The Laker/Lutz News

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B.C. Manion

Vaccination efforts continue to expand

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Vaccine supplies, vaccine eligibility and vaccination sites have increased in recent weeks — as efforts continue to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and restore a sense of normalcy.

The availability of vaccine supplies and vaccination sites continues to change, so it’s a good idea to check with local health departments and congressional offices to secure updated information.

Adamaris Cruz-Seijo and Dana Van Deusen were among those taking part in a student vaccine clinic at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Chad Gonzalez/Saint Leo University)

In Pasco County, for instance, the health department previously had vaccine appointments available on Friday afternoons for the following week. As of April 9, however, it began allowing  appointments for a two-week period.

“Working with local physicians’ offices and pharmacies, Pasco County now has over 130 locations that are offering COVID-19 vaccines” Health Officer Mike Napier, said in a news release.

Hillsborough County health officials are concerned about an increasing number of COVID-19 cases during recent weeks, despite the expansion of vaccination options, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The release noted that Dr. Douglas Holt, who oversees the state’s health department in Hillsborough County, told the Hillsborough County Commission that Hillsborough’s newly confirmed cases currently average 400 a day, with the positivity rate at about 8.6%.

At this time, Holt told commissioners, there’s no indication that variants of the virus are causing the increase. But, he noted this could change rapidly as the variants are generally more contagious.

Holt’s report prompted Hillsborough commissioners to remind residents not to relax their guard and to be sure to continue following COVID-19 preventive measures.

Hillsborough commissioners are scheduled to discuss the county’s state of local emergency and other COVID-19 issues at their next regular meeting on April 21.

Mask mandates are evolving.

Pasco County dropped its mask mandate, effective April 6, although officials are continuing to encourage the use of masks at indoor public spaces, where social distancing isn’t possible.

Hillsborough County’s mask ordinance remains in effect, at least through April 15.

Hillsborough County Schools’ mask mandate remains in effect, according to the district website.

Pasco County Schools is retaining its mask mandate, at least through April 26. That’s when Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order is scheduled to expire. If that order isn’t extended, the school district will shift to optional masks for the rest of the school year.

Hannah Burrows, a sophomore at Saint Leo University, was happy to get her COVID-19 vaccine.

While there has been discussion in some circles regarding if COVID-19 vaccination passports should be required by air carriers, at sporting venues and in other places, Gov. DeSantis has banned the use of COVID-19 vaccination passports in Florida.

In authorizing the ban, DeSantis reasoned that such passports “restrict individual freedoms and will harm patient privacy.”

He also noted, “requiring so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life — such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater would create two classes of citizen based on vaccination.”

In other news, the governor has proposed a $1,000 bonus for Florida’s public school pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and public school principals.

In making the proposal, DeSantis said “we know how important it was for our students to return to school, and our teachers and principals answered the call.”

In other COVID-19 school-related news, Pasco County Schools has announced its plan to drop its mySchool Online option, when the new school year begins in the fall.

MySchool Online always was intended as a temporary measure to provide parents a remote learning option during the pandemic, Superintendent Kurt Browning said. The district will continue to operate its nationally recognized Pasco eSchool, which has operated since 2009.

Status of mask mandates

  • Pasco County has rescinded its countywide mask mandate as of April 5, however it recommends the continued use of face coverings in indoor public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.
  • The mask mandate remains in effect in Pasco County Schools until at least April 26, which is when Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order is scheduled to expire. If the governor doesn’t extend the Executive Order, Pasco County Schools will switch to an optional mask policy when the Executive Order expires.
  • Hillsborough County’s mask mandate remains in effect at least through April 15.
  • The mask mandate remains in effect in Hillsborough County Schools.

COVID vaccinations

  • Hillsborough County: Appointments are mandatory in Hillsborough County. Persons without appointments will not receive a vaccine and will be turned away. Florida residency is required. To make an appointment, go to the CDR Health Pro portal at PatientPortalFl.com. Hillsborough County sites dispense only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which can be given to individuals 16 years of age and older.
  • Pasco County: DOH-Pasco uses the Moderna vaccine, so Florida residents age 18 and older are eligible to sign up with CDR Maguire for appointments at the DOH-Pasco drive-thru vaccination sites at the Gulf View Square Mall and Saint Leo University. Eligible residents can go to PatientPortalFl.com, or call 844-770-8548 to create an account with CDR Maguire.
  • FEMA vaccination site, Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Ave., in Tampa, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. Walk-ups accepted. As of April 6, the site is dispensing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only for new vaccinations. The second dose Pfizer appointments, for those who got their first dose at the FEMA site, still will be provided at their appointment time. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not approved for 16- and 17-year-olds.
  • Private providers: A number of private pharmacies also are administering vaccines. Check with individual websites to find out specifics.

COVID statistics
United States: 30,965,577 cases; 558,843 deaths
Florida: 2,084,173 positive residents; 34,021 resident deaths
Pasco: 37,594 positive residents; 703 deaths
Hillsborough: 125,515 positive residents; 1,637 deaths
Pasco County Schools: Total county for 2020-2021 school year: 2,152 cases student cases, 838 staff cases
Hillsborough County Schools: 4,766 students; 2,171 employees

Sources: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Florida Department of Health, Pasco County Schools and Hillsborough County Schools. Latest available information as of the morning of April 12.

Published April 14, 2021

Union Park Charter Academy has one year to get finances in order

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The Pasco County School Board has refused a 5-year extension of Union Park Charter Academy’s contract, instead granting it a one-year term.

The decision came during the board’s April 6 meeting, at the recommendation of Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning.

Board members backed the superintendent, despite the urgings of numerous parents and of representatives of Charter Schools USA and the school’s governing board.

Superintendent Kurt Browning

Browning said the school district has no desire to shut down the charter school, but said this action is necessary to ensure the charter gets its financial house in order.

Parent after parent told school board members that Union Park has gone to extraordinary lengths to meet the needs of their children, to maintain open lines of communication with parents and to engage families.

They said their children are thriving and they believe the school needs the five-year contract extension to provide stability.

In addition to the obvious support of parents — representatives for the school said they were surprised by the district’s decision to offer just a one-year term.

“Union Park Charter has met all criteria to be renewed for five years,” said Valora Cole, board chair of the Florida Charter Educational Inc., which is the governing board for Union Park Academy.

Eddie Ruiz, Florida State Director for Charter Schools USA, told school board members that there was no basis for just a one-year term.

He told the school board that Charter Schools USA has been operating for 20 years and this has never been an issue.

Independent auditors have done audits and there have been no negative findings, he said.

“We’re happy to work with staff, but a one-year renewal really will not help our school. It really will hurt our school. And so, we really are asking for what we deserve, which is a five-year renewal,” Ruiz said.

But Mary Tillman, director of internal audit for Pasco County Schools, said there were issues of overspending during the school’s first two years of operation. She also noted that the budgets are based on enrollment projections that were not achieved.

The school did not produce evidence of any budget amendments to address that issue, Tillman said.

The district’s auditor added: “I have no doubt that Charter Schools USA has the resources to support this school but we haven’t seen that in writing.”

Another problem, according to Tillman, is that the budget was missing information.

“I don’t know how to analyze budgets when not all of the numbers are there,” Tillman said.

Browning said his email box was flooded with messages, which conveyed the sense that the school district was preparing to close Union Park.

“It is not the intent of this superintendent or district to close a charter school,” Browning said.

Published April 14, 2021

Pasco County Schools preparing for two new STEAM schools

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The Pasco County school district plans to close Centennial Elementary School in Dade City and Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey, and reopen them as STEAM magnet schools.

The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The conversion of the schools will begin at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, based on an action approved by the Pasco School Board on April 6.

The staff allocations at both schools will be updated for the 2021-2022 school year to reflect these conversions and the newly approved STEAM teacher job description will be used at both schools, as well as at Sanders Memorial Elementary School.

Identified instructional staff members will begin professional development this summer and that will continue into the 2021-2022 school year, with implementation of STEAM curriculum and specialized instructional strategies occurring throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

The student populations and boundaries for both schools will remain status quo for the 2021-2022 school year, with proposed boundary changes to remove the school boundaries for both schools planned for the school board’s consideration and approval this fall.

The boundaries for Centennial and Marlowe will be absorbed into other nearby schools.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the student populations at Centennial and Marlowe  will be determined through the district’s Pasco Pathways process — with priority preference for attendance given to existing students at both schools.

The district is converting the schools to provide more choices to parents, Superintendent Kurt Browning said, during a previous discussion of the issue.

Board member Colleen Beaudoin said parents have been seeking the additional option.

Published April 14, 2021

Divided county board approves apartment request

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The Pasco County Commission voted 3-2 to approve a request for a conditional use to allow a maximum of 248 apartments on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, south of Eagleston Boulevard.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, and commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Christina Fitzpatrick supported the request; commissioners Mike Moore and Jack Mariano opposed it.

That vote followed an initial motion for denial by Moore, seconded by Mariano. But that motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with Starkey, Oakley and Fitzpatrick voting no.

Adventist Health Systems Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation is listed as the applicant, but the hospital chain intends to sell the 16.24-acre site to an apartment developer.

The land currently is zoned for commercial uses.

County regulations allow multifamily development, as a conditional use, in a commercial zoning district — but the county board must approve the conditional use permit.

Pete Pensa, a professional planner from AVID Group representing the applicant, described the proposed development during previous public hearings on the request.

The property is located at 5101 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., about one-fourth mile south of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The new development will feature three four-story buildings, active and passive recreation areas, preservation of open space, and a connection to an existing multi-use trail on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Pensa said.

Planned amenities include walking trails around a pond, a park, a dog park, picnic areas, a clubhouse and a pool.

The site is south of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, which is under construction and expected to open in 2023. The hospital is expected to have over 220 jobs.

County planners and the Pasco County Commission both recommended approval of the conditional use request.

But Moore pushed for denial, during the April 7 public hearing and during a previous public hearing that had been continued.

Moore frequently has criticized what he perceives as an oversaturation of apartment development in District 2, which he represents.

He also has called attention to substantial numbers of residents in Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes — who are opposed to the ever-increasing amount of multifamily development in the area.

Moore has repeatedly implored his colleagues to deny applications that would add to that inventory — citing concerns about potential for long-term negative consequences.

If too much of this type of development is allowed, he said, there’s a prospect of older apartment developments to fall into disrepair and become a community liability — as renters are attracted to newer developments.

He said that has happened in the Brandon area of Hillsborough County, and in the Westshore area of Tampa.

Moore also argues the county should avoid rezoning land now zoned for job-generating uses, such as commercial or industrial properties.

Mariano agrees with that position. The county should retain land designated for uses that create jobs, he said.

But, Starkey said she wants to see evidence that the area is oversaturated with apartments.

County planners are expected to collect data to determine if that’s the case during a proposed 180-day moratorium.

The county board has directed its staff to prepare materials to enact that temporary moratorium, and is expected to vote on the measure on May 4.

If approved, the moratorium would be retroactive to April 1 and would apply to an area roughly defined as between State Road 52, on the north end; U.S. 41, on the west; State Road 54, on the south and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, on the east, with the boundary zig-zagging between District 1, represented by Oakley and District 2, represented by Moore.

The data collection is expected to include the amount of current multifamily development and the extent of multifamily entitlements.

The Pasco County Planning Commission, which has recommended approval of the temporary moratorium, also has called for the collection of vacancy rates, which they said is relevant on this issue.

Published April 14, 2021

Nail salon gets OK, despite neighbors’ objections

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has granted a special exception request by Amber Thomas to allow a nail salon, as a home-based business, on the north side of Carr Road, about 280 feet east of Arms Drive, in Zephyrhills.

Thomas told the county planning board that she’s a nail artist and had been doing nails as a hobby — after she had to let her salon go in August.

But, she said she was seeking permission for a home-based business because she’d been cited by the county and was informed if she wanted to keep doing nails, she’d need to create a business.

Thomas told the planning board that she does nail artistry, which involves creating designs using various materials. It typically takes about 2 hours for an appointment, she said.

County planners recommended approval of her request.

Neighbors, however, objected.

They said a commercial operation would change the dynamics of their neighborhood.

They complained that people coming to Thomas’ home have parked on the street, and that has created hazards for people pulling out of their driveways.

They said neighborhood kids play in the area and ride their bikes there, so any additional traffic could pose safety concerns.

They also raised a concern about the potential for the business to set a precedent for others to set up shop in the neighborhood.

Thomas said there have been cars near her home, but not because of her nail salon clientele.

“I’ve hosted Pampered Chef Parties for friends. I do barbecues. I have Christmas parties. I had people over — my son just got married. I feel like whenever there is anybody at my home, they’re taking it as customers. Like I don’t have a right to have anybody at my house, period,” Thomas said.

She told planning commissioners that she’s willing to limit her nail clients to one at a time, and a maximum of three per day.

She also said she will keep her driveway free, so no one will have to park on the street.

She said she is not trying to disrupt the neighborhood, and she wishes her neighbors had come to talk with her.

“This probably could have been handled differently,” Thomas said.

Planning Commissioner Jaime Girardi noted: “The approval does restrict one customer at a time. People have parties,” he said, and they visitors, too.

“There are times when you do exceed what you can fit just in your driveway,” Girardi said.

“I tend to agree with the applicant that she sometimes is targeted as having customers there when in fact, they’re not customers at all,” he said.

Girardi called for approving the request, with a restriction on hours of operation, a maximum of three customers per day and no on-street parking.

The motion passed, with Planning Commission Chairman Charles Grey and Planning Commissioner Peter Hanzel voting no.

Published April 14, 2021

Business Digest 04/14/2021

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The Laker/Lutz News to be honored
The Laker/Lutz News has been notified that it will receive honors in 21 categories during the Florida Press Association’s 2021 Weekly Newspaper Contest.

The Laker/Lutz News has received a total of 27 awards, which will be bestowed during a July 16 luncheon in Sarasota. Staff members Matt Mistretta, Kevin Weiss and B.C. Manion will receive recognition, along with newspaper contributors Fred Bellet, Christine Holtzman, Joey Johnston, Doug Sanders and Kathy Steele.

Lillian Cucuzza and Steve Vinik also are being honored, in a category for reader-generated photographs.

The Laker/Lutz News, locally owned and published by Diane Kortus, serves the communities of Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio and St. Leo.

Jersey Mike’s supports charities
Jersey Mike’s Subs raised $15 million nationwide to support local charities during is 11th  annual Month-of-Giving campaign. In the Tampa/Saint Petersburg area, its fundraising efforts raised $253,000 for the charity High Risk Hope.

Jersey Mike’s locations nationwide accepted donations throughout the month, building to March 31, Day of Giving, when more than 1,900 restaurants donated 100% of sales, not just profits, to local charities, according to a news release.

This year’s fundraising total is double the amount raised in 2019, when the company donated $7.3 million to local charities.

Last year’s Day of Giving celebrations were canceled because of the pandemic.

Since Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised more than $47 million for local charities, according to the news release.

Tire Kingdom donates tires
Tire Kingdom, which is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, recently donated a set of tires for a vehicle owned by a Tampa nonprofit organization called Project 100, according to a news release.

The Tire Kingdom team at Store 217, at 1005 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, was honored to “play a role and contribute to this worthwhile cause,” Jay Garet, the store manager, said in the release.

Project 100 organizes local events to support the homeless or those in need.

State appointment
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles  has been named to the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation Executive Council by Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, according to a news release.

The 10-member board, created by the Legislature, sets business policy and makes decisions regarding clerks’ court-related budget matters.

Alvarez-Sowles’ term, which lasts for two years, began April 11.

Team Up: Building A Strong Economy Together
The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and Experience Florida’s Sports Coast are co-hosting an event aimed at bringing together representatives of Pasco’s diverse economy, including corporate businesses, entrepreneurs, hoteliers, attraction partners and restauranteurs.

The event, called Team Up: Building A Strong Economy Together, is planned for May 6 at 5 p.m., at AdventHealth Center Ice.

The event includes networking, cocktails, a figure skating showcase, a plated dinner, tourism and economic development presentations, recognition and award celebrations. There also will be a keynote address by Mike Rayburn, who went from playing guitar for seven people in a bar in Virginia to playing in Carnegie Hall.

For more information, call 813-926-0827, or visit PascoEDC.com.

Grand openings/ribbon-cuttings

  • Molly’s Hatchet had its grand opening and ribbon-cutting on April 3, at 38444 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.
  • Fresh Kitchen New Tampa had its grand opening and ribbon-cutting on March 30, at 8648 Hunter’s Village Road in New Tampa.
  • First Watch New Tampa had its official egg-cracking ceremony on April 5 to celebrate its new location at 8646 Hunter’s Village Road in New Tampa.

New offerings at Wiregrass
Some new stores have joined the lineup at The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The new shops include Sephora, Optimal Wellness, Perfume Palace and Gold Mine Jewelers.

The mall also expects to add Token Ramen, Clean Juice and Coffee Latitudes later this year.

For more information, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

Free business workshop
April 20, from noon to 1 p.m.: Learn about the Business Model Canvas, which provides an easier way to develop a business plan. This webinar teaches participants how to visualize in a single page all the building blocks of your business plan, and still follow a detailed and rigorous process. This webinar is being presented by Jose Melgar, a Pasco-Hernando SCORE member.

To register or find out about other resources available through Pasco-Hernando SCORE, visit PascoHernando.score.org.

GrowPasco breakout sessions
Kevin Harrington, a Shark Tank original, is the keynote speaker at GrowPasco, a daylong event offering 12 breakout sessions for entrepreneurs and executives. The registration fee for the event is $40 per person, with a $20 per person rate for Pasco businesses and residents. The event will be on May 8, at Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel, at 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. To register, go to PascoEDC.com.

Pause on multifamily moves step closer in Pasco

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The Pasco County Planning Commission is recommending approval of a six-month moratorium on new applications for multifamily development in a portion of the county.

Planning commissioners also think the land development code should be changed to limit the ability to receive a conditional use approval for multifamily uses on commercial land.

The planning board made both recommendations during its April 1 meeting. The Pasco County Commission is the final authority on both issues.

The area shaded in pink represents the area where a 180-day moratorium is being proposed on applications relating to new entitlements for multifamily developments. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Planning commissioners said a pause on new applications for multifamily uses is needed to give staff time to collect data to determine whether there’s an oversaturation of multifamily within the temporary moratorium area.

Commissioner Mike Moore has repeatedly warned that too much multifamily is being allowed within District 2, which he represents.

A majority of board members voted in February to direct staff to prepare an ordinance to enact a six-month moratorium on new rezoning, conditional use or land use applications that would increase the potential for multifamily, in a specified area.

That specified area, which is contained in Moore’s District 2, is generally defined as between State Road 52, on the end; U.S. 41, on the west; State Road 54 on the south; and, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, on the east, with the boundary zig-zagging between District 1, represented by Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, and District 2.

Not everybody is sold on the idea of enacting a temporary moratorium.

Eric Garduno, representing the Bay Area Apartment Association, said that while the proposed moratorium is temporary, its objective is “to discourage the growth of apartment communities in our county.”

That’s contrary to the county’s comprehensive land use plan, and would be a mistake, Garduno said.

“Apartment communities are a key ingredient to the future success of the county.

“Their development should be encouraged, not discouraged,” he said.

“The latest information I have regarding vacancy rates for apartment communities in Pasco County, is 6.1%, which is really, really low.

“There are just under 15,000 apartment units across the whole county. By comparison, Hillsborough County has 133,000. That is 11 people for every apartment in Hillsborough, and 36 people for every apartment in Pasco County.

“Nationally, 45% of rental households are in apartment communities, of five or more units.

“Only 25% of renters in Pasco County are in apartment communities.”

Garduno pointed to a market study provided to the county board in February.

That analysis, completed by Lesley Deutch, managing principal with John Burns Real Estate Consulting, projects a need for an additional 5,380 Class A apartments in Pasco County over the next five years.

Garduno told planning commissioners: “This demand is fueled by young professionals and empty-nesters, both of whom want amenities and services in and around their communities. He also noted: “Apartments are a key economic driver for the county. They, themselves are employers. This includes onsite teams, as well as a whole host of contractors who maintain and fix appliances and amenities throughout apartment communities,” Garduno added.

“More importantly, I think, for your consideration: They provide the rooftops for commercial investment. You need rooftops, to support retail. You need rooftops to attract major employers.

“Apartment communities get you those rooftops in a small footprint that furthers the comp plan — the comp plan objectives around reducing sprawl, reducing environmental impacts and maximizing the efficient use of infrastructure,” the apartment industry expert said.

Joel Tew, a private zoning and land use attorney, told planning commissioners instead of imposing a moratorium, the county should be encouraging more multifamily development.

“Here, at the peak of unprecedented housing demand, market demand, in this country — unprecedented housing inventory shortage in this country, unprecedented number of young professionals, and empty-nesters and retirees who are wanting apartments and the high-end lifestyle that the current product provides, it is simply a bad message to send to business,” Tew said.

“We should be providing incentives to get product there, to get affordable housing, to get apartment options for those that want to live in Pasco County,” Tew added.

“This whole concept is simply ill-designed to apply to one commission district, for purely political reasons that have nothing to with the comprehensive plan, that have nothing to do with market data, that have nothing to do with market demand,” Tew said.

Planning commissioners said they see the value of the pause, to collect more data.

Planning Commission Chairman Charles Grey put it this way: “They’re saying that this multifamily development is happening so rapidly, in order to make sure we have our arms around it and that we have the right regulations and support, we’re going to need for that, they need some time to review it and make sure they have the proper protocols in place.”

However, Grey and other planning commissioners said the data collection also should include information about vacancy rates — something the county board had not requested.

“I know from my perspective of being in that business, no developer goes in to develop an apartment project without knowing what the vacancy rates are. If the vacancy rates are 15(%) or 20%, he’s not going to build a new complex,” Grey said.

Planning Commissioner Chris Poole thinks the 180-day moratorium is needed, to ensure the county has the facts.

“We need to get it right. The data has got to be right. It’s incumbent on us to make sure we get it right for future generations,” Poole said.

Limiting multifamily on commercial land
While the moratorium is temporary and applies to only a portion of the county, a proposed change regarding conditional uses on commercial land would be a permanent change to the land development code and would apply countywide.

Planning commissioners resisted that proposal at a previous meeting, citing concerns about potential unintended consequences.

Planners brought a revised proposal to the planning board’s April 1 meeting.

That proposal would allow conditional uses to be considered for multifamily uses on general commercial land, if: the proposed multifamily meets the criteria for affordable housing; the multifamily would be part of a mixed-used development, including nonresidential uses; or the proposed multifamily development is located in the county’s West Market area.

Published April 07, 2021

Pasco schools to drop mySchool Online option this fall

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Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has announced that the school district is dropping its mySchool Online option in the fall.

Browning explained the district’s decision in a video and the district issued a news release, as well, to explain the coming change.

“Based on recent positive trends, we expect that there will no longer be the need for (the) mySchool Online option next school year,” Browning said, in the video. “We expect the vast majority of students to be back in the classroom for in-person learning and for our employees to return to the classroom or office.”

The superintendent also shared the district’s rationale for its decision.

“First of all, the Florida Department of Education only authorized Florida school systems to offer mySchool Online-type options for the 2020-2021 school year,” he said.

“Current indications are that such programs will not be authorized by the state for the 2021-2022 school year. In addition, the number of positive COVID-19 cases, involving our students or staff, have decreased dramatically, since the high mark of January,” Browning said.

He added: “We continue to monitor the numbers closely, both in our schools and in the community, at large.

“Finally, we have been very aggressive in making the vaccine readily available to our staff,” he said.

Because of the district’s partnership with the county health department, it has been able to vaccinate thousands of its employees, the superintendent said.

Browning also noted that the number of students choosing the mySchool Online option has been steadily declining.

Initially, 60% of the district’s students chose the in-person, bricks-and-mortar option this school year. That figure has increased to 76%. Twenty-one percent of the district’s students are enrolled in the mySchool Online option; the other 3% attend Pasco eSchool, according to district statistics.

Browning also noted: “Despite our best efforts, our data show that many students who opted for mySchool Online are not succeeding academically and would benefit from a return to in-person learning.

“There’s also a growing body of evidence regarding the mental health benefits of attending school in person, with classmates.”

Browning also addressed the issue of masks.

“We’ve all been looking forward to the time when we can all get back to something close to normal. That raises a question about masks.

“I know we are all looking forward to doing away with the masks. Right now, I can’t say for sure whether masks will be required or optional, or some other status.

“We will provide clear guidance on masks, when we have a better idea of what is possible.

“At this time, we expect we’ll be able to get back to normal in the fall,” Browning said.

Published April 07, 2021

Pasco board approves nearly $200,000 for design work

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The Pasco County Commission has approved $198,500 for design and permitting work for site refurbishment of the East Pasco Transfer Station.

The task order will be accomplished by JMG Engineering Inc., according to agenda background materials for the county board’s March 23 meeting.

The East Pasco Transfer Station, at 9626 Handcart Road, in Dade City, was constructed in 1991 to support the transfer of municipal solid waste from the east side of the county to the county’s Waste-to-Energy Facility located at 14230 Hays Road, in Spring Hill.

The county began expanding the East Pasco Transfer Station in 2017, to increase the overall size of the facility to support the rapid volume of waste growth, driven by development, on the eastern side of Pasco County, the background materials say.

For instance, in fiscal year 2020, the transfer station processed more than 92,800 tons of garbage, up over 25% from the 74,000 tons it processed in fiscal year 2015.

The expanded transfer station enables the facility to handle the increase in tonnage, but the facility also needs to be refurbished, according to county documents.

The structure has experienced wear and deterioration through its many years of operation, and

its refurbishment must meet current codes and operational standards.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requires that the proposed improvement design work be under the direction of a licensed professional engineer.

JMG will perform the design and permitting work necessary to allow the county to put out public bids to refurbish the facility.

Improvements to the site and facility will include:

  • Constructing a new access road that will reduce queuing of vehicles on Handcart Road, which services the transfer station
  • Modifying the stormwater system to support the proposed roadway changes and improve the overall site drainage
  • Designing drawings and specifications to replace the tipping floor pit and metal framing
  • Evaluating the facility roof and exterior walls
  • Designing drawings and specifications for repair and/or replacement, modification, and permitting of the facility’s leachate collection system
  • Evaluating the fire system and developing specifications needed to update the system to the current Florida Building Codes

The scope of work also includes obtaining all applicable permitting and handling any zoning modification that are required.

The refurbishment will allow additional area to handle waste and will provide space for recyclables collection, increasing the efficiency of the county’s collection of recyclables by allowing waste haulers to deliver recycling to the eastern side of the county.

JMG is expected to begin the task this winter and complete it within a year.

Construction is expected to begin in the Spring of 2022 and be completed in Winter 2023. Funds for the construction will be included in the 2022 budget year.

Published April 07, 2021

Connerton ‘downtown’ moving closer to reality

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A plan for a downtown in Connerton — that’s been decades in the making — is moving closer to coming to fruition.

The Pasco County Planning Commission, and the county’s planners, are recommending approval of a change that would set the stage to convert land currently zoned for agricultural into a master-planned development.

The proposal, by applicant Lennar Homes LLC, calls for Connerton Villages III and IV, which would be a master-planned development that would allow a maximum of 2,160 dwelling units, 150,000 square feet of retail, 150,000 square feet of office, a charter school with up to 765 students, an 80-acre district park and the allocation of 7 acres for a library/fire/emergency medical services facility within the villages.

Clarke Hobby, an attorney representing Lennar, said “when Connerton was approved originally over 20 years ago, it included a 300-acre downtown area — in this area — that included a very large community college and over 1 million square feet of regional commercial. So, basically it was going to have a mall.”

The new vision is substantially different.

It has a connectivity plan — including trail systems — that will greatly reduce the dependence on vehicles to get around the community, according to background materials in the agenda packet.

The commercial plan is different, too.

“It’s going to be a bunch of local-serving retail that will benefit the Connerton community, but will not be of regional nature,” Hobby said.

“We’re really excited. We’ve worked with staff for 2½ years to get to this point — and the community plan, and connectivity plan that we’ve created — I believe is going to be one that we’ll all be proud of for generations,” he said.

The only public comment came from Rob Park, who lives in Bahia Acres, which is on the other side of Ehren Cutoff from the proposed development area. Park sent an email to be read into the record.

“Over the years, there has been one variance after another and none of the proposed downtown areas were built,” Park wrote.

“The variation requests address that and reads like a fairytale, and sounds like a dreamland,” he added.

“Issues of congestion, light and noise are not mentioned,” Park continued.

“The proposal does not say one thing about blending in with Bahia Acres across the street, which has generations of residents. I have been there 40 years, and I am the relatively new guy on the block,” Park’s email says.

Hobby responded to Park’s email by noting: “For the planning commission’s benefit, Mr. Park has objected at several hearings about his concerns about Ehren Cutoff, which is a county collector and it is morphing into a larger-scale road.”

Hobby also noted that: “Most of the uses that Mr. Park is concerned about are about a half-mile from Ehren Cutoff and really won’t have an effect on those people on the east side of Ehren Cutoff, and moreover, the uses are really only community-serving retail-sized.”

Planning commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval of the request, to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Published March 31, 2021