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Pasco Board wants better design

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Pasco County Commissioners are eyeing the future and they want to make sure that the county’s burgeoning growth today doesn’t create a multitude of problems later.

County board members are pushing for tighter controls in residential development.

It’s not a new discussion, but two new members recently joined the board and they appear to be keenly interested in these issues.

During commissioner comments at the board’s Jan. 10 meeting, all five commissioners shared thoughts of how the county should proceed, as new residential zoning requests roll in.

Key desires board members expressed include:

  • Eliminating 40-foot-wide and 50-foot-wide lots in new residential developments
  • Requiring stronger development standards for Built-to-Rent housing communities
  • Improving connectivity between neighborhoods
  • Proving greater certainty about the county’s regulations and expectations
  • Providing more visible public notice posting master-planned unit developments (MPUD) requests

Chairman Jack Mariano and Vice Chairman Ron Oakley don’t want to approve 40-foot-wide and 50-foot-wide lots in new residential developments.

They want yards to be large enough for kids to play and driveways to be long enough, to keep sidewalks clear.

The Pasco County Commission has signaled that it wants to ensure that the county takes the long view, when it considers current requests for residential rezonings. (Mike Camunas)

Recently elected Commissioner Seth Weightman said the Build-to-Rent single-family housing communities should follow the same development regulations as new owner-occupied single-family subdivisions.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey wants greater connectivity between neighborhoods.

More connections will provide more options, helping to alleviate congestion on major roads, she said.

She also wants more trails, to provide safe ways for people to get from place to place and to offer more recreational options.

Commissioner Gary Bradford wants the county to provide certainty to developers and residents about the county’s regulations and expectations.

Mariano is calling for larger, double-sided signs to alert the public to new MPUD requests. He also wants them to be posted in highly visible places.

The board chairman also wants county staff to hold applicants accountable, as they make their way through the county’s process.

“If you don’t have the paperwork (from the applicants) the way it’s supposed to be done, you put the brakes on until it’s done the way it’s supposed to be done. If it’s not done the right way, then it’s got to wait until it is done the right way, then it can proceed,” Mariano said.

The board’s discussion came during the board member comments’ portion of the meeting.

Weightman raised the issue involving standards for Build-to-Rent communities and Bradford asked what design standards are currently being used by county staff.

Nectarios Pittos, director of planning and development for the county, recapped the history of  residential standards being applied to MPUDs.

“Last year, the board of county commissioners worked with the development community to craft a memo, a policy memo, that would direct staff to include conditions of approval within a master plan unit development zoning district that would regulate the appearance, or at least establish architectural monotony controls for single-family detached houses.

“This was particularly related to a case involving 40-foot-wide lots and also 50-foot-wide lots.

“Since March or April of last year, we’ve been implementing those conditions of approval in the MPUDs.

“Then, there was a discussion with the Aug. 24 board of county commissioners’ meeting, which I think was the first time the Built-to-Rent question rose from the (county board’s) dais. And, so, a similar draft memo has been worked on since then,” he said.

The memo:

  • Creates a definition of what constitutes Built-to-Rent
  • Establishes similar architectural and monotony controls for that Built-to-Rent product. These standards include how these communities should be designed, what kind of landscaping is needed, parking standards and so on.

Pittos said that memo has been circulating with stakeholders since November.

“In various conversations we’ve had with developers, the question has been raised about the appearance of the Built-to-Rents and the general concerns, as Commissioner Starkey has noted — the tensions between parking and landscaping and these product types.

“And so, they have acquiesced to certain types of demands and/or cautionary statements from the planning and development department to change their products a little bit to make sure that what they build is not going to be monotonous or what they build is going to include a healthy amount of landscaping.

“However, there isn’t a clean directive to do that,” Pittos said.

Bradford said the sooner the county can get to a place of certainty, the better.

“The sooner we get this done, the better it’s going to be for our county. I think we really need to make this a priority,” Bradford said.

County Administrator Mike Carballa said county staff can work on that memo, with an aim of coming back to the board for further discussion at its first meeting in February.

It’s unclear, however, how soon the board will be pursuing changes, if any, to minimum lot sizes, length of driveways and other issues that were discussed.

It appears certain, however, that the board wants greater control over the appearance and livability of future residential developments.

“With two new commissioners, it’s time to say: OK, what do we want to see, for the long run?” Mariano said.

Published January 18, 2023

Giving a piece to keep a family whole

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Aaron Barnes really doesn’t want this kidney.

But he does need it.

“I just didn’t want it this way,” Barnes said. “I didn’t want it from her because what scares me the most is both parents going under the table, and if the kids lose both of us, boy, that brings tears to my eyes right now, and that’s why I didn’t want it to be her.

“If something happens to me, fine, they have another parent, but something happens to both of us … wow … and that’s why I wanted the kidney to come from someone else.”

Barnes, a 50-year-old Wesley Chapel resident, has been dealing with chronic kidney failure (CKF) for decades. Only in 2022 did it deteriorate his health so rapidly that while he was planning to get a kidney transplant, the need for the procedure was expedited.

Wesley Chapel resident Aaron Barnes is hugged by his wife of 20 years, Andrea, at Tru U Fitness in Lutz, where she is the co-owner. Aaron has been suffering from kidney failure for decades and as his health rapidly declined in 2022, it was time for a kidney transplant. It hasn’t been an easy process, including dozens of tests, lots of unsuccessful waiting, a monthlong hospital stay and even dialysis three times a week. However, Aaron finally found a donor: Andrea. (Mike Camunas)

He is on the national transplant list, but it’s a waiting game to be awarded a kidney or for someone to donate a kidney directly to him.

That is, until he found the perfect donor.

His wife of 20 years, Andrea.

In sickness and in health
Andrea is scared.

“Oh yeah, very scared., I’ve never had major surgery — well, c-sections — but never had an organ taken out,” the mother of three said. “We’re constantly trying to figure something out, but we’ll get through it. We’ve done it together and we’ll continue to do it together, quite literally.”

Sometime in February, Andrea will give her husband one of her kidneys. It will extend and better 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.

The couple will travel to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and be there more than a month. Each will have a procedure, with Andrea undergoing a nephrectomy, or removing of the kidney. Aaron, on the other side, will receive the kidney, which will be placed in his lower abdomen, near his hip and the renal artery.

Aaron’s doctor also decided to remove his left kidney, as it was found to have a hematoma and is not functioning properly enough, even with dialysis.

It’s a process that has taken well over a year to get to, and it all started with a sharp decline in Aaron’s health in late 2021.

“I’m just 1 out of 39 million with CKD (chronic kidney disease),” Aaron said. “As a guy, they don’t tell you everything you go through, with kidney failure or a transplant. It just happens and you start going through all this and it takes everything from you: job, energy, your drive — it’s bad, but I always try to look at the positives and that it could be worse.”

It hasn’t been easy on Aaron and his family.

For years, Aaron had been dealing with CKD through kidney-sensitive diets and other healthy ways of living. However, once his glomerular filtration rate (or GFR, the way to test how well kidneys are working) fell below 20, that’s when dialysis began and it required an immediate life change.

Each session zaps Aaron of any energy and he’s done for the day less than a half hour afterwards. He couldn’t work. He couldn’t help around the house. He couldn’t do things with his kids.

That’s when the depression set in.

Lowest of lows
It hit Aaron hard.

Yes, dialysis took its toll on him, but not as much as the depression. And while going through this health crisis and major change in life would bring anyone down, the dialysis did cause a lot of it.

Aaron Barnes, 50, spent September of 2022 in AdventHealth in Wesley Chapel due to extreme kidney failure. His weight dropped to 139 pounds. During his hospitalization, he had surgery to place a hemodialysis port in his chest to aid with his dialysis sessions, which he receives three times a week. (Courtesy of Andrea Barnes)

He would be in a fog, which can occur to patients who receive dialysis and then feel depressed.

“When this happened to me, I finally experienced depression for the first time and it was way worse than the health crisis I am experiencing,” Aaron said. “(The depression) scared me more than anything else.

“When you’re that depressed, when you’re emotionless, you get to that point where you’re that down, you’re that depressed and no one can help you, not even your family — that scared the hell out of me, man.”

“I didn’t consider myself to be suicidal, but the lack of caring, the lack of desire to eat or get out of it, I might as well have been.”

For most of 2022, it was just dialysis and depression. Eventually, it was time to tell the kids: A.T., 15; A’saph, 13; and Azalea Barnes, 9.

“We kept them in the dark a little bit, but then it got really bad, and I had to have that hard conversation with them,” Aaron said. “I am OK with my fate, but then what it does to the whole household can be miserable. It impacts the whole family, and that’s what bothers me the most.”

“It did bring us closer together, a little,” Andrea added. “He was in a lot of pain, so the boys would come in and rub his head or we would all sleep together in the same bed when he first started dialysis at home.

“And it’s a lot, and they’re also trying to live regular lives, as teenagers, and they come home to our house and chaos!”

The chaos would get more chaotic. When Aaron’s GFR got too low (3), he was admitted to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, staying there over a month.

His weight loss was dramatic, dropping to 139 pounds. Doctors opted to place a hemodialysis port in his chest to aid with his dialysis sessions. He had a low platelet count for four days after surgery, leaving him at extreme risk.

“It took me a long time to get out of depression,” Aaron said. “And getting critically ill, it helped in that, on this journey, it’s a fight. You have to fight, so I did.”

“And it’s a fight,” Andrea added, “that never ends.”

Connected together
As Aaron, Andrea and their children move forward, it will, again, be another life-altering change for the family.

As long as the surgeries are successful, both Aaron and Andrea will recover, but in very different ways. Andrea will need up to a week to recover, however, it will take some time to get back to her job as co-owner of Tru U Fitness Studio in Lutz.

Aaron and Andrea Barnes with their three kids: A.T., A’saph and Azalea. (Courtesy of Andrea Barnes)

“And I have to be his caregiver,” said Andrea, who went through the six-month process to get approved as a match to donate to Aaron. “Then we need someone to stay with the kids for about a month — it’s a lot.”

Aaron’s recovery will be more extensive, including starting an intense daily regimen of anti-rejection medication.

“Transplant is not a real solution — it’s a work-around,” Andrea said. “So it’s partly a solution, then it’s still work, it still changes everything and you adapt.”

The alternative is staying on dialysis, which isn’t a solution either. Dialysis raises a patient’s blood pressure to extreme levels. In fact, Aaron’s high blood pressure was delaying the surgery, as it needed to come down. So, Andrea would shoulder the burden of two parents.

Andrea wouldn’t necessarily tell Aaron everything happening with their teenagers, to keep Aaron from stressing out.

Soon, Aaron and Andrea will be closer than ever. Because an actual piece of his wife will help him live.

“No, not anymore am I scared,” Aaron said of the impending procedure. “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.”

Becoming a Living Kidney Donor
While a kidney donation can come from someone who is on the organ donor list — someone who passes and has been allowed to be harvested to aid others — there is the option to become a living kidney donor. However, this is a lengthy process that involves several aspects.

For starters, it takes about six months from start to finish, with numerous tests to determine if one is healthy enough to donate — meaning a donor must be free of uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis or acute infections. Then there will be psychiatric tests to determine mental stability, plus one has to be a nonsmoker and can’t be pregnant.

As living donors, they can make a directed donation to a specific person — family member, friend, acquaintance, etc. — or a non-directed donation to an anonymous patient on the waiting list.

Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list — and 82% of patients waiting are in need of a kidney. On average, a living donor kidney can function anywhere between 12 years to 20 years, and a deceased donor kidney can improve quality of life for 8 years to 12 years.

Additionally, the average wait time for an organ from the deceased donor list is 3 years to 5 years, while getting a living donation, a patient may be able to receive a transplant in a year or less.

For more information about becoming a living kidney donor, visit Kidney.org/transplantation.

Published January 11, 2023

New ‘Angeline’ school to offer unique options for Pasco students

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Angeline Academy of Innovation is set to open in the fall, ushering in new education choices for middle and high school students in Pasco County Schools.

The magnet STEM program is scheduled to open in August 2023. Initially, it will serve grades six through 10, but the school will add grades 11 and 12 in coming years.

JoAnne Glenn, the school’s inaugural principal, provided details about the school in a video carried on Pasco County Schools’ YouTube channel.

She explained the school’s philosophy and mission, while also providing some nuts-and-bolts details about what to expect.

JoAnne Glenn is the first principal of Angeline Academy of Innovation, a new magnet school slated to open in August 2023. (File)

“Angeline Academy of Innovation represents our district’s realization of our theory of action,” Glenn said in the video. “The theory of action says that if we move as a system to create an environment where our students and our schools have the support that they need, then we can expect to see the best outcomes for our students.

“Angeline Academy represents a new approach to realizing this theory of action, and we’re excited to change and test some of the new ways that we can deliver education,” she continued.

The school’s planning will be intentional, to make its “learning experiences exciting and engaging, and connected to the real world to prepare our students for their lives after high school,” Glenn said.

“Our key levers to support this work include rigorous instruction; a compassionate school environment that ensures that our students feel cared for and supported; equitable instructional practices, meaning we believe in having an open door; and, allowing students to feel supported in taking academic risks and trying new things,” she said.

“These three levers are actually the foundation that we believe are essential to ensuring that our students leave our system prepared for college, career and life,” she added.

Beyond talking about the philosophical underpinnings of the new campus for middle and high school students, which is at 8916 Angeline School Way, Glenn showed renderings of what the new building will look like.

The floor plan includes workspaces for each of the school’s career academies, as well as collaboration spaces for students and teachers.

The high school will feature four primary career academies and will offer opportunities for students to merge some fields to create a more personalized track, Glenn said.

It will have a Biodesign Academy; a Computer Science and Applied Cybersecurity Academy; an Engineering and Applied Robotics Academy; and, an Entrepreneurship Academy, which will be woven through the other pathways to enable students to leave to become their own bosses and open their own businesses.

At the middle school, there will be two primary magnet pathways that are broad and intended to support the work in each of the high school pathways, Glenn said.

“From ninth through 12th grade is a highlighted progression of coursework that emphasizes engineering. These are the courses that define the engineering path, and an exciting thing about these courses is that each one of them offers the opportunity for students to earn an industry certification and/or college credit, as they go,” Glenn added.

“In our Biodesign Pathway, we will begin with emphasis on biomedical applications. That is growing, in part, because of the partnership that will be forged with the Moffitt Cancer complex that will be across the street. We’re excited about the opportunities for our students to be able to do internships, externships there, as that complex develops, and the opportunities for them to be able to work directly with practicing experts, scientists and doctors, and learn about some of the ways that Moffitt is tackling the challenge of cancer.

“Our high school Cybersecurity Pathway, you can see, is a pretty solid course of study here, and represents not just cybersecurity, but a strong grounding in computer science, as well. 

This is a rendering of what Angeline Academy of Innovation will look like. The new magnet school, being built in Central Pasco, is expected to provide a wide array of new opportunities for students. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“So, you’ll see that there are many courses tailored to students building their cybersecurity knowledge, as well as their computer science or programming skills, along the way.

“Additionally, we have an Applied Robotics Pathway, which includes a significant number of courses that are shared with the engineering and/or cybersecurity track, and so, our students will have a sequence of robotics courses and the opportunity to plug in courses in either the Engineering or Cybersecurity tracks, depending on where their interests lie and what future course of study or work they would like to pursue,” she said.

“As a district, we’ve made a decision to brand our elementary STEAM schools, with that label, emphasizing arts.

“As a secondary administrator, I believe the arts actually power innovation in our secondary STEM programs. Angeline will have solid arts offerings. However, as a magnet school, one of the things that we try to do is bring something new, or innovative or unique that helps distinguish our programs from other schools. So, you’ll see the emphasis on more technology-grounded experience in our visual arts and music offerings.

She also said that the actual high school course offerings may vary from the presentation.

“In high school, our courses are driven by what students sign up for and what they are interested in,” Glenn explained.

Initially, no sports program had been planned for Angeline, Glenn said. However, she said, the community made it clear it felt that students would be best served if the district included athletics.

Angeline’s site isn’t large enough to accommodate an athletics program, but the district plans to partner with some other organizations and to provide a shuttle service from the school property to a piece of land the district owns at U.S. 41 and Tierra del Sol. There are plans for an athletic facility there.

At this point, Angeline is expected to have these athletic offerings: boys and girls cross country, boys and girls swimming and diving, boys and girls golf, girls volley, boys and girls wrestling, competitive cheer, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls weightlifting, boys and girls track and field, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls tennis, and boys weightlifting, according to Pasco County Schools’ information page about Angeline.

There are no plans for football and sideline cheer, baseball or softball.

The school selection process for middle school students will be based on a lottery system. High school students will need to meet some entry requirements, established for magnet and innovative programs, Glenn said.

Those who are interested in attending Angeline can make their interest known during the School Choice window, which opens on Jan. 9 at 8 a.m. and runs through Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m.

Glenn noted: “It is possible through the School Choice Portal in My School to select three options. Families may choose all three options to be different academic programs at Angeline.

“For example, one could submit a first choice request for Cybersecurity, a second choice request for Engineering and Applied Robotics and a third choice request for the BioDesign Academy.

“So that would be something to know, so you don’t feel like you can only select one option at Angeline,” Glenn said.

The notification and acceptance window is from Feb. 27 to March 8.

To learn more about Pasco Pathways and school choice, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us and click on the Pasco Pathways tab.

School Choice opening soon
What: Pasco County Schools’ school choice application window for all school choice options will be open from Jan.  9 at 8 a.m. through Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Applications will be accepted for all choice programs: STEM and STEAM magnet schools, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, Angeline Academy of Innovation, International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Cambridge Programme.
Applications for the Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice application are available via the school district’s myStudent parent portal.
The notification and acceptance window is from Feb. 27 to March 8.
To learn more about Pasco Pathways and school choice, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us and click on the Pasco Pathways tab.

Published January 04, 2023

First family moves into new ‘Village’

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Danielle Thornton and her kids will be home for the holidays.

They’ll be in their brand-new, mortgage-free house in Land O’ Lakes.

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Danielle Thornton, center, with the help of numerous family members, her two children Jaylen and Kinsley, and Tunnel To Towers CEO Frank Siller, cuts the ribbon to her brand-new, mortgage-free home in the Let Us Do Good Village, a community that’s in development in Land O’ Lakes. Tunnel To Towers created the village to provide homes to catastrophically injured veterans and the families of fallen military members and first responders. (Mike Camunas)

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Thornton and her two children, Jaylen, 9, and Kinsley, 5, received the very first house given away by the Tunnel To Towers Foundation in the new Let Us Do Good Village on Dec. 17. The nonprofit is creating a new 96-home community, off Parkway Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes.

The mortgage-free homes are being given to catastrophically-injured veterans and the families of fallen first responders and military members.

“I’ll never forget the call from Tunnel To Towers, and I had never heard of that (foundation),” Thornton told a crowd of hundreds, many of which were first responders and veterans. “I mean, who wants to give you a mortgage-free home for nothing? No one does that, no one wants to just give you a home. But it was real. It was really real.

“Just being able to start all over again, in a brand-new house in a brand-new community, and we’ll have neighbors that’ll be families just like us — it’s a great opportunity for us and … I’m at a loss for words.”

Danielle, left, and Robert Thornton, left, met in college and enlisted in the Army together, however, Robert died in 2017 from complications of an undiagnosed enlarged heart. (Courtesy of Tunnel To Towers)

In 2017, her late husband, Army Sgt. Robert Thornton, was going through physical training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He would collapse, and later it was determined he suffered from an undiagnosed enlarged heart. 

Robert, assigned to the 528th Sustainment Brigade and a decorated soldier, died, leaving behind his young wife, 5-year-old son and newborn daughter.

“There was a knock at the door, and it was odd because I was trying to call him, and he wasn’t answering,” Danielle recalled. “Being in the military, when you get a knock at the door, it’s usually not good — I ended up closing the door in their face.

“From that day to this day, I’ve tried to figure out what am I going to do with these kids? It was very scary for me.”

Five years later, things got less scary for Danielle and her children after receiving the new house on Do Good Way in Land O’ Lakes. As the Thorntons entered the house for the first time, escorted by Tunnel To Towers CEO Frank Siller, they were overjoyed and overwhelmed. The house came with rooms for each member of the family, including a master bedroom for Danielle that includes a big closet and a walk-around shower.

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Danielle Thornton, center, hugs her daughter, Kinsely, left, while also hugging Frank Siller, CEO of Tunnel To Towers Foundation. The nonprofit organization is building the Let Us Do Good Village, a brand-new, 96-home community in Land O’ Lakes that will provide mortgage-free homes for catastrophically injured veterans, Gold Star families and the families of fallen first responders. The Thorntons, having lost their patriarch, Army Sgt. Robert Thornton, in 2017, were awarded the first fully built home in the community during a Dec. 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Mike Camunas)

“Why did she get this house?” Siller asked. “Because of her sacrifice. She gave to this country, more than many have or ever will. And it is our responsibility to give back to these people, whose families were taken from them, who sacrificed their families for this country. We want to take care of these families who have sacrificed everything for this country.”

At the moment, the Thorntons are the only residents in the Let Us Do Good Village. But other houses already are in progress, as is the state-of-the-art community center that will include a pool, courts, movie theater and more. Once others move in, Danielle is looking forward to having neighbors that are very relatable.

“Even five years later,” she said, “there’s still a lot of pain, but just being able to turn to others in the same situation will help a lot.

“All I could do is cry (when entering the house), because — and I say this all the time — even though my husband’s not here, he still takes care of us.

“He’s saying, “It’s finally all coming together for us … that … that it’s going to be OK.”

Danielle knows her late husband can rest easy now, with the knowledge that his family has been taken care of and a place to call their own.

“He’d tell the kids, ‘Go jump on the bed, go mess up something,’” Danielle said with a laugh. “He’d want to go cook something — he would enjoy every part of this. 

“He would love it — absolutely just love this house.”

Let Us Do Good Village by Tunnel To Towers Foundation
Details: The Let Us Do Good Village is a new, 96-home community in Land O’ Lakes that will provide mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and the families of fallen first responders and military members. The community also will include a state-of-the-art community center with an ADA-compliant gym and pool, a movie theater, basketball and pickleball courts, meeting rooms and playgrounds. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is dedicated to honoring the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001.
For more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and its commitment to DO GOOD, please visit T2T.org.

Published December 28, 2022

Danielle Thornton, right, and her son, Jaylen, are blown away by the master bedroom of their new mortgage-free home in Let Us Do Go Village in Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)
Retired Army Staff Sgt. Danielle Thornton, sitting on the couch in her new Land O’ Lakes home with her 5-year-old daughter, Kinsely, reflects on how overwhelmed she was to receive a mortgage-free house from Tunnel To Towers. She becomes choked up while discussing her late husband, Army Sgt. Robert Thornton.
Retired Army Staff Sgt. Danielle Thornton was overwhelmed on Dec. 17, when she had her first look at her new, mortgage-free house in Land O’ Lakes. Thornton, and her two children, Jaylen, 9, and Kinsley, 5, were the first recipients of a house in the Let Us Do Good Village being created by Tunnel To Towers. The 96-home community will provide mortgage-free houses to catastrophically injured veterans and the families of fallen military members and first responders.
Danielle Thornton, while standing in front of her new mortgage-free home in Land O’ Lakes, chokes up while addressing the crowd of hundreds gathered to see her receive the first house in the Let Us Do Good Village and discussing her late husband, Robert.

Making a splat, in Sunlake

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These students are going to get unruly.

At Sunlake Academy of Math and Science in Lutz, the public charter school has brought in a new learning tool, one that is gaining popularity and proving, through fun and games, to be quite productive and valuable.

Ann Louis, a fourth-grader at Sunlake Academy of Math and Science in Lutz, stomps on an Unruly Splat floor button, making it light up and keep a score on a nearby iPad. Students at the school are using the first STEM learning tool that combines coding with active play, as students code the rules to create games like whack-a-mole, relay races and dance competitions.

“Just sitting down and learning, that can sometimes be boring for them,” Sunlake STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Program teacher Manjiri Jakhadi said. “So, it’s nice to get them something that is pretty engaging and fun. Movement is a big thing for them, but the goal is to get more technology in lessons, and that’s the focus of the school and the STEAM lab.

“Getting them up and moving as a way to learn is working out great so far,” the teacher said.

Sunlake recently invested in Unruly Splats, which are programmable floor buttons students can code to light up, make sounds and collect points when stomped on. Using block-based coding on an iPad, students code the rules to create games such as whack-a-mole, relay races and dance competitions.

Brandy Lee, the school’s EdTech coach, brought in the new “toys” about a month ago and is slowly implementing the 24 splat pads into different classes including math, reading and others.

“At first, it was kind of like, ‘What is this?’ and once I saw how it put them in front of the iPad and using the program, it was pretty cool,” Sunlake fourth-grade teacher Amber Hicks said. “Plus, it gets them out of their seat, gets them moving and that can work better than them just sitting there and reading and trying to get them to comprehend what they are learning.

“They are learning this way 10 times better than the traditional way of learning. This is a whole new way of getting them to learn and engage in the material than they would be just reading it to themselves or out loud to the class,” Hicks said.

For sure, students are having fun.

In fact, Unruly Splats’ goal is “to build ridiculously fun learning tools that empower teachers to incorporate STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) into any classroom.”

Which is exactly what Lee and Jakhadi are trying to do with STEAM classes at Sunlake Academy.

“We want to expand it across campus and get teachers excited about it,” Lee said. “And it’s really going to be focused on the coding part, but it is so engaging with the students, who are so excited about it and to use the Splats.”

Sunlake Academy of Math and Science STEAM Program teacher Manjiri Jakhadi, right, is surprised to see how well Kaylianis Beltre did while using a program she and her fellow students coded with Unruly Splats and an iPad.

“We just showed it at the last faculty meeting to the teachers and how it can be used for a multitude of lessons,” Jakhadi added. “The students keep experimenting and learning more each time, learning how to improve its usage and the coding each time, so it’s been pretty obvious from the start that it’s been a great learning tool for them and for us.”

Lee added: “And, they pick up on tech very easily! We practiced five to ten times before we got it, but they got it right away, so maybe we should just let them show us how to teach the lesson! (laughs)”

The students appear to be completely engaged when using the new technology, and they’re learning more than coding.

“I think it’s really fun and it’s a good way to cooperate with other kids,” 9-year-old Leila Dehoyos said. “I like being able to jump around and stomp on them. We have learned to code and let other kids take a turn and not get mad.

“We’re learning a lot by working together as a team.”

So, in the end, the students are keeping to the rules of Unruly Splats.

“I like it a lot,” said 9-year-old Hudson Faedo. “We’re learning how to cooperate and take turns, which is important, because if someone didn’t get a turn, you can make sure they get a turn and share (using the splats) with them.

“Plus, we’re learning to code by stomping on them — a lot! — which is pretty cool.”

Unruly Splats
Details: Programmable floor buttons that students code using an iPad or Chromebook to tell Splats when to light up, make sounds, or collect points when stomped on. Using block-based coding, students code the rules to create games like whack-a-mole, relay races and dance competitions.
Info: Visit UnrulySplats.com.

Published December 21, 2022

Diverging Diamond sparkles in Central Pasco

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The seemingly never-ending Diverging Diamond Interchange Project has wrapped up construction and is operating with its new traffic pattern at the intersection of State Road 56 and Interstate 75 (I-75).

Starting back in January 2019, the $33.6-million Central Pasco project hit not only delays, but fell behind schedule and faced management hurdles.

Three eastbound lanes on State Road 56 lead through the Diverging Diamond Interchange at Interstate 75 (Mike Camunas)

However, the traffic is now flowing through seven lanes. The project also features crosswalks and bike lanes, as well.

“The roadway is in final configuration — converted to the Diverging Diamond Interchange traffic pattern on May 1, 2022 and is functioning as intended,” Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials told The Laker/Lutz News. “With the opening of the final westbound State Road 56 thru-lane and a third northbound exit ramp left-turn lane on Oct. 31, 2022, all capacity improvements were completed throughout the project.”

Officials from FDOT also said the entirety of the project will be completed mid- to late January, with “some final paving and pavement markings to be completed that are weather-dependent activities (rain and cooler temperatures must be avoided). Other remaining work mostly involves final cleanup and completion of minor repairs/deficiencies.”

An overhead shot of the Diverging Diamond Interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56 shows the new traffic patterns at the intersection in Central Pasco. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

The new pattern diverges, or crosses, State Road 56 traffic to the left side of the road through the interchange, and then crosses vehicles back over to the right side of the road on the opposite side of the interchange.

This pattern reduces vehicle delays by allowing traffic to enter the interstate without waiting at a left-turn signal. To accomplish this, traffic is redirected from the right side of the bridge to the left side.

Signalized crossovers are positioned at each side of the interchange, and are designed to cross eastbound and westbound State Road 56 traffic with no turning movements at these two intersections. This design allows for more efficient signal timing, which reduces delay times, minimizes conflict points and enables the interchange to efficiently handle higher volumes of traffic while eliminating more serious crashes associated with a conventional interchange.

Crosswalks and sidewalks through the Diverging Diamond Interchange allow pedestrians to cross over Interstate 75, traveling both east and west on State Road 56. (Mike Camunas)

The project was completed by Superior Construction Company Southeast LLC.

That wasn’t the construction management company that began the project.

Work was halted in June 2021, when D.A.B. Constructors notified FDOT it was demobilizing from the project. The state transportation department then defaulted D.A.B., on July 1, 2021.

D.A.B. Constructors, which had told the county in November 2020 it was behind schedule on the project, had seven projects in FDOT District 7, including three in Pasco County. After D.A.B. was defaulted on the Diverging Diamond project, it self-defaulted on the other Pasco projects, which are on State Road 52 and State Road 54.

It would take another two months before Superior Construction would restart the work in September 2021 on the first diverging diamond in District 7.

Two clearly marked lanes at the Diverging Diamond Interchange at State Road 56 tell drivers these lanes lead to southbound Interstate 75. (Mike Camunas)

Florida’s first diverging diamond opened at University Parkway at I-75, in Sarasota, in 2017.

Nearby businesses, restaurants, hotels and attractions are ecstatic the project is up and running. Especially since when the project was first proposed, the start date was in 2024. Former County Commissioner Mike Moore advocated for the project to be started sooner.

“I’m very happy that we were able to work very closely with our legislators and FDOT to get that diverging diamond moved up from 2024 — when it originally was going to start — to now, almost being completed,” Moore told The Laker/Lutz News in November.

“That’s huge. It really is huge.”

Chris Durant, general manager at Tampa Premium Outlets, is delighted by the project’s completion, noting: “It has greatly improved our shoppers’ experience.

The westbound lanes of State Road 56 leading into the Diverging Diamond Interchange at Interstate 75 are now open, with six lanes: four that continue westbound and two other lanes that take drivers southbound onto I-75. (Mike Camunas)

“The updated traffic pattern makes it easier than ever for our guests to access our property, and the timing was perfect for Black Friday and holiday shopping.”

Those at AdventHealth Center Ice, the five-rink, 150,000-square-foot arena at the northwest corner of State Road 56 and I-75, are glad that after five years at its location, to see the project complete. They know it will help with the thousands of visitors and skaters the arena welcomes annually.

“I know (the interchange) well because I drive it every day,” said Jim Charos, vice president of sponsorships and affiliations at the facility.

“So far, it’s working very well; it has made our lives a lot easier, as well as the lives of our customers, and our skaters,” Charos said.

The project also added sidewalks, crossing signals and bike lanes for pedestrians and riders to cross over I-75, going both east and west. However, walking from attractions, such as from Center Ice to Tampa Premiums Outlets and its restaurants and attractions could be up to more than 2 miles in distance one way.

Charos appreciates that visitors of Center Ice who are staying at nearby hotels have the option of walking, but he doesn’t expect many to make the trek.

“It’s great they can go enjoy all the amenities across the bridge, but I’ll be very surprised if anyone does (that walk),” he said. “It’s too imposing, too scary — I wouldn’t walk it. I know that capability is there, to walk it from our place, but it’s not short and it’s not easy.

“Realistically, that’s a drive for anyone that’s on our side of I-75.”

Published December 14, 2022

An aerial view of the Diverging Diamond Interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56 shows the new traffic flow. (Courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation)
The Diverging Diamond Interchange at State Road 56 that crosses over Interstate 75 also features bike lanes. (Mike Camunas)

Lights, joy and wonder

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There’s Christmas songs on the radio — and, thousands of lights dancing to the tunes.

That’s just part of the stunning, festive display at The Wonderland of Lights and America’s Christmas Village in Auburndale.

Thousands of choreographed lights and holiday displays can be viewed from the comfort of an air-conditioned car.

The Wonderland of Lights, at the International Market World Flea and Farmers Market in Auburndale, features a mile-long path of dazzling, festive lights and holiday displays that also are in-sync with Christmas music tuned to on the car radio. A car of up to eight people can enjoy a slow ride through the wonderland, then finish the evening off at America’s Christmas Village, which features rides, entertainment, games, food, decorations and more. (Mike Camunas)

It’s a night of family fun, and an incredible deal for families, too.

So load up the SUV, tune in the radio and get away from that silent night — for some holiday fun that’s totally worth the trip.

North Pole by North Pole West
The International Market World Flea and Farmers Market of Auburndale is about an hour or so away, from Land O’ Lakes, depending on the traffic.

Founded in 1981, it is now a 30-acre operation that hosts markets and events throughout the year.

But until Dec. 25, in the evenings, the place will become The Wonderland of Lights and America’s Christmas Village.

Tammy Peters, founder and owner of North Pole Productions, is behind this fun land.

She started this production company in 2001, to develop and produce unique and customized events for fairgrounds, museums and parks.

The former longtime executive at United Way began a lighting business in 1997, but once she retired, she wanted to do something that involved her love of Christmas.

The Wonderland of Lights features a mile-long route of festive lights and displays that can be viewed from the car before reaching America’s Christmas Village in Auburndale.

“The past 20 years at North Pole Productions have been dedicated to putting on amazing light shows as a wonderful way to entertain families,” Peters said. “It’s just good, wholesome entertainment during the holiday season.”

The light show display in Auburndale is in its seventh year, while North Pole Productions does several professional shows across the country, including 12 around Bronson, Missouri.

As a family friendly event, Peters notes that coming to see the light show is a deal even Scrooge wouldn’t pass up.

“It’s a lot of young families that come out,” Peters said. “And there’s grandparents bringing grandchildren to it, to give mom and dad the night off.

“It really warms my heart to see families out here, and it’s $25 for up to eight people. Where else are you going to entertain eight people for $3 a head?!”

Don’t worry — this mighty humble bumble just wants to crown a Christmas Tree with a star at America’s Christmas Village in Auburndale.

Take it slow and wonder
The mile-long lighted route begins by tuning the radio to 103.1 FM, where passengers will be greeted with Christmas songs. All along the path there are displays with different themes.

There are “tunnels” that dance to the music, which will range from your Christmas classics, those same songs but more modern, and even ‘Frozen’ tunes for you Disney fans out there.

Several displays have a Florida or beach theme, such as Santa’s Beach Party or an impressive shark fin that moves and ends with “Bruce” appearing out of the water.

The 12 Days of Christmas is on a straightaway and there are fun touches on impressive displays, making it fun to take it nice and slow along the route.

To the village
At the end of the route will be America’s Christmas Village. It, too, does not disappoint.

With a distinct carnival vibe to it, it is decked out for Christmas and features rides, games, food, entertainment and more.

Santa Claus will be on hand for family photos and more inside the circus tent that houses America’s Christmas Village in Auburndale.

There’s plenty of bounce houses inside the circus tent, which also includes a huge Bumble from “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the one-of-a-kind, 30-foot Star-Spangled Christmas Tree and, of course, the beloved holly and jolly man that children enjoy seeing this time of year.

In the end, a trip to this wonderland is a festive gift families can give themselves to brighten up their holidays, without breaking the bank.

The Wonderland of Lights & America’s Christmas Village
Where: International Market World Flea and Farmers Market, 1052 U.S. 92, Auburndale
When: Daily through Dec. 25, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $25 for general admission, with a car of up to eight people
Details: A festive holiday experience through a spectacular parade of thousands of lights. From tunnel displays to towering structures and whimsical designs, celebrate the spirit of the season with a few surprises sprinkled in, including a one-of-a-kind, 30-foot Star-Spangled Christmas Tree. Food, games, entertainment and rides await visitors at the end of the lighted drive-through.
Info and tickets: Visit TheWonderlandOfLights.com.

Published December 07, 2022

Pasco invites public to weigh in on future Orange Belt Trail

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Pasco County has been talking for years about building a recreation trail that will mostly follow the former Orange Belt Trail rail line, from Trinity to Trilby.

But now planning efforts are ramping up and two open-house style public meetings have been set to give the community a chance to have a voice in the project.

“We’d really like to hear from people at these meetings — what they’d like to see the trail do, what kind of character they’d like it to have,” said Sam Beneck, a project manager for Pasco County.

The trail will link communities such as Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Dade City, and will provide both recreational and economic opportunities along the way, based on discussions at Pasco County Commission meetings.

This map shows a generalized path of the future Orange Belt Trail, a recreational trail that will link Trinity to Trilby. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The trail is expected to be a 12- to 14-foot-wide paved multi-use trail, but also could incorporate sections intended for equestrian use.

By holding community meetings now, planners hope to engage the public while drawing up the plans and to continue that involvement throughout the process, Beneck said.

The goal is to encourage public engagement early on and to keep communication lines open throughout the process, the project manager added.

He described the trail as “a linear park, by itself,” but noted that such trails typically connect to other trails and other recreational assets along the way.

A map has been drawn to show the approximate path, but the alignment is not locked in, Beneck said. The same goes for the time frame and budget, which will vary based on the final plans that are approved — with the timing partially tied to whether the county can secure additional funding through grants or other sources, he said.

“It’s been in concept for a long time, but we’ve only in the last few months started that real study to actually to figure out the where and the what and the how,” Beneck said.

Getting public input now will help planners incorporate desired features and take issues into account, while they’re drawing up proposed plans.

“We don’t want to draw any conclusions, we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves with anything, so everything right now is subject to change, based on the needs and the expectations and the desires of the public and the commission,” Beneck said.

Part of the planning will be to determine logical phases for construction.

A portion of the old Orange Belt Railroad rail line.

“We are going to be breaking the project down, into pieces that can be built, that would have logical termini, logical starts and ends. We definitely don’t want to have a segment of trail that is built that kind of drops people in an unsafe area to be cycling or jogging, or whatever,” he said.

The idea is to ensure “that each piece that we conceptualize and build makes sense by itself and can provide that value to the community, as the pieces around it come online,” he said.

The project manager also said he intends to avoid the mentality that the trail has to be done one segment at a time, extending in the same direction.

“It really will be something that we want to be thoughtful about, and not just start at the west side of the county and work our way to the east, or anything like that,” he said.

Rather, it could be that portions of the trail will be done on the east side, the west side and the middle and then would be tied together, he added.

“There’s really opportunities all over the place,” Beneck said.

“How we start to connect those opportunities together is actually its own phase in the study that we’ve assigned to the study team, the consultant team — identifying what the segments should be and what order we should be attacking them in,” he said.

There will be trailheads, which will be especially important in areas where there are disconnected segments, Beneck said.

“It will be important to have places to park, in order to access the system. Ultimately, we do want people to be able to access the system from their homes. And, those parking lots will be, maybe, less critical. But we certainly understand that while it’s a disconnected system, we’ll need to have parking for folks and we also want to have amenities for people. The water and the bathroom and even just places to stop and have a sandwich,” Beneck said.

Community meetings on Orange Belt Trail
Two community open-house style meetings are scheduled to begin sharing information about Pasco County’s proposed Orange Belt Trail. Both meetings will have the same content.

Here are the meeting times and places:

  • Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Hampton Inn, 11780 State Road 54, in Odessa
  • Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Dade City Garden Club, 13630 Fifth St., in Dade City.

There will be a brief, formal presentation each evening at 6 p.m., and county staff will be available to answer questions. Those interested in finding out more can visit OrangeBeltTrail.com. To learn more about the county’s engineering services, visit MyPas.co/3tzL8N3.

Published November 30, 2022

Hale Road rezoning is rejected

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Opponents to a proposed rezoning on Hale Road erupted in cheers and applause, when the Pasco County Commission voted 5-0 against the request.

KB Home had sought to put a total of up to 107 homes on two parcels on the north side of Hale Road and another parcel on the south side of Hale Road. Both properties are near Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes.

Opponents turned out in force to protest a request that would allow 107 homes on two parcels flanking Hale Road. The Pasco County Commission rejected the proposed rezoning on a 5-0 vote. (Mike Camunas)

Opponents came ready to do battle.

They made it easy to identify their opposition, by wearing fluorescent lime-green T-shirts.

They filled seats throughout the county board’s chamber. Some carried protest signs.

Maryann Bishop, who owns a 19-acre property next door to the proposed rezoning, on the north side of Hale Road, hired an attorney and a traffic engineer to fight the request.

Besides the family home, the property also is occupied by the Rosebud Continuum Ecological and Science Education Center. It also has a nature trail, a lake, bat houses, bee hives and farm animals.

Bishop and her attorney, Jane Graham, spelled out a multitude of reasons to deny the request.

They cited a recommendation for denial from the Pasco County Planning Commission, which listed 13 reasons for rejecting the rezoning.

Before showing up to the county board’s meeting, opponents voiced their objections to the Pasco County Planning Commission.

They also reached out to members of the county board, and they bombarded them with emails.

It didn’t take long to find out which team the people wearing lime green T-shirts were on, during a Nov. 15 public hearing before the Pasco County Commission. They came ready to make a case against a rezoning proposed on Hale Road, and, in the end, they won.

For their part, the applicant’s team noted that KB Home was proposing 2.4 houses per acre, far fewer than the six houses per acre contemplated in the county’s long-range plan.

They also noted changes made in the plan, after the planning board’s denial, intended to address safety concerns.

For instance, Cyndi Tarapani, a professional planner, told the county board: The project previously proposed two driveways to access the proposed development on the north side of Hale Road and one driveway to access the homes planned on the south side of the road.

After the planning board meeting, the applicant revised its plan to show access to Collier Parkway from the southern parcel, where all but 22 homes are planned.

The applicant also agreed to add turning lanes and sidewalks, to address traffic concerns, she said.

But those concessions failed to sway opponents.

Maryann Bishop, who owns property next to a proposed rezoning on Hale Road, offers a multitude of reasons for why the request should be denied. She was addressing the Pasco County Commission during a public hearing on Nov. 15 at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse. Her attorney, Jane Graham, is seen in the background.

They said Hale Road is a substandard road and objected to adding any new development beyond what’s already zoned.

To bolster their case, they showed photographs of a garbage truck getting stuck, after failing to negotiate a sharp turn. A school bus that tried to get around it got stuck, as well as another vehicle, according to an area resident, who testified at the public hearing.

Several speakers said it’s not uncommon for accidents to occur, people to crash into fences and people to run off the road into ditches.

Those ditches often fill with water and are choked with weeds, speakers added.

Students in grades six through 12 who live within 2 miles of school no longer receive “courtesy” rides from Pasco County Schools, because of a shortage of bus drivers and money.

Area resident Debra Martinez told the county board: “These kids scare me to death in the morning. They’re walking in the road because they can’t walk in the ditch … It’s not a good situation on Hale Road.”

Opponents also testified about kids being at risk, as they ride their bikes, while carrying backpacks, on a substandard road that carries considerable traffic.

As a case in point, they showed a photo of a student walking on the edge of the road, with little room to spare for passing motorists.

Russell Watrous, one of the opponents, told commissioners: “Hale (Road) is not safe. I’ve driven Hale Road now for 28 years, back and forth to work. I’ve seen it change from a peaceful country road to something that’s really unsafe.”

He also raised questions about compatibility, noting the proposed lots with 40- and 50-foot frontage are far smaller than nearby lots and developments.

Watrous said he’s worried that approval of this request would trigger requests from similar properties and would set a dangerous precedent for the area.

Tarapani noted the applicant had placed its 50-foot lots in areas next to larger lots and had committed to providing buffering.

Land O’ Lakes High student Lilly Xu, speaking on behalf of the school’s Scientific Journal Club, is sworn in during the public hearing. She submitted, via an email to Commissioner Ron Oakley, a packet of 200 emails from Land O’ Lakes High students, expressing their views on the proposed rezoning.

Several speakers, including Lilly Xi, president of the Scientific Journal Club at Land O’ Lakes High School, urged the county board to consider the area’s sustainability.

Prior to the meeting, Xi had submitted a packet of 200 emails or notes from Land O’ Lakes High students, expressing their thoughts on the issue.

Many students raised concerns about the need to protect the environment, to respect the ecosystem and to keep wildlife out of harm’s way.

One student told commissioners that “rapid-fire growth” isn’t in the interest of the people.

Area residents emailed commissioners, too.

Emily Keen reached out to Commissioner Mike Moore.

In part, she said: “I desire an end to developers coming into our neighborhoods to profit and then taking their money and running after they have put a strain on the environment, wildlife, our local community, roadways, water supply, water quality, and even understaffed/underfunded schools that don’t have room for more students.”

Keen also shared photos of white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes, a swallow-tailed kite, wood stork, spicebush swallowtail butterfly and Sherman’s fox squirrel. She said the photos were taken on her property, about a half-mile away from the proposed rezoning.

The public hearing lasted more than three hours, ending ultimately with a recommendation for denial by Commissioner Jack Mariano.

“I’ve never seen as much fact-based evidence in a hearing that we saw today. I’ve never see a planning commission go through and list 13 reasons to why a project shouldn’t go forward,” he said.

Like the opponents, Mariano cited concerns about safety, compatibility, stormwater runoff, a lack of streetlights and a substandard road without sidewalks.

“This just doesn’t fit,” Mariano said.

Mike Moore departs from Pasco County board after two terms

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Mike Moore wasn’t a stranger to politics when he decided to run for Pasco County Commission. However, being an elected official wasn’t a lifelong ambition, either.

Rather, the Wesley Chapel man said, he increasingly came to realize the impact government has on everyday life and decided he wanted to play a role.

Before running for office in 2014, Moore owned a home health company, which led to his involvement in lobbying efforts with that industry’s trade group at the state level.

Commissioner Mike Moore joins a hard-hat tour of the recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park. Building a center had always been intended, but hadn’t happened because of a lack of funding. Moore drew attention to the issue, and that changed. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

He was active in Republican Party politics in Pasco, too, knocking on doors, waving signs for candidates and writing campaign checks.

Ultimately, after discussions with his family and within the community, Moore decided to toss his hat into the ring for a seat on the county board.

Moore said he wanted to help shape local government’s impact within District 2, and across the county, as a whole.

Early on, he identified three key issues: Public safety, infrastructure and jobs.

As he leaves office on Nov. 21, Moore said the county has made gains on all three fronts.

Complaints still surface during public comment and budget discussions regarding a shortage of manpower and pay issues regarding first responders, but Moore said Pasco has made great strides in those areas during the last eight years.

The county has budgeted more money for pay, and Pasco’s residents have supported public safety through both a General Obligation bond and Penny for Pasco, Moore said.

Traffic bottlenecks
Traffic is another big issue in Pasco.

At public hearings, opponents frequently battle proposed projects — raising concerns about traffic congestion and potential dangers if more growth is allowed before road improvements are made.

This group helped graduating seniors from Cypress Creek Middle High, during festivities at the Grove at Wesley Chapel. The drive-by celebration was held to give members of the Class of 2020 a way to celebrate their achievements, in the midst of COVID-19. From left are, Jennifer Yingling, Mark Gold, DJ Night Mixer Makayla Gulash, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, Troy Stevenson, Cypress Creek Middle/High School Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles, Jennifer Welling, and Tami Baker, along with the school’s Coyote mascot.

From Moore’s perspective, though, the county has made significant progress on infrastructure.

Numerous road projects have been completed, or are on the way, he said.

“I’m very happy that we were able to work very closely with our legislators and FDOT (the Florida Department of Transportation) to get that Diverging Diamond moved up, from 2024 — when it originally was going to start, to now, almost being completed.

“That’s huge. It really is huge,” he said, referring to a project intended to reduce congestion at Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

He also pointed to the new I-75 interchange being built at Overpass Road.

“How often do you see a new interchange on (Interstate) 75?” he asked.

The extension of State Road 56, from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301, in Zephyrhills, is a big achievement, too, Moore said.

Initially, proposed as a two-lane road, the State Road 56 extension was expanded to four lanes, after partnerships were forged between Pasco County, the City of Zephyrhills, the FDOT and private landowners to finance the road and get it built.

There are ongoing projects on State Road 52, State Road 54 and U.S. 41, as well. Plus, land is being acquired for the widening of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, with construction expected to begin next year, Moore said.

Also, a portion of the extension of Ridge Road has been completed, from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey to the Suncoast Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. The next phase will extend it to U.S. 41.

It took more than 20 years for the county to get the green light on the Ridge Road extension, he said.

More companies are coming to Pasco
Pasco has projects going on all over, but there’s one, in particular, which is expected to create significant opportunities for decades to come.

A new “city” called Angeline is beginning to emerge on 6,200 acres, in an area south of State Road 52 and west of U.S. 41.

The development, which will have an emphasis on wellness, is expected to become home for people of all ages and feature a diverse mix of housing types.

Commissioner Mike Moore tosses up a ball during a ceremonial tipoff between Hasahn French and Micah Potter, during the inaugural Tampa Bay Pro Combine (TBPC), held June 3 through June 5, 2021, at the AdventHealth Sports Arena at Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County.

Plans call for pathways throughout the development to encourage people to walk or bicycle to get to around, rather than hopping into a car.

The community also will boast the latest in internet technology.

When complete, Angeline is expected to have about 35,000 people.

It will be home to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus, which will span 775 acres and which is entitled for up to 24-million square feet of planned clinical and research facilities.

Plans for the area include a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multi-year, multi-phase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

Moore pushed hard to expand Pasco’s job growth, noting residents need more work options closer to home.

“If you want a good quality of life, the less time you’re on the road, the more time you can spend with your family and your friends,” Moore said.

He’s been a fierce advocate for preserving land designated for job-generating uses, rather than allowing its conversion for other uses, particularly apartments.

He persuaded his colleagues to approve a temporary moratorium on new multi-family entitlements within District 2.

That moratorium has been lifted; Moore’s attitude hasn’t shifted.

“Converting commercial land to multifamily along our major corridors — will always concern me,” Moore said. “I was happy we had a pause on it. I wish it had continued longer.”

As he reflects upon his time in office, the commissioner said he’s pleased with Pasco’s many improvements through the years.

The county’s revamped tourism efforts have resulted in higher Tourist Development Tax revenues, a bigger impact on the local economy and the successful branding of the area as Florida’s Sports Coast, Moore said.

“We’re making a name for ourselves,” he said, noting the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team trained at AdventHealth Center Ice before skating to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

Pasco also has hosted national and international tournaments, showcases for professional sports and recently was selected as the site for the Florida Senior Games.

Commissioner Mike Moore brings JoJo, one of his family’s rescue pets, to the county board’s Sept. 8 meeting in 2020, on a day when commissioners were considering an action to ban the the retail sale of dogs and cats.

When athletes and spectators travel to Pasco, area restaurants, gas stations, hotels, stores, shops, entertainment venues and mom-and-pop businesses benefit, Moore said, adding these additional TDT revenues also help to reduce taxes for Pasco residents.

Pasco is looking good, in more ways than one
Moore cited a number of improvements he thinks are noteworthy.

The county’s curb appeal is better because of the county’s war on blight, Moore said.

Its animals are safer, too, because of the county’s abuse registry and its ban on the retail sales of dogs, cats and rabbits.

The passage of the county’s sexual predator ordinance was important, as well, to protect Pasco’s most vulnerable residents.

He also praised the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially its efforts to help area businesses and residents hit hard by its impacts.

Besides big-picture issues, Moore pushed for specific projects.

He advocated funding for a recreational center at Wesley Chapel District Park and for a library in Seven Oaks.

One of his most gratifying projects, he said, involved the effort to establish a universal playground — for children of all ability levels — at Wesley Chapel District Park.

“It was a true community project,” Moore said.

“It was amazing when I reached out to private organizations, like the (Wesley Chapel) Rotary (Club) and AdventHealth (Wesley Chapel) and (the) Lennar (Foundation), and how willing they were — not just to write a check for a couple of thousand dollars — but $50,000 and $25,000 checks — and, it (the playground) happened,” Moore said.

The real payoff came from seeing the joy on children’s faces, when they showed up to play. Such moments reveal what’s possible — when government and community join forces for the common good.

Published November 16, 2022