The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Approval is a step closer for county’s Odessa Town Centre plan

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Concerns about the potential for piecemeal development on about 81.5 acres at the southwest corner of Gunn Highway and County Road 54 prompted the county to launch a planning initiative about two years ago.

The effort aims to create a cohesive approach to future development at the intersection and it yielded what is known as the Odessa Town Centre plan.

The Pasco County Commission voted unanimously on March 21 to send the proposed land use change to state officials for review.

That’s the last step that’s required before the board can adopt the proposed comprehensive land use change.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey has led the effort, which has involved a planning consultant, county planners and community meetings with landowners and residents.

“This is an area where people have lived for a long time. They’re not builders, they’re not developers and they’re not planners. So, I really appreciate them coming along with us.

“We haven’t had anyone sell, since we’ve come through this.

“They (potential developers) are circling, circling around,” Starkey said.

Without the plan, Starkey said, “it would have been a kind of community that no one would’ve really liked.

“Our hope is that we end up with a really good community plan here that’s to everyone’s advantage,” she said. “We believe we increased the value of their property.”

A couple of elderly property owners appeared before the board to raise questions about what will happen to them — as a result of the plan.

That prompted Commissioner Gary Bradford to express concerns about the potential for leaving anyone behind.

But Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, told board members: “The way we designed this subarea plan and policy was to maximize the flexibility of the existing landowners, such as, if they want to sell, it’s their choice. If they want to stay, again, it’s their choice.

“Their existing current uses may remain there until such time that they choose to sell, at such time the new developer or the new property owner that comes along they’ll have to comply with whatever zoning changes they want to make that are consistent with the comprehensive plan,” Pittos said.

Starkey also pledged the help of her office to any existing property owners who need assistance.

“This is going to generate activity,” Starkey predicted.

The proposed plan includes areas designated for light industrial, business park, mixed-use office and retail, and high-density residential uses.

Published March 29, 2023

Road widening delay won’t stall industrial park opening

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It turns out that Old Pasco Road won’t be widened before the Rooker industrial park is allowed to open, after all.

When Pasco County approved an economic deal with Rooker Properties LLC, based in Atlanta, it included a condition that issuance of certificates of occupancy would be contingent upon a segment of Old Pasco Road being widened to four lanes.

Rooker’s property is at 7012 Old Pasco Road and 7529 Old Pasco Road, about one-third of a mile south of the intersection of Old Pasco and Overpass roads. It’s also near the new Overpass Road/Interstate 75 interchange.

The widening of Old Pasco Road, which connects State Road 54 to State Road 52, is in the county’s five-year transportation improvement plan. Improvements can’t come quickly enough for the motorists who travel the road from established neighborhoods, new subdivisions, Cypress Creek Middle School, Cypress Creek High School, the Instructional Performing Arts Center and soon, a new industrial park. (Mike Camunas)

The county’s agreement with Rooker called for the widening of Old Pasco Road, from the south entrance of the industrial park to Overpass Road, before the site could be occupied.

That requirement was lifted by the Pasco County Commission in a unanimous vote on March 21.

The board’s action supported a staff recommendation, which was based on a request from Rooker.

Pasco County’s engineering services department has reported that the Old Pasco segment widening project has been added to the county’s five-year capital improvement plan and that funding for the road widening project’s design, permitting and construction is in place.

The widening is expected to be completed around October of 2024.

Meanwhile, Rooker has informed the county that it is nearing completion of the business park’s first industrial building, of about 187,000 square feet, and it expects to need its first certificate of occupancy around April 1.

During the widening work on Old Pasco Road, a temporary access plan will be used to allow vehicles to safely enter and leave the industrial park.

While approving its staff’s recommendation, the county board supported Commissioner Seth Weightman’s request that the county provide a traffic management plan to keep motorists safe, during Old Pasco Road’s widening.

Weightman characterized the Rooker deal as a “great project for the county.”

But he said he wants to ensure the county does whatever it can do to prevent any potential accidents.

County Administrator Mike Carballa said he appreciates “Commissioner Weightman’s concerns, and the public’s concerns, over safety during construction.

“Our engineering services team does take safety seriously.

“I have spoken to the county engineer and the project engineer to ensure once we have the contractor onboard that we need to discuss safety, even if it costs a little bit more or takes a little bit more time, that we’re ensuring that the job is done safely and within best practices,” Carballa said.

Published March 29, 2023

Pasco board approves charter school foundation request

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request to enable Innovation Preparatory Academy in Wesley Chapel to qualify the issuance of tax-exempt bonds to finance Innovation Preparatory Academy in Wesley Chapel.

The board approved the request from the Florida Charter Educational Foundation (FCEF), without discussion, as part of its consent agenda.

The consent agenda contains numerous items that are approved in a single vote, unless an item is pulled off for discussion.

In this case, the board approved a request by FCEF to borrow $20 million, with the funds being issued by the Industrial Development Authority of La Paz, Arizona, not Pasco County.

The funds are intended to finance the acquisition, development, construction, and equipping of an approximately 56,000-square-foot charter school building and ancillary facilities, according to background materials in the Pasco county board’s March 21 agenda packet.

Pasco County has no obligation with respect to the bonds, but had to approve the request in order for the charter foundation to qualify for the tax-exempt bonds.

The federal tax law allowing this type of tax-exempt financing is known as the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA).

That law requires the request to be approved by the “highest elected” board in the jurisdiction, a public hearing to gather public input and a finding that the project is in the public interest.

On another issue, the county board approved a budget change to realign $54,987.84 to pay for an irrigation project at the Wesley Chapel District Park.

The money came from savings from the district park’s gymnasium coming in under budget last year.

The money will be used to explore alternative sources of water for irrigating the soccer and baseball fields at the park. The fields are currently watered with potable or reclaimed water sources that often are expensive and not dependable.

In other action, the county board:

  • Approved the appointments of Matthew Miller and Shannon Hayley Kennedy to serve a three-year term and Maryann Bishop to serve a one-year term on the Environmental Lands Acquisition Selection Committee (ELASC). The board also approved Patty Fesmire to a one-year reappointment to the committee.

Published March 29, 2023

Cultivating positive change through partnerships

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Whitney Elmore — the executive director of the UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Office — has her fingers in lots of pies.

Her office provides information, classes and programs on topics ranging from gardening, to nutrition to caring for cattle, budgeting money, and more.

She’s had a hand in all sorts of initiatives since arriving in Pasco County in 2014.

She seeks out partnerships to help foster improved services and a better quality of life for people living in Pasco County.

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore, director of the Pasco County Extension Office, is a big believer in the value of community gardening. Here, she is speaking during a 2020 groundbreaking ceremony of a new garden plot at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. (File)

She explains it this way: “There’s often times nothing wrong with keeping things the same, but sometimes everything is wrong with keeping things the same.

“And, time does march on.

“Change doesn’t have to be scary. It doesn’t have to be hard.”

But, she continued: “We move at such a fast pace now, change is inevitable.

“So, if I can help people make those positive changes in a timely fashion — that helps them and their community — then I’m doing something right.”

Plus, she thinks she’s in the ideal role to help make that happen.

“I think it (Extension) is one of most potential-filled places to make change,” she said.

In her view, her office is “an extension into the community,” which uses “applied research” to address issues.

Pasco County Extension is a partnership between the University of Florida and Pasco County.

It offers a way to “really dig in and help people — grassroots, at the core,” Elmore said.

She thinks her practical nature, combined with her life experiences, laid the groundwork for the career she has today.

A rural childhood
Elmore grew up in Barren County, Kentucky — a place with no traffic lights, or even a stop sign.

In that county of 13,000, she said, “Either you knew everybody, or you were related to them.

“Honestly, it was for me, an idyllic place to grow up.

“We lived in what we called the hollers … the rolling hills in Kentucky. 

“I got my wilderness education.

“In the summer, I pretty much slept outside,” she said.

She hunted arrow heads, went fishing, turned up soil in the fields.

“It wasn’t until I was in high school that I realized, most people don’t have those same blessings,” she said.

Her family’s roots in agriculture stretch back for generations.

Her dad was a tobacco farmer.

“They were very poor, very poor,” Elmore said.

She traces her love of learning to the example set by her mother, who graduated at the top of her high school class and went on to teach elementary school.

“We never were told ‘Do your homework. You’ve got to make good grades.’ It was just kind of — we wanted to. 

“You have that model and you desire to live up to that, even though that expectation is not really leveled on you,” Elmore said.

“I was very lucky that way. I didn’t have that pressure.

“I was really allowed to make my own choices, very much, growing up.”

Elmore’s dad was mechanically minded, and because of him, she learned how to take apart an engine and put it back together again.

“I had support from all of these different angles,” Elmore said.

“I was never prompted or prodded or pushed to be anything other than what I was and wanted to be,” she added.

But she saw how her mother’s education lifted the family.

Her dad saw that, too.

“It gave him opportunities that he would have never had,” Elmore said.

The staying power of FFA
Elmore credits her sister as being a source of inspiration, too.

“My sister was in FFA (Future Farmers of America), so I saw that as a small child. And I watched her advancing, and doing so well, in public-speaking contests,” Elmore said.

The Extension leader credits her experiences in FFA for teaching her invaluable skills she still uses nearly every day. Plus, the scholarships she won through FFA paid for most of her college.

“You put it all together — those experiences, but then that support — that can take you anywhere you want to go,” Elmore said.

She attended Western Kentucky University, which turned out to be the perfect choice, she said.

“Looking back, so much of what I do in my everyday job and life, it comes from the information I gained there, and, really from being in FFA in high school,” Elmore said.

Elmore was an avid golfer and at one point had considered turning pro. Instead, she combined  her love for golfing and for learning and earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture and turfgrass management. Next, she attained a master’s in turfgrass management and later, a doctorate in plant pathology.

She taught at Santa Fe Community College and at Middle Georgia University before accepting the Extension position in Pasco County, in 2014.

A change agent in Pasco
Much has happened since Elmore arrived on the scene.

She’s quick to credit many others for their part in creating positive change.

For instance, she said, Cathy Pearson, assistant Pasco County administrator, played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Stallings Building, at 15029 14th St., in Dade City. The building, which is referred to as the One-Stop Shop, offers programs and houses an incubator commercial kitchen.

Elmore also praised the leadership of Bill Cronin, president and CEO, of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., who set up EDC’s East Pasco operations at the Stallings Building.

University of Florida graduate students Carlos Zambrano, right, and Dario Racano, both of Gainesville, staked young blueberry plants. The volunteers were helping the farm recover in 2017 after Hurricane Irma’s winds toppled about 100,000 of its blueberry plants.

Next, a private company, Welbilt, a global manufacturer of commercial restaurant equipment, stepped in to equip the kitchen.

A collaboration between Pasco County, the Pasco County Fair Association and Pasco County Extension resulted in the new extension office, at the fairgrounds property.

The fair association secured a $1.1-million state grant, which was combined with $197,000 from the fair association and $244,000 from Pasco County.

Elmore also has been involved with the creation of community gardens.

The first one was the Watson Park community garden — a partnership between the University of Florida and the city of Dade City. It was the first partnership of its type in the state.

Since then, a number of community gardens have sprouted up around Pasco County.

Elmore’s office also has served as a conduit to help people find the resources they need.

After Hurricane Irma hit, for instance, she worked with Pasco County and the University of Florida to help get the word out to round up volunteers to help a blueberry farm where hurricane winds had uprooted and toppled about 100,000 blueberry bushes.

The general manager at Frogmore Fresh Farm told The Laker/Lutz News at the time that Elmore had reached out to him and asked if she could help. He thought maybe 20 people would come to pitch in, but more than 200 volunteers showed up.

Her love of learning goes on
Elmore never tires of picking up new knowledge.

She recalled traveling to Rwanda and Uganda in 2017, as part of a study abroad experience.

The University of Florida UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County now has a new 6,400-square-foot facility at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, in Dade City. It offers a range of classes, programs and other services.

Among other things, the trip amplified her appreciation of the power of community gardening.

“As we were traveling on these dirt roads through these villages, you see these small communities with these community gardens,” she said.

The gardens were in desolate areas, which were poor and challenged by disease, crime and the lack of opportunity — but the people in the gardens were smiling, Elmore said.

“They’re coming out of there with food to feed their family,” she said.

“There was hope in those gardens. What was also in those gardens was empowerment.

“First, enough food for today, then enough to sell, then enough to share … When you have that level of empowerment, it can change whole communities,” she said.

In a sense, Elmore uses many of the skills needed in gardening to help nurture a better way of life in Pasco County.

In short, it’s about serving everyone and helping them to understand their options and resources, the Extension leader said.

“If you leave anybody behind, the whole community is going to be harmed by it,” Elmore said.

Published March 29, 2023

It’s a sweet season for picking

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Blueberry season in Florida has opened, giving family and friends an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, while picking their own supply of the fruit.

Besides boasting a rich flavor, blueberries are packed with antioxidants — providing health benefits and giving people a chance to have fun while gathering the berries.

The Florida Agritourism Association offers the opportunity for added income, helping to ensure the next generation of Florida farmers, according to a news release.

Here is a sample of local farms that offer blueberry u-pick events:

For year-round information on agritourism events and a list of u-pick farms in Florida, follow the Florida Agritourism Association online at VisitFloridaFarms.com, on Facebook, or download the association’s free app in the Apple or Android app stores.

Published March 29, 2023

Safe Places for youths in crisis

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Hillsborough County teens and children in crisis can receive help by sending a single text message, according to a news release from Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County’s Children’s Services wants to remind kids and teens that there are nearly 200 ‘Safe Place’ locations for kids in need.

Safe Place is a national initiative locally managed by Hillsborough County Children’s Services that provides access to help and supportive resources for youth in need.

So, whether they’ve had a fight with their parents or are fleeing domestic abuse in the home, youth under the age of 18 can visit any of the dozens of Safe Place locations in Hillsborough County, most of which are open 24/7, to get assistance. From fire stations to libraries, and even many McDonald’s locations, there are staff trained to help, the news release says.

Each location displays the recognizable yellow and black “Safe Place” sign to provide a visual cue for kids to know they are in a safe place. 

Kids and teens in crisis can text SAFE with their current location to 4HELP (44357) and, within seconds, receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number to Children’s Services.

The employee at the Safe Place location will call Hillsborough County Children’s Services and within 30 minutes to 60 minutes, a qualified Safe Place volunteer or staff member will arrive to talk to the youth, and, if necessary, provide transportation to the Children’s Services campus in Tampa.

Once at the campus, counselors meet with the youth and their family to make sure they receive the help and professional services they need. 

For more information about Safe Place in Hillsborough County, including how your organization can become a Safe Place location, visit HCFLGov.net/Children.

Published March 29, 2023

Pasco board discusses how to regulate vacation home rentals

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The Pasco County Commission approved a request to allow short-term rentals in a waterfront home in West Pasco, but not before hearing complaints from nearby neighbors, and discussing bigger-picture issues affiliated with such rentals.

Board members approved the request for a short-term rental from Nikki and Michael Rutman to allow short-term rentals at 14429 Birch St., in Hudson.

Along with approving the request, the board attached a list of conditions that the owners must meet, or risk having their conditional use permit revoked.

Several neighbors urged the county board to reject the request, arguing that the short-term rental operation changes the character of their single-family neighborhood.

They complained about people coming and going at all hours of the day and night, slamming car doors, beeping horns, barking dogs, parties and other negative impacts.

During their deliberations, the board also discussed the need to find a way to deal with the broader issue of short-term rentals, also called vacation rentals, that are operating around Pasco County.

This particular request before the board arose because the property owner had been cited for a potential county ordinance violation, but board members agreed that this is not an isolated case.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted: “These issues are going to come up because the reality is, we have thousands and thousands of these in the county. I don’t see any way that our citizens can afford to pay code enforcement to go and shut each one of them down.

“In my mind, the answer is to have regulations,” Starkey said.

She said she uses short-term rentals when she travels.

“When families come (to Pasco) for a sporting event, sometimes they’re more comfortable staying in a house than a hotel. Sometimes, it’s cheaper, you get to cook your meals,” she said.

She added that she knows of at least two, maybe three, short-term rental operations near her home.

On one hand, Starkey said, “I sure wouldn’t want a houseful of partiers coming in every week.”

But on the other: “You can’t treat one differently than the other. If they’re not allowed to have theirs, you’re going to have shut all of these down, too.

“In my mind, we need to regulate and license these,” she said.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told the board that it is prohibited by state law from changing its ordinance relating to short-term rentals, but, he said, the county can impose reasonable conditions.

With that in mind, board members expanded the list of conditions required for approval in the case under review.

They decided to require: that cameras be installed to record outdoor activities; that the property be well-maintained and trash receptacles properly stored; and, that water safety information be provided for any equipment the renters are allowed to use.

The board also adopted a three-strike rule — which would revoke the permit if three warranted complaints are recorded by code enforcement or the sheriff’s office.

Any revoked permit would come back to the board for review.

Starkey spoke in favor of the expanded conditions.

“I think we just made a good blueprint (for future requests),” she said.

Published March 29, 2023

Simple steps can help prevent traffic-related deaths, official says

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The figures are shocking.

About 10 people die every week in the District Seven region of the Florida Department of Transportation from traffic-related crashes, said David Gwynn, the district secretary.

“Of course, safety is always our No. 1 priority,” Gwynn said.

“We have too many people die on our roads every year,” Gwynn said, during remarks at a luncheon meeting presented by the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

It’s common to hear reports about tragedies that occur elsewhere, Gwynn said.

But he impressed upon the crowd the importance of taking action to reduce deaths here.

“Think about it: 10 people a week,” he said.

“Last year, we had a 17% decrease in the number of fatalities in our district, which was a good thing.

“Unfortunately, during the pandemic, it (the number of fatalities) actually went up,” he said.

Even though traffic went down, speed went up, he explained.

“Speed kills. A lot of the crashes that were occurring were higher speed,” he said.

Also, there’s been an increase in motorcycle fatalities.

“Unfortunately, a motorcyclist doesn’t have a whole lot of protection, even if they are wearing a helmet. So, we ask people, ‘Keep an eye out.’ Make sure that you’re looking for motorcyclists,” he said.

He also urged the crowd to keep an eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists, too.

Distracted and impaired drivers also are a problem, Gwynn said.

Insurance company apps can encourage safer driving, and provide a premium discount, he said.

There are ways to avoid impaired driving, too, he said.

“Get an Uber if you’ve been having a few drinks and you’ve got to get home,” Gwynn suggested.

There’s also a simple and effective way to reduce traffic-related fatalities, the district secretary said.

“Wear your seatbelt.

“Over half of the people that die in a car crash — not if you get hit while you are walking or biking or riding a motorcycle — if you’re in a car and you die, there’s over 50% chance that you weren’t wearing your seatbelt,” Gwynn said.

“Younger people are the biggest offender. Remind them: ‘Wear your seatbelt.’”

Published March 22, 2023

Pasco ponders new rules on cellphone use in schools

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The Pasco County School Board is expected to decide soon on how and when cellphones can be used on school campuses.

Pasco County School Board Chairwoman Megan Harding has requested a workshop on the issue, which Superintendent Kurt Browning said will occur.

The issue came up at the school board’s March 7 meeting.

How will Pasco County Schools handle the future use of cellphones on district campuses? The school board is set to discuss the issue in April. (Mike Camunas)

In requesting the workshop, Harding noted: “I  think it’s a really important topic that revolves around students’ mental health and behaviors that are occurring within the classroom. And, I’d really like to have that discussion with my peers, if you all are willing.”

School board member Al Hernandez responded: “Absolutely.”

Browning said the district is scheduling a workshop in the second week of April.

“We’ve been working on this issue the last few weeks, in earnest. We will have the data available,” Browning said.

Any changes in the district would take effect next school year, the superintendent said.

Harding said she hopes families will weigh in on the issue.

Steve Hegarty, the district’s public information officer, said the district established a Thought Exchange on the topic, reaching out directly to parents, teachers and students seeking their engagement on the issue.

“We’ve had thousands, thousands of responses,” Hegarty said.

Browning discussed the issue in a video that accompanied the Thought Exchange.

He said cellphones are common on school campuses, and have both advantages and disadvantages.

While they can be useful for legitimate academic purposes, when used irresponsibly, they can be a distraction, can be destructive and can be used to amplify and spread threats and rumors, Browning said in the video.

“So, how can we manage the use of cellphones in our schools?” Browning asked.

“How do we promote the appropriate uses, while reducing inappropriate uses and mitigating the harmful effects?”

Browning acknowledged: “There’s no way to put the Genie back into the bottle. Cellphones are here to stay. They’re part of our daily life.”

Plus, he added: “Florida law says students may have cellphones at school.”

At the same time, state law allows districts to adopt rules “about how and when students use wireless devices at school,” Browning said.

“So, the question is this: What kind of rules can we adopt, rules that are both effective and realistic,” Browning continued.

“In this Thought Exchange, we’re seeking your thoughts, concerns and suggestions about how your school and the district, in general, should handle the use of cellphones and other wireless devices at school,” the superintendent said.

The issue has sparked considerable interest, with 8,930 participating in the exchange.

Those commenting shared an array of suggestions and opinions.

Here’s a sampling:

  • “I don’t think students should be allowed to film others or make TikToks at school. Children are being humiliated and exploited on social media. School is already hard enough. Then when students post videos of others (fights), now they’ve opened it up to the world to bully them. It’s not right.”
  • “With the ongoing threats schools are constantly getting and controlled campuses or lockdowns that are occurring, students need access to their phones.”
  • “In the event of an emergency, I want my children to be able to reach me.”
  • “My child needs her phone because she walks to school and home from school.”
  • “Social media should be blocked during the school day. It’s a huge distraction.”
  • “No social media. Tech is valuable but needs to be focused.
  • “No interruptions from cellphones during teaching.”

Others suggested that cellphones be kept in backpacks or wall organizers during class and that cellphone use be limited to non-instructional time.

The need for cellphone access for children who have health issues was noted, too.

Overall, the tenor of the comments seemed to suggest that Thought Exchange participants want the district to strike a balance between allowing the legitimate use of cellphones, while imposing rules intended to reduce distractions caused by cellphones, as well as disruptive and harmful use of the devices.

Published March 22, 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