The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

County changes name of Fern Park Place to Wiregrass Road

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The Pasco County Commission has renamed Fern Park Place to Wiregrass Road, beginning at its southern end, extending north to Starkey Boulevard.

The road currently known as Fern Park Place, in Land O’ Lakes, will be extended to existing Wiregrass Road, according to the county board’s Dec. 5 agenda backup materials.

The extension will create one contiguous road.

The street will need the same name for 911 purposes.

Wiregrass Road has existing addresses, so keeping that name instead of changing the street name to Fern Park Place alleviates the need to change addresses.

The name change was approved as part of the county board’s consent agenda. Items on that agenda are considered non-controversial and are approved in a single action, unless someone pulls an item from consent for discussion.

Published January 03, 2024

A man of quick actions, and a man of few words

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Jeremy Dallaire shakes hands with Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley. Dallaire was honored by the county board for taking quick actions to save a man who was struggling to breathe, after overdosing. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The Pasco County Commission recently honored Jeremy Dallaire, a field inspector who took quick actions to save the life of a man who had overdosed and was struggling to breathe.

A resolution adopted on Dec. 5 by the county board describes what happened.

It says Dallaire was in a restroom of a local Walgreens on Oct. 10 when he heard a man gasping for air.

The field inspector recognized the man had overdosed and immediately went to get the store’s pharmacist, who administered two doses of Narcan. Dallaire performed chest compressions.

The combination of the chest compressions and the Narcan were able to resuscitate the man and keep him alive until Pasco County Fire Rescue arrived. The emergency responders stabilized the man and transported him to the hospital.

The resolution says Dallaire’s actions serve as “testament to the (field inspector’s) dedication, professionalism, and readiness to help.”

His actions also resulted in Dallaire receiving a “Point of Light award, which is given to ‘recognize humanitarian accomplishments that occur outside of a team member’s normal work duties,’” the resolution notes.

Dallaire received a standing ovation from the audience at the board meeting.

Board chairman Ron Oakley offered the field inspector a chance to say a few words, but he politely declined.

The only thing he said was “thank you” in response to individual board members and Pasco Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles who praised his actions.

Published January 03, 2024

Pasco needs to do more to protect trees, commissioner says

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Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey wants the county to figure out a way to deter landowners from clear-cutting trees.

During the county board’s Dec. 5 meeting, Starkey told her colleagues: “We had somebody come in without a permit and (he) cleared a beautiful, beautiful forested property with an intent to put something on there that I think we would never ever, ever allow.”

She then asked: “What’s the penalty for clearing without a permit?” And then she added: “It’s not enough.”

The penalties meted out do not deter bad actors, the commissioner said.

“I hear it all of the time: ‘It’s better to just do it and pay the penalty fee,’” Starkey said.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told Starkey: “The fines are capped by state statute.”

But Starkey responded, saying there must be another way the county can take action.

“What else can we put on there? Don’t call it a fine, call it something else. Let’s get creative.

“We need a deterrent. People are coming and they’re clearing lands without permits all of the time.

“And then, we have to figure out, how do we count the trees that they cut down? 

“It needs to be more punitive, in my opinion,” she said.

County Administrator Mike Carballa said: “I thought we were limited, $500.”

Steinsnyder responded: “That’s what I just said to the commissioner and she told me to get creative.”

Carballa added: “We’ve done things like stack the charges, if you will.”

Steinsnyder: “Technically, depending on how the code officer writes it, violations could be each and every tree that is taken down and that gets the number up.”

Starkey responded: “But then you have to figure that out.”

Steinsnyder said he’s not sure if it’s possible, but the county might be able to create a “timeout” for someone who violates the code.

Starkey urged county staff to continue seeking creative ideas to tackle the problem.

Published January 03, 2024

Growth, change were East Pasco’s big stories in 2023

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Over on the east side of Pasco County, there’s Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Leo, Lacoochee, Trilby and more, some of which are the oldest towns, cities, communities and municipalities in the state. But this year, those areas saw a lot of change and happenings coming their way, so we’re taking a look back at some of the important stories that came out of East Pasco in 2023.

Zephyrhills in the midst of a makeover, more growth
Pasco County’s largest municipality — with its population nearing 20,000 residents — is in the process of seeing a lot of changes and additions to itself. Zephyrhills not only has several projects on the books or underway, it even went about rebranding itself, from top to bottom, with a new town logo and slogan, color schemes and marketing campaign.
Unveiled in October, Zephyrhills embraced its history, heritage, well-known assets and future by telling residents and visitors to “Jump Right In.” The new slogan pays homage to Skydive City, while shying away from its former slogan, “City of Pure Water.” However, the color scheme still honors the water, as well as the green of the rolling hills in the town limits.
Additionally, groundbreaking and construction finally got underway for a brand new park. On Nov. 28, after more than five years of planning and budgeting, city officials broke ground on Hercules Park — a 12-acre, $5.4-million park project coming to the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard, adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools. It will be the city’s first new park in more than 40 years.
Also happening in Zephyrhills will be more jobs on the horizon. Bauducco Foods purchased 72.5 acres of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s Ready Site and should hire more than 600 employees within the coming decade to fill its $200-million new facility. Plus, Zephyrhills Bottled Water Plant, through its parent company, Blue Triton Brands, will get an expansion, adding 30 new positions and converting 45 of the existing 56 positions into full-time roles. (Mike Camunas)
Dade City’s several projects updating town-wide amenities
Over in Dade City, Zephyrhills’ sister city is also in the midst of several projects — in fact, the city is undergoing or in the process of starting eight citywide projects, in which it has invested more than $32 million.
There’s a new park with a splash pad coming to Church Avenue and Eighth Street. There’s the redesign and rejuvenation of Polly Touchton Park. The city also is working on designs, but will eventually rebuild from the ground up James Irvin Civic Center at Naomi Jones Park.
Additionally, the city will streetscape its main street, a.k.a Seventh Street, making it more shopper- and driver-friendly. And while it’s not a city, but a county project, the Pasco County Fallen Law Enforcement Memorial, just in front of the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, is nearing completion.
“We are all excited about all the projects and improvements because we know the impact it will have on Dade City,” City Manager Leslie Porter told The Laker/Lutz News in November. “We’ve been listening to the community and working with them, hand in hand, to bring what they want to Dade City, which is growing exponentially.”
“This is all very exciting,” Mayor Jim Shive added. “We can’t wait to bring them all to our city.” (MIke Camunas)
New State Road 52; all complete to 301
Beginning way back in late 2019, construction on the realignment and widening of State Road 52 – from Interstate 75 to U.S. 301 in Dade City—was a cause for consternation among drivers.
But that project was finally finished in early October.
State Road 52 has shifted. Instead of going through St. Leo and San Antonio, through the rolling hills past Saint Leo University, it now bears right and passes Curley and Prospect roads. State Road 52 still becomes Clinton Avenue once past Prospect Road at the edge of St. Leo. Now, starting at the new Mirada community in San Antonio, which opened its largest human-made lagoon in the country in June, the road is a four-lane highway until it intersects with U.S. 301.
Drivers can still take the old 52, which is now County Road 52, and still go past Saint Leo and head out to the residential outskirts of Dade City at Meridian Avenue. (Courtesy of FDOT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange Belt Trail planning in East Pasco still ongoing, drawing ire
It’s been no secret that Pasco County, and its commissioners, are totally in on creating the Orange Belt Trail — a proposed, continuous 37-mile multi-use trail from Trinity to Trilby. However, while some proponents and residents are all for the Orange Belt — which will make use of the Coast-to-Coast Trail, Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail and Withlacoochee Trail and is expected to be a 12- to 14-foot-wide paved — not all of them are as excited about this project.
Several East Pasco residents — namely from Dade City, San Antonio, Trilby and beyond — have voiced their displeasure with the project, pointing out it would intersect private properties or align with backyard property lines and that they are not willing to spend taxpayer money on it.
In August, Pasco County and Orange Belt project leaders heard several heated objections to the project, while in December the City of San Antonio also objected with a Sept. 20 letter to the Pasco County Commission, from Mayor John Vogel II, Mayor pro-tempore Mark B. Anderson and commissioners Alison Cagle, Kevin Damic and Sarah Schrader.
Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, a staunch advocate for the Orange Belt Trail, has said there are no plans for the county to take property against property owner wishes or impose on private property.
Orange Belt planning and discussion are expected to continue well into 2024. (Courtesy of Diane Jones)
St. Leo aims to attract tourists
St. Leo, which is Pasco County’s oldest municipality, with a history dating back to 1891, is a community working to brand itself beyond being home to its private college, Saint Leo University.
In February, the St. Leo’s Town Commission unveiled its plans for a multi-faceted town center at the corner of State Road 52 and Lemon Road. The facility will include an underground stormwater system for food and beverage vendors, overflow parking restrooms, sidewalks, gardens and performance plaza. It is seen to be a destination that will draw tourists — a crowning gem that St. Leo will market to those beyond East Pasco.
“We really did our homework here,” St. Leo Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio told The Laker/Lutz News in February. “We know that we can maintain the history and feel of St. Leo while still showing the greatness that we know we’re capable of. With a town center, we won’t be a drive-thru town anymore, but a destination that people will want to stop at.”
(Courtesy of City of St. Leo)

Pasco is eyeing changes for posting public notices

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When someone wants to make a zoning or land use change in Pasco County, the applicant must advertise the request in a newspaper, meet posting requirements and hold a neighborhood meeting.

Changes are expected in 2024 that will affect those procedures.

“Last year, on Jan. 1, the law changed where public notification requirements to the newspapers don’t have to be made. We can put them on our website. We have been working on that,” Nectarios Pittos, director of planning and development told the Pasco County Commission during its Dec. 5 meeting.

(Mike Camunas)

“We’re pretty close on that front,” Pittos said.

However, that raised the issue of how the county wants to proceed with property posting requirements and the signs used to do that, he said.

“We were actually looking at the entirety of our public advertisement process and system, at the moment,” Pittos said. “As soon as we get the public notifications situated — whether we want to put these on our website versus the newspapers, then we’re going to also address what kinds of signs we do want to have and how to let the applicants participate in that process.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano told Pittos: “When we talked, you told me that you really liked the Hillsborough County signs, I believe. They were larger.”

Pittos responded: “They had some good examples.”

Mariano added: “I don’t know why we didn’t just incorporate that. They were larger signs, very visible signs.”

He also told Pittos: “We shouldn’t allow cross-outs and write-overs. Sometimes you’ll see something crossed out and written in beside it.”

Mariano also wants the county to give clear direction on where signs are to be posted.

In the Saddlebrook rezoning case, one of the most controversial in 2023, Mariano said “when they first put the signs out, they were like in the driveway coming in.

“You’d have to stop, walk 200 yards, 300 yards to go read what that sign said.

“They changed it later, but you’ve got to make sure they’re in a good location.”

Pittos said ”the new signs that we’ve been working on would not include handwriting — handwritten signs. They would actually be printed signs. That’s the idea.

“They’d be large enough that you could see traveling the roadway (at) at least 35 mph,” Pittos added.

Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, told the board that a proposed change to the land development code addresses when neighborhood meetings are conducted.

Under the proposed requirement, applicants must wait until their application has been cleared for content before holding its neighborhood meeting, she said.

In the past, an applicant has held a neighborhood after the application was filed but neighbors did not have a true picture of the proposed development.

Mariano and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley want the county to go even farther, to ensure that the neighborhood meetings are meaningful.

They want to create a mechanism for neighbors to submit their impressions of the neighborhood meeting, so that the county board isn’t simply relying on the applicant’s information from the meeting.

Brad Tippin, the county’s development review manager, told the board: “All of the meetings are noticed. We can include a line in that notice encouraging any attendees to provide the county with any written feedback that they would, regarding the meeting.”

Published December 27, 2023

Pasco schools begin looking ahead to new school start times

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Pasco County Schools know a thing or two about changing up school start times.

After all, they did that in response to a shortage of school bus drivers.

But now they are beginning to talk about how they’re going to adjust starting times to comply with a new state law.

The legislation says that no high school can start earlier than 8:30 a.m., and no middle school before 8 a.m., said Cynthia Armstrong, a Pasco County School Board member.

School start times will be later for secondary public school students under a state law that takes effect July 1, 2026. (File)

“This is based on the perceived notion from research that teenagers do better if they have a chance to sleep later,” Armstrong said.

Meeting the mandate will require putting more buses on the road, said Betsy Kuhn, the school district’s assistant superintendent for support services. 

Supplying the buses isn’t a big issue because the district has cut so many routes in the past couple of years it has buses that aren’t currently operating, Kuhn said.

But providing the drivers? That’s another issue.

Armstrong said she recently attended a panel discussion about the issue at the Florida School Boards Association meeting.

Representatives of three school districts that have already shifted their starting times shared their experiences, she said. One was a large district; one of medium size; and, the third was small.

“The small county had actually started this back in the 1990s, when they first redid their bus schedule, to have some tiering,” Armstrong said.

“The middle-size county had been doing it for like 10 years,” she said.

Hillsborough County just began doing so in the last couple of years, Armstrong added, noting she is particularly interested in learning more from them.

“Across the board, they all had middle school starting last. Across the board, they all said communication early, early, early in the process was so important,” Armstrong added.

“They all had workshops with parents. They had surveys that went out to all of the stakeholders, including teachers, including families, including the community. They also really listened to the teachers.

“They got HR (human resources) involved because there were some concessions. Some teachers wanted to move from elementary to middle school, or vice versa depending on their family needs or their second-job needs.

“So, those had to be accommodated.

“But they all said you had to start the process at least a year in advance, as far as getting the communication out and getting the feedback. That was extremely important,” the school board member said.

Armstrong said Hillsborough used a tool — a random generator — that proved particularly helpful.

When someone recommended changing the start time at a particular school, a district staffer could show that person how all of the other schools would be affected by the change.

It helped to build understanding about the interconnectivity of the system, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said she’d like Pasco’s staff to find out more about that tool.

“It really made it easier for the parents to understand they couldn’t just randomly change that one school to suit them,” Armstrong said.

Of all the talking points covered by the speakers, one stood out, the school board member said.

“The big, big message was, ‘Start early. Make sure the message gets out to everybody, so they have plenty of time to adjust whatever they need to adjust to make it work.”

School board member Colleen Beaudoin wants to make sure that families are aware that changing the start times is a legislative mandate, not a local option.

“I don’t want anyone to start panicking that this is happening right away,” Beaudoin said.

The shift must be implemented by July 1, 2026.

School board member Al Hernandez wanted to know if the shift will have a financial impact on the district.

Kuhn responded: “There’s costs, for sure, but for me the biggest cost is adding drivers.

The district estimates it would need to add about 35 bus drivers. That is problematic, she said, because the district has 26 vacancies.

“To add to that would be very concerning,” Kuhn said.

Armstrong also noted that speakers at the conference did not provide evidence that the early start times have resulted in a substantive academic difference.

“I will say that none of those counties said that they’d seen any change in attendance or any change in academics,” she said. “It seemed that if a student was going to be late 10 minutes, they were late 10 minutes … if they were going to be late, they were going to be late.”

She also directed this comment at district parents who many want to weigh in on the issue: “If you are opposed to this, you need to reach out to your legislators because this is not something we’re going to have control of. We will have control in how we address it and how we comply, but we have to comply with it.”

Published December 27, 2023

Pasco expected to adopt changes to land development code

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The Pasco County Commission is expected to adopt a bundle of changes to the county’s land development code that address a wide range of issues.

The changes are scheduled for final adoption at the board’s Jan. 9 meeting.

Some changes would strip local economic incentives from project development under the Florida Legislatures Live Local Act.

The proposed code changes would prohibit impact fee exemptions and/or reductions for individuals who have “invoked the land use/zoning preemption or mandatory property tax exemption in the Live Local Act.”

The Florida Legislature adopted the Live Local Act last session, as a way of spurring more development of affordable housing. The act makes it impossible for local governments to block the conversion of existing commercial, industrial and mixed-use sites to be developed for multifamily use, if the project meets requirements regarding the provision of affordable housing units for a specified period. The law also provides a tax break for such projects.

Pasco board members object strenuously to Live Local because they say it undermines the county’s efforts to increase the availability of jobs in Pasco and decrease the need for residents to commute to other counties for jobs.

Pasco’s elected board also plans to use the court system to challenge the constitutionality of developments being built under the Live Local Act.

Another recommendation in this batch of code changes would establish enforcement powers for the county to cite private property owners who have not complied with deed restrictions they agreed to impose on their own properties.

Specifically, the county will be able to cite individuals who fail to comply with a recorded deed restriction that was used to secure a county development approval or a county mobility fee or impact fee exemption waiver or reduction.

The county has been using private deed restrictions as a tool to prevent property owners from seeking and securing zoning changes, and then turning around and invoking the Live Local Act to develop the site.

Another change relates to the timing of neighborhood meetings. Those meetings could not be held in the future until an application has been deemed complete, in terms of content.

That amendment is intended to ensure that the public has the pertinent information, which has not always happened in the past.

Another change would require a waiting period before the same request is made for a variance on a particular property, or for an alternative standard.

Published December 27, 2023

Capturing moments in a snap 

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As we set forth into 2024, we at The Laker/Lutz News took some time to reflect on the year that has passed, including the images that graced our pages, website and social media platforms. From community events to local sports and the stories that gripped us, here are some of our favorite images from the past year.

Painting with Puppies – March 29
A rescue puppy lovingly enjoys the attention from Wesley Chapel residents Brandy Poblete-Scaglione, left, and Jen Poblete-Scaglione at B Creative Painting Studio at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, during Painting with Puppies.
(Mike Camunas)
Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club – Feb. 15
Chuck Moulton, the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club treasurer and webmaster, elegantly slides a disc to the other side of the narrow court. Moulton, like many other members, such as Fred Litzman, behind, who leans to see the shot, can be found almost daily at the club, either practicing slides, enjoying afternoon frolics or participating in the many tournaments at the club. (Mike Camunas)
45th Bay Area Renaissance Festival – April 12
Brianna Vorbeck, of Oldsmar, sits upon the Iron Throne — er, Throne of Swords — at the 45th Bay Area Renaissance Festival in Dade City on April 2 as her husband, Travis, snaps a picture. The yearly festival, which runs from mid-February to early April, brought the magical 16th Century European Village of Fittleworth to the wooded fields off Auton Road, just outside Withlacoochee River Park. The festival includes more than 100 artisans selling handcrafted goods and wares, entertainment from jesters, acrobats, bards and more, and even full-contact live armored jousting, themed weekends and some period-accurate food. (Mike Camunas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to School – Aug. 16
Lake Myrtle Elementary fifth grader Kendall Cave, 10, walks her bike across Weeks Boulevard on Aug. 10, the official first day of school for Pasco County Schools. (Mike Camunas)
112th annual Founder’s Day Festival – March 15
A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. The 112th edition of Founder’s Day Festival returned after a two-year hiatus because of COVID and scheduling conflicts. (Mike Camunas)
14th annual Swamp Fest – Nov. 8
It was a wild, and swampy, weekend as Madison Froelich, left, and Amber Allen, both of Land O’ Lakes, are whipped around on a ride at the 14th annual Swamp Fest, the carnival of rides, games, food, entertainment and more at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. The four-day event is a community-wide fundraiser benefiting area schools, nonprofits and community groups, as well as area businesses. It is hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club. (Mike Camunas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stomp Out Suicide Run – Oct. 18
Iren Taylor, left, and Sarah Gruber share a laugh while running on the trail at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City during the third annual Stomp Out Suicide Trail Run, hosted by the Pasco County Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources Department. The run — that included a 10K, 5K, a fun run and a dog run — is part of the department’s ‘RECreate Your Mind’ initiative, which hosts events to bring attention to suicide prevention. (Mike Camunas)
Saddle Up For Autism – May 17
Ten-year-old Kam Venkat, of Wesley Chapel, straps on a helmet and gets ready to ride a friendly stallion with the help of Tammy Sliger during Saddle Up for Autism on April 29, at Kiddy Up Ranch in Hudson. Venkat, and a handful of other kiddos with special needs, had a fun afternoon that included feeding farm animals, riding and grooming horses, and playing on the ranch compound. The event is one of the inclusive activities the Pasco County Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources Department put on in April, which is Autism Awareness Month. (Mike Camunas)
Juneteenth Community Celebration – June 28
C’Rayiah Gardner, 7, takes a fun ride down the slide on an inflatable obstacle course during the Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 17, at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City. The celebration included the family fun zone, local vendors and food trucks, free health screenings, prizes, games and raffles. (Mike Camunas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunlake Senior Showcase – Sept. 27
Sunlake High mom Kristin Satin performs a dance in a shirt with her son’s face on it during a showcase for Seahawk Seniors’ Homecoming Week. Satin and dozens of other senior moms (and a few dads) boogied down at the football fields at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Sept. 20 to entertain hundreds in attendance, including their senior students and friends. (Mike Camunas)
Pasco Blues Festival – March 1
Eboni Reed, left, and Donette Howe enjoy a coconut drink and some bluesy music during the Seventh Annual Pasco Blues Festival on Feb. 18, at Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes. Three popular blues artists performed throughout the afternoon. Proceeds from adult beverage sales benefit the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel’s support for the Bridging Freedom Foundation. (Mike Camunas)
Mirada Lagoon Opens – June 14
From left, Mirada residents Jared Romero and Tori Romero and their guest, Laura Berry, enjoy some sunbathing while lounging at Mirada Lagoon in San Antonio. It is the largest human-made lagoon in the country with 15 acres of water and offers activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, an obstacle course, water slides, a swim-up bar, lounging and beach play and playgrounds. (Mike Camunas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Lutz Independence Day Parade – July 12
Ten-year-old Sophia Joiner was one of hundreds of Lutz residents and locals who attended the annual Lutz Independence Day Parade on the morning of the Fourth of July. The event featured nearly 50 floats, with beads and trinkets being tossed to the patriotic faithful lined up and down Lutz Lake Fern Road, in front of the Lutz Branch Library and near the historic Lutz Train Depot. Event-goers battled the heat, but still enjoyed the parade, the cake auction, the naming of a new Lutz Guv’na, the 5K and Mile Fun Run, and other activities. The yearly event brings out a huge crowd, in the community of more than 28,000, in an unincorporated area in North Tampa. (Mike Camunas)
Cannoli Eating Contest – Sept. 13
Land O’ Lakes resident Trinity Boyle tries to keep down a cannoli during Moschella’s Italian Eatery & Market’s first-ever Cannoli Eating Contest in Wesley Chapel on Aug. 27. (Mike Camunas)
Chalk Art Festival – April 26
Danielle Ostolaza, of Holiday, uses sidewalk chalk to draw one of her four sectionals of murals during the Chalk Art Festival at the KRATE at the Grove on April 16. Ostolaza, along with a handful of other local artists, were given the chance to show off their artistic styles and creations during the festival. The Wesley Chapel shopping and entertainment district also was the venue for The Harvest Market, which featured dozens of vendors. (Mike Camunas)

 

 

 

Development agreement stalled on Land O’ Lakes project

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The Pasco County Commission is expected to discuss a proposed amendment to a development agreement involving a 108-home subdivision planned in Land O’ Lakes.

The development plans call for the housing development to be built on 50 acres on the south side of Bexley Road, about a mile west of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Wisteria Loop.

Board members continued the request during their Dec. 5 meeting, after Commissioner Kathryn Starkey refused to agree to proposed changes involving a trail near the project.

County planner William Vermillion told the board that a modification is needed because at the time when the development agreement was approved, it wasn’t yet known whether the trail was feasible because the engineering work had not yet been completed.

Since then, Vermillion said, it has been determined that the original plan can’t be pursued because of insufficient right of way.

Starkey balked.

“So, board members, we had quite a few meetings on this and I went out there with our county engineers and their engineers and Ray Gadd (an area resident),” Starkey said.

Chris Nocco, Jeremy Crouch and Gadd had appeared before the board at a public hearing when the rezoning was being discussed, pointing out issues regarding the need for a better road network before the request should be approved.

Starkey noted: “Part of this road is designed as an urban section and part of this road is a rural section. The multi-use trail is supposed to be on the north side of the road.”

She said an adjacent master-planned development had pledged to donate land to the county, which provided plenty of room for a multi-use trail, a trailhead and even a park.

“So, where is that land donation?” Starkey asked.

“If I’m hearing you right, we’re just getting little bits and pieces of the multi-use trail?

“And that was how this neighborhood was going to be able to get out on this trail,” Starkey said.

Vermillion responded: “Unfortunately they just don’t own or control any of the land.”

Starkey: “But we do because that was given to us. Where’s the bottom piece along Wisteria that was given to the county?”

Shelly Johnson, attorney representing the Renner developer, told Starkey that the engineers went and looked at it and discovered that the right of way is insufficient.

She said they have consulted with Gadd and Crouch and they don’t have objections with the current plan and she said she thinks Nocco is aware of it.

“Everybody has met out there and they discussed exactly what we’re proposing in these exhibits … And, everybody is in agreement with the changes,” she said.

The county’s staff also recommended approval.

But Starkey wouldn’t budge.

“Someone has dropped the ball on this because there’s plenty of room for a multi-use trail to go on that piece of land,” Starkey said.

Johnson responded: “As of right now, there’s not.”

Starkey: “No. There’s acres and acres. That piece was given to us, or pledged to us … I am 100% positive that they (nearby master-planned development) said that we could have that piece. So, I’m not buying that we can’t put the trail there. So, this is going to have to be continued. I won’t go for that one, when we have plenty of room for the trail.”

Johnson told Starkey: “We’ll be happy to go back and look at it. But I’m being told there’s insufficient right of way, currently. My understanding is the area you’re looking at now is being used for their stormwater, so what they gave us is what they could give us and there’s not any additional right of way there.”

The attorney also noted that the developer of the other master-planned development agreed to work with her client as a condition of their approval, but it did not result in sufficient land being provided for the trail.

Starkey responded: “Well, there’s a problem if they didn’t give us enough to fit the trail. We’re going to have to dig into this a little bit more. This is really important for that community because there’s no room on that road, and that’s going to be a busy road to ride anywhere. And, this is how they’re going to get over to the Orange Belt Trail.

“It was a whole condition of approval for me.”

“I went out there and met with Jeremy and Ray and our engineering staff and their engineers  and we walked it. There was plenty of room for the multi-use path and it didn’t have to be smushed up against the road.

“So, something has happened here,” Starkey said.

”I agree with Commissioner Starkey 100%. It shouldn’t be a problem and if that means we’ve got to bring the other developer in to have that conversation with them, it’s going to have to be our staff that’s going to have to lead that conversation,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano.

Starkey declared: “We can play the tape. We can roll back the tape.”

The request has been continued to the board’s Jan. 23 meeting.

Published December 27, 2023

Celebrating the accomplishments of Pasco women trailblazers

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The Pasco County Commission paused during its Dec. 5 meeting to honor Pasco County women who have distinguished themselves and created new pathways for others.

A group of Pasco County women were honored by the Pasco County Commission recently for helping to open the door to new opportunities. Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano, who was the resolution’s sponsor, is seen holding his grandchild. His daughter, Amber Mariano Davis, was one of the honorees. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“These are pioneers,” said Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, as she prepared to read a resolution honoring a group of Pasco women.

The resolution, sponsored by Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano, recognizes the role that the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, established in 1944,  has had in supporting female leaders. It also pays homage to the contributions of the Professional Women in Business, a group that was initially established as a book club.

It also recognizes individual women singled out by The Professional Women in Business.

That group, according to the resolution, “would like to recognize the achievements of Pasco County women who have broken through the glass ceiling and risen above invisible barriers that have marginalized women when seeking career advancements.”

Women honored in the resolution are: Amber Mariano Davis, the youngest State Representative elected in Florida history to represent District 36 in the Florida House of Representatives; Republican State Committeewoman Sandy Graves, founder of the Republican Club of Central Pasco; Marilyn DeChant the first female Rotarian of the New Port Richey Rotary Club;  Dr. Paula O’Neil, the first female Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller; Debbie Manns, the first female city manager for the city of New Port Richey; Margaret Sutterlin, the first female council member for the city of Port Richey; and, Elaine Todneri, who revitalized the Pasco Chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW) in 1966 and is the current chapter president.

The resolution also notes that the Professional Women in Business of the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce “is immensely proud of the achievements of these women and encourages women in Pasco County to continue the tradition of rising above barriers and empower all women distinguishing themselves in their roles in the community.”

The women’s accomplishments drew applause from the audience.

Published December 27, 2023