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Land O' Lakes News

Proposed cell tower prompts discussion over competing interests

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A request for a 195-foot tower at the Plantation Palms Golf Course recently sparked a discussion over how to best protect the interest of area residents.

On one hand, the lease for the cell tower would provide revenue, which could help for the upkeep of the golf course — which under previous ownership had fallen into a state of disrepair, threatening property values throughout the Land O’ Lakes golf course community.

On the other hand, a couple living near the proposed towering pole aren’t exactly enamored by the idea of having that become part of their view-shed on a daily basis. They also worry their property values could suffer because of their proximity to the cell tower.

This cell tower at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway, cannot accommodate the kind of antenna that T-Mobile wants to install, so a request has been made to add another cell tower on property at nearby Plantation Palms Golf Course. That request has been delayed for another public hearing. (Mike Camunas)

There’s also the argument that the entire community would benefit from improved service for their electronic devices.

Those were some  of the issues discussed by the Pasco County Planning Commission on April 6, during a public hearing on a requested conditional use permit for the proposed tower.

Mattaniah S. Jahn represented the applicants — Ace Cheval, Inc/VB BTS, LLC/T-Mobile South, LLC – 195 — who are seeking permission for a 185-foot monopole along with a 10-foot lightning rod.

The proposed tower would go on a site on the north side of 20 mile Level Road, about 1,550 feet east of Collier Parkway. The subject site consists of a maintenance facility and is designated as a recreation center, on the Plantation Palms master-plan, according to materials in the planning board’s agenda packet.

The pole would be erected within a 3,819-square-foot fenced compound area, on a parcel of approximately 1.89 acres, agenda materials say.

The proposed anchor tenant, T- Mobile, currently has antenna equipment on a flagpole-style cell tower, which is about 1,150 feet southwest of the proposed request, at the Land O’Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes.

T-Mobile proposes to terminate its tenancy on that pole because it is unable to physically support the antennas and equipment necessary to meet the area’s traffic needs, agenda materials say.

Verizon Communications, Inc. is the anchor tenant at that site.

After hearing neighbors’ concerns, planning board member Jaime Girardi asked about the possibility of moving the tower farther away, onto the county’s parkland at the rec center.

Jahn said that since there’s already a cell tower on that site, it may be impossible to locate another one there.

Cell tower leases typically contain non-compete clauses, Jahn explained.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said he would need to review the lease to determine if it contains a non-compete clause.

That would be a moot point, though, Goldstein said, if the planning board is interested in helping Plantation Palms preserve its ability to generate money from the cell tower lease — to support its golf course operations.

Girardi said he wanted to know the options before taking a vote.

Planning board member Peter Hanzel said he was ready to support the conditional use request because the golf course needs the revenue and cell phone towers are a necessity to support today’s technology needs.

Planning board member Chris Poole said if it’s possible to get it, he’d like more information about the impacts that cell towers have on property values.

The board voted to continue the issue until its May 4 meeting in Dade City, to allow additional information to be gathered before it takes a vote.

Published April 19, 2023

Republican meeting ‘going to the dogs’

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(Courtesy of Sandra Graves)

Cpl. Art Madden and his dog Woodie will headline the April 24 meeting of The Republican Club of Central Pasco, at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Madden will speak to the club about the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) K-9 charity and the club will present a $250 donation to the corporal.

The PSO K-9 Unit is one of the largest and most diversely skilled K-9 units in Florida. It is comprised of multiple handler and K-9 teams, all serving a specific purpose. 

These teams use their skills in various ways including tracking missing people; finding drugs, explosives or accelerants; locating human remains; and, providing comfort for those in crisis.

The K-9s are vital to the PSO — they can perform tasks that humans cannot or that would take significant manpower and time to achieve the same result. There is a social at 6 p.m., followed by the business meeting at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 813-996-3011.

Published April 19, 2023

Pasco approval sets stage for massive development

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A massive development on 2,900 acres of ranchland in Land O’ Lakes is a step closer to reality.

(Mike Camunas)

The Pasco County Commission on April 4 approved transmitting a request by 4G Ranch PD to the state Department of Economic Opportunity and other state agencies for review.

This is a preliminary step that’s required before the county board can approve a change to the county’s comprehensive plan, and that change is required before new zoning entitlements can be granted.

Plans call for developing approximately 3,800 homes and 300,000 square feet of retail and office uses on the land.

The site is on State Road 52, about 2.25 miles east of U.S. 41. It is currently designated as a rural transition area on the county’s long-range planning map.

The request calls for changing the site’s designation from agricultural and  agricultural-residential to a planned development. 

The subject property is bisected by a Critical Linkage Ecological Corridor, in the name of Connerton to Crossbar. The applicant proposes amending the map to reduce the size of the corridor from about 830 acres to about 595 acres.

The county has no objections to the proposed changes in the eco-corridor because even after the changes, it would meet the intent of providing a connection between ecological conservation areas and supporting necessary habitat, according to materials that were included in the Pasco County Planning Commission’s agenda packet, from when it considered the request.

4G Ranch is owned by the Phillips family.

Published April 12, 2023

Rezoning will allow day care and restaurant in Land O’ Lakes

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning to change residential zoning to commercial on 8.39 acres, on the south side of Catfish Lake Road, north of State Road 54.

The planned uses for the property are for a day care center and restaurant, according to the county board’s April 4 agenda packet.

The applicant has volunteered to record a deed restriction to prohibit these uses: car washes, gas stations, vehicle service stations, repair garages, stand-alone drive-thru restaurants and self-storage facilities and free-standing recreational vehicle and boat storage.

A 5-foot sidewalk along the northern property boundary also must be installed before the final building inspection of the first building, according to deed restriction.

Reima Investments LLC/Apple Enterprises Trust are listed as the applicants on this zoning.

In another agenda item, the county board approved a task order with Trias Construction to construct a new Pasco Fire/Rescue logistics building next to Fire Rescue Station No. 15, at 2036 Chesapeake Drive, in Odessa.

The project has been added to the 2015 Penny for Pasco Project List and the approved task order is in the amount of $744,840.

The task order covers the construction of a 60-foot by 80-foot metal building and concrete foundation. It also provides for the installation of metal pallet racks that will help organize the storage area, according to the county board’s April 4 agenda packet.

The county board approved the list of 2015 Penny for Pasco Projects on July 10, 2012, but additional funds were available and Fire/Rescue requested to add this logistics building.

The projected time of completion is 120 days from the notice to proceed. 

In other action, the county board:

  • Accepted the donation of a solar-powered public Wi-Fi hotspot with full installation, worth approximately $6,000, for Stanley Park, at 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Lacoochee. The donation was made by the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute Class of 2021, through its charitable program, “Connecting Communities.”
  • Approved Downs & St. Germain Research Inc. for the Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Study for Florida’s Sports Coast in the annual Not to Exceed (NTE) amount of $29,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023; $73,000 for FY 2024; $58,000, for FY 2025; $73,000 for FY 2026; and $58,000 for FY 2027, for a cumulative total NTE amount of $291,000. The agreement is for a one-year contract term, with four automatic one-year renewal terms, unless canceled in accordance with the solicitation documents.

Published April 12, 2023

Connerton to add apartments, office space

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This sign indicates the zoning meeting that was coming up on a request for a new mixed-use development within Connerton, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes.

The Pasco County Commission unanimously has approved a request that will allow 10,000 square feet of office and retail uses, along with 56 multi-family units on a 2.4-acre site, south of Pleasant Plains Parkway, about 550 feet east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, in Connerton.

Connerton is adding a mixed-use office, retail and multi-family project on a 2.4-acre site, south of Pleasant Plains Parkway, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. (Mike Camunas)

The development site is behind the nearby Publix Super Market.

In approving the proposed change to Connerton’s master-planned unit development (MPUD), the county board also agreed to reduce the required parkland to .24-acre because of the site’s small size.

Staff recommended approving that request because the applicant, DR Reddy Commerce Center LLC, has agreed to increase the amenities within the park by adding three park elements and constructing a sidewalk extension on Pleasant Plains Parkway to connect to the existing multi-use trail, according to materials in the board’s April 4 agenda packet.‬

Because the site is small, the project will be a mixed-use, vertically integrated development.

The owner of the multi-family and residential site will be in charge of maintenance.

County staff identified 19,644 square feet of commercial entitlements within Connerton Village I MPUD, of which 10,000 square feet will be used for this project.

Published April 12, 2023

Thousands of homes proposed on 2,900 acres of ranch land

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A new development is being proposed in Land O’ Lakes that would transform 2,900 acres of ranch land into roughly 3,800 homes and 300,000 square feet of retail and office uses.

The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a proposed land use change requested in the name of 4G Ranch PD.

Attorney Clarke Hobby, who represents the applicant, said a separate request also has been filed for a rezoning, which also must be approved for the project to proceed.

Planner Amy Tull detailed the land use request during the planning board’s March 16 public hearing on the request.

A new development is being proposed in Land O’ Lakes that would transform 2,900 acres of ranch land into roughly 3,800 homes and 300,000 square feet of retail on State Road 52, about 2.25 miles east of U.S. 41. (Mike Camunas)

The site is off State Road 52, about 2.25 miles east of U.S. 41, in an area designated as a rural transition area on the county’s long-range planning map.

The request calls for changing the site’s designation from agricultural and  agricultural-residential to a planned development. 

The subject property is bisected by a Critical Linkage Ecological Corridor, in the name of Connerton to Crossbar. The applicant proposes amending the map to reduce the size of the corridor from about 830 acres to about 595 acres.

The county has no objections to the proposed changes in the eco-corridor because even after the changes, it would meet the intent of providing a connection between ecological conservation areas and supporting necessary habitat, according to materials in the planning board’s agenda packet.

Hobby told the planning board that 4G Ranch is owned by the Phillips family, which “does quite a bit for the community and hosts fundraisers out there quite a bit, so many people in the community have been there over the years.”

He said the site is in an area that the county designated years ago as a transition area from higher densities from the west and the south.

The area north of State Road 52 was basically made up of about four ranches that covered the area between Bellamy Brothers Boulevard to Pasco Trails, Hobby said.

But in the past few years, there have been increased development approvals in the nearby area, including the Palmetto Ridge Master-Planned Unit Development (MPUD) and Faircloth MPUD, Hobby said.

“The (State Road) 52 project is now in the (Florida Department of Transportation) DOT work program, and it’s my understanding that it’s to commence in about two or three years, so that’s radically changing the area that’s just been more of a rural-flavored, two-lane road.

“This is going to be a major growth area for the county, both in residential and non-residential, over time,” Hobby said.

The attorney added: “We’ve worked with staff to set the framework for the ultimate negotiations for the eco-corridor and the county’s acquisition of it, over time. That will be addressed concurrently with, or prior to, a second MPUD, which would be in Area 2, on the east side of the conservation area that you see on the map, which is the eco-corridor.

“What you are going to see in a couple of months — we only have one MPUD proposed at this time on Area 1, and that will be following this, like I said, by a couple of months.

“The family’s intention is to hold Area 2, where they have their large family compound, where the fundraisers are typically held, for an indefinite amount of time. We’re thinking it could be some period of time before that is dealt with.

“The subarea policies deal with the (elementary) school (site) and infrastructure issues that are important.

“We have a condition that requires the dedication of a school (site), once we have approval of above 1,500 units, on Area 2,” Hobby said.

“We have met with the Pasco Trails HOA several times and we’ve made some changes to our concept plan, which will find its way into the MPUD conditions — do a few things design-wise to make it more palatable for them. Feel like we have a good relationship with those folks, and we plan on continuing to be good neighbors,” Hobby said.

During the public comment portion of the planning board’s hearing, one couple, who lives next to the proposed land use change, voiced concerns about losing the oak and pine trees that currently provide a buffer between their property and the site. They would prefer the trees remain.

But Shawn Roark, president of Pasco Trails Homeowners Association, said the majority of people within the HOA would prefer ponds be used to buffer the property.

“We’ve met multiple times with 4G Ranch and they’ve been very gracious and open to our input. They’ve made changes,” Roark said, referring to a planned MPUD rezoning, which is a separate request.

Roark said using the ponds as buffers will help direct the drainage flow to the north, where it needs to go. He also thinks that approach will help preserve the area’s rural flavor.

Another speaker at the meeting represented a couple who has 10 acres nearby.

The speaker said the couple’s primary concern relates to what kind of buffering will be used and whether the new development will have any negative impacts on existing residents.

Published March 29, 2023

Making a pact to act

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World Autism Awareness Day is April 2.

But Land O’ Lakes High International Baccalaureate students Sydney Crenshaw and Sajni Shah have been raising awareness about autism throughout the school year.

Land O’ Lakes High International Baccalaureate students Sydney Crenshaw, left, and Sajni Shah started Action For Autism, a yearlong project aimed at increasing awareness regarding those on the autism spectrum or with special needs, as well as raising money for Special Olympics. (Mike Camunas)

They began their project, Action For Autism, as members of the school club HOSA – Future Health Professionals, which is an international competition based on medicine and health care related topics.

The duo is competing in the Community Awareness Division, which means they set forth to educate the community on a topic of their choice. They chose Autism Spectrum Disorder because they are passionate about embracing neurodiversity and contributing to the awareness of this “disorder” that still comes with a stigma.

“In my experience, when I meet autistic people or children, I treat them like anyone else, but that’s not always the case,” said Crenshaw, who is a junior. “It’s not a visible condition, so most people don’t even know this person has autism because they can act in a variety of ways when they’re on the spectrum.

“Not a lot of people show they have autism, and we’ve seen that a lot, but autism isn’t something you should treat differently,” Crenshaw added. “Autistic people are people.”

Shah says people on the autism spectrum should have the same chances and opportunities as their “neurotypical counterparts.”

That’s why Shah is working to increase awareness about autism.

“A lot of people with autism don’t receive accommodations they need to thrive in society the way you or I might,” said Shah, who is a senior. “That’s frustrating to see because they are very smart people.

“I hope to make these kids feel seen and important and raise awareness that autism is not a stigma and never has to be,” she added. “These kids, given the same chances and opportunities, can be productive and live great lives.”

Sajni Shah and camper Layla Gile make tie-dyed shirts at Dream Oaks Camp in Bradenton. (Courtesy of Sydney Crenshaw)

So far, the students, through Action For Autism, have organized multiple events, interviewed an autistic person and occupational therapist for their YouTube channel, and received $600 in grant money. Using that money, they created other fundraisers, such as selling Autism Awareness bracelets and bags, as well as created posters and fliers with autism facts and hung them around the school and community.

They also have worked with the Light The Torch Campaign, which helps raise money for the Special Olympics.

“Mainly speaking of autism, I’ve seen how it affects children, and adults, in all very different ways,” Shah said. “There is not one way it affects people, so we just want to understand the patterns and more about it, that way if more people are aware and understanding, then people will understand autism better.”

Both students work with several organizations that help with special needs people, including Special Olympics and Council for Exceptional Children.

Shah also worked at Dream Oaks Camp in Bradenton, which works with children with special needs and chronic illnesses from the ages of 7 to 17.

“Working at Dream Oaks Camp inspired me to work with more people with special needs and autism,” Shah said. “What started as a part-time job grew into a project and something more that I want to continue to do.”

Dr. Louis Florence, the teacher who oversees the HOSA club, isn’t overly familiar with the duo’s project or its specifics — there’s 108 members in HOSA and Florence’s job is just to manage the kids and be as hands-off as possible — but he does know that students such as Crenshaw and Shah will bring their very best to their projects.

“We’re talking about some of the smartest people around that are interested in working or serving in the medical field,” Florence said. “They’re really self-starters, which is amazing, and they’re students who are excited about the medical field, but can become anything, from doctors to other health care professionals.”

Crenshaw and Shah’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

“Sanji is awesome and the vice president of the group,” Florence said. “Sydney is awesome, too. Two very high-quality individuals that already have the drive to go out and make a difference in the medical field, and in this case, helping autism awareness.

“These two are great, shining examples of the type of kids who join this club and love to see all the work they do for their yearlong projects.”

Plus, the students’ devotion to autism awareness is prodigious.

“I know just how much I love these kids — they’re so much fun,” Crenshaw said. “I personally do it because autistic people are still people — I’ve said that a lot, but it’s true!”

Action For Autism
Details: Land O’ Lakes High International Baccalaureate students Sydney Crenshaw and Sajni Shah created this program as part of an international competition through the school club, HOSA – Future Health Professionals. The students chose to educate the community on the topic of autism spectrum disorder. They are passionate about embracing neurodiversity and contributing to the awareness of autism. Their campaign included organizing multiple events, interviewing an autistic person and occupational therapist for their YouTube channel, receiving $600 in grant money and raising additional money for the Special Olympics.
To donate, email or Venmo @sajni_shah12.
For more information or to follow Action for Autism on social media, visit https://linktr.ee/actionforautism.

Published March 29, 2023

Wesley Chapel Boulevard widening to start soon

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Wesley Chapel Boulevard, between State Road 54 and State Road 56, is a busy road and has needed widening for years. That work is expected to begin in nine months, according to Margaret Smith, Pasco County’s engineer. (Mike Camunas)

Right of way needed to widen Wesley Chapel Boulevard has been acquired and the work to widen the busy road is expected to begin within nine months.

Once the project is completed, the road will have three lanes in each direction between State Road 54 and State Road 56.

Some of the widening work has already occurred.

The project is of considerable interest to motorists who use it for their daily commutes, to take advantage of the area’s shopping and dining options, and to access Interstate 75, via State Road 54 or State Road 56.

Wesley Chapel Boulevard also is known as County Road 54.

It straddles the edge of Cypress Creek Town Center, where State Road 54 turns into State Road 56, and it leads to the other part of State Road 54, which heads east through Wesley Chapel toward Zephyrhills.

Published March 22, 2023

A budding business on the grow

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Chris Fennell is a kid who actually likes to eat his vegetables.

The 11-year-old enjoys growing his vegetables, too.

“I like these vegetables!” the sixth-grader at Pine View Middle admitted freely. “They just taste great and they were pretty easy to grow — so I like eating these ones.”

Land O’ Lakes resident Chris Fennell, 11, tends to his crops of microgreens, as he sells them roadside in his neighborhood, Wilderness Lake Preserve. Fennell, a sixth-grader at Pine View Middle, decided to start growing microgreens as a do-it-yourself project, especially since he liked how these vegetables taste. Then, he decided to create a small business, BabyGreens. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he’s thought of everything — from creating a website, to promoting the business on social media. (Mike Camunas)

He also loves selling the microgreens he grew himself for his now budding business, BabyGreens. It started as just a do-it-yourself project thanks to YouTube videos. But Fennell, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, turned it into a small business — complete with a website, a logo, business cards and even promoting himself on social media.

“Before this,” his mom, Amber, said, “I didn’t even know what a microgreen was, so I had to do a little research of my own, and then come to find out they’re easy to grow and very healthy and surprisingly tasty.”

Selling the veggies was her son’s idea.

“But we were very surprised by him coming to us with the whole business plan,” she added. “He made a website, business cards, a logo, had a business plan, wanting to get a credit card machine that worked on the phone — he had everything done and ready, like he was pitching it to an investor.

“And he figured that out all on his own.”

Microgreens are “baby” versions of certain vegetables and contain 40% more nutrients. Not to be confused with sprouts or shoots, they are harvested very soon after sprouting, rather than after the plant has matured to produce multiple leaves.

Chris Fennell grows all the microgreens himself, out on the patio of his Wilderness Lake Preserve home in Land O’ Lakes (Courtesy of Chris Fennell)

They are used as a nutrition supplement, a visual enhancement, and a flavor and texture addition. Microgreens are used to add sweetness and spiciness to foods, such as salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers and pizza.

Fennell grew microgreens of broccoli, radish and sunflower, then set up shop in the back of Wilderness Lake Preserve for potential customers to sample and buy.

Using a two-tray watering and growing system, it took Fennell about two weeks to grow his first batch.

“I saw some videos about growing them and thought it was really cool, and I knew they tasted really good, so I was thinking about growing them just to eat them,” he said. “But I also saw that people were selling them and making a lot of money, so I came up with the idea and asked my mom and started a business.”

The sixth-grader is a straight-A student, interested in science (he’s thinking about becoming a marine biologist, one day), so he’s always looking to experiment with new projects. He’s even in accelerated science classes, so when he starts high school, he’ll already have a high school credit.

Chris Fennell, 11, meticulously trims the microgreens he grew himself. He then weighs them and packages for the small business he established, by himself. It’s called BabyGreens. (Mike Camunas)

He embraces the healthy lifestyle, especially as a kid who has undergone two major surgeries before he was even 5 years old. He had open-heart surgery at age 2 and brain stem surgery at age 3.

“He’s more into books and science and learning and always has been,” Amber said. “As an A student in advanced classes, he’s just killing it and absolutely making his mother proud.”

Fennell’s first business display on Feb. 18 went well, with several residents stopping by to taste samples and some purchasing a container of BabyGreens. 

“People are really interested,” he said, “and a lot of people want to know what they are and how they taste on certain things.

“Everyone definitely likes trying them!”

People can give the tiny veggies a taste on April 1, when Fennell will be one of the vendors at Rosebud Continuum’s Spring Plant Sale. Fennell says there are more than 100 microgreens that can be cultivated. His next crop will include corn, peas, salad mix, arugula and wheatgrass.

He expects them to be a hit.

“I think once people try them, they’ll like them,” he said.

“It just takes one sample.”

BabyGreens
Where: Wilderness Lake Preserve neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes
Details: Chris Fennell grows microgreens sprouts and sells them out of his house or on special side-of-the-road displays on the weekends. Fennell, 11, next will be at the Rosebud Continuum’s Spring Plant Sale, 22843 Hale Road, in Land O’ Lakes, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring various local vendors.
Info: Visit BabyGreens.my.canva.site, call 727-687-0753, or email . Follow BabyGreens on social media on TikTok: @BabyGreens_business or on YouTube: @BabyGreens5.

Rosebud Continuum’s Spring Plant Sale
When: April 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 22843 Hale Road, in Land O’ Lakes
Details: Fruit trees, fresh herbs and vegetables, local honey produced by bees at Rosebud, free tree grafting demos and more will all be on sale and display at this event featuring various local vendors.
Vendor space still available.
Info: Email or visit the Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/595648001932925.

Published March 08, 2023

Pasco breaks ground on jail expansion project

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Pasco County has broken ground on a 608-bed expansion on a 28.5-acre site at its Pasco County Corrections Center, 20101 Central Ave., in Land O’ Lakes.

Officials held a groundbreaking on Feb. 23 to celebrate the start of the project, which includes new inmate housing, a virtual visitation center, medical and mental health areas, inmate intake and release areas, kitchen and laundry facility improvements, and other features.

This sign is on the current campus at the Pasco County Detention Center, at 20101 Central Ave., in Land O’ Lakes, just off U.S. 41. A project is underway to add 608 beds, as well as other new and updated facilities, at the jail. (File)

Voters approved general obligation bonds for the $145 million expansion project in November 2018.

During the groundbreaking, officials offered remarks about the project in interviews that were videotaped and disseminated by the county’s communications team.

“We’re overcrowded in the facility,” County Administrator Mike Carballa said. “We can’t just go and put a ‘No Vacancy’ sign up, right? We have to house these folks.”

Stacey Jenkins, Pasco’s chief correctional officer said: “The expansion is going to allow us a better opportunity to classify our inmate population, so with that, it’s going to improve the safety of our staff.”

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman added: “This is a great win for our corrections officers. As we move in the modern policing, this facility will be a fantastic and modern workplace for our corrections officers, and hopefully it gives them a new, clean, safe environment to work in.”

Jack Mariano, chairman of the county board, talked about improvements the expansion will offer.

Elected county leaders, county staff and other dignitaries fling shovels of dirt on Feb. 23 to signify the official groundbreaking of the Pasco County Detention Center expansion. The project, which will add 608 new beds and other improvements, is expected to be completed by Summer of 2025. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“There’s going to be better visitation, where people can do it remotely, safely — taking a lot of stress and strain off the system, as well,” he said.

Mariano added: “The voters spoke very clearly in 2018 … They voted for it. They wanted to see it happen. It’s going to be a great benefit for Pasco County.”

Mike Tippy, a project executive, noted there will be challenges because the expansion is being added next to an operating jail. So, for example, “the kitchen still has to run, even though we’re putting a new kitchen in. The laundry still has to operate, even though we’re moving to new laundry facilities.”

Chief Correctional Officer Jenkins said the expansion will enable the county to provide more programs for current inmates.

It also will provide new opportunities for “inmates who have medical conditions and mental health conditions,” she said.

Moss & Associates is spearheading the construction work on the project, which is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2025.

John Bowden, of Moss construction, said: “This is a big project, very exciting, a large project. We’ve assembled an A-plus team. We’re very excited about what we’re going to deliver over the next couple of years. “

County Administrator Carballa expressed confidence in the county’s staff and the contractor.

“Our team is up to the challenge. I appreciate the hard work and the professionalism of the complete design/build team and our partners there,” the county’s chief executive said.

“This is truly a heavy lift for the organization, but in the end, the juice is worth the squeeze,” Carballa added.

Pasco County Detention Center expansion
New and updated facilities include:

  • 608 additional beds
  • Kitchen and laundry updates
  • Medical and mental health areas
  • Inmate intake/release areas
  • Staff support and administrative offices
  • Pre-trial hearing area
This is a rendering of what the Pasco County Detention Center expansion will look like, at completion. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Access to inmate booking photos
Pasco County has announced that the county now offers access to basic inmate booking information, including photos, for inmates at Pasco Corrections Center in Land O’ Lakes.

Just visit the Pasco Corrections webpage, PascoCorrections.com, and click on either the In Custody or Past Arrests links to access the searchable databases.                       

Give the system a few moments to load booking photos, then simply click on the photo to download. To request a booking photo that doesn’t appear on the website, email Pasco County Customer Service at .

Requests for additional information about arrests must be directed to the arresting agency.

Published March 08, 2023