Kathy Steele

Area events honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 13, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives on each year as communities nationwide celebrate the birth of the civil rights leader with parades, community service days and reflections on his message of non-violence.

The official holiday honoring King will be Jan. 18.

In Pasco County, celebrations will be take place throughout the week, including a first-time parade in Lacoochee on the official holiday.

The parade came at the suggestion of the young people in the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee, said Lorenzo Coffie, who is helping organize the parade and a scholarship breakfast for the MLK Program Committee.

“We thought it was an exciting idea,” Coffie said.

Area colleges and civic groups also are planning events.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his stirring ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during the 1963 March on Washington. (FIle Photo) — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his stirring ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during the 1963 March on Washington.
(FIle Photo)

Pasco-Hernando State College will host the 31st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture Series on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, on its various campuses around the county.

The guest speaker will be Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of black popular culture in African-American Studies at Duke University in North Carolina and director of the Institute of Critical US Studies.

The theme of Neal’s lectures will be “Hip Hop, Civil Rights and Social Media.”

King’s legacy is in civil rights, but also social justice, and this year’s theme focuses on the synergy between the two, said Imani Asukile, director of Global & Multicultural Awareness at PHSC.

Neal also brings expertise in social media and its cultural influences. His articles have been published in the Washington Post, Emerge Magazine and The Chicago Sun-Times.

He is author of four books, including his most recent, “New Black Man: Rethinking Black Masculinity.”
Neal has described himself as a black feminist male.

At Saint Leo University, there will be a Spring Community Service Day on Jan. 18.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince will be the guest speaker at noon in the Student Community Center boardroom, discussing King’s efforts to end childhood poverty.

Quince became the first African-American woman appointed to a state appeals court when she was selected to serve on the Second Court of Appeal in 1993. She was elected to the position three years later.

Gov. Lawton Chiles and Gov.-elect Jeb Bush appointed her to the Florida Supreme Court in 1998. She served as chief justice from 2008 to 2010, making her the second African-American and third woman to hold the position.

Following her talk, a free children’s fair will be on campus. There will be face painting, sand art and several inflatables. Faculty, students and student clubs will host the activities.

In Lacoochee, the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, local churches, schools, area businesses and the MLK Program Committee plan two days of activities.

On Jan. 16, a Scholarship Breakfast program will take place at the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee. Donations of $10 for adults and $5 for students are requested. The funds will provide scholarships to area high school students.

On Jan. 18, a parade will be held, followed by a program at the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee, with the Rev. Deundrick Reed as keynote speaker.

The MLK Program Committee enlists different hosts each year for festivities. Coffie said the committee members appreciate the enthusiasm of the youth at the Boys & Girls Club who wanted to stage a parade.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Cpl. Jessica Hammond, known as Officer Friendly, also encouraged the parade, he said.

The theme is “The Dream: One Nation Under God.”

“(Dr.) King was a reverend. That was his forte,” said Coffie. “His ministry was based on nonviolence and equality for all.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations:

Activities at Pasco-Hernando State College
Who: Guest lecturer Mark Anthony Neal, professor of black popular culture in African-American Studies at Duke University
What: Lecture on “Hip Hop, Civil Rights and Social Media”
When: Jan. 20 at 10 a.m., in Room B-303, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Road, Wesley Chapel and at 6 p.m. in Room A-240, East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, Dade City.
Neal also will speak on Jan. 21 at 9:45 a.m., via web telecast in B-104/105, North Campus, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Brooksville; at 9:45 a.m., in Performing Arts Center, West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey, and at 7 p.m., in Room B-105, Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court, Spring Hill

Activities at Saint Leo University
What: Speech by Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince
Where: Student Community Center boardroom
When: Jan. 18 at noon

What: Children’s fair
When: Jan. 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on the green between the Student Activities Building and Kirk Hall.
Saint Leo University is at 33701 State Road 52, four miles east of Interstate 75.

MLK Program Committee Activities

What: Scholarship Breakfast Program
When: Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Lacoochee.
How much: Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for students

MLK parade
When: Jan. 18 at 9 a.m.
Where: Starting in Lacoochee at Cummer Road and U.S. 301, ending at Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee. After the parade, there will be a MLK Commemorative Program at 11 a.m., at the boys and girls club, where the Rev. Deundrick Reed will be the keynote speaker. There will be refreshments at Stanley Park after the program.

Published January 13, 2016

Wesley Chapel Boulevard workshop set

January 13, 2016 By Kathy Steele

New growth in and around the intersections of State Road 56, County Road 54 and Interstate 75 is generating traffic jams.

The developments just keep coming.

Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October.

Culver’s and Cheddar’s Casual Café – are under construction.

Motorists round a curve leading from two lanes of County Road 54 into a more expansive four-lane divided roadway, with turn lanes, at the intersection with State Road 56. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Motorists round a curve leading from two lanes of County Road 54 into a more expansive four-lane divided roadway, with turn lanes, at the intersection with State Road 56.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Site plans are filed, or on the way, for additional retail, hotels and offices as part of Cypress Creek Town Center.

Florida Hospital Center Ice — a sports complex featuring ice rinks and other sports courts – also is under construction.

One proposed traffic fix calls for widening County Road 54, which is also known as Wesley Chapel Boulevard, from north of State Road 56 to north of Magnolia Boulevard.

A public workshop will be held on Jan. 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to discuss the estimated $53 million project and to gather public input on the road’s design.

The workshop will be held at Veterans Elementary School, 26940 Progress Parkway in Wesley Chapel.

People can view maps of the project, as well as ask questions of Pasco County officials and consultants from Kisinger Campo & Associates.

Representatives of the Florida Department of Transportation also are invited.

“It is a very big priority,” said Deborah Bolduc, the county’s program administrator for engineering services.

An initial study completed in 2003 recommended widening the two-lane road to match the now widened portion of the county road on its approach to the intersection with State Road 56.

Florida Hospital Center Ice, a new hockey and sports complex, has begun construction east of Interstate 75 and north of State Road 56. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Florida Hospital Center Ice, a new hockey and sports complex, has begun construction east of Interstate 75 and north of State Road 56.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

But, for motorists who turn off State Road 56 on to County Road 54, it’s only a short jaunt just beyond Old Cypress Creek Road before the four-lane, divided highway suddenly narrows to two lanes.

In the past decade more homes and businesses have been added to the area. Area residents often confront long waits along the road’s two-lane stretch waiting to navigate into the flow of traffic.

County officials decided to give the public a new look at the project and another opportunity to offer their thoughts.

“There could be some tweaks made based as a result of comments,” Bolduc said.

The widening project will be presented to the Pasco County Commission in spring. If approved, funds are budgeted for the next two years for design and right of way purchases.

Construction currently is scheduled for 2022, though Bolduc said that date could be pushed forward depending on availability of funding.

Published January 13, 2016

School buses to run on natural gas

January 13, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County’s school district is planning to use natural gas to fuel a new fleet of buses.

On Jan. 13, the Pasco County Planning Commission will consider a proposal to rezone about 24 acres on Interlaken Road for a storage, maintenance and fueling station that can handle about 120 buses.

Future buses transporting children in Pasco County Schools are expected to use natural gas for fuel. (File Photo) — Future buses transporting children in Pasco County Schools are expected to use natural gas for fuel.
(File Photo)

Pasco County commissioners will make the final decision on the rezoning at a later date, possibly on Jan. 26.

In the first year of the program, Pasco County Schools plans to buy between 30 and 35 new buses equipped to run on fuel known as Compressed Natural Gas, or CNG. Those buses could be rolling by spring 2017, with more to come.

“Transitioning to CNG will be done over many years,” said Pasco County Schools Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd.

The district has about 470 buses in its fleet.

The goal is to shift a portion of the district’s bus fleet from gasoline and diesel-burning fuels to natural gas. The school district anticipates the shift to result in savings over time.

Buses also will burn cleaner fuel with less toxic emissions, and they will run more quietly than traditional buses.

Gadd estimates the annual cost for purchasing these buses will be about $1.5 million. A state rebate program could provide the school district with a return of $25,000 per bus, up to 10 buses.

“It helps counter the costs,” he said.

Ray Gadd is deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools) — Ray Gadd is deputy superintendent of Pasco County
Schools.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

And, buying the buses over several years will stagger their eventual replacement dates, which also can save money. Typically, buses are replaced after 10 years. But, Gadd said a natural gas fueled bus is predicted to have a longer life of 13 to 15 years.

If the rezoning is approved, design work could begin within a month. Opening date for the approximately $7 million facility is anticipated in spring 2017.

A.D. Morgan of Tampa will build the station.

The school board briefly considered a public/private partnership, but Gadd said, “Any time you finance it, somebody is making a profit. We had the capital to build it ourselves. We are going to own it and operate it.”

The property on Interlaken is in a largely industrial area on a former tree farm.

Prior to reaching a decision, Pasco school district officials visited Clearwater Gas System, which is owned and operated by the city of Clearwater. The city was the first in Tampa Bay to build a natural gas fueling station in 2011.

Clearwater Gas will be the school district’s supplier. The utility currently serves parts of Pinellas and Pasco, including Land O’ Lakes and the community of Connerton.

At a neighborhood meeting in November, about a dozen residents met with school districts officials, according to county documents filed with the rezoning application.

They requested an eight-foot buffer wall, which Gadd said can be built.

Aside from the buses’ new sheen, parents and students won’t notice a difference from the old yellow school buses.

“It looks just like the buses we have now that people are used to seeing up and down their streets,” Gadd said.

Published January 13, 2016

Business Digest 01/13/2016

January 13, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Insurance commissioner resigns
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has announced his resignation, effective May 2. McCarty, who was the state’s first appointed insurance commissioner, has had the post for 12 years.

McCarty plans to pursue other job opportunities, according to a news release from Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

He was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2003 and served under three governors. According to media reports, he survived efforts last year by Gov. Rick Scott and some legislators to oust him from office. However, McCarty said he was not forced to resign.

Scott’s spokeswoman, Jackie Schutz, issued a statement thanking McCarty for his service and wishing him the best of luck in his next endeavors.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano said Florida consumers are losing one of their greatest advocates.

“Commissioner McCarty not only stood up for the consumer, he had an incredible grasp of the complexity of insurance in all its forms,” Fasano said in a news release. “His voice of warning or support could change the tide for a piece of legislation. He truly was an individual who, even though powerful, behaved at all times like a gentleman. He is a class act whose shoes will surely be hard to fill.”

Scott and his cabinet will appoint McCarty’s successor.

New Starkey Ranch builder
Pulte Homes will open three model homes in the master-planned community of Starkey Ranch in early 2017, according to a news release from Larry Vershel Communications.

Starkey Ranch is located on State Road 54 at Heart Pine Avenue, four miles west of the Suncoast Parkway.

Pulte Homes will offer 13 one and two-story home designs ranging from about 1,900 square feet to 4,200 square feet, with two and three-car garages. The builder’s 165 home sites are in the Homestead Park neighborhood, which offers wetland and woodland views. Prices aren’t currently available.

Starkey Ranch currently offers two dog parks, a playground, picnic pavilions and a recreation lawn. In 2016, a community pool and splash pad, and the first baseball and multi-sports fields in the 90-acre district park will have grand openings. Future plans include a kindergarten through eighth grade public school, a 20-mile multi-use trail system, a shared use gymnasium and tennis courts, a public library, and a community theater.

For information, call (877) 752-0173, email , or visit Pulte.com/starkeyranch.

Alcohol license
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is ready for its beer, wine and liquor license.

The California-based restaurant plans to build its eatery and brewery near the entrance to Tampa Premium Outlets, at the intersection of Grand Cypress Drive and Creek Grass Way.

Tampa Premium Outlets, Inc., filed for the alcoholic beverage license on behalf of BJ’s. The Pasco County Planning Commission will consider approval of the application on Jan. 13 in Dade City.

No construction start date is announced

A conceptual site plan submitted to the county shows a 7,500-square-foot restaurant, with an entrance off Creek Grass Way.

The restaurant’s menu offers BJ’s signature deep-dish pizza, as well as salads, pastas, steaks, baby back ribs and a kid’s menu.

According to BJ’s website, the restaurant began in California in 1978, and added a line of handcrafted beers in the mid-1990s.

Business loan seminar
Pasco-Hernando State College Chapter of SCORE will have a free seminar on “How to Apply for a Business Loan” on Jan. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City.

The seminar will cover start-ups, mature businesses and purchasing businesses. The discussion also will include sources of loans from $5,000 to $5 million.

For information, call (727) 842-4638, or visit PascoHernandoScore.org.

Chamber luncheon
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon on Jan. 14, with check-in at 11 a.m., at Brunchies Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch and Catering at 14366 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. Networking is until 11:30 a.m., when lunch will be served from a select menu.

The guest speaker will be journalist and author Kristen Hare, who wrote “100 Things to do in Tampa Bay Before You Die.”

For information and to RSVP, call the chamber at (813) 961-2420, email , or visit NorthTampaChamber.com.

Using the Internet in business
Pasco-Hernando State College Chapter of SCORE will offer a free seminar on “Using the Internet in Your Business” on Jan. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills.

The seminar will cover how a website can enhance your business. Those attending the session will be walked through an eight-step process of key activities that can help almost any business quickly leverage technology.

For information, call (727) 842-4638, or visit PascoHernandoScore.org.

Hispanic business leaders luncheon
The Hispanic Business Leaders Luncheon will be on Jan. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The event is sponsored by the Hispanic Business Leaders of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

Guest speakers will share personal experiences and law enforcement’s perspective on human trafficking.

The cost is $20 for chamber members and $25 for non-members, but only $18 if prepaid.

For information, contact John Jay Anglada, of Finest DeeJays, at (813) 298-3232.

Seeking state road money

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

State lawmakers are seeking $8 million in state funds to push along a project, known as the diverging diamond interchange, to fix the daily traffic jams at Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

The trouble spot already is among Pasco County’s 2015 priorities for highway projects. The list is for a five-year plan that is updated annually and also includes the intersection at State Road 54 and U.S. 4, and other projects along State Road 52 and U.S. 301.

But, with some state money in hand, a project start date for I-75 and State Road 56 might come sooner rather than later. Currently, the Florida Department of Transportation anticipates funding in 2017 for study and design of the interchange.

Traffic stacks up daily, at morning and evening rush hours, as motorists navigate Interstate 75 and State Road 56. (File Photo) — Traffic stacks up daily, at morning and evening rush hours, as motorists navigate Interstate 75 and State Road 56.
(File Photo)

“I think there is reason to hope,” said State Sen. Richard Corcoran. The Land O’ Lakes lawmaker is the designated Speaker of the House when the 2016 legislature convenes Jan. 12.

Sarasota is the first city in Florida to build a diverging diamond interchange. The $74.5 million interchange at I-75 and University Parkway will be operational in 2017.

Another similar project is possible on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville.

In the diverging diamond interchange, multiple lanes of traffic from opposite directions crisscross from one side of the roadway to the other and then switch back, guided by road signs, marked lanes and traffic signals.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but in practice is easy to follow, eases traffic congestion, prevents wrong-way entry onto ramps and reduces crashes, according to engineering experts.

This type of interchange also allows for pedestrian crossings and bicycle lanes.

The expectation is that no additional right of way will be needed at I-75 and State Road 56, which will aid in costs and construction schedules.

Corcoran is meeting with representatives of the state department of transportation to discuss the matter. Federal funds also will be needed.

State Rep. Danny Burgess shares Corcoran’s optimism for the project. A funding request for $8 million has been filed, he said.

“We’re actively working hard to alleviate the current problem,” Burgess said.

Corcoran is familiar with the long lines that form during peak rush hours, because he drives that route almost daily.

The area surrounding the interchange is exploding with new growth, with more and more vehicles passing through I-75 and State Road 56.

Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October. Permits, site plans and wish lists for more commercial and residential growth in the area are multiplying, including the Cypress Creek Town Center. When that is finished, development will span both sides of State Road 56.

“It (the interchange) needs fixing very fast,” Corcoran said. “To the extent that we can play by the same rules as everyone else, it’s certainly going to be a top priority.”

That means making a convincing case that the project is worthy, Corcoran said.

Other states embraced the diverging diamond long before Florida.

Missouri was the first in 2009, and kept on building them, again and again. At nine, the state is home to the most diverging diamonds in the country, according to a list compiled by the Official Website of the DDI.

Utah is close behind, with eight, and North Carolina has seven.

As of Dec. 1, the website documented 64 diverging diamonds in operation around the country.

For information on Sarasota’s diverging diamond interchange, visit SWFLroads.com/i75/university. A YouTube video showing how the concept works also is available online.

Published January 6, 2016

Loan for State Road 56 no sure thing

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A state loan to build two additional lanes of an extended State Road 56 is in jeopardy, as state and county officials haggle over details of how to repay the estimated $22 million construction costs.

The road project currently calls for a two-lane extension of State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

A state loan would allow a four-lane road to be built — which is what residents and city officials in Zephyrhills have sought for years.

Pasco County commissioners will review eight agenda items on Jan. 12 related to the loan application that was made in May to the State Infrastructure Bank. They are facing a deadline on that date to complete an agreement acceptable to the county, the Florida Department of Transportation, area developers, and Cone & Graham, which is contracted to build the first two lanes of the project.

Everything could fall in to place by then, or not.

“Unfortunately, the ball’s in DOT’s corner. They set the deadline,” said Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein. “The deal is going to fall apart, or they are going to have to give us a new deadline.”

Most of the issues with developers and the road contractor are resolved, but state department of transportation requirements on the loan’s repayment are a major sticking point.

Goldstein said the state initially anticipated the county receiving a loan through tax-exempt bonds. But, that places restrictions on how the loan can be repaid, and likely means the county couldn’t pass the burden to private developers through county-collected mobility surcharge fees.

The city of Zephyrhills also agreed to pay up to 10 percent of annual loan repayments, if the county had to dip into its coffers for expenses.

The county had turned to the state bank as a last resort to fund two more lanes on State Road 56.

Unless the state transportation department can shift the county’s request into a loan pool for non-tax exempt bonds, the agreements with developers can’t work, Goldstein said.

The county also has a second concern about potential liability for cost overruns.

Cone & Graham representatives agreed to absorb expenses, if there are cost overruns with building the additional lanes. But, Goldstein said the state transportation department has a caveat. The agency won’t extend that protection in the event the company is fired, and a new contractor hired.

That would leave the county on the hook for unexpected payments.

“We’re hoping FDOT can resolve these two issues, so we can move forward,” Goldstein said.

The idea for the state loan arose after a February town hall meeting in Zephyrhills, where residents and city officials lobbied the department and state lawmakers for help. Many view a four-lane State Road 56 as an economic driver for more commercial and retail development.

Among the largest land tracts along the route is the Two Rivers Ranch, with about 3,500 acres. About half of the 6.7-mile extension would cut through the ranch. Thousands of new homes, shops and industries are anticipated there and within other new developments still on the drawing board including Wyndfields.

One development – Wesley Chapel Lakes in the Meadow Pointe subdivision – is under construction. Based on a prior agreement, the county has received between $300,000 and $400,000 in payments, but might not be able to recoup additional funds, despite the increased costs of road construction.

Published January 6, 2016

Resident crusades for safety wall on I-75

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Construction dust, giant cranes and truck traffic are an everyday inconvenience near Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.

Road crews are busy expanding the interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 52 from County Road 54 to Hernando County.

The three-year project is slated for completion in 2017, and is meant to improve traffic flow by widening I-75 from four lanes to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction.

State Road 52 also will be widened to six lanes. There will be frontage roads north and south of State Road 52, west of I-75. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes also will be installed.

John Hart points out a chipped window at his home in Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. He believes that vibrations coming from truck traffic on Interstate 75 cause damage to both his home and his neighbors’ homes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — John Hart points out a chipped window at his home in Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. He believes that vibrations coming from truck traffic on Interstate 75 cause damage to both his home and his neighbors’ homes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

But, what John Hart sees and hears from his backyard in Tampa Golf & Country Club he perceives as trouble.

He’s worried about a steady flow of cars and 18-wheelers delivering nonstop noise and rattling the foundation of his home.

And, in a worst-case scenario, he’s concerned about an overturned semitrailer crashing into his backyard.

The retired Rhode Island cop has been on a three-year crusade on behalf of his community to improve conditions.

“We’re looking for a safety wall,” Hart said. “I want to see the wall out there. I want to see people protected.”

State highway officials maintain that a study completed prior to construction did not justify a wall based on noise levels. And the road design, they say, meets national safety standards.

The entrance into the age 55 and older community is off State Road 52, within a few yards of the highway ramps.

Hart wants the sound and safety barrier installed along the approximately two-mile outer boundary of his neighborhood paralleling I-75. Currently, a row of pine trees and a vinyl fence are the only defenses against noise, or worse, an out-of-control vehicle, just 300 feet or so from a row of homes backing up to the interstate.

Hart has repeatedly raised his concerns with the Florida Department of Transportation.

He isn’t a man who gives up, even though Hart acknowledges that some by now — even within his community — probably wish he would concede it’s a lost cause.

Hart points to a recent accident as evidence that a safety wall is needed.

On Dec. 11, north of the interchange project, a dump truck in the southbound lane of I-75 blew a tire. A chain reaction accident occurred, involving another dump truck, a van, a semitrailer and a pickup truck.

Roadwork on the interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 52 will be completed in 2017. This is one of several projects statewide to improve traffic flow on the highway.

The driver with the blown tire died and another person suffered serious injuries, according to media reports.

The van ended up on the outside shoulder of the highway.

Hart worries that someday a semitrailer could roll across the road into his backyard. “It would take out this house,” he said.

State department of transportation spokesman John McShaffrey said the state agency can’t design roads for unexpected tire blowouts. But, he added, “We don’t compromise (safety).”

Construction projects aimed at improvements for the community can be a tough sell sometimes, he added.

“One thing to keep in mind is that improvements are needed for the greater good and the motoring public,” McShaffrey said. “We have to look at the greater good.”

In this instance, Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club was in early stages of development when the project was designed, with 10 or fewer homes built.

“The interstate was here first,” McShaffrey said, adding that homebuyers knew they would be living next to I-75.

The community could pay for a wall privately, if that is what residents want, McShaffrey said.

The project’s goal is to make driving safer by adding more lanes, and improving access on and off ramps. It is one of a series of interchange projects statewide along I-75.

“These are capacity projects,” said McShaffrey.

On average, about 50,000 vehicles per day travel on I-75, south of State Road 52, according to state transportation data from 2014.

Estimates for 2020 peg traffic along this segment an average of 56,000 a day.

The project has been on the state road department’s radar for more than a decade. It has met with hurdles along the way, including a lawsuit filed by Hillcrest Properties against Pasco County in 2010. A settlement eventually resolved issues related to a right of way purchase, and cleared the way for construction.

Hart has a file of material he has collected over nearly three years of protests by himself and, at times, hundreds of area residents who attended a public hearing in 2012.

His letters, emails and phone calls seeking relief have gone to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Gov. Rick Scott, State Reps. Will Weatherford, John Legg and Danny Burgess. He has reached out to Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader, and former State Rep. Jim Norman.

Hart disputes the road department’s sound study.

“We did our own soundings,” he said.

The results showed noise levels in some areas reached 94 decibels, Hart said.

According to data from Purdue University, that equates to a jet taking off, a jackhammer, power mower or motorcycle within 25 feet.

Hart paid thousands of dollars to install double-pane windows that muffle some noises. He also said he repaired a crack in his kitchen ceiling which he attributes to heavy truck traffic.

He also noted a crack in the outer wall of his neighbor’s house, and a chipped window and similar crack on his house’s exterior.

“Every now and then, you can feel vibrations when a truck goes by,” Hart said.

He has hosted tours of Tampa Golf & Country Club for representatives of area lawmakers. He got sympathy but, so far, Hart said nothing has happened.

And, he won’t give up.

“I know what the danger is out there,” he said.

Published January 6, 2016

Business Digest 01/06/2016

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

New president
Andy Joe Scaglione is the 2016 president of the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn installed Scaglione at the 104th annual Installation and Awards Banquet at the Avila Golf and Country Club. Other officers are: Joe Perez, of Keller Williams Tampa Properties, president-elect; Mari Colgan of Ellie & Associates, vice president; Norma Cohen of Smith & Associates Real Estate, secretary; and Sandy Streit of SandyRae Realty, treasurer.

The association’s top award of 2015 REALTOR of the Year went to Janet Swilley of Realty2000pa.com Inc.

The Tampa-based trade organization represents more than 7,400 real estate professionals in the Bay area, including Pasco County.

Women-n-Charge luncheon
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on Jan. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, at 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The meeting includes lunch and time to network. The guest speaker will be Sandra Miniere, of Integrative Wellness, with her presentation on “Success Begins with a Compelling Vision.”

The cost is $15 for members (Tuesday before the meeting), and $18 for all guests (and members paying Wednesday and after).

To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Membership meeting
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its 2016 Membership Meeting luncheon on Jan. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Harbor Terrace Restaurant at Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club, at 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway in Lutz.

The luncheon is sponsored by Jones & Co. The guest speakers will be certified public accountants Patricia Jones and Traci Malik, both of Jones & Co.

RSVP by Jan. 18 to pay $20 for the luncheon. At the door, the cost is $25.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Networking lunch
The East Pasco Networking Group will have its “Next Regular Exciting Meeting” on Jan. 12 at 11:30 a.m., at Blackstone’s Bar & Restaurant, 38361 County Road 54 in Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be Ed Caum, Pasco County’s tourism director.

For information, email Nils Lenz at , or visit the group’s website at Meetup.com/EastPascoNetworkingGroup/.

After-hours mixer
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host a “Chamber Chatter Connections” mixer on Jan. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Nabruzzi Trattoria, 6062 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. Cruise Planners is hosting the free event with a special presentation, wine and pizza, and door prizes.

To RSVP, contact , call (813) 448-1998, or text (352) 467-1883.

SCORE seminar
Pasco-Hernando State College Chapter of SCORE will have a free seminar on “How to Apply for a Business” on Jan. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City.

The seminar will cover start-ups, mature businesses and purchasing businesses. The discussion also will include sources of loans from $5,000 to $5 million.

For information, call (727) 842-4638, or visit PascoHernandoScore.org.

The guest speaker will be journalist and author Kristen Hare, who wrote “100 Things to do in Tampa Bay Before You Die.”

For information and to RSVP, call the chamber at (813) 961-2420, email , or visit NorthTampaChamber.com.

The seminar will cover roles a website can support in enhancing your business. Those attending the session will be walked through an eight-step process of key activities that can help almost any business quickly leverage technology.

For information, call (727) 842-4638, or visit PascoHernandoScore.org.

Ribbon cutting
American Home Title of Land O’ Lakes will host a ribbon cutting for its remodeled office on Jan. 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 2047 Osprey Lane, in Lutz. Refreshments will be served.

For information, call American Title at (813) 948-1868.

Connerton and Pasco on the path to new homes

December 30, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Kyle and Melody Marks fit in nicely with the demographics that are driving residential growth in Pasco County.

And, these young professionals are clear on the lifestyle they want for themselves and their two children, Amelia, age 5, and Brody, age 7.

In six months, they plan to move from a starter home to a new and larger home in Connerton, a master-planned community off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41.

Kyle Marks, left, Amelia, age 5, and Melody Marks sit on a couch in the Lennar model home that is similar to one where they’ll live. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Kyle Marks, left, Amelia, age 5, and Melody Marks sit on a couch in the Lennar model home that is similar to one where they’ll live.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Connerton is one of Pasco’s up-and-coming neighborhoods attracting eager buyers who want bang for their buck, a touch of the rural, and the amenities of big city life.

The Marks are saying goodbye to the temptation to cross the county line into Hillsborough or Pinellas, in search of a good restaurant or a shopping excursion.

“There is no more traveling back to Tampa for everything,” said Melody Marks.

The Marks set their sights on Connerton months ago, and became the first buyers of a Lennar-built home in the community.

Lennar is the newest homebuilder to offer homes at Connerton.

The Marks are part of an overall resurgence of home buying in Pasco County, which is recovering from the disastrous economic downturn in 2008.

Back then, new home construction constricted.

And, many residents saw their existing housing values plummet.

Some are still underwater, with mortgages that are higher than their property values.

But, that is changing, said Jeff Morin, vice president of sales for Lennar Homes.

“People wouldn’t sell before, because they were upside down,” he said. “This uptick has allowed people to be more comfortable that they can break even or make a little money.”

Developers are building more rooftops, and a growing population has hit critical mass and pay dirt for retail.

The sign at the entrance to Connerton is decorated for the holidays. The master-planned community is seeing an uptick in housing sales.

Tampa Premium Outlets is the most visible tip of an explosion of new shops, restaurants, hotels and offices that are here or on their way.

“We do everything over here,” Melody Marks reiterated.

When the Marks signed their contract, it wasn’t just for the shops and restaurants or because Kyle Marks’ parents already live in Connerton.

“It’s a lot more affordable here,” said Kyle Marks.

Statistics bear that out.

The year-to-date median price of a home in Hillsborough and Pinellas is about $218,000, while Pasco’s median price is about $154,000, according to data from My Florida Regional MLS.

Connerton’s housing prices generally begin in the low $200,000s, said Stew Gibbons, president and chief executive officer of Gibbons Group.

That price falls into the sweet spot for Pasco housing sales of between $140,000 and $250,000, again based on data from My Florida Regional MLS.

More than 350 families live in Connerton.

Connerton’s new home sales have averaged 100 or more annually in the past two years, and Gibbons anticipates that will increase by 50 percent in the next year.

Gibbons pioneered living in Connerton when he bought a home in 2006. He and a few other residents waited out the recovery.

“We knew ultimately it’s cyclical, even though this is one of the worst cycles ever seen and the worst downturn the nation has seen.” Gibbons said.

But, he said now, “That’s created pent up demand. It’s growing as confidence grows.”

For a time, the economic downturn turned the master-planned community into a poster child for a stalled future.

New construction of roads and streetlights stuck out in a neighborhood of blank spaces where hundreds of homes should be.

The future is much rosier now.

Kyle, Amelia and Melody Marks, left, will wait about six months for their new Lennar home to be built in Connerton. Stew Gibbons, president of Gibbons Group, and Jeff Morin, vice president of sales for Lennar joined them at the newly opened Lennar model home.

Plans for a town center and shops are back in the picture, likely to happen within two to five years, Gibbons said.

Pasco County owns about 20 acres that is set aside for a government center.

Connerton Elementary School is open, and Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM School, an elementary magnet school, is located to the south, off U.S. 41.

Residents currently can enjoy about two miles of nature trails.

Connerton is unique in pegging its housing numbers to job creation, as part of a state incentive program.

At 2,000 homes, for instance, 500 jobs must be documented within a one-mile radius.

More houses, shops, offices and hotels are on the way.

“Pasco should be pretty robust,” said Gibbons. “The number of rooftops relates to retail that can be supported. They withheld until the market returned. It’s rising everywhere.”

At the height of the housing bubble, 6,000 homes were selling annually. Gibbons said it hit a low of about 1,000 homes a year, but has risen to about 2,500 this year.

There is potential within five years to reach between 6,000 and 7,000 housing sales a year, he said.

Gibbons remains sold on Pasco’s economy, and Connerton, in particular.

“It’s easy to meet people. I’m still here. I still love it,” Gibbons said.

Published December 30, 2015

Business Digest 12/30/2015

December 30, 2015 By Kathy Steele

April Sasser joins Moody D’Avirro
April Sasser is joining Moody D’Avirro & Associates as its producing sales agent. She brings more than 20 years experience to the company. Sasser specializes in homes, mobile homes, automobile, boat, commercial, worker’s compensation and builder’s risk insurance.

Moody D’Avirro is located at 24626 State Road 54 in Lutz.

For information, contact Sasser at (813) 973-0441, ext. 104, or .

Schaefer is marketing manager of the year
Jim Schaefer, president and owner of RealReach Marketing, is Marketing Manager of the Year selected by the Sales and Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

RealReach also picked up awards for Best Online Ad, Best Corporate Video and Best Television Commercial.

Schaefer founded his company in 2012 as a full-service marketing and advertising company, located in Lutz. The company specializes in building responsive web sites, and promoting them through social media, email marketing, video, online search, and display advertising. The company also offers photography and videography services, graphic design and advertising strategies.

TBBA’s Sales and Marketing Council boasts memberships of more than 200 sales and marketing professionals from the Tampa Bay area.

County vacancy
Brian Head opted not to accept a position with Pasco County as public safety assistant county administrator. Head declined the offer for personal reasons, according to a news release from the county. The position has been reopened.

Head served 12 years with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office before retiring in 2013 with the rank of colonel. He currently is employed by Pasco-Hernando State College at its law enforcement academy.

Primerica ribbon cutting
Primerica will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m., at its new location in Wisteria Plaza, at 6739 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Owners Lillian and Dave Cucuzza are regional vice presidents of the company that recently moved from Copperstone Executive Suites.

The free event will include refreshments, music and door prizes.

For information call (813) 929-7722.

Morning network
The Wednesday Morning Networking Group will meet Jan. 6 at 7:30 a.m., at The Lake House at Hungry Harry’s Family B-B-Q, at 3116 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Each attendee will be able to present a 30-second pitch. The $7 cost includes breakfast. Sponsorships are available.

For information, contact the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722 or .

Pigz’ breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have the kick-off breakfast for the Sixth Annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest on Jan. 7 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills.

The annual pig jig will be Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, 39450 South Ave., Zephyrhills.

For information, contact the chamber office at (813) 782-1913 or .

The cost is $15 for members (Tuesday before the meeting), and $18 for all guests (and members paying Wednesday and after).

To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

For information, email Nils Lenz at , or visit the group’s website at Meetup.com/EastPascoNetworkingGroup/.

After hours mixer
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host a Chamber Chatter Connections mixer on Jan. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Nabruzzi Trattoria, 6062 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. Cruise Planners is hosting the free event with a special presentation, wine and pizza, and door prizes.

To RSVP, contact , call (813) 448-1998, or text (352) 467-1883.