The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools seeks to reduce absenteeism through new approach

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Pasco County Schools will have three four-day weekends during its regular 2024-2025 school year in a bid it hopes will reduce student absenteeism.

The school board approved the proposed school calendar during its Dec. 5 meeting.

“We are hoping — and I think we are going to include this in our attendance campaign — that by placing those four-day weekends strategically, I think there’s one in October, one in February and one in April, that we can encourage our students and families to take their mini-trips or vacations on those long weekends, instead of taking off instructional days,” said Kevin Shibley, an assistant superintendent.

“So, we’re going to try to market that to our families,” he added.

Pasco County School is adopting a new calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. The new approach includes four-day weekends in October, February and April. District staff and board members hope that families will take advantage of those mini-breaks, rather than pulling kids from school on regular days. (Mike Camunas)

School board member Alison Crumbley told Shibley: “I’ll add to your encouragement on that.”

Her colleague, Cynthia Armstrong, agreed: “That’s an excellent message because it is very frustrating when I see parents randomly taking students out for vacations.”

The new calendar also includes one full professional development (PD) day in the fall, instead of four early release days (ERD).

“I think the idea is that we can get some quality time with our teachers early in the school year with that full day of PD and then use the ERD days in the second semester to do follow-up and extension of that learning, in small chunks, as the school year continues,” Shibley said.

Consolidating the four ERDs also yields more student instructional time, overall, Shibley noted.

Shibley also pointed out a similar strategy is already used by some high-performing Florida school districts.

Elected school district leaders said they did not receive a great deal of feedback on the issue.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said one teacher asked if the district could start the school year later in August, but Beaudoin explained that the district starts earlier so it can deliver as much instruction as possible before testing begins.

“Also, it allows us to finish the first semester prior to Winter Break, which is really important, especially at the secondary level,” Beaudoin added.

Another teacher asked if the work day after Spring Break could be shifted to before Spring Break, but Beaudoin said that would create scheduling difficulties for teachers because it would result in a week with a work day and a half-day, making it difficult for teachers to plan.

Armstrong said she received mixed feedback regarding the four-day weeks.

“I had some for it; I had some who preferred getting out earlier in the school year. So, it went both ways on that one,” she said.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, said the union is taking a neutral stance on the issue. He encouraged anyone who wanted to provide feedback to reach out to school board members.

“Some of these things may prove beneficial; others, maybe not so much. It’s hard to say right now.

“I’m not sure I know all of the particulars, but if proper planning and considerations are made, and I do want to note that I have had extended conversations with Mr. Shibley and I think that things are in order for planning, this might work well,” Peace said.

However, Peace added: “Respectfully, if we are going to make significant changes to the calendar, the opportunity to discuss this at an evening session prior to a vote would seem to be in order. This would allow those with concerns to express some to the board before a vote.”

Shibley said that, overall, comments received by the district were positive.

“Staff kind of liked the idea of the four-day weekends, in general,” Shibley said.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding  welcomes the new approach.

“It’s different this time. We’re going to try something new,” she said.

Published December 13, 2023

New cell tower will be in Starkey District Park

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Pasco County approved a contract for a new cell tower lease at Starkey Ranch District Park with Wireless Edge, at a greater distance and a higher rent than was initially proposed near Starkey Ranch K-8 School.

The lease is in conjunction with a P4 agreement between Pasco County, Pasco County Schools, Pasco County Libraries and a private developer.

The county board’s approval for the lease came during its Dec. 5 meeting, without a peep of public complaint.

Parents and residents in Starkey Ranch raised their voices against the proposed location of a cell tower near Starkey Ranch K-8, and they won. (File)

That deal came after families battled with the Pasco County School Board over a proposed easement that would grant access to the proposed cell tower.

When families lost that battle, they set their sights on the Pasco County Commission, which was considering the actual lease for the tower, during the county board’s May 23 meeting.

Cell tower opponents turned out en masse. 

They wore red, cited research and spoke passionately about their concerns of the potential negative health consequences that could result, if the cell tower was allowed so close to the school

During the board’s lunch break, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey conferred with Keith Wiley, director of the county’s parks, recreation, and natural resources department.

After lunch, she reported that Wiley said an alternative location could be found at the park to accommodate the cell tower. The county also said it would share the proceeds from the leasing agreement with the school district, since that was part of the original plan.

The board then delayed the issue until it sought a new solicitation on the alternative location.

Andrew Baxter, director of facilities management, brought the staff’s recommendation to the board based on that new solicitation.

“The previous location would have allowed the siting to be at approximately 625 feet from the school. And the previous lease would have been with Vertex.

“The rent would have been $1,950 per month, with a 2% increase or $600 a month per sublease,” Baxter said.

“By going out and relocating this, we are now 2,348 feet from the nearest school building and 1,400 feet from the nearest housing location. So, we’re much further away from the school,” he said.

Under the new agreement, the tower will be located in the maintenance yard of Starkey District Park.

Wireless Edge, recommended by staff, offered better rates. Its lease will be for 27 years, with an option for four additional five-year terms, which is the same as Vertex had proposed.

The rent from Wireless Edge, however, is higher. It will be $2,251 per month, with a 2.5% annual increase, and $1,000 per month per sublease. Plus a bonus of $35,000 for each sublease after the first sublease,” Baxter said.

The cell tower will be a stealth pole, monopole, meaning that none of the antennas will be showing, Baxter said.

Starkey said she was happy to hear that.

She noted that companies have claimed that couldn’t be done because of the heat generated by the antennas.

But she said that she’s read research saying that stealth towers can be achieved because of new technology.

So, she told county staffers: “OK, staff, we’re not going to do those other ones anymore, where the arrays are on the outside.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano was pleased that a solution has been found.

“It’s great to see that no one’s here, compared to what we had before – 1,600 signatures,” Mariano said.

He credited county staff and the providers for working together.

But County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder pointed out: “The provider lost the contract.”

Like Mariano, Starkey said she’s pleased by the outcome.

“I got not one email of complaint,” Starkey said.

Published December 13, 2023

Pasco plans to seek legal relief in ‘Live Local’ cases

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Anyone who wants to invoke the state’s “Live Local Act” in Pasco County will have to go through the court system to do it.

The Pasco County Commission has directed the county’s legal staff to seek a declaratory judgment against any applicant seeking to invoke “Live Local” in Pasco.

That state law allows an applicant to convert land zoned for commercial, industrial or mixed uses into multifamily developments, provided the project serves people who meet income criteria.

The law preempts local government from blocking the developments and it provides a property tax break to the developer.

Pasco County invested roughly $65 million to pay for an interchange at Overpass Road and Interstate 75. The project is intended to ease traffic and to stimulate economic development. The Pasco County Commission contends the state’s Live Local Act could undermine the county’s efforts to create more jobs. (File)

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman has objected to the law since its inception — stating that it undermines Pasco’s attempts to create more local jobs.

The county and the Pasco Economic Development Council have been focusing considerable efforts in recent years to attract jobs to Pasco and to shed the county’s image as a “bedroom community” for other job-rich counties.

Weightman hit the roof recently when he learned that a developer wants to invoke “Live Local” on a site at the northwest corner of Overpass Road and Interstate 75.

Roy Mazur, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for development services, and David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, gave a presentation on the topic at the Pasco County Commission’s Dec. 5 meeting.

Tackling the issue is Pasco County’s top legislative priority, Mazur said.

Pasco County has sent a letter expressing their concerns to state lawmakers, he said. Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties also sent a joint letter on the topic to legislators.

So far, 12 people have expressed interest in invoking Live Local, representing a total of 10 projects, according to county figures. Four pre-applications have been filed and two applications have been filed. One of those applications was quickly withdrawn and the other one is pending.

Goldstein said Pasco is attracting more interest in Live Local projects than other counties.

“We’re sort of the epicenter of Live Local, in terms of the number of inquiries we have,” Goldstein said.

Weightman described applicants’ interest in converting the county’s commercially zoned lands as a “shotgun blast.”

Goldstein told the board that it essentially had four options.

One would be to invoke a moratorium, which Weightman has described as a “nuclear option” and Goldstein defines as a “blunt tool.”

The problem with a moratorium is that it’s not surgical, Goldstein said. There may be properties the county wouldn’t want to affect that could get caught up in a moratorium, while other properties the county wants to affect are missed.

A declaratory judgment, on the other hand, would be sought to address a specific application, he said.

Goldstein has a list identifying 22 legal issues with Live Local, including constitutional issues and ambiguities. He said the list is made up of information from various sources, including a committee of legal experts across the state.

If the county files for declaratory judgment, it will need to name the state attorney general in the lawsuit because it is challenging constitutional issues in the Live Local Act, Goldstein said.

Ron Oakley, selected as the board’s new chairman, said he favors using the declaratory judgment approach. 

He said the county must protect the $65 million investment it has made to the Overpass Road/Interstate 75 interchange project.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said allowing Live Local projects to be developed in the county would be devastating. He said once one is permitted, it would be difficult to stop others.

The county has been protecting its commercial and industrial lands with the goal of using those properties for job-generating uses and it must continue to do so, Mariano said.

He favors trying the declaratory judgment approach, but if that doesn’t work, he supports invoking a moratorium.

The county won’t file a request for declaratory judgment unless an applicant seeks to invoke the Live Local Act and refuses to withdraw his or her application, Goldstein said. But if the applicant refuses, the county will act.

Published December 13, 2023

Pasco County Schools is identifying more gifted students

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Pasco County Schools has seen an increase in the number of students identified as academically gifted since the district began using a screening tool with all district second-graders, according to Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer.

“Since that time, we have increased our number of gifted-identified students by 20%, especially in some of the more disproportionate areas,” Hilton said.

She said the district also has launched more professional development opportunities to help increase the number of educators to help serve the district’s gifted learners.

“In June of 2022, we started to offer all five endorsement courses over the summer, so teachers didn’t have to come out of their classrooms, they could do that when they weren’t doing other things, or as they did things for summer.

“We prioritized the teachers who were already teaching gifted learners, and, as a result, in that first year, we had over 250 classes completed,” Hilton told the Pasco County School Board, during its Dec. 5 meeting.

“And then, since we started, we’ve had a total of almost 650 classes completed, and we’ve increased the number of our gifted endorsed teachers by 33%,” she added.

“So, we have done support for students and support for teachers,” Hilton said.

She expressed her gratitude to district departments that help to pull off opportunities for students and staff in this area, including the Office for Leading and Learning, the Office for Student Support Programs and Services, and Accountability Research and Measurement.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding said she has heard positive feedback from a couple of her friends who have been able to take the classes.

“It’s just a great opportunity,” Harding said.

Published December 13, 2023

Zephyrhills’ leaders step up to help school children

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City leaders from Zephyrhills are stepping up to boost literacy efforts among the community’s young children.

City leaders are getting involved in efforts to help school children learn to read. They have volunteered to help a specific group of young children in Zephyrhills’ public elementary schools.

“There’s a commitment from the city to support our literacy efforts. They are doing that not only through their innovative programs at the public library, but they’re also committed to have their city employees volunteer in our schools,” said Poe, the district’s assistant superintendent of elementary schools.

“So, at this time — and they’ve been doing it for over a month —  every week we have the librarian, airport director, finance director and public information officer volunteering at West Zephyrhills Elementary.

“We have the city manager, police chief and public works director volunteering at Woodland Elementary. They have an assigned time, an hour a week, that they do during their work day, with assigned third-graders.

“So, they are working with those students who are really trying to give it their all this year, and we know that’s a high stakes year and we’re focusing our efforts there.

“Also, City Council members Lance Smith and Steve Spina — they are members of the Zephyrhills Noon Rotary — so they heard of the initiative and wanted to get involved, so they and the Rotary members are pushing into West Zephyrhills Elementary, focusing on first-grade learners.

“So, we’re super-excited to know that the efforts are citywide.

“And they’re working along our two elementary schools to impact their youngest citizens.

“We know it takes a village. It’s cliché. We hear it, but we know it does take all of us working together to positively impact our community, and we are all in on literacy this year.”

Published December 13, 2023

A new Village Green is coming to East Pasco

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request for a rezoning to clear a project that includes 470 apartments and townhomes, as well as 14,000 square feet of commercial space, which will feature lawn space for a Village Green.

The 48-acre site on the west side of Wirt Road, about one-half mile north of Prospect Road in San Antonio, previously was zoned for agricultural and agricultural residential uses.

But the board voted unanimously at its Nov. 14 meeting to clear the way for the site to be used for a mixture of multifamily and commercial uses.

“The Village Green concept is based around a centrally located green space where the applicant plans to hold farmer’s markets, craft fairs, holiday markets or similar events,” according to background materials in the county board’s agenda packet.

When it is not being used for events, the green space will be a passive space for the public to enjoy, the background materials add.

Gavin Covey, a Pasco County planner, presented the request by Bruce Landis of Landis, Evans and Partners, for the board’s consideration.

During his presentation, Covey described the concept as a “really good community asset” in his opinion.

Madonna Wise urged the board to reduce the proposed intensity of the project, saying it is not compatible with other development in the area.

“This has been a nightmare for us,” she told the county board.

She called for a decrease in density.

“This is what it looks like now in the area,” she said, showing board members a slide in a PowerPoint. “Majestic oaks are everywhere.”

She also lamented the plight of wildlife, which is being forced out into other areas because of increasing development.

Her husband, Ernie, raised concerns about the area’s traffic hazards, which will only worsen with the number of residential dwellings proposed in the plan.

Linda Snell, who lives on Wirt Road, said her house was built in 1889, and she’s the current resident of four generations of the McCabe family.

“We’re proud of this area,” she told the county board. “As stewards of this area, I’d like you all to help it.”

County board members said they like Landis’ design, but want to be sure that what gets built on the site actually matches that plan.

Landis said his company has a good track record in that request, but County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the board wants to make sure that it does, and can add that as a condition of approval.

So, the board did just that, noting that the site plan submitted for approval must substantially match the plan Landis presented during the Nov. 14 zoning hearing.

After raising concerns about lack of access to the site, the board also added a requirement for a multi-use trail to be constructed to provide that access, in exchange for granting mobility fee credits to the developer.

Board members also instructed Landis to have a meeting with residents, with a county staff member present, to address the issue of buffering on Wirt Road to reduce impacts to neighbors.

Published December 06, 2023

City of San Antonio objects to potential Orange Belt Trail Route

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The City of San Antonio is raising objections to one of the paths for the proposed 37-mile Orange Belt Trail, intended for runners, walkers and cyclists to make their way across Pasco County.

As envisioned, the trail will be a multi-use path from Trinity to Trilby.

San Antonio officials have declared their opposition, specifically, to the proposed B1 Route of the trail, citing concerns by residents that the path is too close to private homes and could result in various negative impacts.

The objections are outlined in a Sept. 20 letter to the Pasco County Commission, from Mayor John Vogel II, Mayor pro-tempore Mark B. Anderson and commissioners Alison Cagle, Kevin Damic and Sarah Schrader.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, whose district stretches across about half of Pasco County, including San Antonio, asked Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles to read a letter into the record, at the county board’s Nov. 14 meeting.

The letter notes that the city appreciates the county’s efforts to expand recreational opportunities and promote connectivity.

However, the city officials said, as representatives of the residents of San Antonio, they felt compelled to do their “due diligence in protecting the interests and well-being of our community.”

The letter adds: “We believe that the proposed B1 Route poses significant drawbacks and concerns for our community.

“Route B1 of the Orange Belt Trail Route intersects with several residential neighborhoods, leading to concerns of privacy, safety, and noise pollution.

“The increased foot and bicycle traffic in these areas may disrupt the tranquility and security that residents have long enjoyed in their homes, qualities many have sought after and appreciated in their decision to call San Antonio home.

“Moreover, the potential for increase in littering, vandalism and other undesirable activities along the trail is a worry for many.”

City commissioners also noted they’ve been approached by residents “with fears of eminent domain, and discomfort with having a public trail in close proximity to their private homes and yards.

“Traffic congestion and safety are additional worries associated with the B1 Route.

“Sections of the trail would intersect with small residential streets — including Railroad Avenue, Michigan Avenue and Joe Hermann Drive, creating potential hazards for residents of the streets, trail users and motorists,” the letter adds.

Safety is a major issue, too.

An increase of pedestrians and cyclists, particularly near Curley Street, city leaders wrote, “would lead to an uptick in accidents endangering lives and property.”

The letter also raises concerns about a lack of community involvement in the process.

“We believe that the proposed Orange Belt Trail Route does not adequately consider the preferences and needs of our community,” the letter says.

“We feel that our concerns have not been adequately addressed,” it adds.

Communication has been lacking, too, city leaders say.

“Paths for the proposed routes have changed between public meetings, with sparse details available, leading to confusion and uncertainty over who will be impacted by the project.

“We urge the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners to undertake a more comprehensive and inclusive community engagement process to ensure that the trail aligns with the wishes and values of our residents,” the letter continues.

The city leaders urge the county board to reject the B1 Route within San Antonio.

“While we are not opposed to the Orange Belt Trail as a project overall, we are strongly opposed to any route that would run adjacent to any of the city of San Antonio residential streets.

“Routes B2 and B3, adjacent to State Road 52 and County Road 52, would have a less significant impact on the City of San Antonio community and residents.

“We believe that a more thoughtful and community-driven approach is necessary to address the concerns of residents, protect our environment and enhance our city’s recreational offerings.

“We look forward to further dialogue and collaboration with the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners to find a solution that benefits our community as a whole,” the letter says.

Concerns about the alignment of the Orange Belt Trail have been voiced throughout community meetings regarding planning for the recreational path.

Property owners have voiced worries that they could lose portions of their land through eminent domain to make way for the trail.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, a staunch advocate for trails, in general, and for the Orange Belt Trail, in particular, has proclaimed those fears are unfounded. There are no plans for the county to take property against property owner wishes for the Orange Belt Trail, Starkey has said repeatedly at public meetings.

While acknowledging the concerns that have been raised about the Orange Belt Trail’s path, Oakley has said he believes a path will be found to move the project forward.

The Orange Belt Trail will, more or less, follow the path of the old railway and will link communities such as Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Dade City.

It is expected to have recreational and economic opportunities along the way and will make use of the Coast-to-Coast Trail, Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail and Withlacoochee Trail. The multi-use trail is expected to be 12 feet to 14 feet wide, and will be paved, but portions of the path also could incorporate equestrian uses.

Published December 06, 2023

Audrey Major, co-owner of ‘The Party Line’ passes on

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There was a time when Audrey and Alban Major, co-owners of “The Party Line,” were widely known in the communities of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

“The paper – everybody wanted it. It just covered every facet of life here. The photo element really was much more extensive than most small papers had at that time,” said Dr. Susan A. MacManus, who lives in Land O’ Lakes.

MacManus is an expert on Florida politics and co-author of local history books about Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

“If there was an event, they would cover it. And, if there was a family accomplishment or a highlight of someone’s achievement, they would publish it.

“So, basically, anyone who wanted to share news, they were the venue for doing it,” MacManus said.

Audrey and Alban Major were the co-owners of The Party Line, a community newspaper that covered all facets of daily life in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. Audrey died at age 100 on Nov. 17. (Courtesy of Dr. Susan A. MacManus)

The couple was tuned in to what mattered to area residents, she added.

“They were neighborly, very insightful about what people enjoyed about local life and they were sort of like the glue that stuck the communities of Land O’ Lakes and Lutz together,” said MacManus, whose family supported the creation of a digital collection of historic photographs and documents, which was recently dedicated at the Lutz Branch Library.

MacManus said one story published by The Party Line was particularly notable.

“They ran a piece that was classic, what I think was exemplary of their service to the community, which really identified all the old pioneer families in the area. It, to my knowledge, was the only such collection that was ever done along those lines,” she said.

Audrey Major, of Lutz, a co-owner of The Party Line, passed away peacefully on Nov. 17 at her home, at the age of 100, according to information provided to The Laker/Lutz News by her daughter, Heidi M. Taylor.

Audrey was born on Oct. 7, 1923 to Capt. Adrian and Amey Bicker-Caarten in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, as a dual citizen of the United States and Great Britain.

In St. Thomas she lived in the family compound, which included Black Beard’s Castle, according to obituary information, provided by her daughter.

While living in St Thomas, she flew with Charles Lindbergh, the obituary says.

When she was 10, Audrey’s family moved to London, where she attended boarding school.

“One day, Audrey defied warnings and climbed a Monkey Tree with huge thorns. She refused to come down because of the thorns, so the school had to rescue her,” the obituary information says. 

The obituary goes on to say that Audrey was a registered nurse at 18, working in a London hospital during World War II.

Her obituary provides these additional details.

“Her family evacuated London, but Audrey stayed behind with her dog, a British Bull Terrier. One day, as bombs were falling, she ran to an air raid shelter where they refused to let her in because dogs were not allowed. She refused to go inside without her dog. They finally let her in.

“Amidst the bombings, she cared for the wounded at a London hospital. She alternated working on the live ambulance and the dead ambulance. In 1945, she cared for Holocaust survivors among the other war veterans after her fiancé’s fighter plane was shot down.”

By 1947, she had moved to the United States and in 1950, she met her husband, Alban, in Miami.

The Party Line’s office operated out of a building that was originally constructed by the MacManus family.

The family relocated to Lutz, where Audrey and Alban owned and operated “The Party Line,” with the help of their three children.

Alban was the reporter and photographer and Audrey was the editor.

Alban died suddenly at age 65, and after that Audrey founded a single-family home property management business, known as “MD Management.”

The company thrived and Audrey continued to run it until she was 90.

In addition to her professional life, she had many other interests.

She loved reading romantic novels, was an avid gardener at one point having 150 rose bushes and 50 orchids, and loved dogs, British Bull Terriers and German Shepherds, in particular.

She also enjoyed traveling the world with her three granddaughters, Amey, Norah and Paulla, the obituary says.

“In 1965, Audrey planted a Monkey Tree as a reminder not to do stupid things in life,” the obituary adds.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Alban Roland Major; her son, Patrick Scott Major, and siblings, Capt. Delmar John Bicker-Caarten, Capt. James Bicker-Caarten and Peter Bicker-Caarten.

She is survived by her son, Gil R. Major, and his wife, Pamela, and daughter, Heidi M. Taylor and her husband, Stephen; and her grandchildren, Amey Major and Billy Marckesano, Norah Taylor and Paulla Taylor; and great-grandchild, Jamie Marckesano.

The Party Line went on to become The Lutz News, which went on to become The Laker/Lutz News.

Published December 06, 2023

Pasco planning board recommends against cell tower

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A request for a 155-foot cell tower in an Odessa neighborhood has met with resistance from area residents and has received a recommendation for denial from a divided planning board.

An attorney for the applicants, Joan E. Patterson/Anthemnet and Verizon Wireless, told the planning board that the request meets the requirements spelled out in county regulations and asked the board to agree with the planning staff’s recommendation for approval.

The application called for a 155-foot pole, including a 150-foot monopine, which resembles a pine tree, as well as a 5-foot lightning rod on a property at the terminus of Roland Drive, about 600 feet north of Balough Road, in Odessa.

Neighbors made their objections loud and clear during a Nov. 16 public hearing before the Pasco County Planning Commission.

Residents expressed fears about potential negative impacts on their health and also on their property values.

A request for a 155-foot cell tower, which will be disguised as a tree, in an Odessa neighborhood has met with resistance from area residents and has received a recommendation for denial from a divided Pasco County planning board.

They said the cell tower would become an eyesore in an area that boasts natural beauty.

One speaker told the planning board that if a cell tower must be approved, it would be better to have one of a different design.

He voiced concerns about the monopine’s materials deteriorating and shedding over time, posing environmental risk to people, property, wetlands and a lake.

Others expressed worries about the wear and tear that will be created as trucks come to the site to build and maintain the cell tower.

David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, told the audience that the Federal Communications Commission has preempted local governments from regulating cell towers based upon potential harmful effects on people, plants or animals from radiofrequency emissions.

The planning board’s role, he said, is to look at it from a land use and zoning perspective and not to consider any potential health effects.

Planning Commissioner Jon Moody was receptive to the argument that materials shedding from a monopine could have negative impacts. He called for approval of the request, but said the cell tower should be a monopole, made of galvanized steel.

While not being able to produce hard evidence, other speakers told the planning board they fear the presence of a cell tower in their neighborhood would deter buyers, should they ever want to sell their homes.

Planning Commissioner Jaime Girardi raised concerns about placing a cell tower in a residential neighborhood, and, in general, about the increasing proliferation of cell towers.

“Are we heading down the path that we’re going to have a cell tower every mile in the county?” Girardi asked.

Bill Compton, a technical expert for the applicant, said there are areas where the sites are needed that close together based on demand and cell tower capacity.

Girardi said he’s also concerned about this request because “it’s very close to existing residential in the area,” noting the tower would be just 100 feet from the property line.

“That’s bothersome to me,” he said. Girardi added: “I think we’re headed down a dangerous path here, if you need one of these things every mile.”

Planning Commissioner Derek Pontlitz, who voted in favor of the request, said today’s technology demands the installation of cell towers to support it.

Planning Commissioner Richard Tonello asked if the roads leading to the site will allow the equipment needed to carry the necessary materials to build the tower.

Representatives for the applicant said the roads are sufficient to gain access and any damage that occurs to the roads during the construction phase will be repaired.

The attorney for the applicant also noted that if any damage to the monopine’s fronds occurs, the applicant is required to provide repairs within 15 days.

Planning Commission Chairman Charles Grey asked if the applicant would be willing to build a bell tower, rather than a monopole or monopine.

The attorney responded that the clients support a monopole or monopine, not a bell tower structure.

Goldstein asked: “Is it because of a technical reason or cost issue?”

The attorney said cost is a factor, but deferred to her expert regarding the technical question.

Compton said the types of structures used are becoming a bigger issue as different frequency bands come out.

Grey told his colleagues that he would not support the request.

“We do have a responsibility, as a board, to try to protect the people that live in that area.

“The other thing that I don’t like is that I don’t like it when a company comes and says, ‘We don’t want to do that because it’s going to cost more money.’ How it affects the neighbors is more important to me than whether it’s going to cost more money.

“I’m not sure all of the best efforts were made here to find the better location,” Grey said. 

The planning board voted 3-2 to recommend denial of the request. It now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over zoning and land use issues.

In other action, the planning board:

  • Approved a special exception request from Esther’s School Inc., for a private school in a high-density residential area. The school will operate on a roughly 6-acre site on the south side of State Road 52, about 165 feet east of Meadow Drive.
  • Recommended approval of a request by The Crossings at Sunlake to rezone a 3.69-acres site on the north side of State Road 52, at the intersection of Sunlake Boulevard. The property is zoned for general commercial uses and a light industrial park district. The applicant proposes a general commercial district for a portion of The Crossings at Sunlake Commerce Park. A request is pending to change the comprehensive land use designation on the site from light industrial to commercial.

Published December 06, 2023

Pasco County land development code changes are on the way

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The Pasco County Commission cannot block individuals from pursuing projects under the Florida Legislature’s Live Local Act, but the county board can strip local economic incentives from those projects.

And, that is precisely what the board is considering in the form of amendments to the county’s land development code.

Amendments being considered by the county allow some impact fee exemptions and/or reductions for developments being built for low- and moderate-income families, but those economic incentives would not be granted to individuals who have “invoked the land use/zoning preemption or mandatory property tax exemption in the Live Local Act.”

The board wants to make the same change, relating to traditional neighborhood developments (TNDs) or transit-oriented developments (TODs.)

The proposed changes are among recommendations to Pasco County’s land development code.

County planning staff periodically suggests updates to the code to the county board for its consideration.

Often the new language is aimed at undoing the results of unintended consequences or to correct scrivener’s errors.

But sometimes they arise from new situations, or to provide new direction on substantive issues.

Another recommendation in this batch of code changes would establish enforcement powers for the county to cite private property owners who have not complied with deed restrictions they agreed to impose on their own properties.

Specifically, the county will be able to cite individuals who fail to comply with a recorded deed restriction that was used to secure a county development approval or a county mobility fee or impact fee exemption waiver or reduction.

The county has been using private deed restrictions as a tool to prevent property owners from seeking and securing zoning changes, and then turning around and invoking the Live Local Act to develop the site.

It appears highly likely that the county board will strip away any local incentives it has within its control relating to projects developed under the Live Local Act.

The Florida Legislature adopted the Live Local Act last session, as a way of spurring more development of affordable housing. The act makes it impossible for local governments to block the conversion of existing commercial, industrial and mixed-use sites to be developed for multifamily use, if the project meets requirements regarding the provision of affordable housing units for a specified period. The law also provides a tax break for such projects.

Pasco County board members have been highly critical of the law saying that it undermines local efforts to expand job opportunities locally, which would enable the county to shed its longstanding role of being a bedroom community for people who commute to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties for work.

Other changes being recommended include a requirement that neighborhood meetings relating to a proposed development be scheduled after an application has been deemed complete, in terms of content.

fThat amendment is intended to ensure that the public has the pertinent information, which has not always happened in the past, according to Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator.

The proposed code changes also address an issue regarding repeated requests on the same property for a variance, or for the use of an alternative standard.

An applicant still will be able to make the same request multiple times, but the proposed code change specifies waiting periods between repeated applications.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of the code changes during a Nov. 16 public hearing on the issue. The county board was scheduled to take up the issue on Dec. 5, after The Laker/Lutz News went to press. A final public hearing by the county board is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Published December 06, 2023