The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Political Agenda 07/22/2022

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Central Pasco Republican Club
The Republican candidates for Florida House District 55 — Gabe Papadopoulos, Brad Sollberger and Kevin Steele — will be featured at the July 25 meeting of the Central Pasco Republican Club. Join us to learn more about the candidates and their vision for the district.

The meeting is open to the public and the club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend.

The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6 p.m., with the business meeting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 813-996-3011.

Endorsements
Pasco County Schools Superintendent and Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano have endorsed the Pasco County School Board’s referendum seeking a tax increase of up to 1 mil, to support increased salaries for teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative employees of Pasco County Schools.

Supervisor of Elections updates
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has provided some updates regarding the upcoming Aug. 23 Primary Election, via news releases.

Corley has announced that on July 14, more than 116,000 vote-by-mail ballots for the Aug. 23 primary election were mailed to voters who had requested vote-by-mail. Ballots to uniformed and overseas citizens went out on July 8.

Voted ballots must be returned to the elections office by 7 p.m., on Aug. 23.

Corley reminded voters to be sure to allow sufficient time for first-class delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, or to hand deliver the ballots to any of the three Supervisor of Elections’ Offices in Pasco County. Voted ballots also are accepted at early voting sites, but may not be turned in at the polls on Election Day. Information on office locations and early voting sites is available at PascoVotes.gov.

Corley also noted that eligible voters who did not previously request a ballot can still receive one by calling the elections office, by submitting the request in writing, or by using the online request form on PascoVotes.gov.

Requests must include the voter’s Florida Driver’s License number, Florida ID number or last four digits of their Social Security Number; date of birth; and, Pasco County residence address.

Written requests also must include the voter’s signature.

Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded but can be mailed to a temporary mailing address if outside of Pasco County.

Voters are encouraged to confirm their mailing address when ordering a vote-by-mail ballot. Requests are fulfilled immediately, with ballots being mailed daily. The deadline to request a ballot to be mailed is 5 p.m., Aug. 13.

Written or telephonic requests for vote-by-mail ballots must come from the voter, an immediate family member, or legal guardian on behalf of a voter.

Voters may pick up ballots at any of the three elections’ offices until Aug. 14.

Those picking up ballots on behalf of someone will need a written request from the voter, designating them as the person authorized to carry out the ballot. The designee will be asked to provide a photo ID and to complete an affidavit before a ballot will be released to them.

Corley also has announced that sample ballots are available for the Aug. 23 Primary Election. The ballots are available at PascoVotes.gov.

The ballots will be emailed to Pasco County voters on July 28.

Voters are encouraged to look over their sample ballot and familiarize themselves with the candidates and issues before going to the polls.

To expedite the voting process, voters are encouraged to bring their completed sample ballots with them when early voting or on Election Day.
To view sample ballots online, voters should know their precinct and party of registration. Florida is a closed primary state, which means the candidate choices on your ballot will be candidates of the same party affiliation. All voters, including those registered without party affiliation or with a minor political party, will have non-partisan races on their ballot, such as school board candidates, judicial races, and a local referendum.

The direct link to sample ballots is https://www.pascovotes.gov/Elections/Sample-Ballots.

The Precinct Finder option is available to voters who are unsure of their precinct number, at https://www.pascovotes.gov/Precincts/Precinct-Finder.

If your voter registration is not up to date with a current address, you will not receive your sample ballot in the mail. Sample ballots are mailed to the address of record on file. To update your address, call 800-851-8754, or go to https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home.

Published June 20, 2022

Zephyrhills pursues a rebranding effort

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The Zephyrhills City Council voted July 11 to hire a marketing firm to pursue the city’s rebranding efforts.

Council members also approved a contract aimed at revitalizing Hercules Park.

A rendering of Hercules Park improvement project includes amenities such as a BMX track, a Frisbee disc golf course, a nearly 1-acre open playfield, and a 1.42-acre playground and picnic/shelter area. The estimated cost has been set at $4.2 million. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)  

The city came to an agreement with The Northstar Group, a marketing group, to help rebrand and reimagine the image of Zephyrhills.

The city also has signed a contract with a construction management company that will oversee the Hercules Park renovation project.

That project includes renovating the park and adding several new amenities.

Both efforts, which have been spearheaded by City Manager Billy Poe, received unanimous support by council members.

The city has been using “City of Pure Water” as its slogan, but Poe has advocated rebranding the city by choosing a new slogan, as well as a new logo for the town.

By rebranding, the city manager said he hopes to broaden the city’s appeal to a wider range of new residents, to boost its current population of 18,000. He also hopes the effort will help promote economic development, encourage civic engagement and boost tourism.

The rebranding project is expected to take about 34 weeks to complete. It will include market research, brand strategy, creative development, and action and implementation.

The City and Northstar also plan to reach out to citizens for their input.

This effort is separate from PlanZephyrhills 2035, which focuses on the city’s long-range comprehensive plan.

The rebranding project is expected to cost about $68,000.

The city awarded the Hercules Park construction management contract to the Tampa-based Wharton-Smith Construction Group.

Renovation plans have been drawn up for the new park on the land adjacent to Woodland Elementary. The estimated cost of the project is $4.2 million, and includes amenities such as a BMX track, a Frisbee disc golf course, a nearly 1-acre open playfield and a 1.42-acre playground and picnic/shelter area.

No timetable yet has been set for the groundbreaking, beginning of construction or completion of the Hercules Park project.

Published June 20, 2022

Request calls for new 107-home subdivision

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a request to allow a maximum of 107 homes on a 43.5-acre site in Land O’ Lakes.

The property is on the north side of Dogpatch Lane, about 390 feet west of Joy Drive, and abutting Joy Drive, about  690 feet north of Dogpatch Drive.

The application seeks to change the zoning from agricultural and agricultural-residential designations to a master-planned unit development.

County planners found the request consistent with the county’s long-range plan and land development code, and recommended approval.

The planning board voted to recommend approval to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over county land use and zoning issues.

The planning board’s action came despite objections from area residents who raised concerns about potential impacts on wildlife and the prospect for additional traffic on Lake Patience Road.

Cathryn Baxter Polonitza told the planning board that she’s worried about negative impacts on the area’s wild creatures.

“I know my neighbors see gopher tortoises pretty frequently. They are an endangered species,” she said.

The proposed development also appears to be closing off the wetlands, she said.

Plus, “our schools are completely overpacked, right now. We have portables.

“We have issues with traffic. I’ve seen myself, fire trucks not be able to go where they need to go because of the traffic we have on Lake Patience (Road),” Polonitza said.

She told the planning board that many of her neighbors couldn’t attend the meeting because it was being held during the middle of the day, when people are working.

Ron Rubrecht, another area resident, said he’s concerned about the wetlands and also the increased traffic.

“You’re going to put 200 more cars in the neighborhood,” he said.

There’s already backups as people pick up and drop off their children at Oakstead Elementary, which is on Lake Patience Road, Rubrecht said.

“Lake Patience is going to have to be a four-lane road with turn lanes, to accommodate the school,” he said.

Debbie Moore, who also lives nearby, told the planning board: “We’re just getting pounded and pounded and slammed in, as tight as you can possibly get.”

Like the others, she complained about adding traffic to Lake Patience Road.

“This is a very, very horrible road,” she said.

Barbara Heck, another area resident agreed with the traffic concerns: “You cannot get through Lake Patience at school time.”

Planning Commissioner Jonathan Moody asked Polonitza who had told her that gopher tortoises are an endangered species. They’re not an endangered species, he said, but are a protected species.

That means a survey will be done and the gopher tortoises will be removed and relocated, Moody said.

The planning board member said the same process likely was used to make way for other development that’s already occurred in the area.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, representing the applicants, told the planning board that her client will comply with gopher tortoise requirements.

She also noted that the proposed density of the development is in keeping with the county’s long-range plan.

The proposed subdivision, which will consist of single-family detached homes, will be served by county water and sewer, the attorney added.

The type of development is what the county’s plan envisions, Wilhite said.

Published June 20, 2022

Pasco is taking another look at its residential parking rules

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If you live in a subdivision that’s been approved within the past 15 years in Pasco County, chances are no parking is permitted on your residential street — without a county permit.

Of course, not everybody is aware of the restriction.

“The general rule for most modern residential subdivisions is that they don’t allow parking on the street,” said County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder. “That’s by the zoning restrictions.”

That’s problematic, Commissioner Mike Moore said during the county board’s July 12 meeting, adding he thinks a change is long overdue.

“Do you really want to, every time you have few friends over —  maybe it’s on a whim —  to run down to the county office and get a permit because you’re going to have three extra guests come over to your house? It’s just silliness, right?”

Moore continued: “South Tampa allows street parking.

“Everybody knows in Cleveland, and outside of Cleveland, you can’t park on the side of the street where there’s fire hydrants. Common sense, right?” he added.

Parking on both sides of the street isn’t a good idea because emergency vehicles and large vehicles can’t get through, he said.

But allowing it on one side of the street shouldn’t pose problems, he added.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey supports the idea.

“Let staff comes back to us with some proposals. In many places on-street parking is used as traffic calming.”

Pasco Fire Chief Scott Cassin said he’d like to see whatever the county proposes and to weigh in on the issue.

Moore said he’d be happy to work with the fire chief on the issue.

Steinsnyder told the board there are areas in the county where residential street parking is allowed because the road is wide enough.

But he added, the board has granted requests in master-planned neighborhoods for streets that are just 20-feet wide.

If parking is permitted on both sides of 20-foot-wide street, there will be issues with fire service equipment or even RVs getting through, Steinsnyder said.

Moore said he’d like to see a recommendation from staff at the next board meeting.

“This is simple stuff,” the commissioner said.

Published June 20, 2022

Lutz Branch Library recruiting ‘friends’ of the library

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The Friends of the Lutz Branch Library are back in action collecting your used books and providing an array of affordably priced books for your reading pleasure, according to a news release from the group.

The group also offers many children’s books and a dedicated bookshelf to support home-schoolers.

The Friends, as they are known, were inactive because of the COVID-19 pandemic and also on hiatus during the six-month renovation of the library.

(File)

The library is open again and The Friends have organized and stocked the Book Depot with a diverse collection of hundreds of donated books ready for patrons, the release says.

The Lutz Friends of the Library was formed in 2000 by Helen Swisshelm, its first president and Hillsborough County Library Board member from 1990-2005.

The Friends of the Library is a nonprofit group, with members who have a passion for books and the betterment of the local community.

Funds raised from book sales are used to sponsor programs and events at the Lutz Branch Library.

If you’d like to help, you can visit the Book Depot and make a purchase, donate books for the store, become a member of the Lutz Friends chapter, make a donation, and spread the word by telling your friends and liking their Facebook page.

You also can provide the Friends with feedback via a Patron Survey found on the Book Depot door. The group is volunteer- based and anyone can join.

If you’d like to find out more, stop by the Lutz Branch Library, at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, in Lutz.

Explore more, with a Discovery Pass

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The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library’s Discovery Pass program is back, with a new and easier-to-use digital system, according to a news release.

A Discovery Pass gives you free admission or a tour pass to select local museums and attractions, and all you need is your library card.

Each pass provides a one-time admission or tour to an attraction on a specified date chosen by the customer.

The passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserving a pass in advance is recommended. Only one Discovery Pass can be checked out per adult library card.

Library customers can reserve a pass online and choose a specific date that they would like to visit the attraction within a 30-day period.

The customer can then print the pass or present it by phone at the museum or attraction for entry.

Participating museums and attractions include: the Tampa History Center; Hillsborough County Conservation Parks; the Glazer Children’s Museum; the American Victory Ship and Museum; the Tampa Theatre; the Henry B. Plant Museum; the Florida Holocaust Museum; Stageworks Theatre; the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts; the Tampa Museum of Art; the Straz Center for the Performing Arts; and The Florida Orchestra.

To sign up for a library card, visit HCPLC.org/GetACard.

Passes are not renewable; however, e-Passes can be replaced if lost.

To learn more about the Discovery Pass program, or to register, visit HCPLC.org/Discoverypass.

Published June 20, 2022

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel celebrates birth of new downtown

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Avalon Park Wesley Chapel marked a milestone in a project that began decades ago, on State Road 54.

The community threw a party to celebrate the groundbreaking for the first mixed-use building in what ultimately will become Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Jazz Under the Starz, the Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco Fine Arts Council  provided entertainment, and refreshments were served.

Participants get ready to fling a shovel of dirt at the Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel groundbreaking ceremony on July 14. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

It was so hot outside, though, that even a tent and air conditioning could not keep it cool for the crowd that had gathered.

So, both Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and Beat Kahli, the CEO and president of Avalon Park Group, kept their remarks brief.

Moore told Kahli: “We’re very proud of the project. Proud of what’s yet to come.”

The commissioner noted the new downtown will provide jobs, which will allow residents to work locally instead of commuting to nearby counties.

Kahli offered a brief history about the project’s beginnings and he shared his vision of what lies ahead.

Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group, offers a brief history of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, during groundbreaking festivities for Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

“You wouldn’t believe how long we’ve been involved with this project. We bought this land in 1988.

“When we bought this land, we bought it from a family, the Brown family.

“They were ranchers here. They actually didn’t want to sell their land, particularly to a developer,” Kahli said.

But he added: “We worked out a deal. We said, ‘You can farm your entire life because this will take decades.’

“Why not do a deal where we give you enough money, where you can pay for your retirement, your education of your kids, but you continue to farm.

“Unfortunately, my good friend Bill Brown died about five years ago,” but Kahli added, Brown farmed until the end.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore helps celebrate the long journey that has led to the beginnings of a new downtown, on State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

Kahli then shared his vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, a community of about 1,800 acres.

“The goal that we always have, when we do an Avalon Park, is to create a sense of safety and a sense of belonging,” he said.

He pointed to Avalon Park Orlando, a community just south of the University of Central Florida.

“It’s a complete town. We have second- and third-generations,” he said.

Plans for the new mixed-use building, as outlined in a community newsletter, call for a 73,067-square-foot building, with a variety of uses.

Those uses include 40 multifamily apartments, with 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include a food hall of approximately 12,000 square feet, which will be called the Marketplace at Avalon Park.

Kahli noted the mixed-use building is just the first of many more buildings to come.

In addition to providing a glimpse of what lies ahead, Kahli introduced his two sons to the crowd and expressed gratitude to his team, noting they’ve been working for decades on the project.

He also thanked Pasco County.

“We work with many governments, around the globe actually,” he said. “Pasco County is a great county to work with.”

After Moore and Kahli concluded their remarks, they joined with others to fling a ceremonial shovel of dirt, to signify the groundbreaking of the beginning of a new downtown.

Revised July 27, 2022

Hillsborough seeks help with Ecochallenge

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Hillsborough County and its partners are seeking help in the 2022 Plastic Ecochallenge.

The county is asking you to help the county earn points by completing waste-reduction actions.

The Plastic Free Ecochallenge is an international monthlong event that ends July 31, according to a Hillsborough County news release

“The goal is to encourage a shift away from single-use plastic dependency and create a more sustainable society,” the release says.

You can get involved by visiting ReduceYourUseTampaBay.org.

After joining Reduce Your Use Tampa Bay, visit the Ecochallenge page to sign up for the challenge and start earning points for the team by completing waste-reduction actions.

The site suggests dozens of ways you can help reduce waste, or you can think up some actions of your own.

Some ways to help reduce waste include: being committed to skipping plastic bags, using a reusable water bottle, or preparing meals without using any items packaged in single-use plastic.

The Reduce Your Use Tampa Bay Ecochallenge team includes Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, City of Tampa, City of St. Petersburg, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, and Keep Pinellas Beautiful. These municipalities and nonprofits also are partners in the Reduce Your Use Tampa Bay campaign.

The three Reduce Your Use Tampa Bay team members from Hillsborough or Pinellas counties with the most points by July 31 will receive eco-friendly items provided by the campaign, according to the release.

Published June 20, 2022

What a community wants

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The City of Zephyrhills is looking at the future by turning toward the past.

The largest town in Pasco County — with a population of nearly 18,000 — is working on a major update to its Comprehensive Plan through 2035, and is asking for suggestions and feedback from new arrivals and long-time residents.

During this process, the city and its planners will collect ideas from residents, business owners, workers and community stakeholders to help create a citywide vision for 2035.

The city typically updates its plan every 10 years, but given the population boom, Zephyrhills opted to plan for the next 12 years.

The population has more than doubled since 1990, from 8,200 to more than 17,200. It is expected to reach nearly 23,000 by 2035.

The planning project is being called PlanZepyrhills2035.

“(The Comprehensive Plan) sets the tone, the goals, the objectives and policies for basically all of the rest of the city,” said Audrey McGuire, Zephyrhills’ historic preservation specialist and community planner. “That’s because a comprehensive plan impacts land use and development and infrastructure, as well.”

The comprehensive plan is a document that spans a long period of time. It aims to protect valued places and promote economic prosperity.

It is carried out over time through city zoning, land development regulations and infrastructure budgeting.

The city wants to engage its residents and stakeholders in shaping the plan’s direction.

“It’s very important because it gives us an idea of what the community wants and how they want Zephyrhills to grow,” McGuire said. “Because it’s not just what we want as planners. It’s what (the citizens) see that can be issues or needs or things that are great in the community they want to preserve.”

The city has already reached out to the townspeople in the form of three Community Conversation Meetings. At those, McGuire and a representative from Brana Consulting — a firm helping the city organize the plan and its publications — took extensive notes from those who attended.

The city also has posted a three-question survey online that citizens have the rest of the year to complete. The survey seeks to help answer two central questions: “What does our community’s best future look like?” and “How will we achieve that vision of the future?“

“We are planning additional workshops later this year — with public works and the City Council, are a couple — so there will be several more community meetings (about the plan) coming up,” McGuire added.

The Clock Plaza is located on Main Street, in the heart of Historic Downtown Zephyrhills, and the centerpiece to nearby local shops and businesses. (Mike Camunas)

At the second Community Conversation on June 25, several citizens expressed their “concern” that no matter how the comprehensive plan develops, they want Zephyrhills to “maintain” and “protect the small-town feel.”

“That’s the biggest thing we keep hearing,” McGuire said. “That, and improving our parks.”

City Manager Billy Poe has already addressed Hercules Park, which the city took over in 2018.

A renovation plan has been drawn up and city officials announced on June 11 that a construction contract has been awarded to Tampa-based Wharton-Smith Construction Group.

The estimated cost of the project is $4.2 million and includes amenities such as a BMX track, a frisbee disc golf course, a nearly 1-acre open playfield, and a 1.42-acre playground and picnic/shelter area.

“I think keeping that small-town feel is very important because we shouldn’t be extending into Wesley Chapel or vice versa,” Zephyrhills resident Christa Remington told city officials at the June 25 meeting. “It would be nice if there were more walking or biking destinations in town, and more places to go out to — parks and programs, places for kids to play.”

Another item that came up involves a desire to revitalize the historic Zephyrhills Home Theater on Main Street.

The City Council, however, voted on Oct. 25 to deny an appraisal of the downtown building.

Another suggestion by citizens involves the desire for a Zephyrhills community pool.

“This is the first time we heard (a request for a community pool) specifically at these meetings, but not the first time we’ve heard it from the community,” McGuire said.

Ironically, Zephyrhills did have a pool in the city limits: Hercules Aquatic Center. However, that was operated by Pasco County and was closed in 2009, due to budget constraints.

Despite several attempts to keep it open, it was shuttered for good and fell into disrepair.

The former aquatic center site is now owned by the city and is part of the  Hercules Park renovation project.

Still, in light of additions to the city in recent years, such as the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center, citizens would like a place to cool off.

“This is Zephyrhills, the ‘City of Pure Water.’ Right?” longtime Zephyrhills resident Tim Allen asked at the June 25 community meeting. “How do we not have a community pool?”

To complete the PlanZephyrhills2035 Comprehensive Plan Survey, visit Plan2035.zhills.city.

Published July 13, 2022

Avalon Park West invites community to celebration

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A groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of Downtown Avalon Park West is set for this week, and the community is invited to attend the festivities.

The event will be on July 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the construction site, 33613 State Road  54, in Wesley Chapel.

The event will include refreshments and performances provided for the guests’ enjoyment, according to an Avalon Park West newsletter, which was emailed to The Laker/Lutz News.

Performances will be provided by community partners Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council, the newsletter says.

Avalon Park Group/sitEX has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Lema Construction to begin building the first phase of the downtown area of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Terms of the agreement, described in the newsletter, call for a 73,067-square-foot building, which will have a mixture of uses. Plans call for 40 multifamily apartments, with 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor.

Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include a food hall of approximately 12,000 square feet, which will be called the Marketplace at Avalon Park.

Plans also include the fourth location of the globally connected coworking space, The 5th Floor. The newsletter also notes that both concepts have been successful since opening in 2021 at the flagship Avalon Park Orlando.

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” Beat Kahli, CEO, Avalon Park Group/sitEX, said in the article.

“And, while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel,” he added.

A 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July celebrations, as well as community partners including Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who already host events and activities in the community, the posting notes.

Both the park and mixed-used building are scheduled for completion in late 2023.

Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown.

Initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2018 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School.

Pinecrest also is now under the construction of its second phase, which includes the addition of approximately 600 student stations for sixth-graders through eighth-graders, according to the newsletter.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or email .

Published July 13, 2022