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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Marathon recovery effort is underway in Pasco County

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The second floor meeting room of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse was filled to capacity during an Oct. 24 town hall. Photo courtesy of Pasco County Government

DADE CITY – Residents who attended a town hall meeting Oct. 24 were told by Pasco County officials that recovery from Hurricane Milton is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.

Several Pasco County government officials and a representative from FEMA presided over the town hall at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse. 

Several people attending the meeting said they believed the development of new homes and businesses in Pasco County over the past few years is what caused flooding to occur.

County Administrator Mike Carballa countered by saying the flooding caused by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9 was likely to be considered a 500-year event that was unprecedented in Pasco County.

He also estimated that more than a billion dollars of damage has occurred in Pasco County because of the high winds and massive amounts of rain that fell on both sides of the county. He added that estimate is likely to increase as insurance companies and FEMA continue assessing the damages that occurred.

Of the more than 9,000 building inspections done by the county, 6,000 were declared as being “majorly damaged structures” and 500 were declared as total losses, according to J.P. Murphy, the county’s director of building construction services.

County officials announced that a new community developed in Holiday, known as Project Hope, would provide temporary housing to 100 people who have been displaced by Hurricane Milton.

There are 25 trailers on the property on Grand Boulevard that can each house two people along with 50 single-person pallet homes. Pasco County purchased the two-acre site in July with the intention of using it for a temporary low barrier homeless shelter.  

There were more than 5,800 people in shelters after Milton hit, according to Cathy Pearson, assistant county administrator for public services. The county partnered with Catholic Charities to get Project Hope up and running according to Pearson. 

Shelter is also still available at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Wesley Chapel and at the Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter in Hudson, according to county officials.

Currently four people with special needs are staying at the Fasano Shelter, said Christina Louv-Pickle of the Florida Department of Health Pasco County. They are likely to be there on a long time basis, she added. Meanwhile, numerous other people are staying at the part of that shelter that is overseen by Pasco County, she said.

The FEMA representative told attendees that the agency would help provide temporary shelter in hotels for people who qualified because they had been displaced from their homes. They were told to call 800-621-3362 to request assistance. 

It wasn’t possible to determine when the flooding in communities such as Dade City and Zephyrhills would recede, according to Andrew Fossa, the county’s emergency management director.

That’s because the Withlacoochee River has reached its highest flood level in years because of the 21 inches of rain the Lacoochee area received in less than four hours, according to Fossa. 

In addition, Dade City received 18 inches of rain in a little under four hours while Zephyrhills received 15-18 inches of rain. 

“That is historic rain in that short amount of time,” Fossa said.

It’s estimated that 1.4 million yards of debris would have to be removed as the result of Hurricane Milton, according to Kevin Pliska, the county’s solid waste director. 

PliskaHe said on Oct. 24 that more than 186,000 cubic yards of debris had already been removed from throughout the county.

People whose homes were flooded were urged to remove debris from them as soon as possible and place it where the county could pick it up. They were also told to remove up to four inches of drywall above the level where the floodwater was in their homes to help prevent mold from developing.

They were also told the county was going to soon have a place on its webpage where people could report they had debris needing to be removed along with posting their location.

And it was announced that volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were going to be helping Hurricane Milton victims to remove drywall from their homes along with providing other assistance.

Carballa said toward the end of the meeting that the county was working as fast as it could. He emphasized that the damage caused by Hurricane Milton “is a recovery that will take months, if not years, for us to really fully overcome.” 

Campaigns & Elections class immerses students in Nov. 5 elections

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Saint Leo University political science instructor Frank Orlando discusses past presidential campaigns with his class. Caroline Jorgensen/Saint Leo University

ST. LEO – Students in one political science class at Saint Leo University are becoming campaign experts while also learning the value of voting.

“It’s of the utmost importance for college students to understand campaigns and elections,” said Frank Orlando, political science instructor. “These are future citizens.”

In his Political Science 304 Campaigns & Elections class, Saint Leo students are “learning something that isn’t just nice to know,” Orlando said. “It’s their responsibility.”

Orlando describes voting and being involved in politics as a habit-based behavior. 

“The earlier you start and the more practice you get, you form a habit,” Orlando said. “We’re getting the students involved early, to start doing their duty as Americans.”

But will younger voters show up at the polls on Nov. 5? What impact will they make? 

Orlando believes it’s up to them. 

“Historically, voter turnout among younger voters is low,” he said. “It really is in their hands. We’ve seen elections where youth turnout has been higher like in 2008 when people were pumped up about a candidate, and even in 2020, when it was relatively easier for people to vote given the fact that it was easier to mail in ballots, even if you were home from college. It remains to be seen in 2024 the extent to which young voters will turn out to vote. If they do, it certainly can sway some of these states at the margin.”

Who young people vote for in the presidential election also is going to be interesting, Orlando said. 

“We know there is a little bit of a gender gap with voters with female voters supporting [Kamala] Harris and males supporting [former President Donald] Trump. Will that pattern continue with younger voters – will we see a kind of bimodal thing where younger men support Trump, younger women support Harris? It remains to be seen. But the numbers that they turn out with will be crucial in who wins each state.”

Junior political science major Erin Johnson said she thinks this election year is exciting. 

“There was the last-minute switch of Harris for [President Joe] Biden, so that’s something we haven’t seen before, and that’s really exciting,” she said. “It’s such a toss-up and it really could go either way. I’m super excited to see who wins.”

Johnson said voting matters because “that is how change is made and how citizens are able to voice their opinions.”

Salvatore Polizzi, a senior political science major from New York, said that current issues such as “housing affordability and immigration policies matter in society and elections help to find solutions­­­ to fix them.”

“This election is one of the closest in history,” Polizzi said, “And I feel like nowadays it’s been a lot closer with the split between the two parties, so I think it’s going to be really interesting to see where these swing states end up.”

For Liliana Kozlowski, a senior religious studies major, the 2024 election is special.

“I’m personally excited because this will be my first time voting in a presidential election,” Kozlowski said. “But then also being from out of state [New Hampshire] and studying at a school in Florida, I’m excited to go through the whole absentee ballot process as well. It’s interesting and it’s something I’ve never done before.”

Students in the Campaigns & Elections course are becoming fully immersed in the November election. They are working on two projects ­— the campaign project in which they have to create a website and “pretend they are running a historical presidential campaign,” Orlando said. “And the big project is the battleground state project.”

Each of the students was assigned a state about which they have to write a 6,000-word profile that includes electoral history and geography and as well as the amount of effort from each campaign.

Then on Election Night, the Saint Leo students will act as pundits for those states providing analysis as the results roll in, and “hopefully providing better coverage than TV,” Orlando said. “Then they have to provide a post-mortem about what happened in their state and why. They truly become the experts on their assigned state.”

Sophomore Hunter Compton, a political science major, is becoming an expert on the state of Florida. While there definitely are some Democratic areas, he believes that Republican Trump will eventually win the Sunshine State. 

“Especially with him doing more pushing [campaigning] toward groups that have a lot of hold on Florida, I do believe that he is going to take the cake,” Compton said. 

He also thinks that while the Senate race will be more contested and could go either way, incumbent Republican Rick Scott will defeat Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

Polizzi, assigned his home state for the project, said he has learned a lot about New York, “especially about the different districts and what are the most important areas when it comes to voting and how highly populated the city is and how much it really defines the vote for our state.”

Kozlowski, who is becoming an expert on her home state of New Hampshire, said she learned more about counties other than her home county. 

“I’m learning more about the behind-the-scenes of it [campaigns) – how the Senate races are influencing the presidential campaign,” Kozlowski said. 

While they’re gaining an in-depth look at what it takes to run a campaign and win an election, the Saint Leo students also are learning valuable lessons in civics and why voting can make a difference.

Florida Tradition event explores Seminole history

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Pharaoh Gayles, a licensed alligator handler, had this specimen smile as he held its jaws open, making all 80 of its teeth visible. Photo courtesy of Laura Slocum Barthle.

DADE CITY – Six hundred years of the history of Seminoles was the topic of the Florida  Tradition event Oct. 26 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village.

This was the second year that the museum has held the event. 

“A Herculean effort by the community and the museum’s staff and volunteers was necessary to make this event possible because of the damage the museum sustained from Hurricane Milton,” Andy Warrener told event-goers. 

Warrener, who has been the museum’s curator for five years, thanked those who helped make the event possible. 

This year’s event focused on 20th century Florida and Seminole history, including two demonstrations of alligator handling provided by conservationist and educator Pharaoh Gayles; a 16th century arms exhibition; lectures from Annette Fromm, Patsy West and Dale Cox; and hands-on artistry and demonstrations with the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Florida Humanities provided a Community Project Grant in partnership with the museum for the second successive year to help fund part of the event’s expenses.

Pharaoh Gayles, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-licensed handler and alligator wrestling champion, explained that it was customary in the past for Seminole Indians to capture, transport, kill, cook and eat alligators to provide nutrition for themselves, their family and/or tribe members. The alligators weren’t killed where they had been captured because their bodies could decay as they were being transported back to where they were going to  be consumed, Gayles said.

Paul Simmons, an associate of Pharaoh Gayles, helped a 3-year-old girl hold a baby alligator during the Florida Tradition event Oct. 26 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. Photo courtesy of Joe Potter

He then demonstrated the method by which alligators could be handled safely after they had been captured. One of the most dangerous aspects of that was to hold the alligator’s closed mouth between his head and his chest as he fastened something around its head so the alligator couldn’t reopen its mouth.

Little Big Mountain, an educator and entertainer, told onlookers about the different types of weapons that Native Americans used as far back as 7,500 years ago. He and a partner then showed some of the types of weapons that were available to Native Americans 500 years ago. Spears of different types were then thrown to demonstrate both the length and accuracy they could attain.  

This was followed by a 45-minute lecture by museum specialist/folklorist Annette Fromm. 

Part of her presentation included showing digital copies of a large number of paintings that numerous artists, including some Seminoles, had painted over the past few hundred years.

She discussed how Native Americans of several different tribes had existed in North America for thousands of years prior to its “discovery” by explorers in the late 1400s. She added that those indigenous people were the real discoverers of North America.

She also talked about how safe the Native Americans had been prior to immigration by people from England, France and Spain as well as from other nations from the early 1500s onwards.

Those newly arrived people didn’t realize how peaceful and well-organized Native Americans were, Fromm said. They were mistakenly considered savages, and people new to North America in those days sought to either kill them or force them to relocate to places far away from where they had lived for generations, Fromm said.

This led to three Seminole wars that occurred in 1817-18, 1835-42 and 1855-58.

In addition, the “immigrants” misunderstood the leadership of the Seminoles as well as that of other Native American tribes, Fromm said. Chiefs did lead the tribes but there were also other rankings or hierarchies within the society of those tribes, she said.

For instance, many people were mistaken about the role of Osceola, one of the most well-known members of the Seminoles. He wasn’t a chief, Fromm said. Rather, he was an influential leader during the Second Seminole War who was renowned for his strategic thinking, charisma and ability to unite different factions of the Seminole tribe against common threats.

Although he was renowned as a warrior, Osceola died of malaria in a prison where he had been confined after Gen. Joseph Hernandez had captured him on the orders of Gen. Thomas Jesup. Osceola was attempting to surrender under a white flag when he was captured, according to Fromm.

 

About the museum

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village is located at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road. Call 352-567-0262 or visit pioneerfloridamuseum.org to learn more about the museum. 

Hillsborough County delays Hiking Spree to Dec. 1

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The Hiking Spree is timed to take advantage of the cooler, drier weather and to coincide with prime bird-watching season. Participants are encouraged to post photos from their hikes using the hashtag #TakeAHikeHC. File photo

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – The start and finish of Hillsborough County’s popular Hiking Spree has been delayed a month because of the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

This year’s Hiking Spree will begin on Dec. 1 and run through April 30, 2025. 

Now in its ninth year, the Hiking Spree has traditionally started on Nov. 1 and ended on March 31, but many of the parks and preserves are still recovering from the back-to-back hurricanes that left some areas flooded and others with many downed trees.

The annual Hiking Spree began in 2016 to encourage people to exercise, explore the outdoors and experience nature through the numerous parks and preserves in Hillsborough County. 

The Hiking Spree draws thousands of participants each year.

Registration begins Dec. 1 at HCFLGov.net/HikingSpree. 

This year’s Hiking Spree trail list features 22 trails at 21 parks and preserves throughout the county. 

Complete at least eight trails between Dec. 1 and April 30, 2025 to earn a limited-edition patch, medallion for a walking stick or pet bandana. One of the hikes can be at a location of the participant’s choice that is not on the list.  

Residents are encouraged to bring their leashed dogs on the hikes.  

The environmentally diverse sites are spread throughout the county and range from neighborhood parks to large preserves with multiple habitats. 

The trails are designed to offer something for residents of any age or ability, with hikes rated easy, moderate or strenuous. Lengths range from several miles to less than a mile, and a number of the trails are perfect for wheelchair users or those with accessibility needs. 

 

Museum exhibit explores rock & roll fandom 

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TAMPA – The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts will open an exhibition Nov. 21 that honors rock and roll  through imagery and memorabilia.

Photographer Jay Nolan’s images and former Virgin Entertainment executive Davy Alder’s vintage memorabilia will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the music scene from the Beatles to the punk revolution, and beyond. 

“Fandom: Celebrating Rock & Roll with Jay Nolan and Davy Alder” will highlight experiences ranging from backstage moments to live shows.

The exhibit will include 27 photos from Nolan and 31 vintage signed posters and photographs from Alder’s collection, as well as hundreds of memorabilia items, such as backstage passes, buttons, memorabilia and setlists. 

Nolan has worked as a photojournalist for over 22 years, capturing concerts from his native Minnesota to his current home of Tampa. His personal images, which have never before been exhibited in a museum, present bands such as the Rolling Stones, U2, Siouxie the Banshees and the Ramones. Also featured are dynamic images of the likes of Tina Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Madonna, Buddy Guy and BB King.

Alder is an accomplished musician, radio presenter, songwriter and collector of music memorabilia, especially concert posters. Alder worked 21 years for Virgin Entertainment Group as well as with several bands and music brands including Iron Maiden, MTV Networks, CMT and Universal Music Publishing. The exhibition features a curated selection of Alder’s vast collection, including vintage posters by talents like Jimi Hendrix, Jane’s Addiction, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, The Who  and Wilco. It will also display call sheets for bands like Aerosmith and Def Leopard, intimate photographs of the Beatles, 85 backstage passes and promotional items.

Gallery talks by both Nolan and Alder will be included in events coinciding with the exhibition, as well as other corresponding happenings such as gatherings to share personal stories, related films and musical performances. 

 

Want to go?

This exhibition, “Fandom: Celebrating Rock & Roll with Jay Nolan and Davy Alder,”​​ will be on display from Nov. 21 to March 2, 2025,  at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Gallery 1, 1630 E. 7th Ave. Admission costs $12. On the web: www.fmopa.org

NFL great Warrick Dunn surprises families with furniture

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Warrick Dunn, a three-time Pro Bowl running back, donated furniture to families moving into Habitat for Humanity homes. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside

ST. PETERSBURG – Warrick Dunn Charities and Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside partnered together Oct. 29 to surprise Habitat families with fully furnished living rooms, bedrooms and a kitchen stocked with groceries on the day of their home dedication celebrations. 

This year was special as the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back decorated three Habitat Homes for single moms and their families. 

These homes brought the Warrick Dunn Charities impact to 232 homes nationwide and 61 homes in the Tampa Bay region. 

Many of those 61 homes have been with Habitat Tampa Bay Gulfside (formerly Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties).

Thanks to partnerships with Warrick Dunn Charities and Aaron’s, three Habitat Homeowners and their families walked into fully furnished homes with upwards of $10,000 worth of furniture and accessories. 

The Perez-Santiago, Mitchell and Sparks Families all earned the keys to their Habitat Homes after completing the Habitat homeownership program. 

Each family learned all they needed to know about becoming a homeowner by taking 36 homebuyer education classes. They also put in between 350 to 450 sweat equity hours on Habitat construction sites, including the build of their own home. These families each earn a 0% interest mortgage that will guarantee affordability throughout the life of the loan.

“It’s great to see the parents going into their rooms and how excited and thankful they are for this opportunity,” said Dunn, who has a special place in his heart for single parents. 

His mother, Betty Smothers, was a single parent to six kids. She was also a police officer who was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in 1993. 

“The things that we provide (in the home) truly give them a fresh start to homeownership,” he said. 

Mike Sutton, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, said Habitat is grateful for the partnership with Dunn and Aaron’s.

“We say that it takes the entire community to come together to support our mission and we are so thankful to have the support of Warrick and his team and for all they do for Habitat and for the community here in Tampa Bay,” Sutton said. 

“No moving trucks,” said Keyonda Mitchell, one of the Habitat homeowners surprised by Warrick Dunn and Aaron’s. “My kids have their own rooms and their own furniture. Let’s grab our clothes and start enjoying this blessing.”

 

Habitat, church collaborate on Community Cleanup Day 

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Throughout the day, teams of volunteers worked across various residential areas in Dade City. Homeowners expressed gratitude for the assistance, with many saying they felt hopeful again thanks to the efforts of volunteers. Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco

DADE CITY – Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco and St. Rita’s Catholic Church aided Dade City homeowners affected by Hurricane Milton through a Community Cleanup Day.

Volunteers from both organizations worked together Oct. 26 to help residents in need, offering support and relief in the aftermath of the storm.

Hurricane Milton left many people facing cleanup and repair challenges. Habitat for Humanity and St. Rita’s Catholic Church mobilized volunteers to clear debris, remove fallen trees and help with essential repairs. Their work ensured homes were safe and accessible for affected families.

“Seeing the community come together to support one another has been inspiring,” said Kathy Proulx, a representative from Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco. “Our collaboration with St. Rita’s Catholic Church made a real difference for many Dade City families, showing the strength and resilience of our community.”

 

Need help or want to help?

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco has compiled helpful links at habitatpasco.org/help for anyone in need of hurricane-related support. 

To continue supporting hurricane relief efforts, contact Kathy Proulx, development and community engagement manager for Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco, at 352-437-5388 or .

 

Triple Triumph: Champion gymnast to balance triplets

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Victoria Ravelo, a former state champion gymnast, is celebrating her latest achievement – triplets. Photo courtesy of Ilia Muriente

In a celebration of life, a Land O’ Lakes mom has welcomed triplet girls into the world, showcasing the incredible journey of motherhood.

Victoria Ravelo, 23, the new mother of multiples who already has a 2-year-old daughter, never thought in a million years that on her second pregnancy she would carry spontaneous triplets, with two identical twins and a fraternal other in her womb.

She carried them up to 34 weeks and one day. An achievement in itself, as the average duration for triplets is 32 weeks.

As a former state champion gymnast from Land O’ Lakes, she always embodied resilience and determination, qualities that have served her well throughout her life.

Her athletic prowess was complemented by her active involvement in the Land O’ Lakes High school soccer team, where she not only honed her physical strength but also built a foundation of teamwork and perseverance.

Transitioning from the sports arena to the professional world, she became a skilled surgical dental assistant, bringing her meticulous attention to detail and care for others into her career.

The birth of her three daughters at Tampa General Hospital marks a beautiful milestone in her life, transforming her into a supermom overnight.

Surrounded by the support of her family and friends, the arrival of the triplets has filled her home with joy and excitement.

Each baby girl represents not only a new chapter in her life but also a testament to the miracle of life itself.

The hospital staff, impressed by this inspiring woman’s journey, celebrated her achievements and the strength she displayed during the delivery, which was both challenging and awe-inspiring.

In a remarkable display of teamwork and expertise, a dedicated team of five doctors and 13 nurses worked in perfect synchrony to deliver a textbook-perfect birth of triplet girls.

Their meticulous planning and seamless communication ensured that every detail was attended to, resulting in a smooth and safe delivery for both the mother and her newborns.

As she embarks on this new adventure of motherhood, the former gymnast continues to draw on the discipline and tenacity that guided her through years of training and competition. Balancing the demands of parenting three infants and a 2-year-old big sister will undoubtedly be a test of her strength, but if her past is any indication, she will embrace this challenge with grace and enthusiasm.

With dreams of raising strong, confident daughters, this extraordinary mom is ready to inspire the next generation, paving the way for her girls to pursue their passions just as she did.

The miracle of life has truly blossomed in her family, and the future looks bright for this incredible Pasco County mother and her triplet girls.

The Book Shack begins new chapter

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Jenny Williams, left, owner of Farmhouse Brew & Bites, and Kristy Kassabaum, owner of The Book Shack, stand by some of the thousands of new and used books available at the business’ new location. Photo courtesy of Joe Potter

DADE CITY – The Book Shack, a Dade City business founded 45 years ago, recently opened in a space that is three times larger than its Seventh Street location. 

Owner Kristy Kassabaum celebrated the store’s grand reopening Oct. 5 at 37838 Pasco Ave. 

She bought the business from her husband’s grandmother, Jo Kassabaum, in September 2016. Kassabaum said she wanted to have a business of her own and that she was happy to keep the business in the family.

The move to a larger space was necessary, Kassabaum said, because she had outgrown the previous location. Kassabaum said she not only wanted more room for her products but she also wanted to offer more services to her customers.

In addition to purchasing new or used books, customers may enjoy coffee and treats provided by Farmhouse Brew & Bites, a business owned by Ronnie and Jenny Williams.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity … kind of like an Oxford Exchange kind of look,” Ronnie Williams said regarding Farmhouse Brew & Bites’ location in The Book Shack. 

Williams was referring to a bookshop/coffee shop/restaurant called The Oxford Exchange in Tampa.

Aubrey Weldon, left, and Jenny Williams are shown behind the counter of Farmhouse Brew & Bites, which is owned by Jenny Williams and her husband, Ronnie. It’s inside The Book Shack’s new location. Photo courtesy of Joe Potter

The Williamses also own The Farmhouse Market & Café at 14124 Fifth St. The company has been in business since 2018 “with a vision of supporting local farms & businesses to bring the best & freshest products,” according to its website. 

The Book Shack customers can also admire and buy pieces of art created by local artists in a mini-version of Out of Our Hands Gallery, provided by Russ and Lee Taylor.

The gallery, located at 14245 Seventh St., will celebrate its sixth year in business on Nov. 11, Lee Taylor said. It “specializes in offering local, regional, original, handcrafted work from Florida fine artists. Everything is selected with great care, directly from the artists,” according to its website. 

Art pieces displayed inside The Book Shack are priced at $50 and below. Lee Taylor said the purpose of having them there is to provide a mini introduction to customers of the things the gallery has to offer at its location, which is three blocks away.

Sixteen artists are providing samples of their work at the gallery and eight of them live in Dade City, Lee Taylor said.

Customers visiting The Book Shack’s new location on Pasco Avenue will be thrilled to see the comfortable places where they may sit and relax while looking at a book, drinking coffee, eating a treat or admiring an art piece, according to Kassabaum.

The previous location on Seventh Street had a limited seating area and the aisles were difficult to navigate if there were many people in the store, Kassabaum said. This isn’t the case at all with the new location.

Customers may purchase new or used books at the store or by placing an order at mybookshack.com. 

Customers may also trade books they own in for other books offered at The Book Shack, Kassabaum said. A record is kept online of how much credit a customer has acquired through trading books at The Book Shack, Kassabaum said.

Former Veteran’s Affairs clinic pitched for adult daycare center

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NEW PORT RICHEY – The Pasco County Planning Commission approved a special exception Oct. 17 that will allow a former Veteran’s Affairs Medical Clinic building to be used as an adult care center.

The 7.99-acre site is located on the southeast corner of Little Road and Grove Drive in west central Pasco County.

Plans call for the center to be developed in conformance with the E-R Estate-Residential District. 

The property was operated as a Veteran’s Affairs Medical Clinic from 2000 to mid-2023. The property consists of a 45,700-square-foot office building. 

The owners intend to use the property for a BoldAge PACE center. PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a national managed care program aimed at keeping older adults who qualify for nursing home level of care living independently and safely at home. PACE programs coordinate and offer a wide range of services, including preventative, primary care, acute and long-term care. 

The proposed project will occupy 29,000 square feet of the building to provide the PACE services. All of the intended services BoldAge PACE provides fall within the already approved special exception for professional offices use. 

The Adult Day Care component of the program will use 6,064 square feet, or 13% of the total square footage of the property.

The special exception was necessary because the Adult Day Care component of the BoldAge PACE program is outside of the professional office special exception.  

Plans call for the remaining 16,000 square feet to be leased for other professional office uses. 

Subject to a portion of Pasco County’s Land Development Code, the owner/applicant may be required to convey, at no cost to Pasco County, the amount of right-of-way needed to achieve 73 feet from the centerline of Little Road.

 

Other business

In other business, the planning commission:

• Recommended the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approve a request by Sandarben LLC to rezone 92.6 acres on the northwest corner of Bellamy Bros Boulevard and Johnston Road in northeast Pasco County. The applicant is seeking to change the zoning from an A-C Agricultural District to an AR-5 Agricultural-Residential District.

The site consists of two single-family homes on 92.60 acres. The applicant proposes to develop the property with 18 single-family homes on five-acre lots.

Subject to a portion of Pasco County’s Land Development Code, the owner/applicant may be required to convey, at no cost to Pasco County, the amount of right-of-way needed to achieve 57 feet from the centerline of Bellamy Bros Boulevard. 

The board is scheduled to consider the request Nov. 12 in Dade City.

• Recommended approval of an application for a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment for 3.02 acres located at the northeast corner of Jasmine Boulevard and Little Road.

Little Road Commercial is requesting the amendment from RES-1 (Residential-1 DU/GA) to COM (Commercial) to allow for commercial, retail and office uses on the property. 

Commissioners will hold an adoption hearing on the request Dec. 10 in New Port Richey.

If adopted, the amendment would enable the development of commercial uses and promote economic growth for the surrounding area. 

The applicant has proposed a voluntary deed restriction on the site to ensure the intended use of the property is for commercial/industrial uses and not include residential uses.

The development would expand the existing commercial uses, which aligns with the intent of the Commercial Future Land Use classification, as it would act as a community-serving commercial development.

The planning commission’s action came after it was agreed to strike all references to C-2 (General Commercial) in the application along with references to access points from Jasmine Boulevard and Little Road.

The applicant has also agreed to a voluntary deed restriction to ensure the property is used only for industrial uses.