The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Will Pasco pass temporary ban on new ‘used car’ lots?

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The Pasco County Commission has directed its staff to proceed with work to pursue a pause on allowing additional used car lots in the county.

County staff have been investigating potential code violations at existing used car lots.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey asked for a staff update of that work during the county board’s Jan. 11 meeting

Sally Sherman, assistant county administrator for development services, told Starkey: “We will be sharing a report that’s being prepared right now that shows the activity for 67 car lots that have been visited, reviewed — as far as what has transpired on the lot. Some that have complied. Some that are grandfathered in. And we have them all categorized,” Sherman said.

“We do have a very comprehensive report that is being prepared on each one of those lots. That report is going to be finalized and I can share it with each one of you next week,” she told the county board.

“They all differ to a certain degree, chair, because some of them — if they’re grandfathered, there’s nothing that limits them. They just have to keep driveways and access available for emergency,” Sherman said.

Starkey responded: “Even if they’re grandfathered on our new used car overlay ordinance, they still had to have some kind of approval that allowed a certain kind of parking spaces, right, on-site. I think that’s our tool to clean up some of these.”

Sherman told Starkey that some lots will close and then they’ll open up somewhere else.

Sherman added: “So, we’re chasing, continuously, those properties.”

Starkey wants the county to take action now.

“While we’re still cleaning up the mess — and so that it doesn’t proliferate — I think we should do a moratorium on used car lots,” Starkey said. “I think we have so much work to do on the ones that we have, and I’m telling you that they’re popping up all over.

“I think we’ve got to put a stop to it, until we have under control,” Starkey said.

Commissioner Mike Moore chimed in: “I’ll support you.”

Starkey asked: “Would you make a motion?”

Moore continued: “They’re on (U.S.) 41 and (State Road) 52 and obviously, we know (U.S.) 19. You see a couple on your side of (State Road) 54, closer to (U.S.) 19, as well.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley said: “I don’t see it (in his East Pasco district), like you see it on the west side.”

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told board members that they would have to adopt the moratorium through an ordinance, that there would need to be a plan for fixing the problem and that it would need be to no longer than a year, to be sustainable.

“The last time we did one (apartment moratorium) it was six months, with the ability to extend it for six months,” Steinsnyder said.

Starkey responded: “I would recommend that.”

Steinsnyder added: “It has to be advertised and it’s going to come back to you as a public hearing item. But my concern is that the planning department has to have the resources to actually develop standards for a fix.”

Starkey responded: “I bet they’re out there,” adding, “I think we can come up with some good ideas.”

With that, the county board unanimously approved Moore’s motion to pursue a temporary moratorium on establishing new “used car” lots.

Published January 19, 2022

Pasco’s 2021 building permit values reach nearly $4 billion

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Pasco County’s permitting activities continue to break records — with the county issuing  permits totaling nearly $4 billion in value during 2021, according to County Administrator Dan Biles.

The pace of growth is brisk in Pasco County and there are no apparent signs it will be slowing any time soon, according to County Administrator Dan Biles. (File)

Biles broke down the numbers for the Pasco County Commission during its Jan. 11 meeting.

The county recorded 9,000 single-family home permits in 2021, Biles said.

“That’s 56% above 2020 and double 2019. And, 2019 was a record,” Biles said.

“These are post-crash records because we don’t have necessarily clean data from the pre-08-09 crash,” the top county executive said.

“Commercial is up 20%. Almost 700 new permits, new construction numbers.

“Building construction did 64,000 total permits last year, which was up 20%. The new stuff is only about 10% to 15% of their total workload.

“And, most of that total workload now can be done online, as we went to the new portal in December. Most permits can be submitted online and you get them relatively quickly.

“By the way, planning’s workload is double what it was 12 months ago, so more’s coming,” Biles told board members.

Published January 19, 2022

Museum receives funding

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Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has awarded the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village a $15,000 grant for general operating costs to help recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the museum.

Portraying a Confederate courier, Chuck Sheridan, of Sanford, delivers a message to Gen. Harding. (File)

“The American Rescue Plan funding will help us keep the current staff we have and pay our bills at the Pioneer Florida Museum,” Stephanie Bracknell Black, the museum’s executive director, said in the release. “It will allow us to continue to serve our community. We are so very grateful for the American Rescue Plan grant and for Florida Humanities being able to get these funds to organizations like ours that continue to feel the hardships and work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Black added.

The NEH received $135 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to support museums, archives, historic sites and other humanities-focused nonprofits. The Pioneer Florida Museum was one of 129 organizations in Florida that was awarded ARP funding totaling $1.88 million from Florida Humanities, the new release says.

“The grants are intended to meet immediate operational needs in order for organizations to remain viable and maintain delivery of public humanities programming and resources in their communities. Florida Humanities received 188 applications for ARP funding, with nonprofits requesting the most funds for staffing and utilities.

Six-year-old Gregory Jacobsen holds his ears during the booming sounds coming from the 12-pound Mountain Howitzers. This was the young boy’s first experience of seeing a Civil War re-enactment. He was there with his dad, Benjamin Jacobsen, of Tampa.

Dr. Nashid Madyun, executive director of Florida Humanities, said in the release that the funds provide a safety net for the organizations so they can focus on other priorities, such as fundraising and creating programming.

“For smaller nonprofits, when bills are paid and staff are safe and intact, that type of alleviation is immeasurable,” he said. “Florida Humanities is honored to provide a lifeline to our state’s cultural and historic organizations, ensuring they continue to enrich their local communities, and the Sunshine State at large, for years to come,” Madyun said, in the release.

Funding for this grant was provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and NEH’s Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation and education of Florida’s pioneer heritage.

It regularly hosts events that offer fun ways to learn about history and give families the opportunity to enjoy affordable, entertaining outings.

The museum is located a mile north of downtown Dade City, is just off U.S. 301, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

For more information, call the museum at 352-567-0262, visit its website at PioneerFloridaMuseum.org or its Facebook page, at Facebook.com/pioneerfloridamuseum.

Published January 19, 2022

Business Digest 01/19/2022

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‘One Warm Coat’ campaign
Ashley HomeStore is hosting a coat drive to collect clean, gently worn, or new coats through Jan. 31.

The Ashley store at 26222 Golden Maple Loop, in Wesley Chapel; the store at 2915 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in Tampa; and the Port Richey store at 6411 Tacoma Drive are among the participating locations.

Coat donations will be accepted daily, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., through the end of January.

Last year, more than 260,000 coats were distributed across North America to children and adults in need through One Warm Coat’s coat drive program, according to a news release.

One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit organization that provides free coats to children and adults in need, while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. Since 1992, One Warm Coat has worked with volunteers and sponsors to host more than 40,000 coat drives, collecting nearly 7 million coats that have been distributed to people in need through a network of more than 1,000 nonprofit partners across all 50 states.

Business development week festivities
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is hosting a number of activities for Business Development, Jan. 24 through Jan. 28. For greater detail, visit the chamber’s website at GreaterPasco.com.

GrowPasco
GrowPasco will feature 15 business-related breakout sessions on Feb. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel, at 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz.

Cost is $40 for general admission or $20 for Pasco businesses and residents. Those attending must RSVP by Feb. 16.

Go to the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s website, PascoEDC.com, to register and for more information.

U.S. Gymnastics Championships 2022
The Tampa Convention Center will co-host the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships and National Congress and Trade Show, according to a City of Tampa news release.

The annual national event will take place Aug. 18 to Aug. 21, with Amalie Arena hosting the artistic gymnastics championships that will determine the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, and the Tampa Convention Center hosting the accompanying National Congress and Trade Show.

Exhibits will consist of educational presentations and live demonstrations focused on coaching, judging, general business, sports science, fitness, athlete safety, and much more.

HART board appointments
The Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) Board elected Hillsborough County Commissioner Patricia “Pat” Kemp as chair, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kimberly Overman as vice chair and Director Melanie Williams as secretary of the HART Board of Directors for 2022, according to a news release from HART.

Commissioner Kemp assumes the role previously held by Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith, who served in the role for the last two years. Kemp will serve a one-year term.

Grand openings and ribbon cuttings
Grand opening: Back 9 Bistro Restaurant Events and Catering, at 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’  Lakes, is a new place to ‘drive’ and dine, at the Groves, Golf & Country Club. A grand opening celebration is set for Jan. 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ribbon-cutting: The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon cutting on Jan. 14 for Planet Jupiter Hookah, a new lounge at 38438 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Free SCORE seminars
A webinar on Utilizing YouTube in Your Business, will be held on Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Register by going to PascoHernando.score.org.

A webinar on How to Become a Winning Competitor will be offered from noon to 1 p.m., on Feb. 17. Register at PascoHernando.score.org.

City of Tampa receives $2 million for housing rehab
The City of Tampa has been awarded nearly $2 million to put toward one of its affordable housing programs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Jan. 12 that it would distribute more than $100 million to nonprofit organizations, and state and local government agencies, to protect children and families from home health hazards, according to a city news release.

Tampa will dedicate these funds to its Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program, and more specifically, to pay for home inspections and a new set of repairs that address home health hazards.

Income-eligible homeowners can receive repairs and replacements valued at up to $50,000 that bring their homes into compliance with the City’s Florida Building Code and Housing Quality Standards.

The scope of work includes roofing, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing. Not only will the additional HUD grant cover the initial inspections where home health hazards are identified, it also will expand the program to include remediation for mold, lead-based paint, and radon, the news release says.

Omicron cases continue to soar across United States

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Cancellations are starting to occur more frequently, as COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the United States.

Health care experts say the surge is being driven by the Omicron variant of the virus.

An interpretive analysis published on The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s website estimates that Omicron may account for approximately 95% of cases.

There were 5,705,264 new cases reported across the U.S. on Jan. 5, more than doubling the January 2021 peak, according to a CDC report.

“The entire country is now experiencing high levels of community transmission. Hospitalizations are also on the rise,” the CDC report says.

Based on current knowledge about the Omicron variant, the CDC recently updated its quarantine and isolation recommendations for the public.

Those coming into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine if they are in one of these groups:

  • Age 18 or older and have completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible
  • Have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over two months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot
  • Are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series

The CDC also says that those confirmed or suspected of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should stay home and isolate from other people for at least five full days.

They also should wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public for an additional five days.

Testing may be used to help determine when to end your isolation period, the CDC says.

As of Jan. 5, the current seven-day moving average of daily new cases (586,391) increased 85.7% compared with the previous seven-day moving average (315,851).

A total of 57,898,239 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States as of Jan. 5, according to the CDC.

Health experts are advising those who need to be tested to go to a local pharmacy, an urgent care center or a public testing site — not to a hospital emergency room.

Hillsborough County has three free COVID-19 testing sites, they are located at:

  • Hillsborough County Community College Brandon campus, 10451 Nancy Watkins Drive, in Tampa. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily for residents who want to receive free COVID-19 testing. This is a drive-thru site, and no appointments are needed.
  • Progress Village Park, 8701 Progress Blvd., in Tampa. This is a walk-up COVID-19 testing site open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. No appointments are needed.
  • West Tampa Community Resource Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave., in Tampa. This is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. It is a walk-up site that offers free COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, Pfizer pediatric vaccines, booster shots for those who are eligible, and monoclonal antibody therapy treatment. No appointments are needed for most of the services, but residents wanting monoclonal antibody therapy treatment must make an appointment. They can make an appointment at PatientPortalFl.com.

Children ages 5 to 11 who are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian can receive the COVID-19 Pfizer pediatric vaccine at the West Tampa Community Resource Center site. The child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to verbally confirm the child’s age.

For all services, proof of medical insurance is recommended and should be presented at the time of the visit. People without medical insurance will still be tested, vaccinated, or receive monoclonal antibody therapy treatment for free.

Meanwhile, according to a report by The Center Square, an online news outlet, Florida’s Republican Congressional delegation has entered into the state’s ongoing rift with the Biden administration over access to monoclonal antibody drugs.

The state’s two senators and 11 of its congressional members sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra arguing the administration’s distribution policy regarding the monoclonal antibody therapy “continues to be shortsighted and burdensome on states and health care providers.”

Their letter comes after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo accused the Biden administration of “actively preventing the effective distribution of monoclonal antibody treatments in the U.S.,” according to The Center Square report.

The Center Square also reported that Florida seniors who live in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes will receive 1 million rapid COVID-19 tests in an effort by the state to prioritize safety for those at high risk to serious illness.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the distribution during a visit at the Rehabilitation Center of the Palm Beaches, where he met with leaders in the senior care industry.

When to seek emergency medical attention
If you experience any of these signs, or someone you know is showing these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Pale, gray or blue color skin, lips or nail beds, depending on skin tone.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

COVID-19 statistics
Statistics from Jan. 9:
Pasco County: Community transmission rate, High; Cases, 6,247; positivity rate: 30.05%.
Hillsborough County: Community transmission rate, High; Cases: 22,110; 30.2% positivity rate.
Florida: Community transmission, High; cases: 410,713; positivity, 25-plus%

Statistics from Jan. 7:
Pasco County Schools: 196 student cases; total of 6,793 student cases for the school year
Pasco County Schools: 31 employee cases; total of 1,273 employee cases for the school year
Hillsborough County Schools: 2,398 employees cases for the year; 12,751 student cases for the year

Note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises everyone in Pasco County and Hillsborough County to wear a mask in public, indoor settings.

Sources: Pasco County Schools, Hillsborough County Schools and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Published January 12, 2022

Pasco moratorium area to expand?

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a proposal that would expand the area where new applications for multifamily are on hold.

The planning board voted to recommend approval of the expansion during its Jan. 6 meeting.

The larger area was proposed by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who has championed the pause on new multifamily applications — to allow completion of a study to determine whether the county has an oversaturation of entitled apartment developments.

This map depicts the original boundaries for Pasco County’s temporary pause on accepting new multifamily applications, and the proposed expansion area. Approval of the expanded area appears likely, as the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on the issue, directed staff to initiate the process for amending the map. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Moore repeatedly has warned his colleagues about potential long-term consequences from allowing too many approvals of apartment projects.

He fears the prospect of an oversupply leading to buildings being abandoned, as renters move to newer developments. That, he has said, will set the stage for blight and increased crime.

The temporary moratorium on new multifamily applications applies only to an area within Moore’s District 2.

The temporary ban on new applications applies to an area essentially made up of Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

The area initially was generally defined as between State Road 52, on the north; U.S. 41, on the west; State Road 54 on the south; and, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, on the east. The boundary zigzags between Moore’s District 2 and Commissioner Ron Oakley’s District 1.

The proposed expansion includes several additional areas along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

The expansion area can generally be defined as State Road 54 to Collier Parkway to County Line Road (south) to Mansfield Boulevard to State Road 56; and from just east of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 54 due north to Interstate 75 to Overpass Road and west to the existing moratorium boundary.

The planning board’s recent recommendation follows Moore’s request to apply the moratorium to areas that became part of his district as a result of redistricting.

(The board recently adopted new boundaries for commission districts in response to population changes recorded by the 2020 U.S. Census. Redistricting is an exercise that aims to balance out population within individual voting districts.)

The call for expanding the moratorium area does not include a request to extend the April 1 deadline on the moratorium.

Originally, the moratorium was set to expire on Sept. 28, 2021, but the county board extended it for 185 days, to allow more time to complete the study.

The study is examining whether there’s a potential oversaturation due to existing and possible future multifamily developments, and to determine whether additional regulations are necessary.

It aims to identify how much multifamily already is entitled and to examine market demand, occupancy rates and other issues.

A housing market research firm is preparing the report and will present it to the board.

That report will cover the current quantity of multifamily dwelling unit entitlements and the current acreage of land zoned for multifamily dwelling units, including the acreage having potential for multifamily units upon approval of a conditional use.

It also will include the potential number of multifamily dwelling units available through existing land use equivalency matrices to accurately calculate and determine the true potential for the oversaturation of multifamily dwelling units within the moratorium area.

If the expansion area is approved by the county board, it would take effect on Jan. 6 — the date of the planning board’s public hearing on the topic.

In extending the original deadline, county staff said the extension was justified because of procedural delays, staff shortages, and the complexities associated with accurate data collection.

In its original approval of the ordinance allowing the temporary pause on new multifamily applications, the county board described the action as being “in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, and (noted) that it advances a valid and important public purpose.”

Published January 12, 2022

Youth group home request in Wesley Chapel faces opposition

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A request to waive Pasco County’s conditional use permit requirement for a proposed group home for handicapped youths has drawn opposition from its potential neighbors, in a Wesley Chapel neighborhood.

The Pasco County Planning Commission has continued the public hearing on the request to its Feb. 3 meeting, to allow Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein time to work on refining conditions in an attempt to address concerns expressed by neighbors and some members of the planning board.

Goldstein has recommended approval of the request, but in doing so, he provided background and a set of proposed conditions.

The issue involves a proposal by Elevated Youth Services (EYS) to operate a residential treatment facility for young men, ages 13 to 17, with multiple or dual diagnoses of emotional or mental illness,  at 26318 Lawrence Ave.

Before the applicant purchased the property, Nicholas B. Browning, owner and clinical director of EYS, sought a zoning verification letter from the county.

In that Aug. 17 request, Browning told the county “we are looking provide housing for up to 12 youth in the home.”

Frederick Humberstone, a planning and zoning tech II for the county, responded to Browning’s request by informing him on Aug. 18:  “Under the AR-1 zoning the proposed use as a residential youth group home is a permitted use.”

EYS then closed on the property for the group home.

It turns out that Humberstone’s determination was incorrect: A residential group home is a permitted use, provided that it has six or fewer residents, under the county code, according to Goldstein.

Browning told the planning board that clients served by EYS need a group-home setting, which operates similar to a family, as part of their treatment plan.

Dan McDonald, a fair housing attorney representing EYS, said requiring EYS to go through the county’s conditional use permit process would constitute a violation of federal law.

In the planning board’s agenda materials, Goldstein summarized EYS’s primary argument. He said EYS claims that Pasco’s land development code “either facially, or as applied, discriminates against handicapped residents (including those that would occupy the EYS facility), because handicapped residents are required to go through a conditional use process, but similarly situated non-handicapped residents are not required to undergo the same process.”

The county attorney’s office has recommended that changes be made to address the legal issues raised by EYS, but those changes are not yet in effect, Goldstein said.

The attorney also noted that “requiring EYS to go through the conditional use process at this time could subject the county to potential liability, and would be a difficult decision to defend in this particular case, because of the existing Land Development Code definitions, and because of the August 18th, 2021 zoning verification letter issued by the Planning and Development Department.

“Accordingly, while the County Attorney’s Office is certainly not admitting to all of the allegations in the alternative relief application, the County Attorney’s Office is recommending approval of the application,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein also told the planning board that approving the request with conditions would provide more protection for neighbors than they could receive if the group home had six or fewer residents — which would have no restrictions.

But neighbors questioned how the residents moving into the home would be screened, noting they don’t want to worry about the safety of their families.

They also raised questions about whether supervision of the residents will be adequate and voiced concerns about the residents “roaming” the neighborhood.

Other issues raised included drainage problems in the home’s backyard and inadequate parking.

Browning said there would be 24-hour staffing, with a four-to-one ratio of residents to staff. He said the youths would be educated through online schooling.

Planning board member Chris Poole said he believes that residential treatment centers are important, noting he has a child who is being assisted at one.

However, he added: “I think we owe it to the residents to go through this (conditional permit process).”

McDonald reiterated that requiring EYS to undergo a conditional use permit hearing would violate federal law.

Goldstein noted the county could be found liable and be required to pay damages.

Published January 12, 2022

75-home subdivision proposed on Happy Hill

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a proposed subdivision of up to 75 homes at the northwest corner of Happy Hill and Sarah Lynn Drive, in Dade City.

The land currently is zoned for agricultural and rural density use, but, if approved by the Pasco County Commission, will be rezoned to a residential-4, high-density residential district. The county board has final jurisdiction in land use and rezoning requests.

County planners also have recommended approval of the application by Distinct Development Dade City/Happy Hill Road to rezone the 18.78 acres.

The site currently consists of undeveloped hayfields.

Access to the proposed subdivision will be from Happy Hill Road, which is a county-maintained collector road.

In accordance with an interlocal agreement between the county and the City of Dade City, the county has requested a review of the subject request from the City of Dade City and has not received any comments, according to materials in the planning board’s agenda packet.

The area surrounding the site is characterized by residential development and agricultural pursuits. The site is designated in the county’s land use plan for up to six residential units per acre.

Attorney Clarke Hobby represented the applicant at the planning board’s Jan. 6 public hearing.

He told planning commissioners that his client opted for the R-4 zoning request, rather than seeking a master-planned unit development that would have yielded the potential for approximately 120 houses.

The site is “immediately adjacent to the Sweetwater apartment complex to the south. Two of the sites adjacent to this site are zoned MF-1, so they allow multifamily at considerably higher density.”

A traffic study shows that after the development occurs, Happy Hill Road “will still be at level of service A and B, depending on whether you are north or south of the site. There’s a lot of capacity there.

“There’s a lot going on in that area and there’s really two big influences in the area, that’s from the crest of the hill, down to (State Road) 52, on Happy Hill. One is, the roads, including the Clinton Extension, which you can see from these sites looking down. So, you have (State Road) 52 and the Clinton Extension, which are going to be major, major game-changers in this area.

“And then the second thing is, the City of Dade City has annexed a considerable number of parcels, not very far north of this site and now have approved basically 1,000 units with lots that are smaller than this site,” he said.

Alisa Weaver, who lives directly across the road from the proposed rezoning, urged the planning board to recommend denial of the request.

“My question is: How does this zoning change positively affect the health, safety, welfare and morals of the surrounding community? And, how does this change benefit the surrounding homeowners?

“That’s a lot of houses in a small area, and I don’t feel any of the resident homeowners are benefiting from this,” she said.

She’s concerned about traffic on Happy Hill Road.

“It’s always been a two-lane rural road,” she said.

But she pointed out, there’s already a problem with traffic and that’s likely to worsen with increased development.

The speed limit is 45 mph, and 35 mph near the school and church, she said.

“Nobody goes 45 (mph). I’ve been run off the road. I’ve got my blinker on, turning left. They go around you,” she said, adding that even county vehicles have nearly run her off the road.

“It’s very hazardous, and now we’re looking at additional homes, on top of what’s already going to go in down the road (on the land that Dade City has annexed).

“My question is: What is the county going to do to protect me and my visitors and my property? What is going to keep us safe?

“Now, is the time to support your current homeowner residents before allowing additional high-density development.

“I ask you to deny this proposal on Happy Hill Road,” she said.

Hobby told the planning board that the transportation analysis, completed by an expert in the field, showed there’s sufficient capacity on the roadway.

He also said that lot sizes in the proposed subdivision will have frontages of at least 60 feet.

The planning board unanimously recommended approval of the request.

In other action, planning commissioners recommended approval of a request by Rucks Cobblestone for a land use change to allow commercial use on 3.34 acres at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Chancey Road.

The land currently is designated for residential development, at up to nine dwellings per acre. The applicant is seeking a designation to allow commercial uses.

In recommending approval, the planning board concurred with county planners, who supported the request.

In supporting the request, county planners found that shifting the land use to commercial would “create little or no objectionable, external effect upon neighboring land uses.”

Planners also noted that the proposed commercial site is at the intersection of two arterial roadways; is not located internally to an existing single-family neighborhood and will not act as an intrusion.

Planners also found that the development intensity is limited and designed to serve the needs of the immediate neighborhoods.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Published January 12, 2022

Graduation rates rise in local public schools

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The graduation rate continues to improve in the Pasco and Hillsborough public school districts.

Pasco County Schools charted a 91% graduation rate in 2021, more than a full point increase over the prior year, according to Pasco school district officials.

Hillsborough County Schools recorded a graduation rate of 89.2% — the highest rate in the district’s history, according to the Hillsborough school district news release.

Pasco’s rate has improved by 15 percentage points since 2013, district officials said in a news release.

“We are seeing steady progress year after year,” Superintendent Kurt Browning said in the release. “I can’t say enough about how hard our students worked during a challenging and unusual school year. All our teachers in elementary, middle, and high school can share the credit because it really takes a team effort to prepare students for college, career, and life.”

Cypress Creek High School had the highest graduation rate of 99.4% and Wesley Chapel High posted a 96.6% rate, an increase of more than 3 percentage points.

Fivay High School had a second year of impressive gains, increasing by 6.7 percentage points, after a gain of 6.4 percentage points the previous year.

Hudson High saw the biggest increase, improving by 10 percentage points — up to 86%.

Pasco school district staff also noted that students who graduated in 2021 did so after a highly unusual year of school due to COVID-19. Many missed significant time in school, either due to illness or due to quarantine requirements, a district news release noted.

Because of the COVID-related disruptions, the state waived state assessments required for graduation for the second year in a row, making it difficult to make historical comparisons, according to the Pasco district’s release.

Hillsborough officials were delighted by the district’s record accomplishment.

Hillsborough high schools within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area fared well.

Wharton High charted a 90.9% graduation rate; Gaither, 92.2%; Freedom, 94.1%; and, Steinbrenner, 97.8%.

Sickles High, which is near the newspaper’s coverage area, charted a graduation rate of 98.4%, the highest among Hillsborough public schools.

“I am so excited for our community and our organization for obtaining the highest graduation rate in district history,” Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis said in the school system’s news release. “This is in direct correlation to the hard work and dedication exhibited by our students, caregivers, teachers, school leaders, school counselors, support professionals, and district staff.”

To view the statewide results, visit the Florida Department of Education web page.

Published January 12, 2022

Chamber executive shares lessons learned from COVID

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Headlines are being dominated by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and scientists and health experts are working to understand its potential impacts, and how to prevent and treat it.

But there already have been many lessons learned by Pasco County’s business community, in terms of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic — which began having widespread disruptions in March 2020, according to Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Hope Kennedy is CEO and president of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive, it also has yielded valuable lessons, she says. (Courtesy of North Tampa Bay Chamber)

Kennedy has a broad perspective on the issue because her chamber work involves large business operations, startup entrepreneurs, legislators, local organizations and business leaders.

In reflecting upon the impacts of the pandemic, Kennedy said beyond presenting challenges, it also has offered valuable lessons.

And, as she looks ahead to 2022, she’s optimistic about the opportunities that await.

Going back to the beginning of the pandemic, Kennedy said: “None of us was prepared for any of this that was coming.”

It has been challenging and particularly painful for enterprises that didn’t survive, she said.

But those who made it through, are emerging stronger, Kennedy said.

“We’re better business leaders. We are more in tune with our businesses,” the chamber executive said.

“What I saw most is that people were able to say: ‘OK, we’ve been doing this forever and ever. We can’t do it that way. What can we do to still deliver our product, our goods, our services in a more efficient manner?’”

The companies and organizations that were able to key in on their essential mission and to adapt their operations have become more focused and efficient, she said.

The chamber, itself, was forced to change. It went to remote operations within hours.

“We eliminated some of our programs,” she said, which also is true for many businesses.

Now, as businesses look to the future, they need to ask:  “What are the barriers? What are things that are stopping us?”

For instance, workforce and affordable housings are big issues.

“There are some barriers to entry of people in the workforce. There’s barriers to entry in affordable housing,” Kennedy said.

“So, what can we do to have conversations, to just see what those barriers are — because chances are, we can get around them,” she said.

The silver lining from the pandemic, Kennedy said, is that it offered time for introspection, and “it has opened our (way of) thinking.”

Attracting employees and training those who want to reenter the workforce are topics of conversation across the community, Kennedy said.

There’s no silver bullet to ever-evolving workforce issues, but the chamber plans to lead conversations on the issue, she said.

“It is a huge focus at the chamber for the coming year, to make sure we understand the needs of the businesses and what they are looking for,” Kennedy said.

“Pasco-Hernando Career Source is going to be a huge help to the business community, in these coming years. One, identifying the need of the workforce and two, connecting the training,” she said.

“There is a (national) program called Second-Chance Hiring, and it’s for folks who have been formerly incarcerated, and/or have a felony on their record,” she said. “I want in on it.”

People with a criminal record are often automatically knocked out of consideration for job openings, Kennedy said.

“There’s an opportunity for us, as business leaders, to come up with a system,” she said, aimed at helping employers fill jobs and giving applicants a chance to work — who want to work, but are barred from entry.

She pointed to Walmart as an employer who gives applicants a second chance, on a case-by-case basis.

Over the course of her career in chamber work, Kennedy said she’s faced an assortment of difficult times. She dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, while she was working in Pensacola. Then came the Great Recession, then the BP oil spill.

When COVID hit, reactions varied from place to place, Kennedy.

Some chambers across the country ceased operations because they were not technically ready to make the shift to virtual operations,” she said.

“Some communities crumbled. Ours came together.

“Our community rallied.

“We rallied around each other. We had takeout Tuesdays,” she said.

“We did a ‘We are Open’ campaign,” she said, using social media to spread the word.

She said COVID reinforced a lesson she grasped in other turbulent times.

“I learned that in every single adversity, there is a solution.

“There absolutely is a solution.

“It might not be right in front of you.

“You can’t lose sight of your ultimate goal,” Kennedy said.

Published January 05, 2022