B.C. Manion

Weightman Middle School gym named for revered coach

May 30, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, when the Pasco County School Board voted to name the gym at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School (TEMS), in honor of Thomas Mine, a longtime coach at the school.

The request for the honor came from Weightman’s Principal Donna Gricoski and the Weightman school community. The school is located at 30659 Wells Road, in Wesley Chapel.

Gricoski wrote a letter to the school board and Superintendent Kurt Browning seeking the honor for Coach Mine. She read from that letter at the board’s May 16 meeting.

Thomas Mine is surrounded by supporters on May 16, the evening the Pasco County School Board voted to name the Thomas E. Weightman Middle School gymnasium in honor of the longtime coach at the school. (Courtesy of Thomas E. Weightman Middle School)

“Coach Mine has been a teacher at Thomas E. Weightman (Middle School) since its inception 33 years ago,” Gricosi said.

“Besides being a physical education teacher at our school, he has also coached various extracurricular sports, such as football, track, soccer and basketball.

“He has won the most games in the history of Thomas E. Weightman, possibly even in the history of Pasco County.

“Coach Mine has won more than 25 district championships, in various sports. Many of his former players have gone on to play high school sports and beyond.

“In addition, some of his former students have also gone on to become coaches within our district.

“Throughout his years of service, Coach Mine has also taught the adaptive physical education classes to our students with varying special needs, held the title of athletic director for many years and ran multiple summer sports camps so that many children had the opportunity to play and try different sports.

“After 38 years of service to our district, Coach Mine continues to be a great coach and mentor to our students and community.

“He continues to share his knowledge and passion for sports and fitness daily with the students.

“If asked about his years of teaching, he will probably tell you that after all of these years, he continues to love his job.

“In recognition of his dedication and commitment to the students, staff and sports programs at Thomas E. Weightman, we request that the gymnasium at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School be named after Coach Thomas Mine,” she said.

In addition to the letter of support, a large contingent of the coach’s fans turned out at the school board meeting, in a show of affection and respect for him.

Mine was obviously touched by the tribute.

“First thank you for my friends and family for attending this evening and celebrating this very special honor,” Mine said.

He thanked the administration and his colleagues for spearheading the honor, and the school board and superintendent for approving it.

“At the end of this school year, I will have completed my 45th year of teaching — 38 in Pasco County. The last 32 at Thomas E. Weightman Middle,” Mine said.

“During this time, I have witnessed the Weightman family strive for excellence, with genuine care for each student, family and staff member.

“I have worked with awesome administrators, tremendous teachers, super students and families, and a terrific P.E. team, especially Coach (Brian) Dorkowski and Coach (Claudine) Nipps, for over 20 years.

“To put it simply, Weightman is a fantastic school. To have my name associated with TEMS is an honor and privilege for which I am sincerely grateful.

“Throughout my career, I have been supported with love and encouragement by my extraordinary family, my amazing wife Anne, and children, Jonathan, Jessica, (and) Zachary. Thank you, and I love you dearly.”

He also expressed appreciation for his colleagues at Weightman.

“I have the greatest admiration for all of you. Your dedication, commitment, professionalism and perseverance in everything you do, has inspired me to do my best each and every day.

“My years of teaching have provided me with a lifetime of friendships and happy memories that I will cherish forever.

“Thank you for this incredible honor,” Mine said.

Published May 31, 2023

She wrote her way to an all-expenses paid trip to the Netherlands

May 30, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Amy Lewis initially noticed the AAA contest on her Facebook feed.

Then, the Land O’ Lakes woman saw it again, about a month before the contest’s deadline, in AAA’s magazine.

She encouraged her 14-year-old daughter, Sky, to give it a try.

Sky Lewis and her mom, Amy, share details of their trip to the Netherlands in an interview after returning home to Land O’ Lakes. Sky was one of 60 eighth-graders who won an all-expenses paid trip, accompanied by a chaperone, in a contest sponsored by AAA. (B.C. Manion)

The eighth-grader, who attends Pasco eSchool, got busy doing her research and composing her submission.

She turned it in and they waited.

Amy was sitting in a doctor’s office when she got the word that Sky had been selected.

“It felt like she won the lottery. My heart was racing out of my chest,” Amy said, who couldn’t wait to get home to share the news.

Sky recalled that moment: “ We were jumping around and yelling and screaming.”

“My husband (Richard) just sat there, dumbfounded,” Amy said.

Sky was thrilled.

A group of 60 eighth-graders won an all-expenses paid trip to the Netherlands and Belgium, in a contest sponsored by AAA, along with travel partners AmaWaterways and Allianz Global Assistance. Sky Lewis, of Land O’ Lakes, was one of the winners. She is seen here, seated on the deck, in the center of the photo. She is in the first row, second from the left. (Courtesy of Amy and Sky Lewis)

“They picked 60 eighth-graders for the trip, out of 800 applicants,” Sky said. (There were 13 winners in Florida, including two in Tampa.)

She was excited, but she had a dilemma.

“She had to pick a chaperone. She was so upset,” her mom said. “She couldn’t choose.”

Her dad saved the day.

“He saw that she was upset. He stepped up,” Amy said.

Richard told Sky: “‘There’s no question. You and your mom are going,’” Amy said.

Preparations for travel begin
Once they knew they’d be making the trip, they got busy.

“We needed big puffy coats,” Sky explained, noting the Netherlands gets much colder than Land O’ Lakes.

Amy and Sky Lewis marveled at the architectural styles, and the age, of buildings in the Netherlands. (Courtesy of Amy and Sky Lewis)

“We don’t own those kinds of clothes,” Amy added.

They hit thrift stores to assemble their winter wardrobes.

They also needed passports: AAA took care of that.

In fact, AAA partnered with AmaWaterways and Allianz Global Assistance to cover all of the costs of the nine-day, all-inclusive trip.

Sky and Amy departed from Tampa International Airport on March 11 — which just so happened to be Amy and Richard’s 23rd anniversary.

“So, he drove us to the airport. He was like, ‘Happy Anniversary — bye,’” Amy said, with a laugh.

Sky had traveled to places such as Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, but she’d never been out of the country before, had never been on an airplane and had never taken a cruise.

They jetted from Tampa to Atlanta to Amsterdam, meeting some members of their travel group in Atlanta, and the rest of them when they arrived in Amsterdam.

Hordes of bicyclists make their way around the Netherlands, many traveling at breakneck speeds. (Courtesy of Amy and Sky Lewis)

Their travel group was dubbed Discovery Crew, and they journeyed on the Amalucia, during an AmaWaterways river cruise. They followed a custom-designed itinerary, with ports of call and excursions focused on local history, science, nature and food, according to a AAA news release.

Each morning, tour guides led the travelers — sharing the sights, sounds and history of Dutch culture.

A jam-packed itinerary
There was so much to see and do, they headed out early in the morning and often didn’t wrap up the day until late evening, Sky said.

They had breaks for meals and a smidgen of personal time, too.

The pace was brisk.

“We were running some of the time. They were going so fast,” Sky said.

They barely had time to take photos and sometimes the itinerary was so tight they couldn’t even finish lunch, before heading off on another excursion.

Sky Lewis had the chance to taste samples at chocolatier shops during her trip to the Netherlands and to Belgium. She enjoyed the sweet confections so much, she brought home a sizable amount of souvenirs. (Courtesy of Amy and Sky Lewis)

At the end of each day, they were exhausted.

“The second we hit the pillow. We were just done. Every night,” Amy said.

Before the trip, Sky had pictured Holland primarily as a place of windmills and tulips. And, in her mind’s eye, Amsterdam was more rural in nature, instead of being the big city that it is.

Sky was surprised by the relative lack of cars and the hordes of bicyclists — racing past at breakneck speeds.

“The bikes have the right of way — over pedestrians and even cars,” Sky said. “They told us: ‘Be careful for the bikes. They’ll run you over.’”

Both Sky and Amy were fascinated by the housing, the architecture and the historic landmarks.

“They don’t have sprawling space like our country does. There aren’t houses with yards and gated neighborhoods. It’s all high and tight,” Amy said.

Some homes date back to the 1400s, and people live on houseboats because there’s nowhere left to build, Amy added.

Plus, there are canals everywhere.

Both Sky and her mom thought they might encounter language barriers, but that didn’t happen.

“We had downloaded a translating app, so we could talk to them. We didn’t use it at all. Most people spoke English,” Sky said.

Sky Lewis bicycles at Kinderijk, a place where windmills date back to the 1500s. This was just one of many famous sites that Sky and her mom, Amy, visited during their all-expenses-paid trip to the Netherlands. (Courtesy of Amy and Sky Lewis)

And, while they dined on foreign food, it wasn’t Dutch. They took advantage of the French cuisine served to them, as part of the all-inclusive package, on the Amalucia.

“We got to try lots of new things,” Amy said, noting they particularly enjoyed the bread and desserts.

Sky added: “One of the nights they had a chocolate buffet. They had chocolate fountains.”

Memorable places, people
The trip included a visit to the Anne Frank House, the place where Anne Frank and her family hid, and where she wrote her famous diary.

The Franks, another family and a single man hid in a secret annex, from 1942 until 1944, during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II.

A year after they were discovered, Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

But Anne’s diary survived and bore witness to life during those times.

Sky said she saw where Anne and the others hid and the bookcase that swung open to their hiding place. Sky and other students in her tour group also saw where Anne slept and the desk she used, when she wrote in her diary.

Other trip highlights included a chance to learn about the craft of lace tatting, chocolatier tours and a chance for the students to meet their Dutch peers.

The group also visited windmill and tulip farms.

They stopped at Pilgrim Fathers Church, the final prayer site for the pilgrims before they set off for the “New World.”

Their travel group included people from big cities and little towns, wealthy people and people of moderate means. There was a good mix of moms and dads on the trip, too.

Beyond expanding their horizons, the memories and the mementos — Amy and Sky said they both returned from their trip with something else of great value, too.

“We both met some nice friends,” Amy said.

Published May 31, 2023

Planning board recommends OK for Plantation Palms cell tower

May 30, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a 195-foot cell tower to be erected on land at the Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

That decision came after the planning board’s second hearing on the request. Planning commissioners delayed action on the request at their April 6 meeting — requesting additional information on a cell tower’s potential impacts on the property values of neighboring properties and investigating another siting option.

At both public hearings, a couple living near the proposed tower urged the planning board to consider the impact the tower would have on their view and also potential negative consequences it could have on their property values.

This cell tower at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway, cannot accommodate the kind of antenna that T-Mobile wants to install, so a 195-foot tower is being proposed at nearby Plantation Palms Golf Club. (File)

The proposed anchor tenant at the Plantation Palms cell tower site would be T- Mobile, which currently has antenna equipment on a flagpole-style cell tower at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes.

Mattaniah Jahn, representing the applicant, Vertical Bridge, brought in an expert to address the property values issue.

David Taulbee told the planning board that he has compiled data for years relating to property values. He said “there’s no indication that this tower is going to have any impact, whatsoever, on property values.”

During the April 6 meeting, planning board member Jaime Girardi asked if an alternative site had been considered, on another site at the county’s Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

But according to testimony provided on May 4, the parks department has no interest in adding another cell tower at the recreation complex site.

Another issue that came up at the previous meeting was whether the revenue was needed to support the golf course’s maintenance.

Plantation Palms has more than 800 homes whose values were threatened when the golf course previously closed.

During the April 6 meeting, Charles Grey, the planning board’s chairman, said he thinks the revenues from the cell tower likely would help to maintain the golf course — which is important in maintaining property values throughout Plantation Palms.

Grey reiterated that position on May 4: “I don’t know anyone that’s getting rich off of running a golf course. If I were living there, it would be important to me to keep the golf course. I’ll put up with the tower rather than lose the golf course.”

But one of the neighboring opponents disagreed with Grey’s premise, noting that he’s a golfer and it can be hard to get a tee time at the course.

Bill Place, owner of Plantation Palms, described the golf course’s need for revenues in an April 25 letter that Jahn read for the record.

Place led the efforts to restore the golf course, after it had been closed for two years.

The initial estimate of $2.5 million to restore the golf course was too low, according to Place’s letter.

“Damage from two years’ of closure and neglect resulted in the need to replace all 18 greens, AC systems, irrigation pumps, most drainage pipes, and fixing just about every square foot of the course and clubhouse,” the letter says.

“Over $3 million has been invested so far, and deferred maintenance remains that will take at least five years and hundreds of thousands of dollars,” the letter continues.

Residents invested in helping to repair the golf course, but that golf club subsidy ended in 2020, according to Place. However, Place’s letter says, “repair and renovation continues with more drainage work, turf improvement, roof replacement, irrigation system restoration and bunker repair work.”

“Plantation Palms knows what it’s like to lose their golf course and see the property values plummet. They’re also very aware of the high cost of restoration,” Place wrote

“When the opportunity to gain some recurring revenue by hosting a cell tower presented itself, we enthusiastically supported the proposal, especially since it could be located in a remote area, near our maintenance barn.”

Place attended the meeting virtually and confirmed he’d submitted the letter.

While opposed to the placement of the tower near their home, the couple also asked the planning board to allow Plantation Palms homeowners to weigh in on the tower’s design — if one is to be erected.

Jahn presented four potential designs which can accommodate T-Mobile’s service goals: a monopole, a shrouded monopole, a bell tower and a monopine design.

Planning board member Derek Pontlitz said he understands the couple’s concern.

“No property owner wants to have anything unsightly in their backyard,” he said, whether that’s electrical lines or something else.

“At the same time, the world is changing, technology is changing every minute and there are ramifications to the other side as well, if we don’t have this technology,” he continued.

The planning board has “to think about the greater good,” Pontlitz added. He called upon his colleagues to recommend approval of the request, with the stipulation that Plantation Palms residents are allowed to weigh in on the cell tower’s design.

Planning board member Chris Poole seconded the motion, saying he could support it, as long residents have a say in the cell tower’s design.

The issue now goes to the Pasco County Commission for final action.

Published May 31, 2023

Higher Pasco park impact fees expected to be approved this summer

May 30, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has signaled its intention to increase its park impact fees to $3,450.15 per residential dwelling, whether single-family or multi-family.

That’s a whopping increase from the current rates of $891.82 per single-family unit and $627 per multi-family unit.

Impact fees are charged to new construction to address new demands caused by growth.

County held their first public hearing on the proposed fees on May 23 and are scheduled to hold a second public hearing on July 11, where they are expected to take a final vote. If adopted, the new fee takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, provides a chance to sit on a bench and relax for a while, watch a ball game, go for a ride on a swing and do all sorts of other activities. Pasco County wants a substantial increase in its park impact fees, which are intended to pay for additional demands caused by growth. (File)

During the May 23 meeting, the board reiterated support it had expressed last September, when it directed its staff to bring the proposed fee schedule back for action.

State law limits impact fee increases to 50%, unless extraordinary circumstances can be demonstrated.

Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources, said the county clearly qualifies.

The county hasn’t raised its park impact fees since 2002; it has experienced rapid growth in recent years; and it has encountered steeper costs for construction materials due to inflation, Wiley said.

The county’s current facilities cannot keep up with increasing demands, he said.

He also noted the proposed impact fees will be used to support projects outlined in a plan that addresses the county’s park needs through 2045.

“What we’re trying to do is close the gap for level of service for parks throughout the county, through 2045,” Wiley said.

But the higher impact fee is needed, he said. Wiley added: Under existing revenues, it would take 42 years to accomplish the plan.

Stakeholders had asked the county board to phase in the fees over two years, but board members were not interested in that approach.

Wiley thanked the county board for its support.

“Parks are essential, we all know that. Everyone deserves an awesome park. We have a really cool plan, but without finances, you can’t get anything done,” Wiley said.

The county board’s support for the full amount of the proposed impact fees came despite concerns raised by the Pasco County Planning Commission, during its April 20 meeting.

A majority of planning board members said the county had failed to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances, and thus would be limited to a fee increase of 50%.

Planning board members questioned the timing of the giant increase, noting economic conditions have changed since the county board initially indicated support for the proposed fee last September.

Planning board members also questioned the proposed fee, in light of lesser charges in nearby counties, and they said it didn’t seem fair to place the entire burden of the increased costs on the housing industry.

Published May 31, 2023

Pasco School Board pays tribute to Dennis Alfonso

May 30, 2023 By B.C. Manion

At the Pasco County School Board meeting on May 16, there were flowers on the school board’s dais, in front of the seat where the board’s attorney, Dennis Alfonso, normally sat.

Alfonso, the board’s attorney for a quarter-century, lost his longterm battle with cancer, on the weekend before the board’s meeting.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning paid his respects to Alfonso during the board’s session.

“Dennis had battled cancer for a good number of years,” Browning said. “He fought the good fight, until Saturday morning, early.”

The Pasco County School Board and Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning recently paid tribute to Dennis Alfonso, the longtime school board attorney who recently passed away. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The superintendent recalled that in his previous role, as Florida’s Secretary of State, Alfonso was one of the first attorneys to sue him, over the 2000 Election.

He characterized Alfonso as a dear friend, who was devoted to Pasco County Schools.

“He loved this district. His wife, Nancy (who also serves as the board’s attorney), loves this district. They raised their kids here and he was invested in this district,” Browning said.

The superintendent said he didn’t always agree with Alfonso, but he added that he will dearly miss him.

He recalled a phrase that Alfonso frequently used, when the attorney was about to reject one of Browning’s ideas.

“He’d say, ‘You know, I love you like a brother … But you can’t do what you want to do.’”

School board members also offered their condolences.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding began the meeting by offering a prayer for Alfonso’s family.

“Dennis has given our school district such wise counsel for over 25 years. I know, for me, he’s always been there to answer my questions, a sound mind — always made sure that we were following the law, within our district.”

Al Hernandez, the newest member on the board, said he didn’t know Alfonso as well as his colleagues, but he looked to him for guidance.

“I can tell you that as a new board member, the second phone call I got was from Dennis — talking about what I needed to do and what I shouldn’t be doing.

“He was definitely somebody I could call. Clearly, he is going to be missed.”

School board member Cynthia Armstrong said she frequently kidded Alfonso about how long it took him to answer a question.

“There was no short answer. With Dennis, what we knew is that we were going to understand every aspect of that answer and all of the nuances, and all of the different ways of looking at it. That just made it so valuable to us to have him as a board attorney.

“He was such a caring person. He cared so much for our district and for our students,” Armstrong said.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin struggled to maintain her composure, as she spoke about Alfonso’s contributions to the school district.

“Dennis was always available, to answer questions and to talk through concerns. He spent many evenings and weekends on the phone.”

He was particularly helpful during the COVID shutdown during the spring and summer of 2020, said Beaudoin, who was chairwoman at that time.

“It was a difficult time and I’m eternally grateful that he was at my side,” she said.

School board member Alison Crumbley described Alfonso this way: “He was kind and he was calm and he was great to have as our board attorney. He is going to be so terribly missed.”

Published May 31, 2023

U.S. 301 logjam in Pasco prompts priority switch

May 23, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization has decided to shuffle the order on its priority project list to take aim at congestion problems on U.S. 301, near State Road 56, a few years earlier.

That decision came during the Pasco MPO board’s meeting on May 11.

Carl Mikyska, executive director of the transportation planning organization, brought the issue to the board for information and discussion.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley called for shuffling the order of Pasco County’s transportation project priorities to tackle a congestion problem on U.S. 301, near State Road 56, sooner than had been planned. (File)

He noted that the intersection of U.S. 301 and State Road 56 “experiences a great deal of congestion, particularly during the morning and afternoon peaks.”

The area also is poised for significant development, the transportation planning executive added.

There are expected to be between 5,000 to 7,000 new certificates of occupancy issued in the State Road 56/U.S. 301 area by 2024, according to materials in the board’s agenda packet.

The background materials also note that the transportation model for the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan appears to have underestimated the amount of traffic that has occurred in the area that impacts the segment of U.S. 301, from the Pasco/Hillsborough county line to Chancey Road.

There are six active developments in the area that, at build out, will contain nearly 13,000 housing units; 593,600 square feet of commercial space; 1,390,555 square feet of office space; 1,335,000 square feet of industrial space; and 630,000 square feet of retail space, the background materials say.

The widening of U.S. 301 in that area ranks as the No. 3 priority on the MPO board’s list, with right of way acquisition proposed in 2027-2028 and construction expected to occur beyond the current five-year plan.

Only two projects in Pasco ranked higher on the priority list are the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54, which is No. 1, and paired one-way roads at U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, which ranks No. 2, Mikyska said.

He also noted: “Pasco County is probably growing faster than ever anticipated. Pasco County is the fifth fastest-growing county in the nation. So, we are experiencing some very rapid growth and with that growth comes congestion.”

The bottleneck on U.S. 301 resulted from the four-lane extension of State Road 56, from Meadow Pointe Boulevard, in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301, in Zephyrhills.

As traffic comes and goes from State Road 56 to U.S. 301, it creates maddening backups in both directions.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley called for making the U.S. 301 widening near State Road 56 the second-highest priority and dropping the paired one-ways, closer to the Zephyrhills’ core, to rank it the third-highest priority.

Widening U.S. 301 near State Road 56 will improve the flow for the entire stretch, Oakley said.

Commissioner Seth Weightman said “we can’t wait until 2028 to address this.

“I think we need to have a sense of urgency in making a decision on this,” Weightman said.

Zephyrhills City Councilman Lance Smith said there’s no denying the problem.

“Right now, the traffic backs up coming into Zephyrhills on (U.S.) 301, all of the way to the river in the evenings. “Going out in the morning, it’s 30 minutes to get through the cycle of lights. It’s a bad stretch and we know it,” he said.

On top of that, development is rampant, Smith said.

“When you look at this, it is pretty staggering to see the number of units that are going to be put in there,” he said.

Smith asked if interim steps could be taken to provide relief.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey had the same question.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said consultants had looked at the question and intersection improvements would not be enough.

“The volumes are just too high on this segment. You need to improve the segment,” Goldstein said. “It is not an intersection issue. The issue is when you hit (U.S.) 301, (U.S.) 301 and (State Road) 56, (and, U.S.) 301 and Chancey (Road) — they just fail,” Goldstein said.

Without shifting the priorities, this improvement would be five years or six years later than the one-way pairs near Zephyrhills’ core.

Then Smith asked: “Why do we keep entitling units on substandard roads?”

Goldstein responded: “This is the same developer that’s paying a lot of money for (the four-lane extension of) State Road 56.”

Then Smith made this point: “My fear is that I have seen us get pushed before. Every time it gets pushed, it seems to further down the list,” Smith said. “The one-way pairs get pushed and pushed and pushed.”

Oakley responded: “I think the section (of U.S. 301) south of Zephyrhills that goes to (State Road) 56 needs to be four-laned, prior to doing the one (one-way pairs) in Zephyrhills.”

The ideal case would be the projects come in together, the East Pasco commissioner added.

Oakley made a motion to switch the priorities, which was seconded by Starkey and approved by the board.

The Pasco MPO’s board is made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey. The Pasco MPO is the lead transportation planning organization for Pasco County. The Florida Department of Transportation uses local transportation planning organizations’ priority lists when making its funding decisions and seeking other potential sources of funding.

Published May 24, 2023

Divided Pasco school board approves Patel Charter deal

May 23, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board voted 3-2 to approve a partnership to advance a plan for a Patel Charter School, expected to open in 2025.

The parties making the agreement are the Pasco County School Board and Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel 2017 Foundation for Global Understanding Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation. The not-for-profit organization is referred to as Patel, throughout the agreement with the school board.

Under terms of the deal, the school board will donate 20 acres for the Patel charter high school and Patel will construct the school, in accordance with the state’s building code and its educational facilities standards.

As part of the agreement, at least two of the charter school’s board members will be Pasco County residents.

The school campus is planned at the school district’s Starkey/Tower site, where the school system owns 76 acres.

The district will retain 56 acres, which at some point could be used for a district school, according to information provided by district staff and background materials in the board’s May 16 agenda packet.

Patel plans to offer the Cambridge Programme, which is known for its rigor and/or a medical/health careers pathway program at a school being built for 1,000 students.

Since it is a charter school, a lottery system will be used to select students.

As part of the agreement Patel and the school board have agreed to enter into a Step-in Agreement, which gives the district the ability to step in, in the event the charter school fails for any reason.

That agreement confirms the charter school facility will be created to mitigate the educational impact created by the development of new residential dwelling units, and therefore the land will be donated to Patel. For its part, Patel will cover the costs associated with the design and construction, including reasonable costs associated with financing.

Patel also has agreed to pursue efforts to recruit Pasco students who have a free or reduced lunch status to attend the high school.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding and board members Cynthia Armstrong and Al Hernandez voted for the partnership. Board members Alison Crumbley and Colleen Beaudoin voted no.

The building design for Patel’s Pasco school will closely emulate its Hillsborough Charter Campus regarding room sizes, support spaces, building systems, and finishes, according to background materials.

School board member Armstrong made the motion to approve the partnership, citing several benefits of the deal.

She noted Patel’s “extremely good work” in Hillsborough County and expressed confidence it will provide the same quality of programming to Pasco County.

Armstrong added that the system would benefit because the charter would accommodate extra growth in an area where a new district high school is not yet scheduled.

She also noted the value of the land being donated is far less expensive than the costs associated with building the school.

Board member Hernandez, who seconded the motion, said he based his support primarily from considering the deal from a business perspective.

“We’re talking about donating 20 out of the 76 acres.

“We’re saving, potentially, $40 million in capital, here, which we can use,” he added, noting it may be possible to use some of those savings in other parts of the district.

“They (Patel) do a phenomenal job in Hillsborough County. I think it behooves us, as a business community, to actually bring the Patel family into our community, as well,” Hernandez said.

But board colleagues Beaudoin and Crumbley raised objections.

Both board members made it clear that their opposition in no way reflects on Patel.

Crumbley said she could not support giving away the land, when she voted on purchasing that site years ago to use for a district high school.

Both she and Beaudoin also object to having Patel offer the Cambridge Programme — something they believe the district should expand into Central Pasco.

Both women spoke passionately about Pasco’s great efforts and achievements with Cambridge. They want the district, not Patel, to provide the program in Central Pasco.

But Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district is not in a position to expand its Cambridge Programme until it is able to provide additional support for its existing Cambridge schools.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, said she worked with Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd and Planning Director Chris Williams and Ash Bagdy, from Patel, to iron out the terms.

She also noted that school board attorney Nancy Alfonso reviewed the agreement.

Kuhn also pointed out that several provisions in the agreement protect the district’s interests.

Bagdy, who appeared on behalf of Patel, assured board members: “We are doing this for the right reasons. We have good intentions. This is our investment back into the community.

“It’s not a management company. It’s not a for-profit. None of us are on the payroll. It is truly something we want to do for the county, for the kids in that area.

“He (Dr. Kiran Patel) does not need to make money from this school.”

Published May 24, 2023

Share your thoughts to help shape Pasco County’s future

May 16, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County’s planning and development department will host public meetings — in St. Leo and Holiday — asking the public to share their thoughts, ideas and suggestions to help guide decisions affecting what Pasco should look like over the next 25 years.

The workshops are part of an overall effort to create the Pasco 2050 Plan, which will be an update of the county’s current comprehensive plan.

As Pasco County continues to grow, there’s increasing pressure to develop lands that historically have been used for agricultural and ranching operations. The county must balance myriad needs, as it creates its Pasco 2050 plan. (File)

State law requires the county to update its comprehensive plan to manage growth and ensure long-term sustainability.

Updating the comprehensive plan is a multi-year effort and involves collecting data, listening to stakeholders, deciding how the county wants to prioritize its resources and making decisions that will affect the county’s future path.

The comprehensive plan is used to guide the county’s decision-making when it comes to how much development is allowed where and long-range transportation planning; it also addresses issues such as property rights, capital improvements, coastal management, recreation and open space, housing, public services, public facilities, economic development, intergovernmental coordination and other issues.

Valerie Brookens, a principal planner for the county, is the project manager for the Pasco 2050 plan update effort. She briefed the county board on the current status of the update during the board’s April 4 meeting.

The remaining work on the process has been broken into two phases, according to agenda background materials for that board meeting.

The first phase, which will last through the rest of 2023, involves working with the community to establish an updated vision for the county. This will involve stakeholder interviews, topic-based focus groups, public hearings, and a three-part public workshop series.

The State Road 52 and Interstate 75 interchange is expected to become far busier, as large industrial projects that are planned near the interchange are developed. Thousands of new jobs are expected in the area, and the Pasco County Commission has identified planning for more industrial growth as one of the county’s key needs. (File)

The second phase of the planning efforts, expected to begin in 2024, will include updating the Data & Analysis and Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the Plan. This process also will include an extensive public outreach and engagement process.

Chris Dougherty, a representative from Inspire Placemaking Collective, offered details of what is being done to develop the plan’s vision.

“Essentially, the basis of your plan today is rooted in 2000. Since then, we know we’ve had significant growth. Pasco County being one of the fastest-growing counties in the state,” Dougherty said.

“We need to update the plan, one, to make sure we’re addressing the community’s desires. That’s where visioning comes into place. Right now, again, we’re working off of a 20-year-old plan that isn’t reflective of the desires of the community today.

“We need to look at the data analysis.

“We need to look at the trends, the capacities,” Dougherty said.

The county also needs to reevaluate its level of service standards, he added. For example, how many gallons of water per day is the county planning for each residential unit?

“We’ll be looking at that in terms of the existing population and what we’re projecting out into the future,” he said.

“Then, of course, there are requirements based on statute that we need to address, as well,” he added.

The long-range plan also must take into consideration other county planning efforts, including its strategic plan and the parks and recreation master plan, he said.

Next year’s efforts will focus on drafting the plan.

Pasco County is in the process of updating its long-range plan. One issue expected to get considerable discussion is how the county allocates land uses for residential, commercial and industrial development. Currently, seven out of 10 employed Pasco residents travel elsewhere for work. County leaders want to change that. (Mike Camunas)

The year after that, which will be the fifth year in the planning effort, Pasco 2050 will be adopted.

The idea is to create a plan that doesn’t require frequent amendments, Brookens told the board.

“Every parcel has a future land use. Assigning the correct future land use to areas will save a lot of time for the board, for the (planning) commission, because how many times are you coming in, amending future land use? The goal is to get it right, to free up staff, to free up your time.

“We shouldn’t be having to amend the comp plan every board meeting,” she said.

Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, also noted that while this plan looks out for 25 years, the county intends to update the document at regular intervals.

“The reason that we want to update this more regularly is because we want to make sure the comprehensive plan is continuously — especially the land use elements — fine-tuned against the long-range transportation plan that the MPO does.

“The idea is to keep the plan in tune with long-range transportation planning,” Pittos explained,

A significant amount of information about the planning process and data that will be used to help set the county’s future course is available at Pasco2050.com.

Help shape Pasco County’s future
What: Pasco County’s planning and development department will host two public Pasco 2050 visioning workshops. Members of the public are asked to share their thoughts, ideas, insights and suggestions to help guide decisions on what Pasco should look like over the next 25 years.
Workshop 1: Saint Leo University, TECO Hall, 33701 County Road 52 (formerly State Road 52), in St. Leo — May 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Workshop 2: J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., Holiday — June 5, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Details: All are welcome; no registration is required. There will be a brief overview of the Comprehensive Plan and those attending will be asked to take part in interactive exercises related to comprehensive planning and participants’ vision for the future of Pasco County.
Can’t attend? If you can’t attend and want to weigh in, take the online Visioning Survey at MyPas.co/2050VisioningSurvey.
Info: To register for updates on upcoming community meetings, community engagement, and other information about the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, visit Pasco2050.com.

Published May 17, 2023

Pasco County bans thru trucks on portion of Overpass Road

May 16, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Complaints about increased truck traffic and damage being caused by the heavy vehicles have resulted in a ban on thru truck traffic on a segment of Overpass Road, from Curley Road to Old Bridge Road.

The ban also applies to Old Bridge Road, from Overpass Road to Handcart Road.

The Pasco County Commission adopted an ordinance instituting the ban during its May 9 meeting.

The action arose after residents from the Watergrass area appeared before the county board complaining about problems being caused by increased truck traffic, which resulted from the opening of the new Interstate 75-Overpass Road interchange.

The reasons for the ban, as outlined in the May 9 agenda packet, are:

Old Bridge Road from Overpass Road to Handcart Road runs through a dense residential neighborhood, even though it provides a connection to Handcart Road from Overpass Road.
There is a significant amount of non-motorized activity along this roadway, along with the presence of some neighborhood parks along the road and a significant number of pedestrians crossing along Old Bridge Road.

The county board has the authority to restrict truck traffic, based on Pasco County Ordinance Chapter 106, Article II, Section 106-3, according to information in the agenda packet.

The opening of a new interchange at Interstate 75 and Overpass Road has resulted in increased truck traffic in residential areas, prompting calls for a No Thru Truck ban on the affected roads. The Pasco County Commission listened and adopted an ordinance to make that happen, until the extension of Overpass Road from Old Bridge Road to U.S. 301 is completed. (Courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation)

That ordinance says, the county board, “by the adoption of a resolution, may restrict the use of roads, highways, and streets under its regulatory jurisdiction by placing reasonable restrictions on the operation of commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods.”

Once the board establishes the restrictions and the sign is installed, “it shall be unlawful for the operator of any commercial vehicle to operate the vehicle in violation of the restrictions.”

The board’s new restrictions will be effective upon the posting of signs, as required for enforcement.

The cost to install new signs is estimated at $400.

When the extension of Overpass Road from Old Bridge Road to U.S. 301 is completed, the No Thru Traffic ordinance on the section of Overpass Road from Curley Road to Old Bridge Road will be repealed, according to the agenda materials.

Tami Cook, who lives on Bluestem Court in Watergrass, appeared during the public comment section of the board’s meeting.

She thanked the board for taking up the truck traffic issue.

She asked: “Will there be a flashing sign trailer put up until permanent signage (of the No Thru Trucks) is in place?”

She also told the board that residents of Watergrass and the CDD board have paid $7,000 in repairs on the manhole cover on the corner of Overpass and Old Bridge Road because the road is too narrow for big trucks to make the turn.

Cook also asked about the status of an interim plan to route the I-75 traffic from the Overpass Road interchange.

She noted that the plan was to route the traffic to U.S. 301, via the Overpass Road extension.

But that project isn’t done and might not even be started for five years, Cook said.

“Wesley Chapel is now one of the fastest-growing communities in the region, with projections estimating a population of 93,700 people by 2024.

“May I propose that this project be moved to the earliest possible start date? The population density growth has already warranted that,” Cook said.

The area resident also noted the noise problems being caused by traffic.

“Does Pasco County have a noise ordinance for decibel limits allowed for roadway noise caused by traffic in residential zones?” Cook asked. “If so, can we request a noise pollution study in the affected areas of Watergrass and Epperson?

“As concerned citizens, in this area, the additional thousands of homes will produce thousands of cars on the road, within these two communities.

“It’s our understanding that New Port Richey has strengthened their noise ordinance. In residential areas, the ordinance sets the limit for 55 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It drops to 50 decibels from 10:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m.

“Does this ordinance also apply to Wesley Chapel?

“The traffic noise in Watergrass and Epperson currently far exceeds these limits,” she said.

She also asked: “Are their noise ordinances for mufflers, the use of Jake-Brakes in residential areas?

“Who enforces them, if there’s a violation, if so,” Cook said.

The county board typically does not respond directly to questions raised during the public comment portion of its meetings, but rather refers speakers to staff members who can assist or their office staff, who can take their contact information.

In this case, Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano referred Cook to a county staff member regarding the concerns over the manhole damage.

Published May 17, 2023

Pasco wants to revisit mobility fee credits for hotels

May 16, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission wants to take another look at whether the county should grant mobility fee credits for hotel rooms.

The issue came up during the county board’s May 9 meeting, during a more general discussion of the county’s transportation needs.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey reminded her colleagues: “When we give mobility fee credits, we take away from our ability to build some of our road network.”

She said she questioned the need for the mobility fee credits for hotels when the county was considering its mobility fee schedule in the past and she thinks it’s time for the board to take another look at the issue.

Should hotels have to pay mobility fees? Pasco County has waived those fees in the past to encourage hotel development, but the county board now appears willing to take another look at the issue. Shown is Hyatt Place Hotel at the Cypress Creek Town Center. (File)

“We’re giving away, was it $4- or $5,000 per hotel room, on mobility fee credits.

“I think that’s a lot,” Starkey said.

“I think we may need to revisit these credits we’re handing out because I think that the economy is here and people are building here, and I don’t think we need to be giving away the store,” she said.

The money the county is using to offer incentives could be used to pay for local transportation projects, the commissioner continued.

Commissioner Ron Oakley agrees that it is a good time to take another look at the issue.

Commissioner Seth Weightman agreed.

“Pasco is on the map. People are coming here,” Weightman said. “I think it’s time that we tightened up a bit and really understand these incentive packages we’ve been giving.

“We’re competitive now.”

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano was less enthusiastic.

He’s concerned about losing the economic impact created by the visitors that stay in the area’s hotels.

Hotel guests spend money in the community, while creating no impact on schools and little impact on other services, Mariano said.

“They bring money to the area,” the board chairman said.

Starkey suggested: Let’s have a workshop on this.”

There wasn’t a vote to schedule a workshop, but it appears there’s enough interest on the board’s part to make it happen.

In other action, the board:

Approved 2,300 dwelling units and 20,000 square feet of commercial on 931 acres in the Depue East Master-Planned Unit Development (MPUD). The project is within Village L and M, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills, a special planning area in the eastern part of the county. The site abuts the Watergrass MPUD, Oak Creek MPUD and Avalon Park MPUD.
Approved interlocal agreements for Animal Control Services for each of the six municipalities in Pasco County to provide various services. These agreements had existed in the past but required updating.
Approved a task order in the amount of $152,119.81 for fiscal year 2023 with Ayres Associates Inc., to provide design and post design services for intersection improvements at Collier Parkway and Livingston Avenue. The design services are to be completed within 360 calendar days. The project is expected to be completed in 2026, at an estimated budget of more than $3.4 million.
Confirmed the appointment of Jason M. Mickel, who was promoted to become the county’s new public works director, at an annual salary of $150,000.

Published May 17, 2023