By B.C. Manion
The idea of extending SR 56 to create a new connection between Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel may become a reality sooner than once thought possible, if a deal between the state and property owners along the proposed extension can be worked out, said Will Weatherford, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
“There are some developers who want to build out (SR) 56 all of the way to (US) 301,” Weatherford said, during a public forum at Zephyrhills City Hall.
“It’s a really big deal. It creates a totally new corridor to the city (of Zephyrhills),” Weatherford said.
“The developers would pay for the construction of the road and the state would pay the developers back,” Weatherford said.
“I don’t want you leaving here thinking it’s a done deal,” Weatherford told city officials, business leaders and residents. But if the state roads department, the city and the developers can work together, that could propel the project forward, Weatherford said.
“From an economic development standpoint, it’s a big deal,” added Weatherford, a Republican from Wesley Chapel.
“(SR) 56 is huge,” agreed Danny Burgess, the mayor of Zephyrhills. “This is a chance to revitalize Zephyrhills.”
Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said she is cautiously optimistic about the potential for extending SR 56 within the near future.
“Obviously, they were careful to say that it’s not a done deal,” Mikkelsen said.
Weatherford was at the forum, along with Paul J. Steinman, secretary of district seven for the Florida Department of Transportation. Steinman gave the crowd an update on a variety of area road projects.
Besides giving the update, Steinman told city leaders: “I’m all about partnerships.”
As the city and state work together on projects, it is critical that the city let the state know what it is trying to accomplish, so state planners can take that into consideration when designing projects.
For instance, if the city wants decorative street pavers on a portion of a state project, the city needs to let the state know. State planners can incorporate those desires into the plan and the city can cover the additional costs, he said.
But those agreements need to be worked out early, Steinman said. But it’s too late to change the plans, when the backhoe shows up at the project site, he said.
City officials also discussed two other issues at the forum.
City Airport Manager Mike Handrahan talked about the need to widen Runway 422, the airport’s main runway. The city wants to widen it from a current width of 75 feet to a new width of 100 feet.
He said the city needs the wider runway to be competitive with other airports that already have 100-foot-wide runways. He also noted that companies insuring private jets often require the 100-foot-wide runways for planes carrying CEOs.
The city is involved in airport improvement projects because it wants it to be ready to handle more traffic, as other general aviation airports that are closer to Tampa become more congested.
Handrahan said the city is about $450,000 short of the money it needs.
Weatherford made it clear that he’s in the city’s corner on the issue.
The speaker of the House noted that state transportation department has a large budget and should be able to find some additional funding for the city’s airport.
“You’re just talking about a measly $400,000,” Weatherford said.
Handrahan said the city is willing to delay other necessary projects, if funding can be found for this one.
Within the next 10 years or so, Handrahan has estimated that the airport’s traffic will increase from its current rate of about 50,000 landings and takeoffs a year now up to a volume ranging from 80,000 to 100,000.
The airport was designated by the Federal Aviation Authority as one of 467 airports in the country which has a regional impact, Handrahan said.
“Our airport would be a huge asset for corporate jets,” Burgess said. It may prove particularly useful to corporate jets carrying executives enroute to Raymond James, when the financial services giant opens its campus in Wesley Chapel.
On another issue, City Manager Jim Drumm told the audience about the plan to build a water pipeline stretching about four miles, between Zephyrhills and Dade City.
“It’s been a dream for a number of years,” Drumm said.
The new line will provide an emergency backup, if either city loses its water supply.
It’s also a plus for the sake of economic development, Drumm said.
“The interconnect provides us with the ability to purchase water,” he said.
The $1.9 million project involves running 19,360 feet of 12-inch pipe, beneath the road between the two cities. Drumm anticipates the project to be completed in fiscal year 2014.
Burgess said all of the projects discussed during the session are important.
“The future of our community is going to be based on the infrastructure to support it,” Burgess said.
Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said she is cautiously optimistic about the potential for extending SR 56. “Obviously, they were careful to say that it’s not a done deal.”
