The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Steps being taken to improve traffic safety on U.S. 301

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Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley informed his colleagues during a recent board meeting that the county and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are responding to a traffic situation on U.S. 301 that has become dangerous.

During the county board’s Feb. 6 meeting, Oakley said he met with residents at Tropical Acres Estates, which is off U.S. 301, in Zephyrhills.

“There was a full room,” Oakley said. “They were very concerned about their exit and entrance onto (U.S.) 301, between (State Road) 39 and (State Road) 56.”

There has been a traffic fatality and have been other accidents, too, the county board chairman said.

“I originally thought that we had already started the construction of a four-lane, from (State Road) 39, back down to (State Road) 56, only to find out that hasn’t even started and all of these issues are created right here at this entrance to Tropical Acres Estates,” he said.

He reached out to FDOT officials to see if there might be a traffic light installed.

“I got information that it could be up to a year before a light comes, and it’s going to be right at their entrance. But in the meantime, they’ve got this issue going on. And, I’m sure the people across the way probably have a similar issue,” Oakley said.

But the issue is different across the way because people leaving there are turning right to head to Zephyrhills, he said.

So, until a more permanent solution is available, Oakley recommended a temporary fix.

“I suggested that possibly we can make a right-turn only out of Tropical Acres Estates and put some flashing (warning) lights up, first,” Oakley said.

The county board chairman expected those actions to be taken quickly.

“It’s all based on safety,” Oakley said.

Published February 14, 2024

LEO at Cypress Creek planned for San Antonio

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Miami-based developer Advenir Capital LLC has begun work on a new community that will be built on 40 acres, off State Road 52, just north of the Publix at Mirada.

The development, known as LEO at Cypress Creek, was designed by Nequette Architecture & Design of Birmingham, according to a news release. General contractor BBL Building Co., based in Dallas, will begin construction in June on the $93.5 million development.

This rendering depicts the future community of LEO at Cypress Creek. Site preparations have begun on the built-to-rent development that will feature 315 residences, with housing types including a mixture of standalone cottages, duplexes and townhomes. The first units are expected to be delivered by June 2025, with project completion expected in 2026. (Courtesy Advenir Capital)

LEO at Cypress Creek features 315 built-to-rent units, a clubhouse and a pool on 36 acres. The project also has 4 acres designated for commercial use.

The housing types are a mixture of traditional standalone cottages, duplexes and townhomes. They range in size from one-bedroom with 728 square feet to the three-bedrooms with 1,510 square feet, the release says.

Amenities include a resort-style swimming pool, a clubhouse with 24-hour fitness center, an E-lounge, free Wi-Fi throughout the community, pocket parks and a pet washing station, according to the release.

The first units at LEO at Cypress Creek are expected to be delivered by June 2025, according to Matt Vecchitto, principal of Advenir Capital LLC d/b/a LEO@Cypress Creek LLC. The community is expected to be completed by the spring of 2026.

The new San Antonio development is less than 2 miles east of Interstate 75.

Advenir selected the location for its proximity to the 965-acre Double Branch master-planned development, which broke ground in 2023, the release says. That project has been approved for 400,000 square feet of retail, 725,000 square feet of office and 4 million square feet of industrial. It is expected to employ 6,000 people.

LEO at Cypress Creek also will benefit from its proximity to the 1.4 million-square-foot Target fulfillment center that is expected to be completed in 2024 and is expected to employ 2,400. The development also is close to the recently announced 365,000-square-foot Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, the release notes.

For more information about LEO Cypress Creek, visit LeoLiving.com.

Published February 14, 2024

Two Rivers emerging on Pasco and Hillsborough borders

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Two Rivers — a massive new development flanking the borders of Pasco and Hillsborough counties — will be breaking ground on a new health, wellness and dining club for its residents.

Two Rivers is a massive master-planned community that will feature housing ranging from the low $300,000s to $5 million, and is being built on land flanking the borders of Pasco and Hillsborough counties. (Courtesy of Eisenhower Property Group)

The new facility will feature tennis, pickleball, pools, playgrounds, gathering spaces, a bar and a restaurant, according to information provided to The Laker/Lutz News.

Two Rivers is a master-planned community situated on both sides of the county line, off State Road 56, between Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301.

A regional district park is planned in the community, as well as shopping, dining and office spaces, according to a news release.

A luxury community known as Flatwoods is located on the Hillsborough County side of the development. It will be home to Flatwoods Golf and Country Club, which will feature a private country club with a spa, an 18-hole golf course and other recreational amenities.

This map depicts a portion of a new master-planned community that will include a regional district park, shopping, dining, office spaces and an array of amenities.

The golf course, designed by David McLay Kidd at DMK Golf Design, has an estimated completion date of 2025.

Home options in Two Rivers will range from the low $300,000s to more than $5 million.

Newly announced builders in Two Rivers include Casa Fresca, Homes by WestBay, MI Homes, Meritage Homes, Park Square Homes, Pulte Homes, William Ryan Homes, and Taylor Morrison.

The first villages, Northwater with homes by D.R. Horton and Childers with homes by Lennar, have sold hundreds of homes and already have residents enjoying their new lives at Two Rivers, the news release says.

The first two amenity centers in Northwater and Childers are underway, featuring two clubhouses with pools, playgrounds and gathering spaces and are expected to be open this summer.

At completion, Two Rivers will include more than 7,500 homes, townhomes, apartments and villas featuring a variety of builders and commercial partners.

Models in the first phase already are open, with the next phase of models slated for late summer 2024. To learn more about the community, sign up for updates and view the latest new home details, visit TwoRiversFL.com.

Published February 14, 2024

Disney Springs: It is much more than just shopping and dining

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Disney Springs is a shopping, dining and entertainment mecca in the shadows of Walt Disney World’s theme parks.

But it is not just that.

For a great view of Lake Buena Vista, hop on the Aerophile balloon ride. It gives passengers a vantage point from an elevation of 400 feet. (Karen Haymon Long)

It’s a melting pot of, not just America, but of the world.

Stroll along the wide boulevards of the outdoor-indoor complex and you’ll hear Spanish and French, Chinese and Portuguese, and accents from all over the United States.

You can read the complex’s website in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, too.

Visitors come from everywhere.

You’ll see little girls in shiny princess dresses, boys wearing Pluto ears, and adults in T-shirts and sweatshirts from Key West to Alaska.

Restaurants at Disney Springs span the globe, too.

Gideon’s Bakehouse, which specializes in gourmet cookies, is a very popular place at Disney Springs. A line of about 200 people were patiently waiting to get in, on a recent Saturday.

An Asian restaurant serves dim sum and egg rolls, while a Mexican one offers carne asada. A large Brazilian restaurant serves skewered meat, while a French bakery specializes in fancy cakes, and an Italian trattoria in paninis and handmade pastas.

The Polite Pig offers Southern barbecue pork and chicken, The House of Blues combines beer, blues and BBQ.

The 69 restaurants and cafes in the complex sell pizza, fried chicken, churros, poutine, burgers, donuts and everything else imaginable. 

By far, the most popular eatery when we were there was Gideon’s Bakehouse. At least 200 people stood patiently in line to wait for one person to come out so one more could go in. 

The place specializes in small-batch “from scratch” cookies, weighing what they claim are almost a half- pound. The cost is $6 to $6.50 per cookie.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse ears are in plentiful supply at the many candy shops in Disney Springs. These treats are chocolate-covered apples.

Most people probably flock to Disney Springs for the food, or to the movies at a dine-in AMC theater, or to see a spectacular show at Cirque du Soleil, which has its own soaring building there.

But it’s just as much fun to watch the people enjoying themselves in a pleasant environment.

On a recent Saturday, thousands of people of all ages mingled together along the boulevards, in the restaurants and shops. Despite the numbers, it all seemed very orderly. Very civil.

It was crowded, yes, but the crowds flowed, escalators took throngs to and from giant parking lots that are color-coded so visitors could remember where they parked.

Children will likely get a big kick when they see this dragon jutting out of a lagoon that meanders through Disney Springs.

“No one organizes better than Disney,” one man said, watching the processions. “That’s Disney’s specialty.”

The area Disney Springs now covers along Lake Buena Vista has evolved over the years. It started out as an area of nightlife, with bars and restaurants attracting mostly adults.

Then it expanded to a place for families, too, with the movie theater, restaurants, boat rides and even a giant record store. The record store is gone now, but the area has Splitsville Luxury Lanes for upscale bowling, a giant balloon ride and little colorful vintage sports cars that float along the lake.

A newer area has been added over the years to include all sorts of stores. Coach, Columbia Sportswear, Under Armour, Lacoste, The Lego Store, Star Wars Trading Post, Anthropologie, Tommy Bahama, Kate Spade New York, and even a Ron Jon Surf Shop are among the 97 places to shop.

For kids, there’s a giant Disney store, candy and ice cream shops, an M&M store, a soccer store, a Super Hero Headquarters and the Dino-Store at T-Rex, featuring a 15-foot T-Rex and discovery zones for dino enthusiasts. 

Vintage sports cars can drive on land and float on water at Disney Springs. They offer 20-minute guided tours of Lake Buena Vista.

One shop sells chocolate-covered apples sporting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse ears.

Many buildings are Mediterranean, with red tiled roofs. One along the lake looks like a rustic boathouse on a working wharf. Old-fashioned street lamps light up at night. Musicians entertain on a stage looking out over the lake. 

The boulevards get more crowded as the day progresses, as babies nap in strollers and tired shoppers rest on park benches. 

On the day we visited, bubbles mysteriously started floating over kids in Mickey Mouse ears, around teens snapping selfies and adults clutching shopping bags. Bubbles breezed across shop windows, spun overhead. 

No one seemed to know where they were coming from, but everyone watched as they sailed lazily toward the sky. They made me think of a sign I had seen that day in a shop window: Be as happy everywhere else as you were here today.

Where: Disney Springs, 1486 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
When: Hours vary, but most days are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Info: DisneySprings.com offers an interactive map, visitor and parking information and entertainment details.

Published February 14, 2024

Protect yourself from online rental scams

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has issued some pointers to help people avoid rental scams.

(Stock photo)

Here are some precautions to take to help keep yourself safe:

Meet with the property owner or property manager in person before disclosing any financial information.

Use reputable sites to locate properties.

Research online listings and real estate company reviews.

Be cautious regarding properties that have multiple listings

Do not complete real estate transactions without seeing the property.

Do not pay for rental properties using mobile payment apps, gift cards or virtual currency.

Published February 14, 2024

Crowd gathers to learn more about ‘fighting fire with fire’

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Stephen Raymond with Hillsborough County’s Conservation & Environmental Lands Management explains the advantages of prescribed fires, at the county’s Prescribed Fire Fest on Jan. 27 at Lake Conservation Park. Hundreds turned out for the event. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

The idea of using strategically set fires to protect property and people from wildfires is nothing new.

The land management technique has been used for centuries, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

Hillsborough’s Conservation & Environmental Lands Management (CLEM) Department held a prescribed fire event on Jan. 27 at Lake Conservation Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. It gave those gathered a chance to learn about the science of these fires, which are deliberately set and controlled.

A prescribed fire clears out competing vegetation, cycling nutrients into the soil, stimulating growth and seed production of fire-dependent plants, according to the county’s news release. It also provides food for wildlife, the release says.

“One of the greatest benefits of prescribed fire is that it reduces ‘fuels’ such as underbrush, branches, pine needles, leaves and dead plant debris that build up on the forest floor over time. Reducing fuels every few years helps reduce the intensity, heat, and destructive force of a wildfire if one occurs,” the release adds.

The special event also included activities for families. One of the most popular activities gave children a chance to try on kid-sized firefighting gear.

Published February 14, 2024

Dustin Sims with Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management demonstrates how a prescribed fire is set.
Ferns and underbrush begin to burn during a prescribed fire demonstration on Jan. 27. Such fires are set deliberately to help clear areas of flammable material, thereby reducing the risk of wildfires. Prescribed fires also can improve habitat for animals.

Coffee with a Cop offers forum for residents to discuss concerns

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Cindy McCary, a resident of Wesley Chapel, recently organized a “Coffee with a Cop” session to discuss community public safety concerns.

The primary motivation was to seek answers about issues involving traffic enforcement in Wesley Chapel, according to an email McCary sent to The Laker/Lutz News.

Residents share concerns with local law enforcement officers during a recent ‘Coffee with a Cop’ in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Cindy McCary)

Her email includes a synopsis of what happened at the meeting.

Three representatives from the Pasco Sheriff Office’s community engagement department attended the meeting.

They shared information about what their department does and said they would be glad to attend informal meetings on a recurring basis.

They also talked about the Pasco Sheriff’s Office resources relating to Wesley Chapel, which is located in District 2. There are substations at The Grove and at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Those attending the meeting learned that the best place to take their questions depends on the issue. For instance, there are various county departments that deal with specific issues, while elected county board members address a broad range of issues.

The best number to call for an emergency is 911.

The speakers also told the audience that they should make their reports directly to the Sheriff’s Office, rather than on social media posts. The office needs the direct reports in order to include it in their data, which provides a better idea of the community’s need for services.

Those not wanting to make a direct report can use the tip option on the Sheriff’s website, at PascoSheriff.com.

Residents at the meeting expressed a number of concerns in their community, which include speeding, parking, safety, signage and needs for more patrols.

Published February 14, 2024

Pasco names planning and economic growth director

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David Engel is Pasco County’s new planning and economic growth director. The position is a result of a county reorganization, combining economic and planning issues into one department. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Pasco County has done some reorganization — resulting in the confirmation of David Engel as the county’s planning and economic growth director.

Engel previously was the county’s economic growth director. With his new role he will oversee zoning, the county’s new planning services team and economic growth.

Engel was recommended for the role by Roy Mazur, assistant county administrator.

“I feel great about entrusting the direction of this new group to Mr. David Engel,” Mazur said, in comments to the Pasco County Commission at its Feb. 6 meeting.

The board voted 5-0 to confirm Engel to the post, which has an annual salary of $161,000.

Engel thanked the board for considering his confirmation.

“We’re at a crossroads. I know that everybody has expectations — leadership, executive team, the team that I work with on a daily basis,” he said.

“My mission is to reach those expectations and make the county a better place to live for tomorrow,” he said.

In making the recommendation, Mazur noted Engel’s extensive planning and economic growth expertise.

According to background materials in the agenda packet, Engel has more than 20 years of experience in city and county government, specializing in urban and transportation planning, affordable housing, and economic development and redevelopment.

The background materials also say that Engel holds a Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Regional Sciences from George Washington University.

Additionally, Engel has been affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1980.

Published February 14, 2024

Staying safe on the Internet

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PSO) recently shared some tips to help people stay safe while using the Internet.

(Stock photo)

Like protecting a home, digital security is essential to prevent online hacks and attacks, according to the PSO’s posting.

Here are the PSO’s suggestions:

Ensure firewalls are always turned on for computers.

Install antivirus software to prevent malicious software from attacking and embedding.

Install available updates and anti-spyware technology to ensure private information stays safe.

Be mindful of downloads and links.

Turn off computers when not in use.

Published February 14, 2024

A Closer Look: Everglades Equipment Group — Central and South Florida’s Home for John Deere

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The Tampa area is home to Everglades Equipment Group, central and south Florida’s premiere dealership of farm equipment, with a total of 18 locations, including in Largo, Odessa, Plant City, Palmetto, and the newest in the area, Brooksville.

Starting as a farming operation in 1963, Everglades has blossomed into the go-to source for John Deere, STIHL, Honda and farm equipment from dozens of manufacturers,

And the reviews are true — Everglades is consistently rated one of the top dealers nationwide for customer satisfaction, due to their highly-trained staff’s relentless commitment to customer service, which was ingrained in the company by its founders John and Eleanor Schlechter.

We spoke with Rick Miller, site manager of the Brooksville location, about his Everglades journey and what sets his company apart.

“I have been in the equipment industry for over 30 years, starting shortly after leaving the U.S. Navy in 1989,” Miller told us. When John Deere wanted a presence in Hernando County, they partnered with Everglades, and soon Miller was on board, helping to open the location in 2019.

We asked Miller what sets Everglades apart from other dealers. “Easy, the employees and the culture ingrained at the very core of the company — we take care of one another, and most importantly, take care of our customers!” he explained. “All our employees have the authority to do whatever it takes to address our customers’ needs and problems as they arise. They do not need to contact a corporate manager to solve a problem, they can get it done themselves. As the saying goes, the buck stops here, at the store.”

And, Miller added, “We also do not charge dealer fees and all the rest of those ridiculous fees you see added on to the price after you decide to purchase it.”

Beyond their world-class reputation as farm suppliers, Everglades is an active member in the community, supporting and donating to a wide range of organizations, including agricultural organizations like the local FFA, and those supporting veterans and first responders including the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Plus they’re always looking for more ways to give back — “Not because it might win us more business, but because it is the right thing to do, and something the Schlechter family is very passionate
about,” Miller added.

Given their sterling reputation as a farm supplier, as well as their commitment to civic health, it’s clear why Everglades has been a valued and integral part of our community for over 60 years.

For more information about Everglades Equipment Group, visit EvergladesFarmEquipment.com.