The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Work continues on plans to extend Overpass Road

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Work is set to proceed this spring to lay the groundwork for an extension of Overpass Road, east of Boyette Road to U.S. 301.

Design permitting and re-evaluation of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study is set to begin this spring and is expected to be finished in 2023.

Pasco County is providing $2.5 million and the Florida Department of Transportation also is providing $2.5 million, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

The county board approved a Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) Agreement with FDOT on Jan. 12, 2021, for the design phase of the project.

Under terms of that agreement, Pasco County agreed to fund $2,584,107 and FDOT would fund $2,415,893, of the estimated $5 million design cost.

Typically, TRIP Agreements are funded 50/50, but the FDOT had to reduce its funding by  $84,107 because of fiscal impacts to their Work Program. The state transportation agency agreed to restore those funds in its Fiscal Year 2022 Work Program.

So, the county board approved an action at its Jan. 25 meeting to reduce the amount of funding contributed by the county and increase FDOT’s funding, to arrive at a match of $2.5 million each.

No other changes to the initial TRIP Agreement are proposed.

According to FDOT’s website, the project limits extend from Old Pasco Road on the west to U.S. 301 on the east, for a total length of approximately 9 miles.

Improvements for Overpass Road include the following:

  • Four lanes from Old Pasco Road to Interstate 75
  • A new interchange at I-75 and Overpass Road
  • Six lanes plus two auxiliary lanes from I-75 to Boyette Road
  • Six lanes from Boyette Road to US 301

Published February 09, 2022

Pasco County transfers house to Habitat for Humanity

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Pasco County purchased a property at 14629 20th St., in Dade City, through a foreclosure sale for $60,621.40, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

At the time of the sale, Pasco County had costs in the property in the amount of $74,877.03 through its Community Development Department.

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County Inc., has agreed to oversee the rehabilitation of the property, to comply with the county’s building code.

The purchase agreement and developer’s agreement transfers the property to Habitat for Humanity to renovate and sell to a qualified purchaser, as defined by the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP). The purchase is subject to a mortgage to Pasco County in the amount of $74,877.03, according to the agenda materials.

The Pasco County Commission authorized the county to convey the property to a not-for-profit organization at a private sale for a nominal price, pursuant to Section 125.38, Florida Statutes.

The county’s Community Development Department recommended approval of the item, which the county board approved as part of its consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are approved without discussion, as part of a single action.

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco, describes Habitat for Humanity on its website as a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Habitat works toward that vision in partnership with families who need decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Habitat for Humanity East Pasco was founded in Trilby, in 1994, and merged in 2009 with Central Pasco. Now Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco serves the entire county, east of the Suncoast Parkway.

In 2019, the organization celebrated its 25th year and 150th home dedication.

Published February 09, 2022

Compromise reached on rezoning, in Land O’ Lakes

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a new subdivision in Land O’ Lakes, after the developer agreed to build a “vision” road to help handle area traffic.

The construction of that road has been a sticking point for months, and now the applicant has agreed to do the road — which is referred to as a vision road because at this point, it’s just a line on the map and an alignment must be determined.

As part of the conditions for approval, the county staff agreed that the developer could receive up to 66 certificates of occupancy before having to make roadway improvements.

But no additional certificates of occupancy will be granted before those improvements are done.

The rezoning request, filed by Darrell A. and Karen J. Renner, calls for a 108 single-family subdivision in Land O’ Lakes.

The rezoning, which commissioners approved on a 3-2 vote, will change the zoning on 50.5 acres of agricultural land to allow a master-planned unit development (MPUD), on the south side of Bexley Road, about a mile west of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Wisteria Loop.

Commissioners Christina Fitzpatrick and Mike Moore voted against the request. Fitzpatrick wanted to delay the vote to provide more time for her to meet with interested citizens and the applicant to try to resolve concerns about the future alignment of the vision road.

Moore backed Fitzpatrick’s request for a continuance.

But the developer asked for a vote to be taken up or down, noting that the rezoning process, with its continuances, has been both lengthy and costly.

Attorney Shelley Johnson said her clients agreed with the conditions, as revised.

Ray Gadd, Chris Nocco and Jeremy Crouch had voiced concerns about allowing construction to occur, without the vision road.

At the Jan. 25 meeting, Gadd said: “There is an actual alignment on the vision road map and I would like that alignment to be followed.

“Do we have some reasonable expectation that the actual existing vision road alignment that’s on the vision map today will be followed?” Gadd asked.

Couch told commissioners he also wants to see the road follow the alignment on the map.

“Wisteria Loop is unique. There are a lot of homes that are estate homes on the lake. There’s a lot of really nice, mature trees, along the road, it’s very quaint.

“The alignment goes right through a pasture. It’s going to be easy for them to build. They’re not going to have conflicts with citizens. It’s going to be real smooth if they go through that pasture and that will kind of keep the character of Wisteria intact.

“I support it, as long as they follow that alignment,” Crouch said.

Nocco urged commissioners: “Make sure that road stays the way it is and it doesn’t get realigned because of permitting.

“It’s not just about this project that this community is concerned about. It’s about all of the further projects that are going on.

“If we’re talking about smart growth, we have to realize that this is one of the only roads that will cross over the path of train tracks. CSX is not easy to get roads through, over their lines. So, we better be smart and do it right this time, because if we’re not (smart), this is going to be a disaster for this Land O’ Lakes area for numerous years to come,” Nocco said.

Gadd, who is deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, and Nocco, who is the county’s sheriff, both made it clear that they were speaking as private residents, not in their official capacity.

County Administrator Dan Biles said the alignment shown on the vision map is conceptual in nature.

The actual alignment can’t be determined until field work is done to consider the wetland impacts, the curvature of the road, the design speed of the road and other factors, he said.

A county transportation planner said there will be bonds to ensure that the road improvements are made.

Ultimately, Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey joined her colleagues Jack Mariano and Ron Oakley to support the rezoning, with Moore and Fitzpatrick dissenting.

Published February 09, 2022

Planning board makeup to stay the same

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The makeup of the Pasco County Planning Commission will stay the same — despite a change in the way members are selected.

Also, the planning board has reappointed Charles Grey as its chair and Jaime Girardi as its vice chair.

There are differences, though. Now, each Pasco County commissioner makes his or her individual appointment to the planning board and that planning commissioner serves a term that mirrors the term of the county board member who makes that appointment.

The county board also collectively selects one planning board member who serves a four-year term.

In this case, County Commissioner Ron Oakley appointed Grey; County Commissioner Mike Moore chose Peter Hanzel; County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick chose Don Anderson; County Commissioner Jack Mariano chose Roberto Saez; and, Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey chose Girardi.

The board collectively appointed Chris Poole.

The planning board advises the county board on land use and zoning issues.

The issue involving how planning board members are selected arose last summer.

County board members Mariano and Starkey said they wanted to make individual appointments; Oakley said the process was working and no changes were needed.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the change would require an amendment to the land development code.

Steinsnyder added: “I’ll also remind you that the reason you moved to board appointments versus commission appointments was to move forward the way most other jurisdictions do it.”

The county board directed its staff to take the steps necessary to lay the groundwork for a board vote to amend the land development code.

Public hearings were held and the land development code was changed.

When the county board ultimately voted to keep the current planning board membership intact, Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, responded this way: “Everyone is back on, which makes me very, very happy.”

Characterizing this reaction as an editorial comment, Hernandez added: “This is the best planning commission that you’ve had in the 19 years that I’ve been doing this job.”

Oakley noted: “We were looking at something that I felt wasn’t broken.”

At its Feb. 3 meeting, Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein told the planning board that no additional swearing-in ceremony would be required, since they had previously been sworn-in.

However, Goldstein said he would be happy to arrange a ceremonial swearing-in, if one was desired.

Planning board members agreed that wouldn’t be necessary.

Published February 09, 2022

The versatility of milk, and alternative plant-based options

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The high fat in coconut milk makes this pudding very filling. Use unflavored almond milk and let the fruit be your sweetener. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)

Milk is one of those staples that can be used in many dishes.

You can cook or bake with it. Use it in a bowl of cereal. You can add it in smoothies, or you can just drink it.

But did you know about the increasing number of plant-based milk alternatives that are now available on the market?

Here’s a breakdown on some of the options, according to Practical Gastroenterology:

  • Cereal grain-based: oat milk, rice milk
  • Legume-based: soy milk, pea milk
  • Vegetable-based: potato milk
  • Seed-based: flax milk, hemp milk
  • Nut-based: almond, cashew, coconut milk

One downside of plant-based milk is that it is much lower in the nutrients that we usually associate with milk, including protein, Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus.

Only soy milk has a comparable amount of natural protein to cow’s milk.

While some food companies will fortify, or add, these nutrients to the plant-based milk, that’s not a universal practice.

So, as consumers, it’s important for us to check the food label to see which options yield the most nutrition.

Also, while coconut milk is typically used for cooking rather than drinking straight out of a glass, keep in mind that is high in calories and saturated fat.

Just one cup of canned coconut milk can have over 400 calories and almost 40 grams of saturated fat. Also, if you cook with the entire can, don’t forget that standard cans are more than one cup.

Overall, most plant-based milks are lower in fat and calories, but the main nutrients found in cow’s milk may or may not be equivalent – it depends on the fortification process during manufacturing and the plant source itself.

Plant-based milks, as well as lactose-free milks, can be options for those who are lactose intolerant.

Plant-based milks also provide more options for vegans or those with dairy allergies.

You’ve probably seen plant-based yogurts at the store, too, made with soy milk or almond milk. More stores also are carrying plant-based cheeses, too.

Also, remember that flavored options, which are increasingly popular — such as chocolate soy milk, vanilla almond milk and so on — have high amounts of added sugar. The same is true, of course, for chocolate milk made with cow’s milk.

Here’s a chart, using information from Practical Gastroenterology, to help you consider the pros and cons of the various options:

 

Milk Pros Cons
Cow’s Milk, 2% High in protein, calcium, and Vitamin D Those with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance cannot consume; higher saturated fat
Soy Milk Highest protein and least processed out of all the plant-based alternatives; best for baking and cooking May interact with some medications
Almond Milk Low-calorie; high Vitamin E Very low protein
Rice milk Best for those with many allergies Likely to have added sugar; least amount of protein
Oat milk Has fiber, iron, and some protein May contain common allergens
Coconut milk Has iron, fiber, and potassium High amount of fat compared to others; low in protein
Hemp milk High in essential fatty acids High fat
Cashew milk Creamy taste and texture Low protein
Flax milk Low calories; high in essential fatty acids Very low in protein
Pea milk High in protein; creamy taste and texture Hard to find in stores
Potato milk Contains no fat, soy, nuts or gluten; high in calcium, Vitamin D and B12 Very low in protein; hard to find in stores

 

There’s another milk known as A2 milk. It is milk that comes from cows that were specifically bred to only have A2 proteins.

While the research isn’t definitive, it appears, anecdotally, that the A2 milk is easier to digest for some who can’t tolerate the A1 protein well.

However, because it does have lactose and is considered a dairy product, it isn’t recommended for those who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies.

Lastly, regular cow’s milk has the options of reduced fat, low fat and skim milk.

Those options allow you to enjoy the nutritional benefits of milk with less fat and fewer calories.

Whole milk has 8 grams of fat in an 8-ounce glass; reduced fat (2%) has 5 grams of fat; low-fat (1%) has 2.5 grams; and, skim milk has 0 grams.

For those who prefer the taste of full fat milk, but who want to make a change, begin by drinking reduced fat first and then work your way down to skim until you acquire the taste.

Whatever health changes you plan on making this year, make sure you’re getting either plant-based dairy (fortified with vitamins and minerals) or animal-based (preferably low-fat or fat-free) — or a mix of both — as they both count towards the dairy food group.

This year, I’m going to be more adventurous with the plant-based milks and try hazelnut milk, sesame milk and quinoa milk.

The options, truly, are endless.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

RECIPE: Chia seed pudding

This chia seed pudding uses a combination of two plant-based milks, topped with fruit.

Ingredients and directions:

  • Mix 2.5 ounces of coconut milk, 2.5 ounces of almond milk, and about 1 tablespoon of chia seeds per serving (or more chia seeds if you like it thicker).
  • Refrigerate for a few hours, until thickened.
  • Top with various types of fruit: mango, pineapple, blueberry, raspberry and so on. Nuts are optional.

Published February 09, 2022

Union pushes for school funding

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It’s no secret that COVID-19 has taken its toll on school operations.

When Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, appeared before the Pasco County School Board on Jan. 18, he pointed to declining morale, increasing mental health concerns, rising numbers of staff resignations and retirements, and a number of other issues.

On Feb. 1, Peace urged the school district’s administration and school board to join the union in seeking a ballot initiative to improve school funding.

“I am asking that all of you today, join with me and take a real stand for public education employees of Pasco County,” Peace said.

“The time to act is now.

“We can’t wait for help in the future,” he added. “If Tallahassee is not going to help us properly fund employee salaries and programs, than we must take the steps to do this ourselves.

“Never has there been a better time to start the ball rolling for a November ballot initiative — a referendum to support employee salaries and 1-to-1 student technology needs.

“Parents are ready. The community is ready,” he said.

He reminded the board and district staff about comments he made during the board’s previous meeting about the need to act on behalf of employees.

“If we don’t act now, we won’t have safe and qualified bus drivers transporting our kids to school.

“We won’t have qualified and caring FNS (Food and Nutritional Services) staff, preparing nutritious breakfasts and lunches for our students.

“We won’t have the senior-experienced teachers in front of our students, delivering instruction and mentoring our up-and-coming educators.

“We won’t have the resource staff, the guidance counselors, the behavioral specialists, the social workers — all of the other support staff that plays such a special role in educating all of our special needs students.

“We won’t have the mental health support that we so desperately need for our employees, who are begging for help.

“We won’t have caring and hardworking custodial staff to clean our campuses, or mechanics to keep up our transportation, or secretaries to support our working staff.

“We are the only district, in our five-district region, without a referendum to aid with district costs.

“Until we take this action, we will not be able to compete with the surrounding districts.

“We must do all that we can to retain all of our employees.

“We cannot afford to lose even one.

“We must take steps today.

“Join with me, in this call to action now.

“We can’t wait for legislators in Tallahassee to fix our problems.

“Despite what they say, we’re not their No. 1 concern. We must act on our own behalf.

“Let’s do this together.

“My ask is for this board to take formal action, on a ballot initiative, today,” Peace said.

Despite his urgings, no one on the school board, or within the district’s administration, responded to Peace’s call to action.

Meanwhile, on the union’s website, there is an update on the issue of salary increases.

The update says that the union and district have received information from the Florida Department of Education regarding calculations based on full-time equivalent students.

“Due to funding concerns statewide, this has taken considerably longer than in any previous year,” according to website update.

“There has been a tremendous increase across the district and state of families taking advantage of the new HOPE and FAMILY EMPOWERMENT scholarship opportunities, which has diminished available monies to negotiate for salary increases,” the information adds.

The union and senior school district staff “are currently evaluating existing allocations to see where additional funds may be available to use for this purpose,” the update concludes.

Published February 09, 2022

Zephyrhills and Fivay high schools to offer ‘Early College’

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Pasco County Schools is launching a new program aimed at helping more students achieve an associate degree and high school diploma at the same time.

Samantha Del Valle, assistant director for the Pasco school district’s Office for Leading and Learning explained the new approach during the Pasco County School Board’s Feb. 1 meeting.

The district has had a Collegiate High School program for several years, but because of the passage of Senate Bill 52, it is revamping that program to create an Early College Program (ECP).

The new program will operate at Zephyrhills and Fivay high schools, with admission to the program determined through the district’s School Choice program, Del Valle said.

Before making changes to its program, district staff met with representatives from Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) and with Dayspring Academy, to learn from them, Del Valle said.

It also did research involving programs in the state of Texas, because “they are very well-versed and have a robust Early College Program,” Del Valle said.

Ultimately, those conversations and that research led to the district’s ECP, which will begin in the fall.

The idea is to get as much participation as possible, Del Valle said, so the district is making it part of its School Choice application process, to give access to as many families across the district as possible.

Del Valle explained the differences between the former Collegiate High School program and the new ECP.

The Collegiate High School program required students to take courses at PHSC. The new program allows ECP students to take courses at Zephyrhills or Fivay high schools — the designated program high schools — or through Pasco e-School or PHSC, Del Valle said.

“So, from all of those locations, they’re (students) going to have voice and choice, in what they’re interested in and what is best for them,” Del Valle said.

Increasing the options is expected to lessen potential transportation barriers, she said.

Another difference: The district’s Collegiate High School program was limited to high school juniors and seniors.

Under ECP, the district will welcome a group of freshmen, who will complete the program together.

The district intends to reach out to middle schools to raise awareness about the program and to encourage eighth-graders to apply for ECP through school choice.

“Students enter as a cohort. They have a counselor who supports them through the program, with a plan of what each year looks like.

“So, if your end goal is a high school diploma and an associate degree, we’re starting that process in eighth grade and ninth grade, to get you there,” Del Valle said.

The aim is to encourage as many students as possible to take advantage of the program, Del Valle said.

Although the program will be based at Zephyrhills and Fivay high schools, all students can apply.

Those selected will be placed at the high school closest to them, Del Valle said.

The new program aims to increase participation.

“If you look at our Collegiate High School numbers in prior years, we had 60 seats and we were averaging 15 to 20 students, districtwide, who were engaging in the program,” she said.

Under its agreement with PHSC, the district’s new ECP will allow 125 high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit.

Another change, she said, allows students to repeat a course, if they earn a D, or F, or withdraw.

“That is not something that was in there previously,” she said.

So students will not automatically be withdrawn from the program for being unsuccessful in a class.

“And, we’re continuing conversation, as well, with PHSC, around co-accreditation,” she said.

If that occurs, school district sites would be somewhat like satellite locations for PHSC, which would allow even more opportunity for dual-enrollment classes at the district sites.

Those conversations are continuing, Del Valle said.

School board members said they would like to hear more about ECP, so a board workshop on the topic will be scheduled.

Published February 09, 2022

With his moment in the spotlight, parks employee thanks others

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James K. Baisley spent 35 years of his life tending to Pasco County’s parks — rising through the ranks from groundskeeper to labor supervisor to Park Operator III.

Over the years, he’s had his hand in countless park improvements and in maintaining fields, to give park users a safe place to play.

The Pasco County Commission took a few minutes during their Jan. 25 meeting, to recognize his contributions by adopting a resolution, detailing those accomplishments.

James Baisley poses with a group congratulating him for his 35 years of service, while tending to parks in Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

When Baisley took his place in front of the microphone, he began by expressing his gratitude.

“First of all, I’d like to thank the good Lord for keeping me healthy — to make it the 35 years that I did.

“I’d like to thank my wife, for putting up with me, for all of this.

“And, especially my children — they sacrificed many weekends that I worked, while they were children. I hope they forgive me for it.

“And, I’d like to thank Pasco County for allowing me to work here. It’s been a pleasure.

“I thought back over the 35 years of how many lives that I’ve touched throughout these years,” he said.

“A number of kids who grew up in the parks, now work for parks and recreation. I watched them grow up as kids,” he said.

Over the course of the years, he said, “I’ve watched commissioners come, commissioners go; directors come, directors, go,” he said.

His work for the county, though, remained a constant.

“It’s been a pleasure. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Baisley said.

The resolution highlighted some of his contributions.

At one point, the document noted, Baisley was simultaneously overseeing groundskeeping and maintenance for up to six parks.

He worked closely with various co-sponsored youth organizations, outside user groups, local school athletic teams and Friends of the Parks organizations.

He also “set the standard for athletic field maintenance,” the resolution says.

Over his career, he “displayed tremendous leadership” and was “always willing to train staff members both within and outside his area of responsibility.”

His willingness to train others resulted in him working at more than 30 parks throughout the county.

And, he was instrumental in adding a second softball field at Elsie Logan Memorial Park. The funding came from a grant, but he created the softball field by reconfiguring existing fields, fencing, scoreboards, and irrigation, the resolution adds.

He helped with special events, such Wilderness Wonderland at the Rotary Pavilion, and the Celebration of Lights event within Safety Town and Concourse property.

And, he was involved in numerous field renovations and typically completed these without the need for outside contractors — resulting in better playing fields, while saving taxpayer funds.

Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick praised Baisley’s dedication.

“As you can tell by the resolution, he’s always gone above and beyond. I’ve always heard the compliments that his fields were the best in Pasco,” she said.

“You will definitely be missed,” Fitzpatrick told Baisley.

Published February 09, 2022

New call center hours for Pasco Utilities

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Pasco County Utilities’ (PCU) call center has updated its hours, and support now is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as of Feb. 1, according to a Pasco County newsletter.

The Pay-by-Phone feature will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and customers can still access a multitude of services online, including:

To learn more about available services, visit bit.ly/PCUServiceCenters.
For information on water-saving tips and resources, visit bit.ly/SaveH2OPasco.

Pasco is on a roll, and is poised to attract more jobs

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The announcement last week of Amazon’s decision to bring 500 jobs to Pasco County prompted a broader discussion by the Pasco County Commission about what it can do to support continued employment growth.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore raised the topic, after Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., shared details of Amazon’s planned project.

The company is planning a 517,220-square-foot Robotic Sortation Center, on 127 acres, at State Road 52 and Bellamy Brothers Boulevard.

Moore said that one of his objectives when he ran for a county board seat in 2014 was to bring jobs to Pasco, so residents wouldn’t have to commute daily to work elsewhere.

So, at the county board’s Jan. 25 meeting, Moore asked Cronin and David Engel, director of Pasco County’s Office of Economic Growth, what commissioners can do to help in those efforts.

Moore put it this way: “So, we look at the growth along the (State Road) 54 and (State Road) 56 corridor — what can we do, what should we do — to preserve some of the job-creating sites along that corridor?

“Eventually, we could run out of space,” he said.

He asked: “Can we have more Spec (office) space? Can we have more Ready Sites?

“What can we do, as a board, to assure our residents 5, 10, 20 years down the road that jobs are going to be here. So, we don’t have to leave this area all of the time?”

Cronin said Pasco enjoys an advantage compared to many other places in the state.

“We’re really one of the only places that has land and people. Other places in Florida have people; they don’t have land. And, if they’ve got land, they don’t have people.

“We’re in a really good situation right now,” he said.

However, preserving sites for job-generating activities is important, not just to create more employment, but also to reduce congestion, Cronin said.

“It is the solution to a lot of our transportation problems, to make sure people are employed here and not somewhere else,” he said.

Cronin highlighted the need to ensure that employment centers that were entitled as part of master-planned unit developments are actually developed as job generators and are not converted to residential uses.

The whole idea of a master-planned unit development is to create a self-contained place where people can live, work and play, he said.

The non-residential portion of the project also is important for the county’s tax base, he added.

So, Cronin told the board: “The main thing is to make sure that the developers are continuing to commit and take care of those of entitlements, regarding those employment centers, and not (allow developers to) trade employment center entitlements out for anything.

“The jobs come first. If you’re going to trade it for housing or things like that, it totally throws the whole purpose of an MPUD out the window. Because, if you don’t have the jobs in the MPUD, then you’re getting in your car and you’re driving somewhere else every day,” Cronin said.

Ideally, Cronin added, the employment centers will be built first, before the housing within the development.

When that happens, he explained, “there’s less chance of residents saying, ‘Oh no, we don’t want that company, here.’”

Moore asked Cronin: “How important is it to have employment centers along State Road 54 and State Road 56 — because of access to Interstate 75, to the Suncoast Parkway, to I-275?”

Cronin responded: “Anytime you’re moving people, you want to be close to the highway.”

The economic development expert cited Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco campus as an example. It’s going to be developed near the Suncoast Parkway, Ridge Road and State Road 52.

“That’s 14,000 (projected) jobs. That is workforce that will be coming from everywhere. So making sure the transportation is there,” Cronin said. “If you’ve got transportation set up to move people, that’s where your jobs should also be.”

Engel told the board that the county’s planning and development party, along with the Office of Economic Growth and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council are working on a Light Industrial, Employment Center Study.

“We want to do an assessment of the county and our land use, and provide adequate guarantees and recommendations to the board to preserve this space,” he said.

Engel also noted a tremendous amount of development potential in East Pasco, moving up from the Interstate 4 (I-4) corridor.

Cronin said: “You’ve got a lot of people that are coming down I-4, going straight up into Pasco County, rather than coming all of the way to I-75 in Pasco County and heading north.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey agrees with the county’s need for more industrial sites. But she also wants more attention paid to redevelopment along the county’s busy corridors, such as U.S. 19 and U.S. 41.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “Redevelopment is a big issue.”

Mariano asked Cronin to look into how Pinellas County treats redevelopment, as compared to Pasco County.

Published February 02, 2022