Kathy Steele

Business Digest 06-03-15

June 3, 2015 By Kathy Steele

New location for Orangetheory Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness opened May 28 at the Shops at Wiregrass at 28210 Paseo Drive, Suite 110, Wesley Chapel. It is the 13th Florida location for the fitness company, co-founded by Terry Blachek.

The one-hour, ever-changing workout consists of diverse components including high-energy cardiovascular and strength training with treadmills, rowing machines, suspension training and free weights with short bursts of intense exercise. Orangetheory Fitness offers 55 classes per week for all levels.

For information, call the studio at (813) 235-0664.

Women of Wesley Chapel
WOW, Women of Wesley Chapel, will host a breakfast meeting on June 3 from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the Health and Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, in the second floor conference room.

Guest speaker will be Edie Rhea, a survivor of human trafficking.

The 2015 annual WOW membership cost of $10 is due at the meeting and will cover the entire 2015 calendar year for WOW only. This doesn’t include chamber membership. No credit cards will be accepted at the door. Cash or check only.

For information, call The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at (813) 994-8534.

Ribbon cutting
Sliding Door Roller Replacement will have a ribbon cutting and a mixer on June 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 19121 U.S. Hwy 41 in Lutz. The store is on the east side of the highway, south of County Line Road.

For information, call Michelle Chomo at (813) 909-7655 or (813) 802-6111.

Open house
A Focus on Fitness will host a ribbon cutting and open house on June 3 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., to celebrate the additions of a hair salon and makeup services to the fitness center at Seven Oaks Professional Park, 2136 Ashley Circle, Suite 101, Wesley Chapel. The event will feature fun, food, prizes, special discounts and celebrating.

For information, call Kelly Mothershead at (813) 344-3325.

Breakfast meeting
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly breakfast meeting on June 4 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills. The sponsor is Samaritan Project.

For information, contact Pat at (813) 782-1913, or email .

Webinars
The U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA South Florida District Office in Miami, offers free webinars on a variety of business-related topics. On June 4, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., sign in to learn about the SBA program and services. Topics include types of loan programs, contracting and counseling.

Also on June 4, from 1 to 3 p.m., there will be a webinar for 7j certified firms on “Special Topics for Construction Management.” It will explain the fundamentals of effective supervision, describe the basis of construction safety procedures and discuss planning and scheduling processes.

For information, visit SBA.gov.

Breakfast meeting
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet June 9 at Rose’s Café at 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Krista Covey of the Pasco Economic Development Commission is the guest speaker.

For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at .

New breakfast club
The newly formed Wesley Chapel Breakfast Club will have its first meeting on June 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club in Wesley Chapel. The club meets weekly and brings people together to network and to help each other generate new leads and prospects. Enjoy a customized breakfast menu. There are no dues and no club officers.

For information, call Bill Meyer at (813) 992-3370.

Networking
Business Link will meet on June 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, second floor of the Wellness Center in the conference room, 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. This monthly meeting offers tools, tips and networking to strengthen businesses. San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union partners with industry experts to provide valuable information each month. A complimentary breakfast will be provided.

RSVP to Rebecca Gaddis at the credit union at (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237, or email .

Women-in-Charge
Join Women-n-Charge on June 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa, for lunch and networking.

The guest speaker will be Ginger Rockey-Johnson, the Original Spice Girl of Tampa Bay who will talk about “The Art of the Pitch.” Group members share their talents, build relationships and share their resources with other women in business.

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

For information, contact Judy at (813) 600-9848 or .

Imagine student spearheads clothing drive

May 27, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The first visits to ask local business owners for donations took a special effort from an 11-year-old who is shy. But Alexandra Westcott had a good reason to get a little help for Pasco County’s foster children.

“I felt bad for the kids who didn’t have much in life,” she said. “I wanted to help by allowing people to donate things.”

The sixth-grader at Imagine School of Land O’ Lakes knows what it means to not have a home. Her parents, Tara and Rick Westcott, adopted her from China when she was a 15-month-old toddler.

Rick and Tara Westcott are proud parents of 11-year-old Alexandra Westcott, who received a certificate of appreciation from Eckerd Raising Hope. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Rick and Tara Westcott are proud parents of 11-year-old Alexandra Westcott, who received a certificate of appreciation from Eckerd Raising Hope.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

“I think she wanted to give back because she feels fortunate to have a forever home,” her mother said.

So, Alexandra spearheaded a clothing drive, from May 1 through May 12, to benefit Eckerd Raising Hope.

Eckerd is a national nonprofit organization that provides assistance and resources to more than 18,500 children and families annually.

The organization’s Raising Hope program operates “Rooms of Hope” where foster children and their caregivers in the Tampa Bay community can shop free of charge. They fill their carts with new or slightly used clothes, toiletries, baby items, school supplies, duffel bags and comfort items such as blankets and stuffed animals.

Boxes of donated items were picked up at the school on May 18. The donations included several boxes of infant formula provided by a local doctor. Several National Junior Honor Society students, including Alexandra, helped load the goods into a van for delivery.

Alexandra learned about Eckerd Raising Hope while talking with her mother about her parents’ experience taking foster parenting classes.

The Westcotts had tried for a long time to adopt. A parent in one of the classes told them she was adopting a child from China and suggested the Westcotts do the same.

Tara Westcott also remembered information about the Eckerd charity. “We had learned foster children who were taken out of their home would take all their belongings in a garbage bag,” she said.

The nonprofit seemed a good project for Alexandra who is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Honor students are challenged to be active in school activities and in their community. This is the first year Imagine has sponsored an honor society chapter.

Imagine principal Aimee Williams quickly gave permission for Alexandra to enlist students in grades six through eight for the project.

About 120 students from Imagine brought in donated items.

“Each of our grade levels has to do something,” Williams said. “We would rather kids pick the project than us. I would hope they could learn they can be decision makers,” the principal said.

Alexandra, who will turn age 12 in June, has volunteered in the community before, including performances with other students at the Ronald McDonald House.

“This is her first really big thing,” her mother said.

She was up to the task.

She explained in detail to classmates what the project was and how it would operate. Kelly Rossi, who is the charity’s director, recalled that she didn’t have to add much to Alexandra’s presentation.

“It was definitely my first event with a student this young,” Rossi said. “But I really gave her the tools, and she did all this. She’s so mature.”

Eckerd Raising Hope serves about 200 to 225 children a month at each of three locations in Trinity, Dade City and Largo. There are about 6,000 foster children in the Tampa Bay area.

Rossi said the supplies collected from Alexandra would be given to children in Pasco.

“Often times they come with nothing. The state doesn’t fund those extra things,” Rossi said. “I can’t have them going to school without shoes and clothes.”

Alexandra created a flier with a personal essay on why she wanted to help foster children. Knowing that children often left their homes with their clothes in garbage bags “really pulled at my heart,” she wrote. New duffel bags would help them “keep their dignity at a very hard time of their lives.”

She also told her mother she wanted to collect stuffed animals, or plush toys, as handouts because she knew how frightened the foster children would be. At Rossi’s suggestion, she asked donors to shop at Dollar Tree to maximize the number of items they could give. From a list provided by Rossi, Alexandra also put together a gift set of Dollar Tree items including toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorants, shampoos, African-American hair products and hairbrushes.

Toiletries especially are needed items, Rossi said.

Alexandra’s drive and determination did not surprise sixth- grade science teacher Adrian Denson, who serves as her advisor.

“She is definitely diligent,” he said. “She’s a really good kid.”

Rick Westcott said he and his wife drove their daughter to local businesses but left everything else up to her.

“She personally has gone in and asked for donations,” he said. “If a child is going to volunteer, they should do the work and not let parents do it for them,” he added.

The best thing about the project was seeing people give so much, Alexandra said.

And, she isn’t finished yet.

Alexandra dances five nights a week at Contempo School of Dance in Lutz. Owners and students there are gearing up for more donations to Eckerd Raising Hope.

For information about Eckerd Raising Hope visit Eckerd.org, or call (855) 450-4673.

Published May 27, 2015

Funds approved to pursue Ridge Road extension

May 27, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Pasco Commission approved additional funds to pay a Washington D.C., consulting firm that is helping shepherd the Ridge Road extension project through the federal bureaucracy.

Commissioners agreed on May 19 to a reduced monthly fee of $28,500 for six months to Dawson & Associates. The contract could be extended three additional months if needed. Previously, the county had been paying $38,500 a month for the firm’s services.

Even with the reduced rates, the contract had two commissioners grumbling about the long process and costs of obtaining a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“They need to get this done in this time frame,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “It’s going to be very difficult for me to approve additional funds. They need to be very aware that they need to get it done. We’re not going to keep these people in business for the next 20 years.”

The 8-mile extension of Ridge Road is a high priority for the county to provide an evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies. It also would be a new link connecting east and west Pasco.

The road currently dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act. The county has been pursuing the permit for nearly 15 years.

In April, Dawson & Associates aided the county in crafting a second application to obtain a permit for the project. An earlier application was rejected because the county didn’t provide sufficient data. The new submittal package provided an analysis of 17 potential alternatives for the road’s design and cost estimates.

The least damaging road, and also the most expensive road – at about $102 million – would be four lanes and partially elevated.

At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate wetlands lost during construction of the parkway. The road extension must do the least damage to the environment in order to qualify for a permit.

The county’s budget, for several years, has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project.

That is money the county isn’t using, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“We’ve got other pressing needs,” she said.

The next step in the permitting process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required.

Many of the principals at Dawson & Associates formerly worked for the Corps of Engineers or other federal agencies, said Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.

They can interpret issues of concern and take the application to the next phase, she said.

While the federal agency is not under a deadline to make a final decision, Baker said, “We have asked that they expedite this.”

Published May 27, 2015

Pasco takes first step toward loan for State Road 56

May 27, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners agreed to at least inquire about a $27 million state loan to pay for an additional two lanes for the extension of State Road 56. But there are concerns that the payback could jeopardize other county road projects.

On May 19, commissioners unanimously voted to submit a letter of interest to the State Infrastructure Bank for a 30-year, low-interest loan. The goal is for developers to shoulder the responsibility for repayment through county-collected mobility surcharge fees. As a back up, revenues from gasoline taxes and special assessments might be applied.

The Pasco County Commission approved a letter of interest for a possible low-interest loan from the state to create a four-lane extension of State Road 56, linking Wesley Chapel with Zephyrhills. (File Photo) — The Pasco County Commission approved a letter of interest for a possible low-interest loan from the state to create a four-lane extension of State Road 56, linking Wesley Chapel with Zephyrhills.
(File Photo)

The Zephyrhills City Council also has agreed to pay up to 10 percent of annual loan payments – estimated at about $1.3 million annually — to cover costs not paid by developers.

Developers have not signed on to any loan agreement, but negotiations will continue as more details are learned about the project’s costs, said Richard Gehring, the county’s planning and development administrator.

The letter had to be sent by May 29 in order for banking officials to consider a loan in the 2016 cycle. The infrastructure bank provides loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects that qualify for aid under federal and state law.

“We don’t have to accept the loan until we are all comfortable,” Gehring told commissioners.

Preliminary estimates on costs were provided by Cone & Graham, which is under contract to build the two-lane extension planned by the Florida Department of Transportation. But the final amount could be lower than $27 million, Gehring said.

Current plans are to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, as a two-lane road.

City officials and residents of Zephyrhills have lobbied intensely for a four-lane road into the community, but state highway officials say there are no funds for the extra work.

The low-interest state loan was proposed as a method of payment following a February town hall meeting in Zephyrhills to discuss transportation issues. Gehring and Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein made a presentation to the Zephyrhills’ City Council on May 11 regarding the city’s role in repaying the loan.

“They are certainly committed to wanting to see this built,” Gehring said.

Commissioners Mike Moore and Mike Wells saw little risk in moving forward on the loan. Moore noted that the loan repayment could be deferred for five years.

Wells said the loan was “an opportunity to be proactive not reactive here. It sounds like there is really a low risk.”

But there also was skepticism.

“Do we know what impact it could have on other projects?” said Chairman Ted Schrader. He cited roadwork on U.S. 41 and State Road 54 as essential to keep up with Pasco’s growth as more subdivisions are built. A proposed overpass on the north side of Zephyrhills also is critical, he added.

“I don’t want to see that project jeopardized for this one,” Schrader said.

As the conduit for the loan, Goldstein said the county could wind up repaying the loan temporarily while waiting to collect fees from developers. County staff members are still crunching budget data for fiscal year 2016, including estimates on some road projects including State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

Schrader restated his objections, saying $1.3 million would be a significant amount of money to lose from the county’s capital improvement budget.

“I don’t think it would have a devastating impact, but we’re still working on the issues,” Goldstein said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey expressed support for road improvements in Zephyrhills but, like Schrader, held up State Road 54 and U.S. 41 as priorities, along with the overpass.

“I very much want to see us work with Zephyrhills,” she said. “I think we have great potential for growth on that side of the county…that will add to our tax base. (But) I’m going to keep harping (State Road) 54 and (U.S.) 41. That intersection is going to get worse and worse with no solution in sight. Developments are popping up along that route. It really concerns me.”

Published May 27, 2015

Business Digest 05-27-15

May 27, 2015 By Kathy Steele

New store
Owners Roger and Lorraine Levesque recently opened the R & L Little Red Barn at 14245 Seventh Street in historic downtown Dade City. Their shop features furniture, antiques, jewelry, tools and clothes. The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce sponsored the ribbon cutting.

For information contact the store at (813) 702-2870 or email .

Award winner
IERNA’s Heating & Cooling is the first Florida Factory Authorized Bryant dealer to earn the prestigious Bryant Pinnacle Award, given out by Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems, a leading supplier of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. IERNA earned its fifth consecutive Medal of Excellence award from Bryant in 2014. To win the excellence award dealers must meet a minimum score and then are judged on overall customer satisfaction. IERNA supports community projects including blood drives, sponsoring youth sports leagues and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

In a press release announcing the latest honor for the 12-year-old company, Vice President Charlene Ierna said, “We couldn’t achieve success without our dedicated staff.”

For information visit www.IernaAir.com.

Bank branch closing
Centennial Bank will be closing its Wesley Chapel branch at 28909 State Road 54 on Aug. 7, according to a May 5 letter sent to customers.

The bank branch at 23000 State Road 54 in Lutz is located less than 15 miles from the Wesley Chapel office. It is a full-service facility ready to meet your banking needs. Customers will be able to conduct the same transactions and receive the same customer service that has been provided at the Wesley Chapel branch, according to the letter.

For more information, contact Regional Retail Leader Melissa Wade at (352) 518-1504, or email .

Ribbon cutting
Tampa Bay Jaw and Facial Surgery will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening on May 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 29164 Wesley Chapel Drive. Come and meet the physicians, Michael Barbick and Neeraj Nagella, and the center’s staff at this free event.

For information, call (813) 991-6886, or visit www.TBJAFS.com.

Model home opens
Avalon Park West and Beazer Homes will host a free Grand Opening Carnival to showcase the homebuilder’s new St. Augustine II model on May 30 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Avalon subdivision off State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

The event will have food and refreshments, a live disc jockey, a rock climbing wall, bungee bounce and pony rides. The model home is located at 5200 Autumn Ridge Drive in the Cypress Village neighborhood of Avalon Park West. Tours will be available.

Beazer’s two-story St. Augustine II has four bedrooms and three bathrooms in about 2,500 square feet. It is priced from about $265,000. Beazer Homes plans to build 55 new three, four and five-bedroom homes, priced from the mid-$200,000 in Avalon Park West, according to a press release from Beazer Homes.

For information call (813) 422-5549 or visit www.beazer.com.

Guest speaker will be Edie Rhea, a survivor of human trafficking.

For information, call The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at (813) 994-8534.

Ribbon cutting
Sliding Door Roller Replacement will hold a ribbon cutting and a mixer on June 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 19121 U.S. Hwy 41 in Lutz. The store is on the east side of the highway, south of County Line Road.

For information call Michelle Chomo at (813) 909-ROLL.

Breakfast meeting
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet June 9 at Rose’s Café at 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Krista Covey of the Pasco Economic Development Commission is the guest speaker.

For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at .

Networking
Business Link will meet on June 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, second floor of the Wellness Center in the conference room, 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. This monthly meeting offers tools, tips and networking to strengthen businesses. San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union partners with industry experts to provide valuable information each month. A complimentary breakfast is provided.

RSVP to Rebecca Gaddis at the credit union at (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237 or email to .

Women-in-Charge
Join Women-n-Charge on June 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa, for lunch and networking.

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

For information, contact Judy at (813) 600-9848 or .

Florida Hospital Center Ice skates into view

May 20, 2015 By Kathy Steele

A naming contest for the ice rink complex under construction in Wesley Chapel drew some 200 suggestions.

And, the winner is: Florida Hospital Center Ice.

The name and logo were unveiled May 14 by Florida Hospital representatives and Gordie Zimmermann whose company, Z Mitch, is building the 150,000-square-foot ice rink and sports complex.

Hockey fans watch from the sidelines in this interior rendering of Florida Hospital Center Ice, an ice rink and sports complex under construction at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice) — Hockey fans watch from the sidelines in this interior rendering of Florida Hospital Center Ice, an ice rink and sports complex under construction at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Center Ice)

The name is fitting, said Zimmermann, because so much takes place in a rink at center ice. That includes face-offs over hockey pucks and figure skaters waiting for their music cues to begin their programs, he said.

“It truly is a center for sports. It has a good ring to it,” Zimmermann said, of the name for the complex at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., off State Road 56 and near Interstate 75.

Many of the contest entries adopted “center” as part of the overall name for the ice rink.

“It’s pretty exciting that we had so much interest from the community,” said Denyse Bales-Chubb, the president and chief executive officer at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The hospital, which purchased naming rights for the complex, is partnering with Z Mitch on the project and will offer sports performance and injury prevention programs. Fitness and wellness programs, as well as orthopedic and outpatient rehabilitation services, also will be provided.

“Not only are we going to be a name on the building, but we’ll have a function inside the building,” Bales-Chubb said.

The complex is headed for a fall 2015 opening, likely around the same time as the nearby Tampa Premium Outlets opens, Zimmermann said.

Pre-construction work is nearly finished, and Zimmermann anticipates building construction to be underway by summer.

The facility is expected to have regional and even international appeal from youth hockey leagues to global hockey tournaments.

“We’re getting a lot of people nationwide and in Canada who are interested,” Zimmermann said.

There will be four full-sized ice rinks and a mini-rink. A removable pad will be able to double as a multi-purpose floor for basketball and other sports, including soccer and lacrosse.

A sports-themed family-style restaurant also is planned. Non-sports activities, such as dog shows and graduation ceremonies, are likely as well.

Some open house events will be sponsored this summer, Zimmermann said.

One sport that might find a home at the ice rink is curling.

University of South Florida graduate Tabitha Holden can hardly wait. She became a curling enthusiast during the last Winter Olympics.

She and other USF students joined together to find team members and a coach and donors willing to pledge funding for a curling league. But they soon learned the biggest hurdle is finding a facility that can accommodate special icing needs for curling.

Holden, 27, hasn’t given up though. Florida Hospital Center Ice could be just the place they need.

“This is a really cool game,” Holden said.

Published May 20, 2015

Circle K buys the Land O’ Lakes Plaza

May 20, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Circle K is the new owner of the Land O’ Lakes Plaza, a nearly 50-year-old shopping center along the busy commercial corridor of U.S. 41, at Hale Road.

The plaza, built in 1966, is considered to be Land O’ Lakes’ first shopping center. Today, the approximately 2.4-acre plaza is occupied mostly by mom-and-pop enterprises including a barbershop, a liquor store, a café, a nail salon and an antique shop.

Circle K plans to tear down the Land O’ Lakes Plaza to build a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store with gas pumps and a car wash. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Circle K plans to tear down the Land O’ Lakes Plaza to build a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store with gas pumps and a car wash.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The $1.55 million sale between the plaza’s owner, A & M Somerset Inc., and Circle K closed about two weeks ago, according to Georgia Watson, a broker with Grimaldi Commercial Realty Corp. She represented A & M Somerset in the transaction.

“It was purchased as an investment,” Watson said. “It was purchased strictly to redo the property. The whole shopping center will be demolished.”

Circle K has filed a conceptual plan with Pasco County’s planning department for a 5,000-square-foot Circle K store with gasoline pumps and a car wash. Currently there is an older Circle K and Shell gas station at U.S. 41 and Hale, immediately north of the plaza.

County records show Circle K General Inc., bought that adjacent corner site in 1987. The property was sold in 2004 to RI CS2 LLC, but continued to operate as a Circle K store and gas station. Development plans filed with the county do not show what will happen to the existing Circle K.

Circle K representatives could not be reached for comment.

The trend in recent years is for brands, such as WaWa, Thorntons and Circle K, to build modern, more trendy gas and convenience stores, Watson said.

WaWa representatives had looked at the site, she said, but didn’t pursue a contract. “This (Circle K) seems to be the best fit.”

The new development is a welcome addition, Watson said.

“Land O’ Lakes has kind of been behind Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Odessa. They are growing much faster than we are,” she said. “It’s nice to see some good activity going on.”

Published May 20, 2015

Charter panel’s first meeting sparks controversy

May 20, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Sparks flew at the first meeting of a charter review panel that could recommend major changes in how the county operates.

The meeting was called to take care of housekeeping chores, such as by-laws and scheduling decisions, but it got underway with a jolt.

Clay Colson interrupted Pasco County Chairman Ted Schrader’s introductions to declare a “point of order” and challenge the panel’s right to meet.

Colson argued that the May 11 meeting date failed to satisfy a 30-day deadline set by county commissioners when they approved the panel and appointed its members.

Schrader threatened to have a deputy sheriff remove anyone disrupting the meeting. And Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the date was chosen by consensus among panel members. He added that a court order would be needed to shut down the meeting.

Former Pasco County Commissioner Michael Cox will lead the charter panel and business owner Randy Maggard will serve as vice-chairman.

“I don’t personally believe county government is broken,” Cox said. “Can we make it better? That is my hope.”

Speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, Colson said, “I don’t feel represented by a single one of you. None of you has my best interests at heart.”

Colson also told the panel he and others plan to gather the required signatures to establish a charter commission that would include members that reflect Pasco’s diversity.

Since its appointment in April, the panel has come under criticism because all 15 members are white, and only one panel member is a woman. There are five alternates.

Pasco’s five commissioners each made two appointments. The five members of Pasco County’s legislative delegation rounded out the panel, with one appointment each.

Under state law, either a majority of commissioners or a petition signed by 15 percent of the county’s registered voters – about 45,000 signatures – can create a charter commission. Once a commission is created, it must complete a charter that Pasco voters would approve or reject.

However, the Pasco commission created a panel, rather than a commission, to allow an option of recommending no change to Pasco’s government. If a charter were recommended, a vote likely would be scheduled in 2016.

The panel will consider issues such as whether the county should have single-member districts, whether commissioners should have term limits and whether the administrator should be appointed or there should be an elected administrator or mayor.

Panel members briefly introduced themselves and explained why they want to serve.

Real estate broker Patti Spoeth, an alternate, said she wanted only to do “what is best for our county.”

Attorney Robert Eckard said, “If there is a better way to do government, I think it behooves us to look at that.”

Panel members also adopted by-laws and agreed to broadcast future meetings on Pasco TV.

The next meeting will be June 8 with other meetings to follow on the second and fourth Mondays of each month for approximately 18 months.

During public comment, residents expressed concerns and displeasure with the panel.

Published May 20, 2015

Apartments and new retail coming to Wiregrass

May 20, 2015 By Kathy Steele

More retail and a new apartment complex — on vacant land northeast of The Shops at Wiregrass — are on the drawing board at Pasco County’s planning department.

Forest City Enterprises, the developers of The Shops at Wiregrass, and NRP Group are partnering on the next phase of development on the former Wiregrass Ranch property in Wesley Chapel.

Conceptual plans filed with the county show a development of 248 apartments and 127,000 square feet of retail.

Among the retail possibilities are restaurants, a specialty market, a cinema and shops.

Forest City will handle the commercial side of the project. NRP Group will build the apartment complex.

The retail portion likely will fall within 120,000 square feet but could be somewhat larger or smaller depending on the tenants’ needs, said Abbas Hasan, manager of planning and development for the Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.

The next step is filing an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that would approve a permit for the project.

“The process takes quite a long time,” Hasan said. “We’re trying to get all the pieces together.”

Specifics on tenants and construction schedules are on hold until the Corps of Engineers weighs in, and the project is further along.

“The Shops at Wiregrass are basically a lifestyle center and an open-air mall. This is more a few large anchor type users and more specialty stores,” Hasan said. “It will complement the mall and others in the area.”

The apartments will be linked with the retail, so that residents will be able to walk to the retail part of the development, said Kurt Kehoe, vice president of NRP Group, which has offices in Lake Mary, Florida.

“Being able to have the pedestrian and vehicular connections to both existing and upcoming commercial is key,” Kehoe said. “In a suburban area, this is not normally what you find.”

The project will include three-story and four-story buildings, with upscale apartments. Most of the apartments will be one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts, though some will have three bedrooms, Kehoe said.

Some apartments will have detached garages. There will be a clubhouse, pool and fitness area.

“Generally there is a lot of optimism for the tri-county area, especially Pasco,” he said. “There’s a lot of desire to live, work and play out there.”

Published May 20, 2015

Stacey Nance will lead Tampa Premium Outlets

May 20, 2015 By Kathy Steele

A long-time mall manager with Simon Property Group will be transferring from Indiana to become the general manager at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Stacey Nance has been tapped by Simon to take on management duties at the much-anticipated 441,000-square-foot outlet mall under construction near the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.

An opening date is slated for October.

Nance’s appointment was effective on May 18.

Stacey Nance, a long-time mall manager in Indiana, will be the general manager for Tampa Premium Outlets. (Courtesy of Simon Property Group) — Stacey Nance, a long-time mall manager in Indiana, will be the general manager for Tampa Premium Outlets.
(Courtesy of Simon Property Group)

“Stacey is a motivated and detail-oriented individual with years of leadership experience,” Regional Vice President Mary Spaulding said in a news release announcing Nance’s selection.

Nance started with Simon 17 years ago as director of marketing at Muncie Mall in Muncie, Indiana. She held that job for nine years before shifting career direction into mall management. She has been in charge of overall operations at Muncie Mall, Muncie Plaza and Northwood Plaza in Indiana.

She is a graduate of Ball State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and management, with a specialization in sales and promotion.

Simon, the mall’s developer, has estimated that the project will yield between 300 and 500 construction jobs and as many as 800 retail jobs. More than 110 retailers are expected to open, though, to date, only the anchor, Saks Off Fifth Fashion Outlet, has been announced. The mall is expected to have regional appeal as a destination for shoppers from Pasco, Hillsborough and surrounding areas.

A job fair likely will take place about 60 days prior to opening date, said Simon spokesman Les Morris.

Simon Property Group has more than 80 Premium Outlets worldwide with upscale retailers such as Banana Republic, DKNY, Dior and J. Crew. The outlet mall is a major feature within the master-planned community known as Cypress Creek Town Center. Three developers, including Simon, are working on different residential and commercial phases of the project.

Published May 20, 2015