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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Another Pasco deal expected to yield 2,400 jobs

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The Pasco County Commission has approved another economic incentive deal — this one expected to yield 2,400 jobs when completed.

The county board approved a $6.3 million incentive package for the project, to be funded through property tax rebates.

In a separate action, the board approved a substantial modification to a previously approved master-planned unit development for the site, increasing its size as well as its permitted industrial development.

The approximately 225-acre site is near the northeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

The planned industrial project is a 1.4 million-square-foot build-to-suit distribution center, according to David Engel, director of the county’s office on economic growth.

Northpoint Development LLC, which will build the project, is the “largest privately held industrial developer in North America,” according to attorney Clarke Hobby, who represents Northpoint.

In briefing the county board on the economic development incentive, Engel said: “Originally, it (the site) was smaller, but the developer has acquired an additional 56 acres to the north to accommodate a larger building footprint.

“The developer estimates the building and land development improvements will total $205 million and the equipment in the building will be approximately $100 million,” Engel said.

“There is discussion of putting in a 500,000-square-foot mezzanine, bringing the build-to-suit building up to approximately 1.9 million square feet in floor area,” he added.

The project will necessitate $9.9 million in road improvements, Engel said. The developer has requested $6.3 million in assistance.

“We’re proposing to pay the developer back in ad valorem taxes over 20 years, which will amount to 33% of the tax flow that goes into the general fund.

“In the event that the project with the build-to-suit does not come to fruition, the developer will default back to the original entitlement of 1,150,000 square feet,” Engel added.

“It’s still a very cost-effective proposition for the county because the incentive comes at a minimum of $5.50 a square foot versus the other spec buildings that we’ve done in the past, which range from $9.60 a square foot to $10.”

“The general fund projected revenue over the 10-year period will be $19.1 million, so when you net out the $6.3 million ad valorem assistance, the general fund will capture at least $12.8 million in revenue,” Engel said. “The annual gross county product contribution is $282 million.

“The current return on investment is $1 gives us $195,” Engel said. “This is a completely performance-based deal,” he added.

Hobby told the board: “This is an exciting project. I can’t talk about the end-user here, but the project is being designed and will be constructed for a major regional distribution center that will include a significant number of jobs.

“If for some reason the end-user went away on this project, no money will be advanced, unless my client goes out and builds this enormous building anyway.

“It’s a huge net benefit to the county even if the end-user didn’t come.

“I’m happy to say that my client is so confident in the deal happening that we’re planning on starting construction in late August, to early September,” Hobby said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley expressed enthusiasm for the project.

“District 1 in East Pasco is starting to grow more and more, with Pasco Town Center (a recently approved economic incentive deal nearby) and then this project, too. A lot of great things happening, a lot of jobs being created for our citizens, in East Pasco,” Oakley said.

Hobby added: “This is a big deal. This building is almost a half-mile wide.”

Engel said the floor area size is comparable to two football fields.

Hobby told the board: “Coming from Dade City, it had such a huge employment base, it really made a wonderful town, a lot of middle-income earning opportunities. So, for me, the jobs are really key to creating a community. That’s why I’m so passionate about it.”

Published June 29, 2022

Above-average Hurricane Season predicted

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Activity in Hurricane Season 2022 is expected to be above-average, said Andrew Fossa, director of emergency management for Pasco County.
“Based on the forecasts, and talking to the local meteorologist and the state meteorologist, it’s going to be an above-active season, and they’re also predicting that with this above-active season that the storms are going to be more intense.”

“This year spun up a little, I’ll say it like this, ‘a little wonky,’” Fossa said, referring to severe thunderstorms “at a time of a year that we never get severe weather.”

Typically, that type of weather doesn’t start here until sometime near the end of June through mid-July, he said.

Hurricane Irma caused major disruptions. It toppled trees, shredded billboards, caused flooding, and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in Pasco County. Hurricane Season 2022 is expected to be above average. (File)

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season predicts a 65% chance of an above-normal season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

NOAA is forecasting a likely range of 14 to 21 named storms in the 2022 season, with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 could become hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or higher. Three to six of those could be become major hurricanes, in categories three, four or five, with winds of 111 mph or higher. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence, the website says.

The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project team is predicting 20 named storms in 2022. Of those, researchers expect 10 to become hurricanes and five to reach major hurricane strength.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

One of the big changes in Pasco County this year is the opening of a new hurricane evacuation route.

County leaders have been pushing for decades to extend Ridge Road from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey eventually over to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

The extension has been completed to the Suncoast Parkway and is expected to reach U.S. 41 in 2025.

This year’s hurricane season is expected to have above-normal activity. (Courtesy of NOAA)

The opening of the four-lane road provides a new route to help move people away from the county’s coastal areas.

If evacuations become necessary, the county will use all four lanes of Ridge Road, to help motorists travel to the east. Since the road is under the county’s jurisdiction, it will be in charge of its directional flow.

On another matter, the county plans to return to its pre-COVID-19 setup for hurricane shelters.

For the past two years, the county’s shelter capacity had been significantly reduced because of space required for social distancing due to potential risks during the pandemic, the emergency management director said.

“This year, we pretty much went back to a normal status,” Fossa said, with the same square footage allotted per family, as it had provided before COVID’s threat.

“One of the biggest things we kept in place are the masks, even though they’re not mandated. They still will be recommended for people who have health issues, or (who) just feel safer wearing the mask in a building that’s going to be full of people,” Fossa said.

If pandemic concerns resurface, the county will adapt, he said.

The emergency management expert also noted that Pasco is in a better position now to respond to rescue people trapped by high water.

During Irma, in 2017, the Anclote River, in Elfers, flooded.

“We had no available equipment to put in that area, to get people out of their mobile homes that were stranded. So, we were dependent on Hillsborough County’s swift water rescue team to come out and try mitigate those waters to get people out. It’s a very fast current,” Fossa said.

Now, Pasco County Fire Rescue has a swift water team and a technical rescue team.

So the county can depend on its own team, instead of needing to reach out to other municipalities and counties, he said.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office also has a boat and high vehicle units that can help with disaster response, Fossa said.

The county also has pumps it can use to address flooding situations and has contracts to secure additional equipment, when needed, Fossa said.

A look at this year’s list for named storms. (Courtesy of NOAA)

Don’t underestimate potential hazards
One challenge that can hinder effective emergency response is a tendency by some to disregard potential dangers, Fossa said.

“Floridians are very complacent when watches and warnings go up. They have that mindset, ‘It’s not going to happen to us,’” Fossa said.

He’s concerned that nonchalant attitude is spreading to new residents.

“They’re not used to seeing a tropical storm or a hurricane,” he said, noting many are more accustomed to dealing with winter storms.

“They really don’t heed the warning, and they actually wait until the last second to try to get a plan together and try to evacuate. Eighty-five percent of the time that is not going to work out,” Fossa said.

If you are planning to evacuate, Fossa recommends you plan on staying “tens of miles away” not “hundreds of miles away.”

Going long distances contributes to congestion, slowing evacuation for everyone, Fossa said.

Also, before returning home, find out what the conditions are where you live, he suggested.

“People like to rush right back to their houses. A lot of times disaster crews are out there trying to do cleanup. You don’t know if you have power to your house.”

Watch news reports and check local alerts — don’t complicate matters by going home too soon, Fossa advised.

Published June 29, 2022
Revised on July 5, 2022

Prepare now, to avoid being sorry later

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Of course, no one knows when or where the next hurricane or tropical storm will hit — but wherever you live, it’s a good idea to know whether you’ll need to evacuate, or whether you’ll stay in place.

There are a lot of practical things you can do to increase your chances of weathering whatever storm comes our way.

Here’s a list of pointers — compiled from numerous local and national sources — intended to help you before, during and after a disaster strikes.

These signs guide motorists to evacuation routes. Before a hurricane threatens, find out if you live in an evacuation zone, and if so, make a plan of where you will go if you need to leave. Experts say public shelters should be a last resort. They recommend making a plan to stay with other family members or friends who don’t live in an evacuation zone.

BEFORE THE STORM
Know your vulnerabilities

  • Know your hurricane zone. Be aware that areas of special concern include coastal areas, areas with known flooding problems, mobile homes and homes not secured to their foundation.
  • If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone, prepare an evacuation plan that includes transportation routes and destinations, and one that considers all family members and pets.
  • If you will need to evacuate, reach out to family or friends now, to see if you can stay with them. Think in terms of going to a safe place that’s “tens of miles away, not hundreds of miles away.”
  • If planning to use a public shelter, know where it is and whether it can accommodate you, if you have special needs.
  • Be sure your evacuation plan includes your pets. Create an emergency kit for your pets.
  • Whether you are sheltering in place, or evacuating, be sure to share your plans with someone outside of the danger zone.
  • For those new to the area, find out the area’s history. Is it prone to flooding? Are you in a mandatory evacuation area?
  • Stayed tuned in. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or other radio or TV stations for the latest storm news.
  • Follow instructions issued by local officials. If ordered to leave, do so immediately.

PRACTICAL POINTERS

  • Keep your gas tank at least half full during hurricane season.
  • Have a go-bag ready. It should include items such as protective clothing, medications, important documents, food, water, fresh batteries, a flashlight and cash.
  • Create an at-home kit: Include 1 gallon of water per person, per day, for up to seven days; nonperishable foods; a non-electric can opener; hygiene items.
  • Stock up on paper plates, plastic utensils, plastic cups, a grill, fuel and charcoal.
  • Have a phone charger that doesn’t require electricity.
  • Have books and games available, to help pass the time.
  • Check your emergency equipment: Do you have flashlights with fresh batteries? Does your generator work? Do you have tarps?
High winds can snap giant trees as if they were toothpicks.

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY

  • Take actions to reduce potential damage from hurricanes or tropical storms. Have trees trimmed. If high winds are expected, stow unsecured items, such as lawn or pool furniture, wind chimes, potted plants, garbage cans and other objects that can become projectiles in high winds.
  • Review your insurance policies to be sure you have adequate coverage. Do an inventory of your valuables and take photos of your jewelry, electronics and other big-ticket items.
  • If you have a boat, be sure to secure it.
  • Clear out clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Secure your home. Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8-inch exterior grade or marine plywood, built to fit and ready to install. Buy supplies before a hurricane threatens to get the needed supplies and avoid the pre-storm rush.

DURING THE STORM

  • Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can. Stay away from windows, skylights, and glass doors.
  • Close all interior doors. Secure and brace exterior doors.
  • Fill bathtubs or buckets with water to use for cleaning and toilet flushing.
  • Don’t be fooled by a lull in the storm. It could be the eye of the storm and the winds could resume.
  • Stay informed by listening to a NOAA Weather Radio, local news reports and notifications on emergency apps.
Generators enable people to keep their refrigerators and other appliances going when the power goes out, but they must be operated carefully to avoid potential dangers. Do not operate them in enclosed spaces, such as homes or garages. Be sure to read the operating instructions with your unit to avoid potential hazards. (File)

AFTER THE STORM

  • If you evacuated, return home only after officials say it is safe. Check the local news and local government emergency apps to find out when it is safe to return to your home.
  • Once home, drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges. If you must go out, watch for fallen objects in the road, downed electrical wires, and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks that might collapse.
  • Walk carefully around the outside of your home to check for loose power lines, gas leaks, and structural damage.
  • Stay out of any building if you smell gas, if floodwaters remain around the building, if the structure was damaged by fire or if authorities have declared it unsafe.
  • Never use a portable generator inside your house or garage. Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death after storms.
  • Use battery-powered flashlights. Turn on your flashlight before entering a vacated building. The battery could produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.
  • Don’t drive into water when you can’t see the bottom of the road. Heed the advice: Turn around, do not drown.
  • Don’t walk through flooded areas. Fast-moving water could carry you away. The water also could be contaminated with oil, gasoline, raw sewage and other harmful toxins. Also, it is possible that it’s electrically charged from a downed wire.
  • Be careful about the foods you eat. If the power is out for a prolonged period, your food may have spoiled.
  • Do not burn charcoal in your house or garage, the fumes can be deadly.

If you’re using a generator, do not plug it into a building’s wiring. This can cause generator back feed, which is extremely dangerous for utility workers and for anyone in the public who comes into contact with a downed electrical wire.

IF YOU HAVE DAMAGE

  • Call your insurance agent.
  • Take photos of the damage.
  • Make emergency repairs to avoid more damage and keep receipts for tarps, lumber and so on.
  • Use licensed contractors to make repairs. Be wary of potential scams.

For a considerable amount of regarding emergency preparedness, check out the disaster guides available through Pasco County and Hillsborough County. Also, sign up for their alerts. To access those, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org and https://www.pascocountyfl.net.

Published June 29, 2022

Dayspring Academy is planning a school in Angeline

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The Pasco County School Board and Creation Foundation, doing business as Dayspring Academy, plan to work together on a new elementary charter school to serve an emerging community in Central Pasco.

The Pasco County School Board approved an agreement at its June 21 meeting, which sets the stage for a new elementary school for 600 students to be built in Angeline, in an area just south of State Road 52 and west of Sunlake Boulevard, according to an agreement in the board’s agenda packet.

Dayspring and the school board have agreed to fund the project through impact fees. The school will serve kindergarten through fifth grade students.

“Dayspring and the school board desire to partner with each other in this endeavor and as such will work to blend the charter school program and curriculum with the future board STEM 6-12 magnet,” the agreement says. The objective is to open the school in 2024.

The agreement also spells out how construction should proceed, how payments will be made, and so on.

Angeline is a new development spanning 6,200 acres, which is south of State Road 52 and east of the Suncoast Parkway. The new 6-12 magnet school already is under construction in the heart of a town center that is near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

That campus is expected to become a magnet for world-class cancer researchers and life science companies.

The board approved the agreement as part of its consent agenda, meaning it was approved with a number of other agenda items without board discussion.

Published June 29, 2022

Lightning fans taste the joy of victory, agony of defeat

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The Colorado Avalanche ended the Tampa Bay Lightning’s bid to take home the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive time.

Instead, the Avalanche clinched the best of seven games finals in Game 6, at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa.

The Avalanche won 2-1, in a series that had a bit of everything. Each team had a blow-out win, two games were decided in overtime and two games were settled by one-point margins.

Players battled through injuries, and ultimately, the fans were the winners — watching two teams that gave it their all.

Arenas in each town were filled with cheering crowds and there were outdoor watch parties, too, including gatherings at the KRATE, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

A live shot of crowds arriving at Ball Arena in Denver prior to the start of the first game in the Stanley Cup Finals, shown on the big screen TV at a free watch party held at the KRATE, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel. (Fred Bellet)
Andrew Olson, of Brooksville, wears his 2021 Stanley Cup Champions cap, as he and his wife, Melissa, watch the Tampa Bay Lightning struggle against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Olson, a former Blackhawks fan, switched his allegiance to the Lightning when he moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2005.
It may have been raining, but die-hard Tampa Bay Lightning fans attended a watch party at the KRATE, in the Grove at Wesley Chapel. Dennise Colon, of Wesley Chapel, right, under her umbrella did not let rain stop her from watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. She was at the free, outdoor event hosted by KRATE, with her husband, Ramon, and daughters, Selyse, 11, and Sariya,12.
Here, the goal cam in Denver’s Ball Arena captures Bolt’s goaltender No. 88 Andrei Vasilevskiy, as he blocks a shot.
Tina Burkardt, of Wesley Chapel, brought a portable fan to keep her cool, while watching the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals. She didn’t bring an umbrella, which would have been helpful, too.
Ten-year-old Jaxson Twisdale bites nervously on the tip of his foam rubber Bolts finger. He was at the KRATE with his parents, Jim and Theresa Twisdale, of Land O’ Lakes, for a free watch party. The Avalanche dominated in a 7-0 win over the Bolts in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Watching the big screen TV, fans cheer as the Tampa Bay Lightning tie up the game 3-3 against the Colorado Avalanche. The first Stanley Cup Finals game went into overtime, with the Avalanche defeating Tampa Bay, 4 to 3.

 

 

Pasco Schools seek solutions for disrespect, disruption

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An increasing number of fights in Pasco County Schools prompted Superintendent Kurt Browning to issue a warning to students and parents in March.

In essence, that message was: Fighting will not be allowed in district schools. If it happens, principals should refer students engaged in fighting for expulsion.

In a videotape announcing the crackdown, Browning said it’s not that the district wants to exclude students from school but that it simply will not tolerate that type of behavior.

Browning said the increasing number of fights indicated that the district had been too lenient.

At the Pasco County School Board’s June 7 meeting, Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong asked Browning: “Was our crackdown on fighting effective?”

Megan Harding

The superintendent responded: “Yes, it was. I don’t have the exact numbers, but I do know our numbers dropped significantly for the fourth quarter, after I made my announcement: I wasn’t playing.

“Staff has asked me: Is that going to be in place for next year?

“The answer is yes. It’s going to be in place next year, and we’re going to continue pushing it out and letting parents know that we’re not playing and you need to have conversations with your children about what appropriate behavior is, in a public setting.

“One fight and you will be put up for expulsion. It’s that simple.

“Harsh? Maybe. It depends on if you are a parent or a student or the teacher that is having to deal with, or the administrator that’s having to deal with it.

“For our teachers and administrators, it may not seem harsh enough.

“I do believe that it takes kind of a drastic step to get the attention of families and kids, to let them know that we are here to educate children. We are not here to referee fights.

“Unfortunately, where society has placed us, we often times play the role of a parent and that’s with the help of the state Legislature because they continue to require schools to do so many things that I believe ought to be being done at home, but they’re not. That’s another story, for another day.”

School board member Megan Harding said she understands there are tougher rules in place regarding fighting, but she wants to know how the district will address other behaviors that also are unacceptable.

“There are a lot of behaviors that need to be addressed, not only at the secondary level, but the elementary level, as well,” Harding said.

“I’ve heard stories of children throwing chairs, yelling, screaming and causing disruption. I’ve also seen students who are upset and leave the classroom, and support staff and admin are having to follow that child around.”

Megan asked if the board could have a discussion on that topic.

Armstrong agreed that the issue needs attention. “I think that’s a topic that we’re all interested in and it’s certainly a concern of the teachers and parents,” she said.

Browning responded: “Discipline continues to be a challenge. I will continue to say that it all starts in the home. It doesn’t start in the school. It starts in our homes. It manifests itself in our schools, and yet we’re the ones left to deal with the behaviors of these kids. Not all of our kids are ill-behaved. It’s usually a smaller group of kids that tend to consume the majority of time of our administrators and teachers,” he said.

“We continue to work on that. I will tell you, finding solutions is like nailing Jello to a tree. It’s near impossible to do that because the problem is so big, it is so complex and there’s not one single answer to it,” he said.

Browning noted that dealing with fighting it is easier mete out discipline.

“You have videos, in almost every school. You can see it. There’s no shadow of a doubt who hit whom,” Browning said.

But when it comes to disrespect, to cursing, to bad behavior — it’s difficult, Browning said.

“Our goal is not to place kids outside of school. It does not serve the child well. It does not serve the family well. It does not serve our community well, when we put kids out of school.

“But, we’ve got to make sure for those children who are disruptive, there’s some consequence for their behavior, so we can educate the ones who want to be in school,” Browning said.

The superintendent told the board that staff would provide an update when it had some firm ideas for addressing the issue.

Published June 22, 2022

North Tampa Bay Chamber in running for being the nation’s best

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber is a finalist in the 2022 Chamber of the Year award, an honor presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).

The ACCE, based in Alexandria, Virginia, has members affiliated with more than 1,600 chambers of commerce, and related business and economic development organizations. In total, it represents more than 9,000 professionals in the industry.

The award recognizes the leadership role chambers of commerce have in their communities.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber is one of 12 from across the country that has made it to the final round. There are three finalists in each of four divisions, which are based on annual revenue, membership, area population and other factors.

The winners will be announced on July 27, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Hope Kennedy, CEO and president of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Javan Grant will be heading to Indianapolis next month to see if the chamber is named the nation’s best, in its division. (B.C. Manion)

Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, and Javan Grant, the chamber board’s chairman, said they are delighted and gratified by the chamber’s recognition.

Kennedy, who has been a chamber executive for about two decades, said this is the first time that a chamber she’s affiliated with has been named a finalist for the national honor.

“This is like the Academy Awards for chambers of commerce,” Kennedy said.

When she found the chamber was a finalist, she said: “I made sure I read the email three times.”

Chambers are invited to compete for the honor, based on data they already have submitted to the organization. Once invited, they must submit a detailed application, she said.

Initially, Kennedy wasn’t sure if the chamber could put together a competitive application, within the available time frame.

“They had an informational webinar, and I will not lie, I was extraordinarily intimidated,” Kennedy said.

But Grant told her: “Hope, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

So, she and Grant enlisted some help and divvied up the duties to compile the necessary information, create the desired presentation and meet the deadline.

The exercise, Grant said, reminded him of the chamber’s many accomplishments — which he said are easy to forget about in the moment, but add up over time.

This isn’t the first time the North Tampa Bay Chamber has been singled out for excellence.

It was named the 2019 Chamber of the Year for the state of Florida.

That award was based on work accomplished in 2019, Kennedy said. The national award covers the years 2020 and 2021.

As part of its 31-page entry, the chamber submitted a synopsis of two specific programs for the judges to consider.

One program involved the chamber’s work to help its members during COVID-19 to get the word out that they were open for business.

One way it did that was through a Chamber Road Show that Kennedy put together. She visited companies to talk with business owners about their services and how they were managing to stay open during the pandemic. The stories were shared through videos posted on the chamber’s social media channels.

Another way it helped its members was by partnering with a chamber member, ACME on the Go, which is a digital billboard company. The digital billboards were placed in front of companies to spread the word that the business was open.

In another initiative, the chamber reimagined its annual awards ceremony.

It conducted the ceremony virtually, with scattered watch parties. And, it based its awards on the chamber’s core values of integrity, innovation, collaboration and inclusion. It also recognized people who served as community heroes during the pandemic.

The chamber’s submission for the national award covers everything from how it generates income, to how it identifies its key advocacy issues, to how it positions itself to address future challenges.

Forward thinking has served the chamber well in the past, Kennedy said, explaining how its ability to harness technology enabled it to adapt quickly when COVID-19 shut everything down.

The chamber’s move away from a reliance on events to generate income also proved prescient, when the pandemic forced cancellations of big public gatherings.

By that time, the chamber had already shifted to a membership-fee based organization.

Now, 85% of its revenue comes from membership fees, and the remainder comes from rental income, events and sponsorships.

Its rental incomes come from subletting office space.

The leases are for a year and when someone moves out because they require a larger space, that’s a reason for celebration, the chamber’s submission says. So far, four businesses have moved up to bigger spaces.

Grant said the North Tampa Bay Chamber works to be a catalyst for change in the region.

Currently, one of the biggest challenges is getting the business community re-engaged, both Kennedy and Grant said. Before COVID hit, the chamber was a vibrant organization with enthusiastic and engaged members. Now, it is working to revive that level of engagement.

“Our challenge is getting those individuals who are in their PJs, or whatever they’re wearing, out and recognize the benefit of mingling with others,” Grant said.

Plus, it’s not enough to focus on the needs of today, Kennedy said.

“We have to be planning for our future. What’s next? What’s next for our community? What’s next for their business? What’s next for us to tackle?”

“What does the workforce of the future look like? Now, more than ever, that’s going to play such a pivotal role in what we’re doing here at the chamber,” she said.

Still, the recent recognition feels good and is energizing, Kennedy said.

It would be great to walk across the stage, carrying a shiny piece of hardware, she said.

But in one sense, the chamber already is a winner.

“There is no other Florida chamber in any of the other finalist categories,” she said.

Published June 22, 2022

Pasco is expected to gain 6,000 jobs

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A new development planned for 965 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52 is expected to generate 6,000 jobs.

The Pasco County Commission approved an incentive deal on June 7 to help pave the way for the development.

The Pasco Town Center, as the proposed development is known, is expected to include 4 million square feet of industrial space; 725,000 square feet of office space; 3,500 housing units, 400,000 square feet of retail and 300 hotel rooms.

The agreement with Columnar Holdings includes a $55.8 million incentive package, funded mostly through property tax rebates, as specific milestones are met.

The development company also will install key roads and utility connections beyond the Pasco Town Center Property – providing $70.1 million in public infrastructure, with no direct cost to taxpayers, according to David Engel, the county’s director of the office of economic growth.

The infrastructure includes sanitary sewer, potable water, reclamation lines and roadways, Engel said.

“The project completion of all of this $70 million worth of infrastructure is in three phases, with a terminating target date of Dec. 31, 2028.

That public infrastructure “will expedite and attract job-creating industrial and employment center development” in the area, according to details in the county board’s agenda backup.

“We’re proposing to provide $46.2 million in ad valorem equivalency grants. That’s (in) the form of a rebate. The developer pays taxes in Year 1 and he gets rebated a portion of the taxes in Year 2, which is 33% for most of the development and 20% for the multifamily,” Engel said.

The agreement also provides $9.6 million in cash reimbursements to the company toward constructing the master utilities within the employment center area of the master-planned unit development. That will be paid for with $2 million in Penny for Pasco proceeds and the rest through county funding.

Laying the groundwork for employment growth
Engel noted the developer has requested assistance because the county wants “to accelerate creating a development-ready environment in the employment center,” Engel said.

“Because of the pressures in the marketplace and our lack of inventory, we do not have suitable space for companies to come in to that area right now, and we have tremendous demand for that.

Engel also noted: “We’ve requested — and the developer has agreed — to increase the industrial entitlement from 1.8 million square feet of industrial to 4 million square feet of industrial.”

Pasco Town Center is within the Employment Center area of Connected City.

After incentive rebates, the new development is expected to generate over $300 million in revenue for the county over the next several decades, Engel told the county board.

The agenda memo notes that “all the described incentive payments will be deferred and accrued in a county escrow account for the benefit of the company until 1 million square feet of industrial and/or office space is built, which may include occupied or ‘spec’ (speculative) building space.”

Based on the development phasing schedule provided by the company, the county estimates the project will yield aggregate ad valorem revenue totaling $386,581,404 during the 40-year ad valorem rebate payment period, the memo says.

It also is expected to create nearly 6,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, at build-out, the memo adds.

Engel’s office forecasts a 10-year return on investment equaling 35 times.

“The benefits of the project, related to economic growth, are profound because we’re focusing on installing all of the public master roadway and utility infrastructure in the Connected City employment area,” Engel said. “That will be on the developer’s property and off-site, to serve the entire area.

“This is the most productive agreement that I’ve brought forth to date to the board,” Engel said. “The Rooker project, for example, which we provided Pads and Pours funding, was $9.80 a square foot. This is $9.60 a square foot.

Once the project is complete, $1 contribution by the county will give us $100 in return to the local economy,” Engel said.

Michael Wolf appeared on behalf of Columnar Holdings, which plans to develop the site.

He told the board that the company is part of Traylor Construction Group, which helped to build the Howard Frankland Bridge back in the 1990s. Traylor is a third-generation company, run by four brothers today, Wolf noted.

“We buy raw land, entitle it and do these infrastructure improvements. We also have construction arms for doing vertical construction, as well.

“We’ve had a very strong presence in the Orlando market for the past 15 years, developed almost 5,000 lots there in major master-planned communities, largely adjacent to Disney World,” he said.

The company is “very experienced in the space — construction, development.

“We’ve also got horizontal development going on in Austin, as well as in Denver, as well as southwest Florida.

“We’ve got experience in all asset classes, from residential, industrial, multifamily, single family and so on,.” Wolf said.

Developer will pay attention to design
Wolf assured board members that the developer won’t “just lay out large industrial buildings, but ( will) work on place-making, as well.”

It is collaborating with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences on creating a sustainable design, including fitness components, he said.

It also wants to create dining and entertainment options for employees and residents of neighboring master-planned communities, he added.

The agreement won’t take effect until after the site receives the county board’s approval of a master-planned unit development rezoning request.

That approval appears highly likely, based on enthusiasm expressed by county board members.

“I think it’s a win-win for the county and for our developer,” said Commissioner Ron Oakley, noting the project is located within his district. “I appreciate you being here and building this kind of product for us.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano added: “This is a very exciting project.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told Wolf: “This looks really fantastic. I’m really excited we’re getting this quality of development at (I) 75 and (State Road) 52. I’m sure you’re going to be very successful there.”

In keeping with her persistent advocacy for trails and for making it easy for people to get around, Starkey asked the developer to pay attention to that issue.

Wolf agreed with Starkey: “We just think it’s so important to really, truly get that activation, to have folks be able to run, bike, golf cart, what have you. If we don’t have those components, we won’t be able to activate that space.”

As he reiterated his support for the project, Oakley noted that when he left Pasco to go off to college, he was able to return to work in the citrus industry.

Others that left for college were unable to come back for jobs in their professions. Projects like this increase job opportunities and help to change that picture, Oakley said.

Wolf told board members that the proposed rezoning for the project is working its way through the process.

Wolf told commissioners that the developer hopes to get a shovel on the ground this year.

Published June 22, 2022

More than $12 million in state funding coming to Zephyrhills

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The City of Zephyrhills has announced it will receive slightly more than $12 million for three local infrastructure-related projects.

The state allocations were approved as part of the 2022-2023 Florida state budget, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 2.

The City of Zephyrhills has announced it will receive slightly more than $12 million in state funding for local projects. (Mike Camunas)

The funds will be used on work at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, road projects and sewer and water main improvements.

“Receiving these appropriations helps to improve the infrastructure throughout the City of Zephyrhills in a multi-faceted approach,” Billy Poe, city manager for the City of Zephyrhills, said in a news release.

Poe also expressed his appreciation to Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, Sen. Danny Burgess, and Rep. Randy Maggard for their support of the Zephyrhills community.

Poe also thanked Gov. Ron DeSantis for “seeing the value in these infrastructural improvements in the City of Zephyrhills.”

Here are the specifics:

Municipal Airport improvements: $6.6 million
Several projects are already underway at the airport, including a runway extension that is expected to be completed soon. The additional funds will be used to design and construct a new Fixed Based Operator (FBO) Terminal Building, Taxiway F and two new box hangars. Future development of the airport and the adjacent Industrial Park is expected to attract new corporate and recreational aircraft operations, including increased jet traffic. When this happens, new jobs are expected from the increased capacity for aviation businesses, including pilot lessons, new hangar construction, mechanical businesses and corporate relocations and from maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses.

Kossik Road and Fort King Road Sewer Main/Water Main Extension: $3.5 million
This is the second part of a three-phase project to improve utility access in the north end of the city. When completed, the overall improvement will create a looped system, allowing for redundancy, as well as improving fire flow and water quality.

The sewer part of the project will allow decommissioning of up to 400 existing septic systems and prevent nearly 2000 new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems. It also will provide reclaimed water to benefit the Hillsborough River Basin minimum flow levels.

South Avenue Extension – National Guard Entrance Road: $1.94 million
This funding is intended to provide to access a new Florida National Guard facility that is planned for Zephyrhills. In 2021, a $25 million appropriation was approved to to construct a new facility in Zephyrhills. The Guard selected a location just north of Sixth Avenue and South Avenue and the airport. However, the proposed site does not have improved access from Sixth Avenue. The extension project consists of purchasing the right-of-way, a quarter-mile roadway to access the Guard site, stormwater and extension of 1,300 linear feet of water main and sewer main to service the site from the Sixth/South Avenue intersection. The industrial access road is a critical segment to access both the armory and future industrial development.

Poe said these funds couldn’t come at a better time, especially as the city has numerous projects already in the works or on the books.

“With the growth we’re experiencing (in Zephyrhills) — not just residential, but commercial and citywide,” Poe said, “that comes with improving the water and the sewers and the streets and even the airport. These are all much-needed improvements.”

Published June 22, 2022

Audio park tours now available

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Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management has created audio tours for 14 of the county’s most popular preserves and conservation parks, according to a news release.

Residents now can take a guided tour of select Hillsborough County locations, courtesy of their cellphone.

Lettuce Lake Park is just one of 14 parks and preserves throughout Hillsborough County that residents and visitors can explore through a new audio tour app. (File)

The Hillsborough FL Nature Tours app outlines each park’s popular features and amenities, and describes the flora, fauna, and points of interest specific to each property.

The app includes maps of the parks and preserves, and uses GPS to show visitors their current location. As a person approaches a specific area, the app brings up photos and an audio tour.

For example, at Lettuce Lake Park, the app includes photos and information from eight points of interest within the park, providing visitors details about everything from alligators and the observation tower, to roseate spoonbills and the ancient cypress trees.

There are three ways to use the audio tours: Download the app and listen at each stop; use the QR code provided on signs at each stop; or, go to the drop-down menu in the app for photos and text, which can be particularly useful for those who are deaf or hearing impaired.

The app is free through app stores.

Audio tours are available with these 14 parks and preserves: Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park; Alafia River Corridor South Nature Preserve; Apollo Beach Nature Preserve; Bahia Beach Nature Preserve; Bell Creek Nature Preserve; Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve; Edward Medard Conservation Park; Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve; Lake Frances Nature Preserve; Lake Park Conservation Park; Lettuce Lake Conservation Park; Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve; Triple Creek Nature Preserve; and, Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park.

Published June 22, 2022