The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco population expected to top 1 million by 2050

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The signs of Pasco County’s explosive growth are everywhere.

New residential communities and apartment complexes are springing up. Hospitals and schools are opening. Shopping and restaurant choices are increasing. Large companies are moving in, and small businesses are setting up shop.

Tampa Premium Outlets, which is at Cypress Creek Town Center, off State Road 56, is one of many new shopping attractions that have opened in recent years. The county has become home to a much broader variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment attractions than it had in the past, generating an increase in service-oriented jobs. That trend is expected to continue, according to experts working with Pasco County on long-range plans. (File)

The trend is expected to continue.

By 2050, Pasco is projected to have 1,018,000 residents and the county’s workforce is expected to more than double — increasing to 424,000.

Those are the figures shared at a Feb. 8 Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting by William Roll, who is a transportation planning expert for Kimley-Horn.

Kimley-Horn is the consultant hired by the Pasco MPO to prepare a socioeconomic forecast for the county’s Innovate Pasco 2050, the county’s long-range transportation plan that will guide future projects to address all types of transportation needs.

The Pasco MPO board, made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey, is responsible for addressing transportation needs and setting priorities across Pasco.

Innovate Pasco 2050 will consider all modes of transportation — which include motorized vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, walking, freight and goods movement, and air travel.

A new interchange was created at Overpass Road and Interstate 75, creating a new way to get on and off of I-75. It also has led to complaints regarding increased truck traffic in nearby residential areas.

Forecasting the county’s expected population and job growth are key elements in the planning process.

Roll said he’s confident the county’s population growth will reach expectations.

“If we’re a little overly optimistic we don’t have a 2050 plan — we have a 2053 plan, and that’s OK,” Roll said. “The same improvements need to be made. The same type of development is going to take place.”

But he added: “If we underestimate them, now we’re shooting low and that can be a real problem.”

Roll also noted that the figures will be updated in five years, when the county does its 2055 plan.

The consultant told the MPO board that Pasco is expected to have a “pretty dramatic change” in terms of its employment figures.

Angeline Academy of Innovation is just one of the schools that has opened in recent years. The school addresses the county’s growing population, as well as adding jobs to the economy.

In 2019, the county had a workforce of about 187,000; in 2050 it is projected to have 424,000, Roll said.

“If you drove any distance through the county, you could see why. This county has changed over the course of the last 10 to 15 years,” Roll said. “I have watched over the years that you have developed a threshold that you can support other employment activities.

“When we were doing this 20 years ago, we didn’t have a Wiregrass (Wiregrass Ranch and the surrounding development). We didn’t have that type of economic item. We didn’t have some of the facilities and resources that you now have.

“Now you have those things and that growth is going to continue to happen,” Roll said.

An expanding population has created the need for more health care services. BayCare Wesley Chapel is just one of the hospitals that has opened or expanded in recent years. More hospitals are on the way.

Much of the change can be attributed to a fundamental shift in the county’s demographics, he said. Pasco is trending much younger now than it was in the past.

Roll told officials to expect to see a bit more growth on the industrial side of development, than on commercial.

“That’s following just the general trend — more of us are ordering stuff online, as opposed to going to a brick-and-mortar store,” Roll explained.

However, he added, Pasco will have disproportionate commercial employment growth than other counties because it is adding activities it traditionally lacked.

“You can buy in Pasco County now, and not have to travel to another county,” the consultant said.

The most dramatic employment increase will come in the service sector, Roll said. That includes finance, insurance, real estate, professional services, education, medical and government workers.

It doesn’t take much investigation to find evidence of the creation of new jobs, which are available now and are on the horizon.

Construction crews continue kicking up dirt, chambers of commerce continue to host ribbon-cuttings and the county board keeps celebrating announcements of big companies moving to Pasco.

The Pasco MPO approved the figures provided by Roll to be incorporated into its long-range transportation plan.

There are many other steps that are necessary before the long-range transportation plan is adopted and begins to guide future projects aimed at improving safety and the movement of people and goods through Pasco County.

Published February 21, 2024

Will Pasco get enforcement cameras in school speed zones?

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Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey thinks the county should consider installing cameras to catch speeders in school speed zones.

She raised the issue during the Pasco County Commission’s Feb. 6 meeting.

She noted the state Legislature has authorized the use of cameras in school speed zones and Hillsborough County recently passed an ordinance to do just that.

She thinks Pasco should consider doing the same.

(Stock photo)

“I don’t want them all around the county, like they have them in New Port Richey and other places,” Starkey said.

But she told her board colleagues she’d like to have a discussion of whether the county should use enforcement cameras in its school speed zones.

“People frequently zoom in those areas,” she said. “They go fast.”

The cameras use the same kind of technology as is used at red lights, she said, but they go in school zones, instead.

“I think protecting kids, in school zones, is a good thing, personally,” Starkey said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley responded: “Yeah, we all agree on that.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano said he met with the same people as Starkey met with, including some who used to work in law enforcement.

“I did want to have them talk to the school board, and study the issue, and see what their thoughts are,” Mariano said.

Mariano wants more information about the extent of the problem before the county makes any decisions on the issue.

“I tell you, these red-light cameras in Port Richey and New Port Richey, they were supposed to get rid of them a few years ago, and they’re making too much money and they’re not going to make that move,” Mariano said.

On the other hand, Mariano added: “I do believe in safety, as well.”

He voiced concerns that if the revenue becomes too attractive, the county might become reluctant to pull the cameras, whether or not they’re effective.

Starkey responded: “I just know that it works to slow people down in school zones.

“I’d be happy if we never got  a penny from it, if it just worked to keep people from speeding.”

On another issue, Starkey thinks the county should consider banning the location of “vape shops” near schools.

Hillsborough County has passed an ordinance on this issue, too, she said.

“Maybe we can have staff look at that Hillsborough ordinance,” Starkey said.

Published February 14, 2024

Will a new tax help pay for Pasco’s parks and recreation?

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As Pasco County’s elected board considers next year’s budget, there is talk of a possible new tax that would pay to expand park and recreational opportunities.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey floated the idea of creating a Parks Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) during the board’s Jan. 18 strategic plan and budget workshop.

“I have always been an advocate for a Parks MSTU because we are so far behind,” Starkey said, reiterating a suggestion she has made before.

Providing more trails is part of Pasco County’s big-picture vision for enhancing the quality of life for its residents, and providing more connections between places. (File)

“An example of that is we have a new charter Little League in Starkey Ranch with no fields. They were warned there weren’t any fields, but District 12 went ahead and chartered them anyway. They’re supposed to be playing at Bexley, at the new Little League Complex that we don’t have the money to build yet in Bexley.

“We’re still way behind in sports fields for our youth. I also think that parks are important for people my age, too. Just nice outdoor places to go.

“We have the opportunity to have wonderful places. We don’t have the money to make them wonderful.,” Starkey said.

The county board member said she’s not suggesting the creation of a big-dollar MSTU, but noted establishing an MSTU would provide a reliable source of revenues for parks.

The county has impact fees to address additional parks and recreation needs caused by new growth, but those fees cannot be used to address a backlog of needs and cannot be bonded.

The Parks MSTU would enable the county to do more sooner, Starkey said.

Pasco is pursuing a new Residential Local Road Municipal Services Taxing Unit, which will provide a steady source of funding for residential road projects. It is expected to be listed on property tax bills that will be mailed in November.

The county board member also noted that the county was forced to use the money that was going to go for Magnolia Valley Park because another park project’s costs increased and the Magnolia Valley money was used for that.

“Now, we don’t have that money anymore,” Starkey said. “We had a great plan for Magnolia Valley.”

She also pointed to an opportunity for the county to establish a park in a part of Holiday that has never had a park, and it even has a boat launch.

“I think it’s really, really important for that community. And, again, we’re restricted,” Starkey said.

Commissioner Seth Weightman said he’d like to see an analysis of how much general fund millage would decrease, if all of the general fund money being used for parks was shifted to an MSTU.

Doing that, Weightman said, “would give parks pretty much a guaranteed revenue source, even in tough times.”

As the county discusses the potential of a new MSTU for parks, it also is in the midst of pursuing the creation of a Residential Local Road MSTU.

The county board directed county staff last year to prepare to add a new Residential Local Road MSTU to property owner tax bills.

That tax will replace the Paving Assessment (PVAS) system that the county has used for decades.

Pasco County is discussing the possibility of a new Parks Municipal Services Taxing Unit. That source of funding would help address a shortage of playing fields, parks and recreational facilities.

Under PVAS, the owners of the majority of property along a street had to agree to an improvement and then file an application with the county to pursue it.

If the county board approved the application, the homeowners would be assessed on their tax bills over time to pay for it.

All of the homeowners on the street would have to pay, whether they favored the project or not.

The system pitted neighbors against neighbors, and in some cases, property owners would tell the county board that they simply couldn’t afford to pay the assessments.

The new Residential Local Road MSTU will appear on tax bills and will provide a source of revenue for local road projects, maintenance, and in limited cases, sidewalk projects.

The boundaries of the Residential Local Road MSTU includes all unincorporated areas of Pasco County, except for parcels that currently — or in the future —  

are subject to, or within the boundaries of, an Active PVAS; and, parcels within a Homeowners’ Association or Community Development District that maintains its private roads.

The county board also has granted property owners who have paid or are paying their PVAS assessments a two-year reprieve from the new assessment. They said some sort of reprieve is only fair, but they don’t want to make the tax break too long because they don’t want to cripple the system.

County staff is proceeding with preparing the new system to be ready in time for the tax bills going out in November.

Meanwhile, a determination will be made regarding who is listed on the final tax roll for the MSTU, and the county board will decide what the millage rate should be.

Published February 07, 2024

Pasco Tax Collector’s support of animals wins national recognition

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Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano is a widely known local figure.

Of course, many residents recognize his name because he’s the man in charge of collecting taxes across the county. 

But he’s also widely known for using his offices to help generate support for a lengthy list of charitable causes.

Last week, his work to support animal welfare captured the spotlight when the Pasco County Commission adopted a resolution recognizing Fasano’s recent selection for the 2023 National Animal Care & Control Association’s Bill Lehman Memorial Award.

Mike Fasano poses here with his dog, Seaver. The golden is named after the former New York Mets’ baseball player, Tom Seaver. Fasano was recently honored by a national organization for his exceptional awareness and support intended to benefit animals. (Courtesy of Greg Giordano)

Mike Shumate, director of Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), told commissioners: “it was our pleasure to nominate Mike Fasano for this award from the National Animal Care & Control Association.”

The award is bestowed every year by the national organization to recognize “an outstanding individual not directly employed in the animal care and control field who has shown exceptional awareness and support of animal control and care related matters,” according to the resolution unanimously adopted by the Pasco County Commission during its Jan. 23 meeting.

Fasano was honored “for his hard work and compassion in animal welfare, both in the state of Florida and in Pasco County,” the resolution says.

It also goes on to provide background regarding Fasano’s lengthy history concerning safeguarding the welfare of animals.

The resolution notes that in 2012, when Fasano was a state senator, he drafted legislation seeking to create a statewide animal abuser registry. His Senate Bill 618, known as “Dexter’s Law,” failed, but it laid the groundwork for future passage of local animal abuser registries throughout the state, including one adopted in 2017 by the Pasco County Commission, the resolution says.

In 2018, Fasano endorsed a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution to ban dog racing in Florida, which was approved by 69% of the voters on Nov. 6, 2018, the resolution reports.

Beyond those achievements, Fasano “continues to be a strong supporter of animal welfare as the Pasco County tax collector.”

For instance, Fasano’s offices routinely highlight the PCAS’ Pet of the Week on their lobby televisions and share the PCAS shelter content on social media platforms, the resolution says.

Those efforts have resulted in adoptions and helped spread public awareness of shelter and animal welfare initiatives, the resolution adds.

Additionally, Fasano’s office has held fundraisers for Friends of Animal Services, with both fundraisers raising over $11,000 to support the nonprofit. The money was used to help in the purchase of medical equipment and established a medical fund to help citizens with one-time emergency medical care for their pets, according to the resolution.

In summary, the resolution notes: “Fasano exemplifies the spirit of Bill Lehman in his continual promotion and support of animal welfare organizations, his generosity in supporting nonprofit rescues and animal friend groups, and his influence in legislative efforts to improve state law and local ordinances to protect animals.”

Shumate told Fasano: “Mike, this award is for you, for all of the great things you’ve done for us. I think we feel pretty blessed to have you here in this county. You do a lot of great things for us.”

Fasano responded: “I’m going to share this with all of my staff, Greg Giordano, specifically, because Greg was with me in those legislative years.”

Besides being Fasano’s assistant tax collector, Giordano also was there for both the legislative successes, and the “almost successes,” Fasano said.

Commissioner Seth Weightman, whose office sponsored the resolution, noted Fasano’s many contributions to life in Pasco County.

Weightman praised Fasano’s work on behalf of animal welfare, but also thanked him for efforts during his time in the state Legislature, and as Pasco’s tax collector, which have helped to improve the overall quality of community life.

Weightman said that Fasano has elevated the tax collector’s office to deliver arguably “the best level in customer services in our county.” Plus, he has used the office “to capture much-needed funds and donations to support so many charities that otherwise wouldn’t have help. So, your footprint and passion and care for our county, and our state, are really unmatched,” Weightman said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey echoed those thoughts. She told Fasano: “Of course, you know, you’re very well-loved in this county, and we appreciate all that you do for all of the different nonprofits and our citizens in the county.”

Like his colleagues, Commissioner Jack Mariano expressed gratitude to Fasano, too.

“We greatly appreciate all of the service you do for this county — going above and beyond, helping our charities,” Mariano said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley put it this way: “In short, you may say that you touch every citizen in the county, in some way or another.”

Published January 31, 2024

Setting priorities for better ways to get around in Pasco

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It’s no secret to those living or working in Pasco County that serious attention is needed to make it easier to get from place to place.

Traffic congestion and traffic safety are two key concerns that the public has identified so far, in an online survey conducted by Kimley-Horn, the consultants working with the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (Pasco MPO) on the long-range transportation plan update.

Innovate Pasco 2050 will be the long-range transportation plan for Pasco County, guiding future projects to address all types of transportation needs. Tackling congestion has been identified as a top priority by the public so far, in the early stages of the planning effort. (File)

The plan has been christened Innovate Pasco 2050.

Jonathan Whitehurst, a consultant from Kimley-Horn, briefed the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s board at its Jan. 11 meeting, regarding what’s being done to prepare the plan.

The Pasco MPO board, made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey, is responsible for addressing transportation needs and setting priorities across Pasco.

In general, Innovate Pasco 2050 will identify current and anticipated transportation needs in the county for the next 20-plus years, Whitehurst said.

The plan is being updated at the same time the county is updating its long-range comprehensive plan.

Innovate Pasco 2050 will consider all modes of transportation — which include motorized vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, walking, freight and goods movement, and air travel.

Planning efforts will involve analyzing the county’s current transportation system and its projected growth to identify needs and set priorities.

The initial stakeholder interviews and community workshops were held on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.

“We’re getting really, really good participation through the online survey. To date, with the online survey, we have 930 participants,” Whitehurst told the Pasco MPO board. “That created a lot of work for the consultant team because that has already generated over 13,000 data points and over 1,400 written comments. So, that’s a lot of information for us to kind of go through and summarize. But we like that.”

Figuring out how much money is available to address Pasco County’s trail plans is likely to be a topic of discussion, as the county tackles its long-range needs.

The survey can be done in as few as 5 minutes, or, it can take longer, depending on the level of detail in the responses.

Based on the level of feedback so far, people seem to be putting in more time, Whitehurst said.

During his presentation, he asked the MPO board for some feedback.

He identified eight transportation themes and asked them to rank them in order of importance.

These are the themes they ranked: Improve Transit Service, Improve Transportation Connectivity, Increase Transportation Choices, Maintain Roadways, Promote Economic Growth, Reduce Congestion, Reduce Crash/Injuries and deaths and Shorten Vehicle Trips.

The top three themes identified in the boardroom were: Economic growth, congestion and connectivity. The bottom three were shortening vehicle trips, increasing transportation choices and improving transit service.

The public’s response was different, based on the 930 surveys.

The public identified congestion as the top issue, safety as the second highest and maintenance of existing facilities as number three, Whitehurst said.

The consultant also noted the survey has a map, where people can place pins on areas where they believe a transportation improvement is needed.

How will transit figure into the county’s long-range transportation plans?

That improvement can involve a roadway, a trail, transit or other type of transportation facility, Whitehurst said.

So far, the map has about 2,000 pins indicating needed improvements. That doesn’t correlate to 2,000 separate suggestions because many pins can be clustered at a single location, he explained.

Along those lines, though, Whitehurst asked the board: What is the first project you would construct, if funding wasn’t an issue?

Their responses included the Orange Belt Trail and the intersection of U.S. 41/State Road 54 .

“The Orange Belt Trail was certainly a topic that came up in those meetings that we had back in December,,” Whitehurst said.

Safety along U.S. 19 was another issue that came up, when focusing specifically on bicycle and pedestrian improvements, he added.

Another project that’s been identified involves the widening of U.S. 301, between Tampa and Zephyrhills, he said.

That potential widening offers a great example of why it’s important to work with neighborhood MPOs, because a portion of U.S. 301 is in Pasco’s MPO and another portion is in Hillsborough’s MPO, Whitehurst said.

Another comment that has frequently surfaced deals with a lack of east-west roads in the county, the consultant said.

The online survey also asks the public to assign budget priorities to different types of transportation projects. Of the 930 responses, the public clearly identified roadway capacity and roadway maintenance as top priorities, Whitehurst said.

As more planning efforts are being made to provide ways for people to get around better within their communities, bicycle safety is expected to gain more attention.

While the initial work has been informative, much work remains to be done, the consultant said.

In coming months, community members will have additional opportunities to participate in shaping the vision and direction of the long-range transportation plan. 

That input will be received both through in-person meetings and in digital activities conducted through the planning project’s website.

Innovate Pasco 2050 “really will be the road map that the county will use through the MPO to fund transportation projects through the year 2050,” Whitehurst said.

It will define what projects are needed to address the county’s transportation needs through the year 2050 and beyond.

Once those projects are defined, then a determination will be made regarding local and federal sources that are available.

A priority list will be created and a cost feasible plan will identify how much of that work is possible, based on funding sources.

Whitehurst said that Kimley-Horn will create a State of the System Report, which will review existing and projected conditions. That report will be done in late January or early February, he said.

A needs plan will be done, which will include all types of transportation projects the consultants believe the county needs to look at through the year 2050 and beyond. That is expected to be completed in mid-March.

The cost feasible plan is expected to be completed toward the end of April.

The report and executive summary are scheduled to be written by the end of June, but final adoption is not expected until later in the year, Whitehurst said.

Get involved
Do you have thoughts about Pasco County’s roads, trails, sidewalks and other forms of transportation? Get involved in the county’s long-range transportation planning by signing up for email alerts and taking an online survey at InnovatePasco.com.

Published January 24, 2024

Pasco has blazed a trail on combating human trafficking

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When the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking was created nearly a decade ago, it was forging into unchartered waters.

“We were the first commission established in the state of Florida,” Liana Dean, chairwoman of the commission said during the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 9 meeting.

“We have been looked to for guidance, not only in the region, but around the state,” she said.

“I feel like we’ve really made an impact over the past decade,” she added.

The Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking is made up of individuals in the following sectors who are working together to combat human trafficking.

There’s a member of the county board; two representatives from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office; a representative from Pasco County Schools; a community/victim services advocate; a representative from the tourism/hospitality industry; a medical and/or behavioral health professional; a faith-based community member; an anti-human trafficking community advocate; a member from the business sector; a survivor of human trafficking; a professor/researcher from a local institution of higher learning; and a member-at-large, from any of the identified sectors.

Working to raise awareness, to educate
Over the last decade the local commission has trained close to 15,000 people both here and across Florida, helping them understand how to identify the signs of human trafficking and what to do when they do.

The commission has put together public awareness campaigns, which have achieved an estimated 6 million impressions, Dean said.

Its in-person events have attracted thousands of people, Dean said. 

“We were the first county in the state of Florida to get human trafficking curricula into all of Pasco County schools. That was huge, before the state legislature mandated it. We got calls from all over the state of Florida: ‘How did you all do that?’

“So, I feel that the things we’ve been able to accomplish have really positioned us as a leader in the state of Florida, when it comes to addressing human trafficking and preventing it,” she said.

The commission also has worked with a group of teen students who have created three public service announcements aimed at combating human trafficking.

“That is messaging that the kids put together. They were so concerned about messaging they were receiving on social media, the things that they were bombarded with, the attempts to recruit them, the attempts to groom them – that they wanted to address it,” she said.

The public service announcements are expected to air on television in coming months.

“We’re also educating RV Parks in Pasco County. We touched every RV Park and have given them education and information about human trafficking,” Dean said.

“So, that was a big initiative that we did last year. We partnered with GoPasco to put information on all of the buses in Pasco County, not just for the general public but to reach potential victims, as well.

“We worked with law enforcement, all five law enforcement agencies to get information out. We partnered with Fire Rescue to launch the same campaign.”

The group’s survivor representative, Laura Henderson, also addressed the board.

She briefed them on the local commission’s plans for this year.

“We plan to train all 3,300 county staff on human trafficking and provide them with a wallet-size card that outlines indicators and red flags, as well as how to report.

“County staff also will be provided with materials on how to seek help that they can give to potential victims they may encounter,” she said.

It also will promote the public service announcement prepared by Teens Battle Human Trafficking, which will air on television and will stream on social media.

The commission and a partner will host an event aimed at engaging business in the battle to end human trafficking.

It also will partner with Pasco Fire Rescue to create awareness materials. And, it will create a mailer that can be sent out to Pasco households.

The local commission also is partnering with the University of South Florida’s Advocacy Lab to further regional anti-trafficking efforts, as well as taking steps to address labor trafficking.

Human trafficking is a significant problem
In addition to hearing from representatives of the human trafficking commission, the county board also adopted a resolution that provides perspective on the scope of the problem.

The resolution declared the month of January as national slavery and human trafficking prevention month, and Jan. 11 as national human trafficking awareness day in Pasco.

The resolution defines human trafficking as “a crime against a person whereby, through exploitation, an individual is compelled to work or engage in a commercial sex act through force, fraud, or coercion, thereby being stripped of their rights and humanity.”

The resolution adds that “traffickers typically use multiple means to control their victims, including beatings, rape, isolation, forced drug/alcohol dependency, withholding of documentation, and psychological and emotional abuse.”

The resolution cites statistics from the International Labor Organization that “conservatively estimates that there are over 49.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, and that this crime is second only to the illegal drug trade in terms of the speed of its growth and the profits that it generates, as human beings can be sold repeatedly.”

The resolution also notes that human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, with Florida consistently ranking third in the nation in both the number of calls made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline and the number of cases identified.

In Florida in 2021, there were 781 identified cases of trafficking involving 1,253 victims, with 151 being children, the resolution adds.

Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford, who worked in law enforcement, sponsored the resolution.

He said “the work the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking does toward educating not only individuals, but entire organizations, is hugely important.”

He added: “This month, I urge everyone on how to identify the signs of human trafficking and report potential illegal activity to local and state law enforcement.”

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles also offered her thoughts on the topic.

“This is something that my team sees every day, day in and day out,” she said.

She thanked the members on the commission on human trafficking for the work that they do.

“It is so critical and so important. 

“We’re going to help you put that word out, so we can help to put a stop to human trafficking,” the clerk said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added: “I want to thank you for all of the work you do, and the awareness you bring to human trafficking.

“I’m so proud of our county in being first in so many ways, on this topic.”

She also thanked Henderson, a survivor of human trafficking, for having the courage to step forward. 

The first-hand testimony resonates with listeners, Starkey said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, who sat on the human trafficking commission’s board for six years, thanked the members of that commission for its continuing work.

“A lot of people don’t know that you are nationally known for all of the good work you’ve done in the past, and you continue to do so,” Oakley said.

Common signs that may indicate human trafficking
Do they show signs of physical abuse, such as bruises in various stages of healing?
Are they able to speak with individuals alone?
Do they speak in a manner that appears to be scripted or rehearsed?
Do they appear to be monitored by another person?
re they disconnected from family, friends or community?
o they live in poor conditions?|
Can they freely leave where they live?
Do they lack personal possessions and identification documents?
If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the National Trafficking Hotline at 800-373-7888.

Published January 17, 2024

Planning board recommends denial of land use change in rural protection area

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended denial of a request that would remove acreage from a county rural neighborhood protection area, and would increase its potential density.

The application by Old Pasco Townhomes seeks to change the comprehensive land use designation from Res-3, which allows up to three dwellings per acre, to Res-6, which allows up to six.

The request also calls for removing the 18.36-acre site at the northeast corner of Old Pasco Road and Hadlock Drive, from a county rural neighborhood protection area.

The county’s planning staff recommended approval of the request, but the planning board rejected that recommendation.

The planning board based its call for denial on a Pasco County policy that states the county shall recognize rural neighborhood protection areas “as areas that include existing rural neighborhoods that deserve and require special protection from the intrusion of urban uses, densities and intensities.”

The policy also notes that impacts in such areas “shall be minimized through the use of the standards and options for stepping down development and densities and transition of land uses, e.g., gradual reduction of intensity in uses, as well as additional buffer and setback standards in order to minimize visual and noise impacts on adjacent rural, residential developments.”

This case is complicated
The site is in an area designated for rural protection, but it also sits in an area the county has designated as an urban services expansion area – meaning that it is in an area that is expected to become more urban.

During the meeting, Barbara Wilhite, an attorney representing the applicant, pointed to Grantham Ranch, an existing nearby single-family subdivision. She said the proposed townhome project would be built in an area that is expected to change.

Christie Barreiro, of Heidt Design, who also represented the applicant, told the planning board: “Old Pasco Road is going to be a four-lane road, 124 feet in width. A lot of that right of way has already been purchased by the county. The county also is running utilities up Old Pasco Road for projects along (State Road) 52.

“This area, as we were saying, is in the urban expansion area, and also is in the south market area, which is supposed to be a high-density, high-intensity area. It seems odd, but it’s because it’s a parallel reliever to Interstate 75.

“So, you have Old Pasco on the west and you have McKendree Road on the east, and those are supposed to relieve the congestion on (Interstate) 75.

“So, in that corridor, it was always planned to have more intense, more dense development,” Barreiro said.

Nearby residents, however, told the planning board that they purchased large lots in the area because of its rural nature. They said they thought they would be protected from urban encroachment because their homes are in a rural protection area.

As one neighbor put it: “I don’t want to look at townhomes out my backyard. I bought 5 acres in a rural area for a reason.

“It’s an expansion area to some people. To other people, it’s their life, their house, their yard where their grandkids play.

“I don’t want to see my home considered an expansion area,” she said. “Removal from a rural protection area kind of negates the word protection. It’s not protected, if it can easily be removed.”

Planning board vice chairman Jaime Girardi, who was sitting as chairman because of Charles Grey’s absence, said the area is changing.

“You’re 1 mile from Overpass (Road), where they just built a whole intersection and a whole interchange at I-75,” Girardi said. “You’re half a mile from the school (Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School), half a mile from Grantham Ranch.”

The Grantham Ranch subdivision is built on land designated for three homes per acre.

Planning board member Jon Moody voiced misgivings.

He told his colleagues: “I’m having a hard time deciding this case. We clearly have a conflict in the comp plan (county comprehensive land use plan), probably should have been cleaned up in 2010, when the urban service area — expansion area — whatever we’re calling it, was overlaid over a rural protection area.

“I’m not sure whether that was a right decision or a wrong decision. I see the controversial entitlements we’ve approved east of I-75, at this location.

“So, it makes sense to me that we might see development along the west side of the interstate,” he said.

“That being said, we’re being told by the applicant, well, it’s going to be a four-lane road 10 or more years from now, maybe. There’s no money for it. And there’s still people there that still live a rural lifestyle.

“And yes, we’ve got some intrusion into that lifestyle by subdivision, single-family detached homes, but we haven’t got attached product yet.

“That’s the conundrum I’m trying to figure out.”

‘Doesn’t seem to fit with character’
Moody noted that planning board chairman Grey has observed on more than one occasion that an area must “be ripe” for development.

In this case, Moody said, “I just don’t feel that it’s ripe for (the) attached townhome product, the Res-6 (six residential units per acre).

“If this were going to come in as detached, I can see if they were going to come in as E-R (estate residential) zoning, or R-2 zoning on half-acre lots or something, that’s a little more dense than what’s out there.

“Or even some use that might require some utility services — but not down to attached product.

“This doesn’t seem to fit with the character of the area. It may be in future character, but I just don’t feel like it is for today’s character,” Moody said.

Planning board member Peter Hanzel also had issues with the request. He said the site is in a rural area. Hanzel made a motion for denial, which was seconded by Moody.

Other planning board members agreed with Moody’s assessment that the type of development being requested doesn’t fit in with the area’s current development.

Planning board member Chris Poole put it this way: “I think this is before it’s time out here.”

Poole said there are obvious issues with the comprehensive plan, but, he added: “Protections of the folks that live a rural lifestyle means something. This particular growth is ahead of its time.”

Planning board member Derek Pontlitz said from a planning perspective, the request makes sense.

“Obviously, you want your densities closer to your major thoroughfares because that’s going to put less traffic on the local roads trying to get to the 75s and the arterial stuff,” he said.

“This density will make sense at some point. I think I tend to agree that it’s probably not ready yet,” Pontlitz said.

Planning board member Chris Williams told Wilhite: “Barbara, I understand your explanation of the service area expansion. What I’m still struggling with is, everything around there is future land use Res-3.

“So, all of sudden, we’re plunking down Res-6.”

Wilhite said Grantham Ranch is a single-family subdivision and that the proposed townhome project would be a low density for a townhome development.

Girardi said he has an issue with removing a piece from the middle of the rural protection area.

“To take it out of the middle and go all of the way to Res-6 at this time is, I think, a bit of a stretch at this time,” Girardi said.

Although the planning board recommended denial, they don’t have the final word.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over land use and zoning issues.

Published January 10, 2024

Pasco’s economy continues to grow, to diversify

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The Pasco Economic Development (Pasco EDC) Council’s Pasco 2023 annual report indicates the county’s economy is continuing to grow and diversify.

The county landed 13 new projects, attracted more than $188 million in investment and added 3,000 new jobs, according to the Pasco EDC’s report.

Speros FL Moffitt Cancer Center is the largest project in the mix, with work underway on the 775-acre campus in the emerging community of Angeline, in the heart of Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)

Advanced manufacturing projects led the pack in terms of new business coming to Pasco, followed by life science ventures.

Speros FL Moffitt Cancer Center is the largest project in the mix, with work underway on the 775-acre campus in the emerging community of Angeline, in the heart of Land O’ Lakes.

The project, near the Ridge Road exit of the Suncoast Expressway, is attracting interest from companies around the globe, the Pasco EDC report says.

Pasco landed the project through collaborative efforts of the Pasco EDC, Pasco County and the Florida Legislature, which put together an economic incentive package to entice the hospital to expand from its current Tampa location to add another site in Land O’ Lakes.

Pasco economic leaders and elected officials expect Moffitt’s development to have a generational impact on Pasco because of both the cancer center and development expected to spring up around it.

An excerpt from the agreement between Pasco County and Moffitt notes: “The county has concluded that providing economic incentives to Moffitt will serve as one of the most significant catalysts in the county’s history for future economic growth, by creating the potential for new employment opportunities in Pasco County, reducing reliance on regional commuting to work by citizens, significantly diversifying the tax base, and introducing smart growth and service technologies to the area.”

Another collaboration between Pasco EDC, the county, the city of Zephyrhills and the state of Florida led to Bauducco Foods’ decision to locate near the Zephyrhills Airport.

Bauducco has purchased 72.5 acres of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s Ready Site and expects to hire more than 600 employees within the coming decade.

The effort to attract the Brazilian-based company to North Tampa Bay was one that took several months and resulted in the company’s decision to invest about $200 million in the new facility. The plant will produce and distribute Bauducco’s baked items across the United States.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc., is proceeding on a plan to expand its work on a campus in Pasco County. The project is expected to generate 14,000 jobs over time, including positions for people who have not even been born yet. The campus also is expected to become a global magnet for life science and research companies. Pasco already is working on ways it can be ready to meet the workforce demand. (File)

Bauducco’s decision is just one example of the kind of success that can come when a site is ready for development.

Ready Sites Program attracts companies
The Pasco EDC’s Ready Sites’ program works with private landowners to assess, evaluate and certify large tracts of industrial lands. Currently, the county has six Ready Sites, totaling more than 2,300 acres, according to the 2023 annual report.

The program gives Pasco a competitive edge when vying with other locations for future projects because the company knows that the site is ready for them to proceed with their project. 

After sites are certified, the Pasco EDC markets them nationally at trade shows and conferences, as well as on the economic development organization’s website.

The county also supports speculative buildings to attract new business, through its Penny for Pasco tax revenues. There are currently six Penny for Pasco speculative buildings with 322,000 square feet of available space, according to the annual report. The spaces in these speculative buildings can be used for anything from Class A office space to Class A industrial flex space.

Overall, Pasco EDC aims to attract companies to the county, help entrepreneurs to thrive and help existing businesses to expand.

The Pasco’s EDC budget is supported through $526,750 in private contributions from 82 investors and by $954,000 in Penny for Pasco tax revenues.

The county’s identified target industries are advanced manufacturing, aerospace aviation and defense; business and professional services; high technology; life sciences and medical technology; and logistics and distribution.

Pasco EDC programs are designed to help businesses in whatever phase they’re in — whether just starting out, fine-turning operations, or in expansion mode.

Mary Katherine Mason, also known as Lanky Lassie, is in her downtown Dade City storefront. She began Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread as a cottage food business and developed it into a full-fledged business with guidance from the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC). Mason, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, launched her business after being furloughed from her design career in the hotel industry during the pandemic. (File)

SMARTstart turns 10
Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, focuses on the needs of entrepreneurs.

It offers help with workspace, funding, guidance, collaboration and education. Over the past decade, it has conducted 600 classes and workshops that have attracted more than 3,500 attendees.

SMARTstart provides business incubators in Dade City, Wesley Chapel and Holiday. They offer workspace, conference and meeting rooms, classes and workshops, and other amenities.

The business incubator in Dade City includes a commercial kitchen, which has helped to launch a number of small businesses, including Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, which has a storefront in Dade City.

The commercial kitchen in Dade City came about through a collaboration between Pasco EDC, Pasco County, the University of Florida/IFAS Pasco County Extension and private businesses that provided the commercial kitchen equipment to bring it to life.

The new West Pasco Entrepreneur Center in Holiday includes desks, a quiet pod for virtual meetings, a collaboration area and co-working spaces.  It also is located on the same campus as a 14,000-square-foot AmSkills workforce training center.

AmSkills’ training program plays a valuable role in helping manufacturers recruit, plan and sustain a skilled workforce. It provides workforce training and apprenticeships for youth, adults, veterans, the uniquely abled, and economically disadvantaged.”

It provides training in areas such as machinery, mechatronics, robotics, supply chain logistics, and industry 4.0.

Besides training residents from Pasco County, the new workforce center is expected to attract people from all over the country for Amatrol Technical Training and Universal Robotics equipment training.

WorkFORCE Connect is another Pasco EDC program that has helped to attract companies to Pasco and has helped existing companies be successful.

It aims to bring together employers, training providers and assistance programs to help local firms create a pipeline to provide employees to meet future needs.

Another program of note involves Pasco EDC’s international efforts to attract new business opportunities.

During 2023, Pasco EDC participated in trade missions to the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic and Panama, and Pasco companies reported they expected to do more than $40 million in expected export sales, the annual report says.

Published January 03, 2024

Land O’ Lakes, Lutz celebrate tradition, change in 2023

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Being neighboring towns and communities, Land O’ Lakes and Lutz will forever be intertwined in events, interactions, sports, outreach and more. 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 Land O’ Lakes and Lutz in 2023.

Lutz business owners, couple share kidney
Aaron and Andrea Barnes have shared the bond of love, being married for 20 years. However, the Wesley Chapel couple became closer than ever in February, as Andrea donated a kidney to Aaron, who has been dealing with chronic kidney failure (CKF) for decades. It extended and bettered his life, one filled with dialysis sessions three times a week and a year of health deterioration that has taken its toll on the family of five.
As co-owners of Tru U Fitness Studio in Lutz, the couple are hoping the major surgery will improve their lives, which has been filled with many life-and-death scares and medical procedures.
“No, not anymore am I scared,” Aaron told The Laker/Lutz News in January, referring to the impending procedure at the time. “After being in critical condition four times and almost dying four times, I’m not scared anymore.
“At this point, I can’t be scared anymore because this is what I need not to die.” (Mike Camunas)
Angeline Academy of Innovation opens in Land O’ Lakes
New schools, it seems, are being announced, and opening, nearly every school year in Pasco County, and in 2023, it was no different.
On the first day of school on Aug. 10, the doors of Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land O’ Lakes were opened, marking Pasco County’s newest school. The $52.7-million, 6-12 magnet school, run by Principal JoAnne Glenn, will focus on technology courses and will also feature athletic teams.
“Literally, since November, I have been completely engrossed with the nitty gritty,” Glenn, who helped open Wharton High in 1997 and Pasco’s eSchool in 2009, told The Laker/Lutz News in August. “It was a lot of fun to look through it all, go over everything, from the equipment, to the teachers we wanted to hire.
“Kids here are going to be solving the world’s problems, I really believe that,” she added. “I’m excited that my teachers, in this setting, will be able to use their time and expertise a little differently than in a traditional setting.”
Additionally, the “town” of Angeline is well underway, with more homes being added to the budding neighborhoods that already have residents in homes. Also, in January 2023, Moffitt and Pasco County officials held the groundbreaking that symbolized the beginning of construction of the complex, including a 100,000-square-foot clinic and a research center sprawling 250,000 square feet, which is slated to open in 2025. (Mike Camunas)
Community rallies around Ukulele Brand’s, local restaurant damaged, closed due to accident
Ukulele Brand’s, the longstanding, lakeside restaurant and bar at 4805 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., reopened on April 18, after a nearly three-month closure.
The restaurant, which has been serving loyal patrons for 25 years, welcomed back crowds and live music while returning to full service and its regular hours.
The popular dining spot sustained extensive damages on the night of Jan. 25, when an SUV and food truck plowed into an exterior wall, leaving a large hole, knocking into kitchen equipment and essentially forcing the business to shut down.
The incident required the restaurant to turn off the power, which resulted in food spoiling. It also needed to shutter its doors, while repairs were made.
“How no one died — I don’t know. No clue,” Ukuleke’s manager Jennifer Fischer told The Laker/Lutz News in February. “Our dishwasher flew 10 to 15 feet into my kitchen area, where there were staff members — it was horrible. When I watched the video, my heart was in my throat, and I don’t know how it wasn’t worse.”
During the closure, the community demonstrated an outpouring of support during a Feb. 18 support-the-staff fundraiser organized by local businesses and the Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes.
The more than $20,000 raised went to help the temporarily unemployed 42 employees of Ukulele Brand’s. (Mike Camunas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PopStroke Tampa opens in Lutz/Wesley Chapel corridor
Coming with high anticipation and much fanfare, PopStroke Tampa, a new 36-hole, state-of-the-art, putt-putt experience with its courses designed by Tiger Woods, opened on Feb. 17, bringing with it hundreds of locals ready to try the new attraction.
The golfing venue, at 25297 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz, features an outdoor dining area with a full menu and craft beer, wine and signature cocktails. It also has an ice cream parlor, outdoor game area and a playground.
PopStroke’s two courses — Tiger Black and Tiger Red — were designed by TGR Design, a golf course design company owned by golf legend Tiger Woods.
“It’s been a long journey to getting here in Pasco County,” PopStroke founder and co-owner Greg Bartoli said at the grand opening. “We first discovered this site (near the intersection of State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard) about three years ago, and we have been welcomed with open arms from the Pasco community.
“I spend a lot of time in Tampa, as my kids play youth sports here all the time,” he added. “So, I know the facilities and communities here are second to none, and that’s what put this place on the market for a PopStroke.” (Mike Camunas)
New lanes on U.S. 41 open
After more than two years of reconstruction, U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes has more, much-needed lanes.
In early October, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) removed barrels and opened its new lanes on U.S. 41, or Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, beginning at Connerton Boulevard and heading north to State Road 52.
Now, U.S. 41 is a four-lane divided highway from Ehren Cutoff and ending at State Road 52.
The $16.9-million project began March 12, 2021 and added nearly three miles of new lanes past northern Land O’ Lakes subdivisions such as Tierra Del Sol and Asbel, and AdventHealth Connerton. The project also included drainage improvements and roadway signage and markings.
The new four-lane U.S. 41 will come in handy, as the county and FDOT readies to extend the Ridge Road Extension even further, bringing it from Sunlake Boulevard to U.S. 41 and Connerton Boulevard.
That project, which is Phase 2 of the Ridge Road extension, is slated for completion in late 2025.
As for State Road 52, the widening to a six-lane divided highway from the Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41 and approximately one-mile total of widening on U.S. 41 approaching the State Road 52 intersection in each direction is still underway. According to the FDOT website, completion on that $49.9-million project is tentatively set for early 2024. (Mike Camunas)
Local Lutz Boy Scout Troop turns 90
Boy Scout Troop 12 celebrated its 90th anniversary of camping, pine car racing, merit badge collecting, as well as community service projects and turning boys into men and men into leaders. According to former Scoutmaster and Troop Historian Paul Evans, the troop has had an uninterrupted charter since it was formed in 1933 and has produced dozens of Eagle Scouts, including the first: Ralph Combs in 1939.
“You can’t look around Lutz without seeing (an Eagle Scout project), and, of course, we always look at places close to us (for projects), from the K-8 School to the Old School House,” Troop 12 Scoutmaster Doug Tibbett told The Laker/Lutz News in September. “Those projects, they’re great, because they’re a part of Lutz and always will be.” (Mike Camunas)

Pasco firefighters ink a three-year deal with the county

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a new three-year contract with Pasco County Fire Rescue that makes the county’s pay more competitive and emphasizes firefighters’ well-being.

The contract calls for improving pay and adding services intended to support the mental health needs of emergency responders.

The pact, approved by the county board on Dec. 5, also calls for adding another shift that will result in shorter work hours, providing a better work-life balance for personnel.

J.J. Murphy told county board members: “One year ago, I was hired as your assistant county administrator for public safety. Little did I know what stood in front of me.

Pasco County and its firefighters’ union have agreed to a three-year contract that both sides believe will help entice firefighters to join their ranks, rather than leaving to work at higher-paying departments nearby. The contract includes more mental health support and, in 2026, a reduced work week schedule. (File)

“With Mike’s (County Administrator Mike Carballa) unwavering support, we tackled significant morale issues, a two-year mass exodus of fire personnel, recruiting challenges, internal fiscal challenges and a leadership change.”

At the meeting, Murphy stood in a unified front with the key parties in the contract: Barbara Hitzemann, the county’s human resources director and chief negotiator; Ryan Guynn, assistant fire chief; and Jon-Michael Morin, president of the IAFF Local 4420, which represents Pasco’s professional firefighters.

Murphy covered some of the contract’s substantive points.

During the first two years, it will bring salaries in line with the market area, he said.

“The third year brings in the transformational move to a D Shift,” Murphy added. “The contract and the D shift will allow us to address many items, including recruiting and retention; employee health and wellness; positive management initiatives; three-year cost certainty for the county and the employees.

“This collaborative effort led to a favorable vote of over 80% of the union members.”

Guynn, the assistant fire chief added: “As you’re well aware, the explosive growth that we’ve had over the last few years, actually within the last decade in Pasco County, has increased our work stress environment with our men and women in Pasco County Fire Rescue.

“Since 2020, if we continue at a pace like we are, as of this morning, we’re looking to close to a 30% increase in call volume, just since the last three years.

“That’s really put a toll on our men and women,” he said.

Keeping firefighters in Pasco
Retaining emergency responders has been an issue, Guynn said.

“We’re working 24 hours nonstop, not to mention that we’re working overtime more and more and more. We’re having difficulties keeping people in the seats. That has really elevated our issues within Fire Rescue,” he said.

Mental health is a major focus of the new deal.

A study done by a doctoral candidate involved fire rescue and corrections personnel.

“Out of all of those employees that he studied, 44.5% have either sought or considered treatment for depression; 40% have either sought or considered treatment for anxiety; 37.7 % have sought or considered treatment for PTSD; more than that, almost a full percent of them have sought or considered treatment for suicide.

“Some of the contributing factors to that, of course, are the long work hours, the sleep deprivation, the mandatory overtime, the high-stress work environment.

“We don’t need to re-address what kinds of calls the men and women are running every day – some of the most horrific things that we could see, especially over a 30-year career,” Guynn said.

Lightening the load
In fiscal year 2026, an additional shift will be added, reducing the hours worked from 2,704 to 2,184, the assistant fire chief said.

That transition will result in reducing the work week from 56 hours a week to 42 hours a week, he said.

“We’re hoping that balance is going to allow us to level out the stress,” he added.

The county also is aiming to reduce its overtime expenses.

“Of course, the other issue is employee retention,” Guynn said.

“We’ve been kind of the training ground for other departments around us.

“We’ve spent millions and millions of dollars training, educating, equipping and mentoring employees, just to turn around and watch them leave. 

“We’ve hired a lot of people over these past couple of years, but we’ve almost lost just as many as we hired.

“We’re looking to reset that, and that’s what this contract is going to do,” he said.

The fire union’s president said this contract puts Pasco into a different posture.

He said it will “make Pasco County Fire Rescue an employment destination in years to come.”

Commissioners Gary Bradford and Jack Mariano congratulated the negotiating teams for coming up with a contract that received an 80% vote of approval.

“That’s just unheard of,” Bradford said.

Mariano added: “Thanks for working together. We told you from the get-go that we heard your problems. It took time to get to where we’re at right now. As far as getting the fire stations built, listening to what we could do for scheduling, looking at what we could do to make it a better life for all of your people, helping them get themselves the protection they want, the help they need.”

The county’s extreme growth and the emergence of COVID slowed progress, but Mariano said new leadership made it happen.

“Similar things have been talked about before, how we could make this work better, but you guys brought it to fruition. You listened. You made it happen,” Mariano said.

Murphy responded: “For years, governments have asked public safety employees to do more with less. By your actions, we’ll be able to do more, with more — and that’s the definition of a premier county.”

Published December 20, 2023