillsborough offers new special events grant
The newly appointed Cultural Assets Commission of Hillsborough County has recently announced the Special Events Partnership Grant program. This grant program seeks to expand and support special events aimed at placemaking and community-building outcomes, and to promote the county’s economic and community prosperity goals.

The new Special Events Partnership Grants are project-specific grants with two funding categories: “Pilot Effort” and “Next Level.”

The Pilot Effort category is intended for events that are new or have not occurred for more than three years and the maximum amount awarded under this category is $50,000.

The Next Level category is intended for events that are well-established, and seek to grow and enhance event offerings above and beyond current levels to significantly increase attendance, community-wide impact and appeal. The maximum funding amount under the Next Level category is $100,000.

Examples of eligible events include: Art festivals, local food festivals, film festivals, river celebration events and local community historic events.

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 2.

For more information, email .