The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Bilirakis focuses on veterans at chamber stop

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U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District, emphasized efforts he’s making on behalf of veterans during a recent appearance at a North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting.

The congressman indicated “a top priority” is fighting to improve and expand veterans’ health care benefits and offerings.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis

“The veterans are a big deal for me,” said Bilirakis, the featured guest speaker at the chamber’s August luncheon at Fox Hollow Golf Club, in Trinity.

Bilirakis, who serves as vice chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, outlined several pieces of legislation that would provide veterans “the health care they deserve.”

One such bill that he’s introduced — Protection for Veterans Burn Pit Exposure Act of 2018 (HR 6582) — would allow veterans exposed to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan to immediately access the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) medical care and disability benefits by providing a presumption of service connection.

Bilirakis cited a correlation between burn pit exposure causing cancer, and other lung and respiratory problems.

The VA currently does not recognize toxic burn pit exposure as a contributing factor to the development of such illnesses.

He compared the burn pit issue to veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange in earlier wars and died while the VA took decades to study its effects.

“A lot of heroes are coming home and they’re sick — some have passed away,” Bilirakis said. “I don’t want to see another Agent Orange issue.”

Ensuring veterans’ access to dental care is another undertaking, the congressman said.

Last year, Bilirakis introduced the Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations (VET CARE) Act, to require the VA to put in place a four-year pilot program providing dental care for veterans.

Current law places limitations on the availability of dental care for veterans through the VA. Access to VA dental care is primarily restricted to patients with a 100 percent disability rating, former prisoners of war, and a few special exceptions.

“Right now, it’s extremely limited,” Bilirakis said of veterans’ access to dental care, noting such preventive health care could result in lower overall health care costs for the VA.

“We want to make sure every veteran, ultimately, has an opportunity to get dental care,” he said.

“First of all, we’ve got to take care of our veterans. Secondly, we’re going to save money on the backend — if we take care of our veterans,” Bilirakis said.

Since 2015, he has partnered with the West Pasco Dental Association and Pasco-Hernando State College to highlight the need for VA dental care, and to provide free treatment for local veterans at the Stars, Stripes and Smiles event.

Bilirakis also mentioned the need for wholesale improvements to the VA’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which helps veterans reintegrate into civilian life.

Said Bilirakis: “It takes what, six months to train a soldier, and then, they get a week in the TAP program? That’s not enough to get them back into society, find them jobs and treat any issues they may have.”

Remedying some of those problems within TAP are already in progress.

Last month the House passed the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William “Bill” Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act (HR 5649), which would provide grants to organizations that deliver veteran job readiness services, such as resume building and interview training, while connecting veterans with businesses in their community.

Bilirakis also touched on some of his other legislative priorities — mental health, the opioid crisis and improving care for people with congenital heart disease. He also stressed the importance of increased bipartisanship “for the good of the country.”

Bilirakis receives award
During the luncheon, Bilirakis also received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award, which he received in recognition of his support of pro-growth policies in the first session of the 115th Congress.

The annual award was given to 249 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 48 members of the U.S. Senate.

During the first session of the 115th Congress, the Chamber scored members on seven Senate votes, including those on tax reform legislation and the confirmation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch; and 14 House votes, including votes on tax reform legislation, access to Medicare, and lawsuit abuse. Various votes in support of small businesses were scored, too.

Members who supported the Chamber’s position on at least 70 percent of those votes qualify to receive the award; Bilirakis had a 93 percent voting record.

“I guess I earned it,” Bilirakis said of the award.  “I’m a pro-business guy, I’m a small business guy, and, I know that these tax breaks are going to really do a lot,” he said.

“We want you to grow, we want you to innovate, and hire more employees at a higher rate. Things are going good right now, and we have to keep it going,” Bilirakis said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Published August 15, 2018

Woodland Elementary School gets new look

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Students and staff arriving this week at Woodland Elementary School for a new academic year found a campus that has undergone a substantial renovation.

The $12 million project included $9 million in construction costs and $3 million for other expenses, including furniture, architectural fees, materials testing, telecommunications, district staff and other costs, according to Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools.

An exterior view of a new building at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The renovation of the school at 38203 Henry Drive included the addition of more than 100 paved parking spaces, a new and expanded administration suite, 12 additional classrooms, a new art room, two new music rooms, an expanded student drop-off loop for parents, and a renovated kitchen and cafeteria, with a multipurpose room and stage, according to a school district news release.

Woodland Principal Shauntte Butcher recently gave a look at the upgraded facility to school district officials, including School Board member Allan Altman and schools Superintendent Kurt Browning. That tour was recorded on a video that’s available on YouTube.

During that video, Altman recalled visiting Woodland in 2007 to meet with the former principal Kim Poe, who showed him the school’s need for renovations.

Funding for the improvements came through the passage of the Penny for Pasco, which voters extended in 2012.

Cafeteria workers have a renovated kitchen at Woodland Elementary School.

“Today is just so exciting,” Altman said on the video, referring to the project’s completion.

He noted he was pleased “to see a beautiful school that’s going to serve the students and the families of the Zephyrhills area for years and years to come.”

As Butcher made her way around campus, she said the new cafeteria can serve twice as many students at once, allowing the school to trim down time needed to serve lunch each day.

The old cafeteria is now four classrooms, and the old kitchen is now a lab for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Other improvements include new furniture for the school’s existing classrooms, media center and teacher workroom, Butcher said.

Restrooms were updated, too.

When the school was built in 1976, it was designed for 652 students. As enrollment grew, more and more portable classrooms were moved onto campus to accommodate students.

The school’s new capacity is 900.

Published August 15, 2018

Political Agenda 08/15/2018

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Pasco elections supervisor addresses election security
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley issued this statement on Aug. 9, regarding election security in Pasco County.

“As an election administrator in the nation’s largest battleground state, my fellow SOE’s and I are highly cognizant of the ongoing and evolving threats to elections security,” Corley said, in the statement published on the Supervisor of Elections’ website.

“Supervisors of Elections throughout Florida have been working extensively for some time with our state and Federal partners, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has been invaluable in assisting myself and my team in preparing for and ensuring response to a myriad of threats.

“Pasco County has modeled our approach and focus on Prevention, Mitigation and Response to both physical and cyber threats. Currently, there is no indication that Pasco County systems have been penetrated. If the voter registration system becomes unavailable on Election Day, all polling locations are issued a paper backup precinct register. If a voter’s eligibility cannot be determined at the polls, provisional ballots are available to ensure that every voter can cast a ballot on Election Day.

“We will continue to be hyper vigilant to these real and emerging threats. Please know that we are ready to respond.”

The Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections also released a statement, which can be viewed from the homepage of PascoVotes.com.

Republican Club of Central Pasco
The Republican Club of Central Pasco will meet Aug. 27. Rep. Amber Mariano will be the guest speaker. She will discuss legislative issues and her re-election bid for State House Rep. District 36. 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. A social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Endorsements
Dr. Linda Jack, candidate for State House District 36, has received the endorsement of Ruth’s List Florida, according to Jack’s campaign.

Published August 15, 2018

Storeright Self Storage to open in Lutz

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Construction workers are clearing land and building mini-warehouses for a new Storeright Self Storage facility in Lutz.

The project, at Crystal Grove Boulevard and U.S. 41, comes nearly 18 years after the Hillsborough County Commission approved a plan to allow about 75,000 square feet of offices, restaurants, drugstores and child care centers. Big box retail was banned.

However, in October 2017, county commissioners agreed that a second option for self-storage also would be allowed.

Representatives for Storeright proposed a project of up to 92,000 square feet of mini-warehouses, with space also available for boat and RV storage.

In June, county commissioners approved a request for a minor modification to the site plan that permits a septic tank system on the site.

Storeright representatives weren’t available for comment.

According to the company website, the family owned company, based in Lakeland, was founded in 2010, and has 14 self-storage locations in Florida.

Storeright’s facilities have both non-climate controlled and climate-controlled storage options, and many accommodate boat, automobile and RV storage.

The approximately 14-acre site is across from Walgreen’s drugstore on U.S. 41, and opposite the McDonald’s restaurant, off Crystal Grove Boulevard. The CSX rail line runs past the property, along the state highway.

The Florida Department of Transportation owns a small parcel, with a fenced-off retention pond, adjacent to the self-storage site.

According to county records from land use hearings, the site proved difficult to market due to nearly 5 acres of wetlands.

Hillsborough County records show Storeright Lutz XV LLC purchased the property in April for $725,000.

At a 2017 public hearing before a Hillsborough County land use hearing officer, four area residents objected to the project.

According to county records, they expressed concerns about drainage, traffic and decreased property values.

The hearing officer recommended approval of the project, with conditions.

Published August 15, 2018

Pasco schools adopt tentative budget

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The Pasco County School Board has adopted a tentative budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, with a final public hearing set for Sept. 18.

The proposed general fund budget for 2018-2019 is $630,860,337. That’s a $15.2 million increase over last year’s general fund, which represents roughly a 2.47 percent increase.

The capital projects funds in the budget for 2018-2019 total $244,516,610, which reflects an increase of $31.5 million or 14.78 percent above the 2017-2018 budget.

Capital Projects Funds are used to account for expenditures on acquisition or construction of major capital facilities and improvements to existing facilities. The funds also are used for the maintenance of approximately 2,400 buildings across the district, to purchase land and to pay for equipment, technology equipment, buses and vehicles.

Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, after deducting the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $627.90 in school taxes — a decrease of $28.60 from last year.

The state’s basic student allocation for the 2018-2019 school year is $4,204.42. That’s 47 cents more per student than last year. But, since the state applies a cost of living adjustment, Pasco’s base student allocation for the coming year is $4,144.72.

Here are some big-picture highlights of the proposed budget:

  • Teaching makes up 61.78 percent of the district’s expenditures
  • Teaching combined with other school-level programs, including transportation, media, counseling, psychological services, school administration, capital outlay, community services, and operations and maintenance, makes up 92.38 percent of the operating budget
  • Curriculum development and staff training make up 3.26 percent of the operating budget.
  • Human resources, finance, purchasing, warehouse, data processing and mail services
    make up 4.36 percent of the operating budget.

While the state provides funding for schools, it also dictates how much of that money is spent.

For instance, during the 2018 session, the Florida Legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which addresses gun violence on school campuses and promotes school safety. The bill requires armed security guards at every school. Each of those officers is required to undergo training, a background check, drug screening and psychological evaluation.

Pasco already has School Resource Officers at its middle schools and high schools, and is adding school security safety guards at its elementary schools this year.

The public safety act also requires the development of a mental health assistance plan, which will establish or expand school-based mental health care, through assessment, diagnosis, intervention and treatment.

The Safe Schools allocation of $3,725,606 will be used for school resource officers, school safety guards, traffic control and year-end security.

The Mental Health allocation of $1,721,460 will be used to expand school-based mental health
care.

In another area, the district must provide an additional hour of intensive reading beyond the normal school day, for the entire year, at 10 schools that were identified as low-performing schools.

The district also intends to spend its Digital Classrooms allocation of $1,419,851 for computers, iPads and digital devices to support the district’s classrooms.

The budget also includes $80,459,730 for debt service, which is an increase of $5.9 million or nearly 8 percent higher than 2017. The district must repay debt service before making other expenditures.

The budget also lists scores of capital projects, including several in central and east Pasco.

They include:

  • Major renovation/remodeling of Land O’ Lakes High School, Woodland Elementary School and Zephyrhills High School
  • Construction of the new Cypress Creek Middle School
  • Design of a kindergarten through eighth grade school at Starkey Ranch
  • Cafeteria renovations at several schools, including Denham Oaks Elementary, Chester W. Taylor Elementary and Lacoochee Elementary
  • Replacement/repairs of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems at Centennial Elementary and Sand Pine Elementary
  • Site improvements at Wendell Krinn Technical High School, a new technical high school that is opening this fall in the former Ridgewood High School, which was closed and refurbished, in New Port Richey

Published August 15, 2018

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel plans to add more services

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Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel plans to expand the services it offers, as well as building additional parking and a new three-story medical office building.

The hospital, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., also plans to add a wound care center that’s expected to open soon.

Those initiatives are in addition to an offsite Emergency Room the hospital has opened in Land O’ Lakes and the addition of Inspiration Place it opened last year. Inspiration Place is a 12,000-square-foot concierge health facility geared specifically for women, complete with female physicians, women’s imaging services and other services tailored to women’s needs.

Denyse Bales-Chubb is president and CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

In addition to these new activities, the hospital also has garnered national recognition for its performance.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel recently appeared in Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals. It is the only hospital in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to receive this distinction.

The selection was based on a study conducted by IBM Watson Health, which spotlights the top-performing hospitals based on a balanced scorecard of publicly available clinical, operational and patient satisfaction metrics and data.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel also was named as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award. That award evaluates specific survey results, along with primary research about women’s health care preferences.

Denyse Bales-Chubb, the hospital’s president and CEO, said she “almost jumped for joy” when she learned about the Watson award.

She considers the Watson award one of the top honors a hospital can receive. “They’re looking nationwide, and they’re selecting the top 100 hospitals,” she said.

“To be listed in the Modern Healthcare Watson Top 100 Hospitals is quite an accomplishment. It’s one of those things you always have as your goal. You’re not sure if you’re ever going to get there,” she said.

The award, Bales-Chubb noted, “actually looks at your financial outcomes, how fiscally responsible you are and how viable.”

Inspiration Place, opened last year at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, is a 12,000-square-foot concierge health facility geared specifically for women, complete with female physicians, women’s imaging services and other services tailored to women’s needs.

The Women’s Choice Award considers patient satisfaction, patient outcomes and other criteria.

Much of the hospital’s success stems from the hiring procedures it uses, Bales-Chubb said.

When hiring, it looks at whether the candidate possesses the proper skills and will be a good fit, and also evaluates the candidate’s potential to grow into other roles in the future.

“It’s so important for employees to feel that ‘This is an organization that I want to stay with’ —because loyalty is really big in making sure they are engaged in wanting the success of the organization,” Bales-Chubb said.

The hospital also has an incentive program to promote employee referrals, and has tuition reimbursement to encourage staff to continue building their skills, she said.

When the hospital opened, it was bringing services to residents who had been accustomed to driving for miles to receive medical care.

Since opening, it has expanded in both its number of beds and its array of services.

Inspiration Place, added last year, gave women a single place where they go for the major health care screenings and care, Bales-Chubb said.

The wound care center, which will open soon, will give Wesley Chapel residents a local place to get wound care services. Residents have had to drive 12 miles to get those services, in either Zephyrhills or Tampa, the hospital executive said.

Other planned changes include additional parking and a new three-story medical office building. The new medical office building will mirror the hospital’s Wellness Plaza, and will be built on the land now occupied by a parking lot used for the hospital’s emergency department. The medical building will house specialists, rather than primary care physicians.

“It’s going to be brand new services that have not been provided in the Wesley Chapel area,” Bales-Chubb said, saving patients the need to drive out of the community for services.

As the hospital continues to expand to meet growing needs, the community of Wesley Chapel has been supportive, Bales-Chubb said.

“This community is just so full of people who are so engaging and welcoming, and so innovative. Everybody is looking for how they can make this community better.

“It’s a great place to be,” Bales-Chubb said.

Published August 15, 2018

Solar farm appeal is rescheduled

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A hearing on appeals to a proposed solar farm project has been rescheduled because of a glitch in advertising the original hearing date.

The Pasco County Commission, with the approval of all parties involved in the matter, agreed to continue the appeal until Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m.

The original appeal had been set for Aug. 7.

The appeal will be heard in the commissioners’ meeting room in Dade City.

Two appeals were filed after the Pasco County Planning Commission approved a special exception permit for the solar farm in April.

One came from Gordon and Kathleen Comer; the other from Sandra Noble. Noble and the Comers live near the proposed project site, off Blanton Road, outside Dade City.

First Solar Electric, which has a contract with Tampa Electric Company (TECO), wants to install about 460,000 photovoltaic solar panels on about 350 acres, on both sides of Blanton Road. The solar farm, known as the Mountain View Solar Project, would produce on average of about 53 megawatts of power, which would be fed to TECO’s power grid.

The project has been controversial, and drew large, impassioned crowds to previous hearings.

Area neighbors say the project will destroy one of the county’s best assets – its scenic views. They also differ with how county officials have interpreted Pasco’s development regulations, and say that the solar farm is a power plant that should be placed in an industrial district.

County officials say the solar farm doesn’t fit the legal definition of a power plant, but it is suitable in some agriculturally zoned areas, with a special exception permit. They also say Pasco’s regulations are in line with how other counties approve solar farms.

Published August 15, 2018

MOD Pizza sets up shop off State Road 56

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MOD Pizza is expected to open soon in a mini-retail center along restaurant row, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56 in Lutz.

The pizza chain’s sign is in place outside, as workers complete the interior build-out for the restaurant.

The Pasco County Commission on Aug. 7 approved an application from Cypress Creek NVH LLC for an alcohol license that would allow sale of beer and wine only for on-site consumption.

A site plan on file with Pasco County shows a shell building of about 7,800 square feet, with space for multiple tenants.

Workers are completing the interior build-out of MOD Pizza, a new restaurant by Tampa Premium Outlets. (Kathy Steele)

MOD Pizza, at 2227 Sun Vista Drive, will occupy about 2,800 square feet at a storefront on an outer corner of the building, near Starbucks.

An outdoor patio of about 280 square feet also is planned.

In addition to the pizza restaurant, work is ongoing for an eye vision center, according to county permits.

MOD Pizza would be the latest restaurant along an already busy row of sit-down and fast-food restaurants, off State Road 56, close to the outlet mall entrance.

Other restaurants include Chick-Fil-A, Culver’s and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

Commercial and residential development continues at a fast clip at an intersection that ties in with Interstate 75, Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Grand Cypress Drive, State Road 54 and State Road 56.

More restaurants and shops are coming to outparcels surrounding the outlet mall, Cypress Creek Town Center and Brightwork Crossing.

Burger King is open, and El Dorado Furniture Store is expected to open next year at Brightwork Crossing.

At Home Décor Superstore is under construction on an outparcel at the outlet mall.

Construction also is underway for several shops at Cypress Creek Town Center including Burlington, Earth Fare, Home Goods and Five Below.

Published August 15, 2018

Citizens’ survey offers praise, concerns

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About 60 percent of residents who responded to an annual National Citizens Survey rated Pasco County’s quality of life as good.

Similarly, residents gave good marks to the overall quality of county services and customer services.

But, the survey results weren’t entirely rosy.

The growth in housing is happening faster than infrastructure, including roads and schools, according to residents who took the survey.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey

Traffic congestion and unsafe speed limits on roadways also emerged as a top concern among residents.

And, only 38 percent thought Pasco had a good or excellent reputation and image.

In comparison to 472 other communities included in the national citizens survey, Pasco ranked 410.

Pasco actually participates in two annual surveys to gather information about what is on the minds of its citizens.

One is the National Citizens’ Survey, based on random outreach to residents in communities across the country, including Pasco. At the same time, Pasco conducts its own online survey, open to anyone who wants to participate. Questions on both surveys are similar.

The goal is to collect feedback that can guide Pasco County officials in crafting policies and addressing issues of concern to residents.

The online survey is used mostly for comparison to the national survey’s data on Pasco, said Marc Bellas, the county’s performance management director.

Pasco’s online survey received more than 2,800 responses.  Of those, 1,200 people also provided comments.

“The citizens’ survey is our primary listening mechanism,” said Bellas. “We can identify things before they become a problem.”

The survey identified safety, the economy and mobility as the top issues of concern.

Some comments focused on traffic, including the timing of traffic signals and speeding motorists.

Bellas said the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has been notified regarding specific problem areas.

“They have directed targeted patrols to address these things,” he said.

The national survey contacts residents randomly based on factors such as zip codes, population density and housing.

Bellas said the survey is statistically valid, with a plus or minus error rate of 6 percent.

In addition to the top three issues of concern to residents, the surveys also looked at these factors: natural environment, built environment, recreation and wellness, education and enrichment, and community engagement.

Online survey results trended generally lower than the national survey results.

Bellas said some of that difference is based on how data is collected for each survey.

For instance, online results on overall quality of life were about 57 percent — lower than the national survey of 60 percent favorable.

Both surveys had ratings below the national benchmark of about 68 percent.

“We still need to get much, much better at pushing out the positive things (about Pasco),” Bellas said.

On the national survey, about 62 percent of residents thought the overall quality of services provided to residents was good. That was on par with the national benchmark.

However, the online survey found less than 50 percent of residents felt good about the county’s delivery of services.

On the “most important issues,” residents put road maintenance first, followed by code enforcement, and parks and recreation.

A number of comments, especially from west Pasco residents, raised concerns about drug-related crime, blight and homelessness.

“There were more comments on that than I have seen on any prior year,” said Bellas. “Our challenge is to engage others to be part of the solution…to make Pasco a premier county.”

One issue that drew attention from county commissioners was how to improve Pasco’s reputation and image.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey suggested the county adopt a “state of the county” annual report, similar to those done by city mayors.

There were some concerns raised by county commissioners regarding an A & E television show, “Live PD.” On Friday and Saturday nights, camera crews from the show follow deputies on their night shifts as they respond in real time to emergency calls.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco signed up his office as one of about six departments around the country that are highlighted on the show.

“It’s about transparency,” said Chase Daniels, assistant executive director for the sheriff’s office. It allows people to see the challenges that law enforcement faces, he added.

But, some area businesses can end up shown in the background as arrests are made. County commissioners said they would like to see more positive aspects of policing presented, along with the crime fighting.

“We need to be very mindful of the image we’re putting out to the world,” Starkey said.

Published August 15, 2018

Upscale townhomes proposed in Lutz

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A project to build upscale townhomes, off Willow Bend Parkway, won the approval of the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The favorable vote for the project is a recommendation. The Pasco County Commission has the final say.

Two residents spoke against the project, largely based on concerns about traffic. There also was concern due to speculation that the developer wanted to build an apartment complex with about 71 units.

Instead, plans call for upscale, two-story townhomes, with attached two-car garages.

The homes would be built in clusters to provide each homeowner with a view of the wetlands area that covers about 5 acres of the property.

Also, because of the wetlands, the number of townhomes likely will be in the range of 58 to 60, with the maximum number pegged at about 68 townhomes.

The minimum sales price of the town homes is expected to be $300,000.

“This site has very limited upland area. Townhomes is the perfect idea,” said Michael Horner, a planning and land use consultant representing the applicant, Dorothy Dahm Bard Trust. “My client has a good product.”

Although not a condition of the rezoning, Horner said the developer would agree to deed restrictions for the homeowners.

Resident Dennis Derbes, who lives near the proposed site, spoke during public comment on behalf of residents in his neighborhood.

They were opposed to a project for apartments, he said, adding he wasn’t sure how they would feel about the townhomes, instead.

But, Derbes noted: “One of our big concerns is traffic density. Willow Bend Parkway is an extension of County Line Road and is in horrific condition at the present time. The road wasn’t designed for the volume of traffic it has.”

Resident Sheryl Bowman lives adjacent to the property site. She also worried about traffic. She submitted letters of objection from other neighbors.

“Right now, it’s real hard for me to come in and out (off Willow Bend) because through traffic is so fast,” she said.

The parkway has a “blind curve” that adds to the road’s lack of safety, Bowman said.

County officials determined that the project would generate fewer than 50 additional vehicle trips per day at morning and evening rush hours.

One condition of the approval requires a wildlife survey to identify plants and animals that might be endangered or threatened.

Issues of concern brought by neighbors could be addressed as the plan goes through further review, Horner said.

“We want to be good neighbors,” he said.

Published August 15, 2018