The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

Apartments and new retail coming to Wiregrass

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More retail and a new apartment complex — on vacant land northeast of The Shops at Wiregrass — are on the drawing board at Pasco County’s planning department.

Forest City Enterprises, the developers of The Shops at Wiregrass, and NRP Group are partnering on the next phase of development on the former Wiregrass Ranch property in Wesley Chapel.

Conceptual plans filed with the county show a development of 248 apartments and 127,000 square feet of retail.

Among the retail possibilities are restaurants, a specialty market, a cinema and shops.

Forest City will handle the commercial side of the project. NRP Group will build the apartment complex.

The retail portion likely will fall within 120,000 square feet but could be somewhat larger or smaller depending on the tenants’ needs, said Abbas Hasan, manager of planning and development for the Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.

The next step is filing an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that would approve a permit for the project.

“The process takes quite a long time,” Hasan said. “We’re trying to get all the pieces together.”

Specifics on tenants and construction schedules are on hold until the Corps of Engineers weighs in, and the project is further along.

“The Shops at Wiregrass are basically a lifestyle center and an open-air mall. This is more a few large anchor type users and more specialty stores,” Hasan said. “It will complement the mall and others in the area.”

The apartments will be linked with the retail, so that residents will be able to walk to the retail part of the development, said Kurt Kehoe, vice president of NRP Group, which has offices in Lake Mary, Florida.

“Being able to have the pedestrian and vehicular connections to both existing and upcoming commercial is key,” Kehoe said. “In a suburban area, this is not normally what you find.”

The project will include three-story and four-story buildings, with upscale apartments. Most of the apartments will be one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts, though some will have three bedrooms, Kehoe said.

Some apartments will have detached garages. There will be a clubhouse, pool and fitness area.

“Generally there is a lot of optimism for the tri-county area, especially Pasco,” he said. “There’s a lot of desire to live, work and play out there.”

Published May 20, 2015

Stacey Nance will lead Tampa Premium Outlets

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A long-time mall manager with Simon Property Group will be transferring from Indiana to become the general manager at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Stacey Nance has been tapped by Simon to take on management duties at the much-anticipated 441,000-square-foot outlet mall under construction near the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.

An opening date is slated for October.

Nance’s appointment was effective on May 18.

Stacey Nance, a long-time mall manager in Indiana, will be the general manager for Tampa Premium Outlets. (Courtesy of Simon Property Group)
Stacey Nance, a long-time mall manager in Indiana, will be the general manager for Tampa Premium Outlets.
(Courtesy of Simon Property Group)

“Stacey is a motivated and detail-oriented individual with years of leadership experience,” Regional Vice President Mary Spaulding said in a news release announcing Nance’s selection.

Nance started with Simon 17 years ago as director of marketing at Muncie Mall in Muncie, Indiana. She held that job for nine years before shifting career direction into mall management. She has been in charge of overall operations at Muncie Mall, Muncie Plaza and Northwood Plaza in Indiana.

She is a graduate of Ball State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and management, with a specialization in sales and promotion.

Simon, the mall’s developer, has estimated that the project will yield between 300 and 500 construction jobs and as many as 800 retail jobs. More than 110 retailers are expected to open, though, to date, only the anchor, Saks Off Fifth Fashion Outlet, has been announced. The mall is expected to have regional appeal as a destination for shoppers from Pasco, Hillsborough and surrounding areas.

A job fair likely will take place about 60 days prior to opening date, said Simon spokesman Les Morris.

Simon Property Group has more than 80 Premium Outlets worldwide with upscale retailers such as Banana Republic, DKNY, Dior and J. Crew. The outlet mall is a major feature within the master-planned community known as Cypress Creek Town Center. Three developers, including Simon, are working on different residential and commercial phases of the project.

Published May 20, 2015

 

People and pets gather for dog park opening

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When residents (and their dogs) showed up to commemorate the grand opening of the Rotary Club of New Tampa Dog Park on May 2, they admired the new facility located at 17302 Commerce Park Blvd.

But they might not have known how much time and effort went into it.

Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn shook hands and gave dogs a friendly scratch or two at the opening of the Rotary Club of New Tampa Dog Park on May 2. (Courtesy of Bob Thompson)
Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn shook hands and gave dogs a friendly scratch or two at the opening of the Rotary Club of New Tampa Dog Park on May 2.
(Courtesy of Bob Thompson)

“We actually started on this two years ago,” said Joyce Gunter, the Rotary Club of New Tampa’s committee chairwoman for the dog park. “It took a long time, and we’re so excited that it’s finally open.”

It took $25,000 and a couple of years of planning and coordination with the City of Tampa to bring the dog park to fruition.

The Rotary Club of New Tampa approached the city looking to start a public/private partnership on a project that would benefit the community. The city suggested the dog park, which was planned but not fully funded. If the rotary club could match their funds, the city explained, the project might get completed.

So the group set to work, obtaining sponsors to help raise the money. They also sold space at the park itself, one little block at a time. Engraved bricks in two different sizes have already been placed to outline concrete at the park. The Rotary Club of New Tampa sold more than 300 bricks at a cost of between $50 and $100.

That kind of positive response not only reinforced the idea that residents wanted a dog park in the area — there isn’t one for at least 13 miles — but showed the community’s willingness to step up and financially support the cause.

“It confirms my thought that there are a lot of great people in this community, and all you have to do is ask and talk about things you can do, and people are willing to help and join in,” Gunter said.

Now that the park is finished and open for guests, people in the community can enjoy its amenities. At just under an acre, they had room for benches and picnic tables, stations containing cleanup bags, and a water fountain with special accommodation for four-legged visitors. There’s also a large special section specifically for smaller dogs.

Shade was a big part of the design.

Some dog parks, Gunter explained, have very little shade, which can be uncomfortable when it’s hot outside.

The Rotary Club of New Tampa Dog Park has plenty of trees which provide an abundance of shade, which makes for a more pleasant visit.

After just a few days, they’ve already received some feedback as to potential improvements.

For instance, mud puddles can be a big attraction to dogs, but they aren’t welcome with owners. So, a dog-washing station to help everyone come home clean is one possible improvement.

In addition to plenty of canine representation at the opening, two-legged dignitaries were there as well. Lisa Pontilione from the Tampa City Council, state representative Shawn Harrison and Mayor Bob Buckhorn all came out for the event, alongside brick purchasers, Rotarians and those who were eager to use the facilities.

One guest was not able to be there, unfortunately.

Gunter’s labrador mix, Linkin, passed away before the park opened.

He would have loved it, Gunter said. She plans to frequent the park with another pet at some point in the future.

Until then, she’s happy to see others use the park and appreciate the hard work and time put in by the Rotary Club of New Tampa.

“It’s so nice to drive by there and see a lot of people utilizing the park, and seeing the dogs having a great time,” she said.

The dog park is open every day from sunrise to sunset.

Published May 13, 2015

State loan may help widen State Road 56

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The Pasco Commission agreed that a low-interest state loan to fund the widening of additional lanes on State Road 56 is worth exploring, if developers take responsibility for paying it back.

Commissioners voted unanimously to direct county administrators and staff members to gather details about the loan and prepare a letter of interest to be sent to the State Infrastructure Bank. The letter must be submitted by May 29 for state officials to consider granting a loan in its 2016 cycle.

‘I do have some reservations. People here believe growth should pay for itself.’ – Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader
‘I do have some reservations. People here believe growth should pay for itself.’ – Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader

The infrastructure bank provides loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects that qualify for aid under federal and state law.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the matter at their May 19 meeting.

“There’s a lot of details that need to be worked out on this,” said Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein.

Goldstein and Richard Gehring, the county’s planning and development administrator, sought permission at the commissioners’ May 5 meeting to pursue the loan option.

A lot of staff time will be needed, Goldstein told commissioners.

“I think this is a regional road, not a local road, and will be a benefit for the entire county,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “There may be options, many ways the loan can be packaged.”

But commissioners also had concerns about potential costs and who would be held accountable for repaying the loan.

“I do have some reservations,” said Chairman Ted Schrader. “People here believe growth should pay for itself.”

Gehring said the county would be the lead applicant for the loan but would collect repayment funds from developers through mobility surcharge fees and potentially special property assessments.

County officials hope the city of Zephyrhills will agree to pay 10 percent of the annual loan payments not covered by developers’ contributions.

The Zephyrhills City Council was expected to discuss the matter at its May 11 meeting.

The state loan option arose out of a February town hall meeting to discuss transportation issues. Since then county officials, State Sen. John Legg, State Rep. Danny Burgess and state highway officials have had additional meetings on the loan plan.

Current plans are to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, as a two-lane road.

Zephyrhills’ residents and city officials have pushed for the additional lanes as a boost to the area’s economy. They also have said it would be less costly to build four lanes now rather than later.

Gehring said the agreement might be crafted along the lines of a similar one that paid for roadwork for the Villages of Pasadena Hills. In that instance, the Florida Department of Transportation and developers each paid for two of the four lanes built to accommodate increased traffic generated by the development project.

If needed, other funding sources could be tax increment financing and gasoline taxes.

However, Gehring cautioned commissioners that if these funds were used, the county might have to defer other road projects.

Commissioners said developers should bear the burden of repaying debt from the project.

“Other developers have already been paying,” said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Published May 13, 2015

 

Kohl’s and Culver’s submit site plans for Cypress Creek Town Center

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Kohl’s is the latest retailer to schedule a sit-down with Pasco planners as a future tenant at the Cypress Creek Town Center at State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The store’s conceptual plan on file with the county shows a 55,000- square-foot building at the same intersection where construction crews are hard at work on the 1.1 million square-foot Tampa Premium Outlets.

Cypress Creek Town Center at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is getting tenant interest from Kohl’s department store, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Cypress Creek Town Center at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is getting tenant interest from Kohl’s department store, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

According to county records, representatives of the national department store chain were expected to attend a pre-application meeting scheduled for April 28.

No official announcement on Kohl’s presence at the proposed outdoor mall has been made. Kohl’s has stores in Brandon, Lutz and New Port Richey.

A Kohl’s representative wasn’t available for comment.

Other tenants who have indicated intentions to open at the mall are Costco, Chick-fi-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.

Chick-fil-A plans a 4,791-square-foot fast-food restaurant at Cypress Creek with 132 seats. And Cheddar’s Casual Café is proposing an 8,066-square-foot restaurant with its signature fresh, made-from-scratch menu items including croissants, salmon filets and hamburgers.

Costco Wholesale Inc., filed its plans in December for a 153,000-square-foot discount membership warehouse club. The retail giant was second behind Walmart in 2013 among the top 10 of 250 global retailers.

Culver’s likely will have a mid-June groundbreaking and a fall opening timed with the opening of the outlet mall.

This will be a second location for franchise owner Marty Roeske, who opened his first restaurant in Wisconsin nearly 15 years ago. He and his wife are moving to Wesley Chapel, while their son operates the Wisconsin restaurant.

“When I dream of a location, I’m thinking about access, population and incomes,” Roeske said. “I can’t think of any characteristic that isn’t there.”

The employment base, with area high schools nearby, also is strong, said Roeske, who has searched for more than two years for a Florida location.

Tampa was on the radar, but Wesley Chapel won out.

“We warmed up to Wesley Chapel quickly,” he said. “It’s so new and has so much energy. It’s only going to go up.”

He is proposing a 4,235-square-foot restaurant at Cypress Creek with 110 seats. A bicycle rack and a covered patio also are part of the plans.

The fast-food chain offers its signatures “Butterburgers,” fried chicken, sandwiches and salads.

In addition to this location, a different Culver’s franchise owner also has submitted plans for a 4,242-square-foot restaurant at The Shoppes at Trinity Lakes. A pre-application meeting took place on April 6, according to county records.

Currently Culver’s has 541 restaurants in 22 states. The Wisconsin-based chain is expanding its operations in Florida. In the past two years, 11 franchised locations have opened in the state. The first was in Naples; two are in Tampa.

“It’s a hot bed,” said Paul Pitas, Culver’s spokesman. “We have a lot of folks who are transplants from the Midwest. They’ve moved there, or they are snowbirds, but they definitely know the brand.”

Published May 6, 2015

This coffee shop serves more than coffee

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The coffee shop at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch calls itself a Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, but its customers say the foods this shop offers go far beyond those basic spices.

Tawnika Green, a 20-year-old full-time student at the Porter Campus, set to graduate May 6, said she has enjoyed the convenience of being able to grab a meal on campus.

Kelly Ramos, playing the role of Pepper, and Ghada Jadallah, chef for Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, celebrate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch last month. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Kelly Ramos, playing the role of Pepper, and Ghada Jadallah, chef for Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, celebrate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch last month.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She had two classes on campus, so she didn’t want to leave to go get something to eat, because she would miss her other class.

The young woman, who plans to pursue a career in nursing, gave high marks to the coffee shop’s mac ‘n cheese.

Desiree Harding, who works at the campus, said she routinely gets breakfast at the coffee shop.

“Oh, my gosh, the food is delicious,” Harding said.

Biko Claxton, who works as a trainer, said the menu has plenty of healthy options.

“How many trainers do you know that send people to a restaurant?” Claxon asked.

Stan Giannet, provost of the Porter Campus, said the coffee shop opened earlier this year and has been a welcome addition.

“We’ve received very positive feedback from students, staff and faculty,” Giannet said. “It’s going very well. They have a good variety of healthy, fresh meals for students.

“We’re happy to have them on our campus,” Giannet said.

Chef Ghada Jadallah is delighted to offer her company’s foods at the Porter Campus.

“It’s an amazing experience,” she said. “It seems like this is the nicest thing that’s ever happened to us.”

She and her husband, Lutfi, own Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, which has its main location at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., in New Tampa.

Their son, Sami, manages the coffee shop at the college, and their daughter, Elyanna, is the head baker at the company’s main location. Kelly Ramos also works for the company, creating customized cookies.

Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper does catering for occasions up to 800 people. It has a private party room, which can accommodate 50 people.

The company also offers a service that allows customers to choose meals from a menu, which the company prepares and customers pick up. Some entrees are heat and serve. Others may require a short cooking time.

To find out more about Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, visit DashOfSaltnPepper.com, or call (813) 376-6689.

Published May 6, 2015

Wiregrass Ranch graduate gets Ivy League offers

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Antonio Medina wanted to give himself the best chance he could to attend the college of his choice, so he applied to several places.

“You can be a top candidate but still, it’s really tough to get in. They get more top candidates than they can accept. Sometimes, it comes down to luck,” said Medina, who will be graduating soon from Wiregrass Ranch High.

Sandra, Antonio and Alfredo Medina pose for a photo after Antonio is named salutatorian of the class of 2015 at Wiregrass Ranch High School. (Courtesy of the Medina family)
Sandra, Antonio and Alfredo Medina pose for a photo after Antonio is named salutatorian of the class of 2015 at Wiregrass Ranch High School.
(Courtesy of the Medina family)

So, he applied to scores of schools, including the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, as well as to such colleges as Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Harvard and Yale.

Brown University sent him a letter saying he would likely be accepted, Medina said.

“We were so excited about the letter. That was so amazing. We were happy with that,” he said.

On the day that the colleges announce their decisions, Medina and his mom, Sandra, were sitting at three computers, waiting.

“So, I checked Brown. I got accepted, so I was happy,” Medina said.

“We checked Penn and Columbia and Princeton. None of those.

“Then I checked Yale and got in. I was super surprised.

“I checked Harvard last. I was like, ‘Let’s just see.’ ”

And he got into Harvard, too.

“I was speechless,” his mom said. “I’m never going to forget that day.”

Medina also received full-ride offers from USF, UCF and UF.

So, then it was a matter of choosing where he would go.

He and his dad, Alfredo, visited Harvard and Yale.

Then, Medina made his final choice.

“They’re both great schools. You can’t go wrong with either school,” Medina said. “It came down to, which school did I feel better at?”

He chose Yale.

“I was more at home there,” said the Wesley Chapel resident.

He is excited about his academic future.

“The caliber of education is through the roof,” said Medina. “You have world-class professors. I could be a roommate with a future president.”

Medina ranked second in the class of 2015 at Wiregrass and also was named the school’s Most Outstanding Senior.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, he was catcher on the school’s baseball team, drum major for the marching band and a member of the jazz band.

On top of all that, he has worked for his mom and dad’s business, Gator Fred’s, a fun and party center in Carrollwood.

“I helped them since I was 7. I’ve seen what it is like to manage a business, to work in a service — entrepreneurial, all that stuff, since I was a child,” Medina said.

That work has left an indelible impression on him.

“Probably because of the influence of my family, I want to go my own way, work for myself, create something that could be my own business, or create something new that would be completely under my wing,” he said.

He describes what he has gained by working in the family business in one of the essays he wrote for his college applications.

He details how the business started at the family’s home and has evolved into its own location, Gator Fred’s, a fun and party center in Carrollwood. He then explains the impact that working in the family business has had on him.

“The establishment of Gator Fred’s didn’t just enhance what my childhood had been. The store engraved in me a vital essence of my character,” he wrote.

“With my own bare hands, I helped my family turn an enormous, empty shell of what was once a Bealls Outlet into a beautiful playground of colors and bounce houses and train rides and joy.

“This experience taught me how to manage a business before I was even a teenager. “More importantly, it showed me how to take pride in building something bigger than myself.

“Every weekend that I spent there, instead of with friends, I remained aware that this place was what provided for our food, our house, our lives.

“I never took for granted what I had. I knew the value of hard work and persistence.

“My parents taught me the dangers of taking risks but also the courage needed to make the leap. For them, I will always be grateful,” Medina’s essay says.

The young man’s success in academics began when he was young.

He said he’s always been a good student, except for during kindergarten.

“We had just moved here (from Venezuela). I was 5 and I just learned English.

“The only problem was now, I wouldn’t shut up. I just kept talking. I’d get in trouble for being too talkative,” he recalled.

His mom recalls finding out about the problem.

“The lady called me and said, ‘He is too talkative,’ ” she said. “He would talk with an empty chair.”

His mom decided to nip the problem in the bud.

She put his toys in a bag and pretended to throw them out.

“I did better in school,” Medina said. “And my toys magically reappeared.”

Apparently, the lesson stuck.

“Being good in school is good. Learning for the sake of learning is good,” he said.

Medina is graduating from Wiregrass Ranch on May 31. His younger brother, Andres, will be attending the high school next year.

Medina’s mom is clearly ecstatic about her son’s academic accomplishments.

His dad is proud, too.

“My dad has worn the same Yale shirt for the past four days,” Medina said. “It says ‘Yale Dad’.”

Published May 6, 2015

Florida Medical Clinic’s expansion story continues

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Florida Medical Clinic is continuing to expand at a brisk pace, with an 85,000-square-foot facility expected to open near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel in March 2016, and a 15,000-square-foot expansion at its facility on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes now under way.

The new projects are part of a story that dates back to 1993, when four practices in Zephyrhills decided to merge to gain advantages they could not secure independently, said Chris Alvarez, the health care provider’s chief financial officer.

Florida Medical Clinic’s new 85,000-square-foot location in Wesley Chapel will be a three-story building. It is expected to open in March 2016. (Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)
Florida Medical Clinic’s new 85,000-square-foot location in Wesley Chapel will be a three-story building. It is expected to open in March 2016.
(Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)

Since then, Florida Medical Clinic has grown to have 43 locations totaling 550,000 square feet, with 750,000 patient encounters each year. It has 235 providers, representing 33 medical specialties, Alvarez said.

It also has ambitious plans.,

The five-year vision is to have 70 locations, with 1.3 million patient visits a year, Alvarez told those gathered at an economic development briefing organized by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. Alvarez spoke at a luncheon meeting at Hoosiers Grille at the Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club on April 23.

Florida Medical Clinic will be building the new 85,000-square-foot structure in Wesley Chapel at 2352 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., north of State Road 56.

“Obviously, the location is perfect for us. It’s very close to the hospital,” Alvarez said. “It’s a great location from a visibility standpoint.”

There will be 60 physicians and 200 employees in that building, Alvarez said.

“Everything we’re going to do at Wiregrass is going to be practices that already exist in the Wiregrass area or new providers that we’re going to bring in, or have already brought in, in anticipation of that opening,” Alvarez said.

The new facility will provide a convenient one-stop shop for patients, as patients will be able to see their doctor and pick up prescriptions at the same location, he added.

In Land O’ Lakes, Florida Medical Clinic is building a 15,000-square-foot addition, at a location it opened in 2009.

There’s room for another building there, which the clinic may construct sometime relatively soon, Alvarez said. When that occurs, Florida Medical Clinic’s total presence at that site will be 75,000 square feet.

Just two years ago, Florida Medical Clinic expanded its main campus in Zephyrhills at Market Square to open a new urgent care facility. It also built a 12,000-square-foot office on Eiland Boulevard that it shares with DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.

Deciding when and where to build and consolidate is an organic process for Florida Medical Clinic, usually based on the number of doctors and specialists the company has partnered with, and where they are located, according to Alvarez.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to grow,” Alvarez added.

“We don’t really grow through acquisition,” Alvarez said. Instead, it grows as medical practices approach them with an interest to join.

“We just kind of merge their practice in. If you bring a practice, you become a shareholder.

“In a perfect world, we build one large building, based on primary care. We have some some specialists that are based and fixed at that building, others that rotate through a couple of days, as necessary, to provide support. And then we have the ancillary services, diagnostic imaging, potentially pharmacy, things of that nature.”

Florida Medical Clinic’s model for growth seems to be effective, Alvarez said.

“It’s been, obviously, quite successful,” he said.

Published April 29, 2015

State loan could pave way for four-lane State Road 56

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The money isn’t in anyone’s bank account yet, but a state loan program might be the solution to fund the widening of State Road 56 to four lanes from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills, according to a press release from State Rep. Danny Burgess and State Sen. John Legg.

The lawmakers, in consultation with the Florida Department of Transportation staffers, including Secretary Jim Boxold, are looking to the State Infrastructure Bank as a potential source for a low-interest loan.

A low-interest loan from the state may be a way to create a four-lane extension of State Road 56, which now ends in Wesley Chapel over to Zephyrhills. (File Photo)
A low-interest loan from the state may be a way to create a four-lane extension of State Road 56, which now ends in Wesley Chapel over to Zephyrhills.
(File Photo)

The loan could be made to Pasco County for the cost of building additional traffic lanes.

The infrastructure bank provides loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects that qualify for aid under federal and state law.

To start the process moving, a letter of interest must be submitted by May 29 for the loan to be included in the bank’s 2016 cycle.

“This is a much needed project,” said Burgess. “It’s important for economic growth to our area, a benefit that affects all of Pasco and all of the region.”

County officials plan to meet with state officials on April 16 to get details on how the loan would work.

“We’re still in early stages of exploring this,” said David Goldstein, Pasco’s assistant county attorney.

To many, the four-lane extension is a decade-long unfulfilled promise.

“I’m afraid if we let this go by now, it will be another decade,” said Charles Proctor, president of the Zephyrhills City Council and a long-time Zephyrhills’ business owner.

Current plans are to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, as a two-lane road. Even for this two-lane project, money is an issue because land from adjacent landowners must be purchased for right-of-way.

If the state paid for four lanes, state highway officials said some other project on Pasco’s list likely would not get done.

The low-interest loan could be a way to avoid that scenario, but the effort to secure a loan faces hurdles including buy-in from the county and state, as well as from property owners and developers along the planned extension.

“This cannot get done unless the state, the county and the private sector come together for the benefit of our East Pasco county residents,” stated Legg in the press release.

The city of Zephyrhills is pressing its case.

As recently as mid-March, all five Zephyrhills’ council members, Mayor Gene Whitfield and City Manager Steve Spina headed to Tallahassee to lobby for four lanes as a priority for State Road 56.

This followed a February town hall meeting where area residents, elected officials and business owners met with Burgess, Legg and Goldstein to plead for construction of four lanes, not the current two lanes being planned. Legg raised the possibility of state funds being repaid with a loan but didn’t think the state had a mechanism for such a transaction.

Goldstein said he had some familiarity with the state bank, having explored its use for other county projects. He broached the subject at the meeting’s conclusion to Debbie Hunt, transportation development director for the Florida Department of Transportation. “She ran with it,” he said.

Since then the county has had ongoing discussions with developers and property owners whose land could bring thousands more homes as well as retail and industrial development to the area. Among the largest land tracts is the Two Rivers Ranch with about 3,500 acres. About half of the 6.7-mile extension would cut through the ranch.

“The county is not interested in putting a lot of money into this. It’s a state road,” Goldstein said. “There are a lot of other priorities. If there is a loan, we expect developers to pay it back. We might be a conduit.”

Before the Pasco commission can sign off on anything, Goldstein said there are a lot of details that must be worked out including how much money would be needed, terms of the loan and, most importantly, who would be responsible for the payback.

Spina applauded the new effort to find a solution.

“I think it’s pretty inventive of them to come up with an idea like this to find the money,” he said.

It makes more sense, Spina said, to do four lanes now and not wait five or more years when the project likely would be more costly.

Proctor envisions a major economic boost to the area’s commercial development if the four-lane road is built. He has heard from business owners who would like to locate in Zephyrhills and surrounding areas and from owners who would consider expanding operations, if there was an improved road for getting in and out of the city.

“I see nothing but positive,” Proctor said.

Published April 15, 2015

No 90-foot sign for new outlet center

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Tampa Premium Outlets’ developers can order an array of decorative signs for the retail complex under construction off State Road 56, but at least for now, a 90-foot pylon sign won’t be one of them.

The Pasco County Commission approved a signage plan that excludes the 90-foot pylon sign.

Simon Property Group opted not to seek a 90-foot pylon sign near Interstate 75 that would have advertised the Tampa Premium Outlets, under construction on State Road 56. (Courtesy of FRCH Design Worldwide)
Simon Property Group opted not to seek a 90-foot pylon sign near Interstate 75 that would have advertised the Tampa Premium Outlets, under construction on State Road 56.
(Courtesy of FRCH Design Worldwide)

The Simon Property Group, the outlet mall’s developer, initially requested the 90-foot sign as part of its signage plan, but dropped that portion of the request after the county’s development review panel raised objections.

Simon Property Group has the option to try again later, with a new application.

The sign had been planned for installation along Interstate 75. The county’s regulations would limit the sign’s height to no higher than 30 feet.

David Goldstein, Pasco’s assistant county attorney, also indicated the sign wouldn’t meet regulations of the Florida Department of Transportation and could affect Pasco’s share of highway funds.

Outlet mall officials had wanted the taller height to help motorists searching for the mall, as they zipped down the interstate.

As many as 80 percent of the outlet mall’s customers are expected to be coming from outside the area and will be unfamiliar with the local road system, they said.

While the tall sign was not part of the approved signage plans, the mall developer is enthusiastic about Tampa Premium Outlets.

“We’re excited,” said John Dionis, senior director of development for New Jersey-based Simon Property Group, who made only brief remarks before the commission’s April 8 vote.

“It’s been a great experience. We look forward to opening in October,” Dionis said.

The 441,000-square-foot retail complex is expected to have more than 100 shops on State Road 56, near I-75. To date, the only announced tenant is the anchor, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

Following the vote, Dionis said he was not authorized to make comments. He referred questions about the sign to Les Morris, director of company public relations.

Published April 15, 2015