The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Connected City

InPrep delivers innovation, through teachers and technology

By

Innovation Preparatory Academy, a public charter school opening in Wesley Chapel next week, is suited for a world that has become increasingly customized and on-demand.

InPrep, at 7800 Avery Scope Way, will deliver face-to-face instruction, live instruction for remote learners, and a hybrid option — which allows students to attend school on campus two days a week and learn remotely on the other three.

The school is part of the Connected City campus being developed by Tampa-based developer Metro Development Group.

Sara Capwell is the principal of Innovation Preparatory School, a pubic charter school that is opening this year in the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel.(Courtesy of Innovation Preparatory Academy)

The Connected City encompasses two Metro Places communities, Epperson and Mirada, each featuring Metro’s exclusive ULTRAFi high-speed internet technology — the fastest internet speeds available with up to 1 Gigabit of speed.

“We wanted to make sure that as part of the Connected City there was a school that supported the big vision of Connected City,” said Kartik Goyani, vice president of operations with Metro Development Group.

Goyani, who grew up in India, said the educational system there was rigid. This school, by contrast, will provide an on-demand, customized form of education.

Principal Sara Capwell said the school’s technology, blended with its instructional method, will deliver a personalized approach to education.

“All of our students are assessed at the beginning, when they first join us. We will develop plans for them that target their areas of need, and extensions, enrichments, as well,” Capwell said.

Whether students are learning face-to-face or remotely, they’ll be able to join in with their teachers and classmates.

“Students will be able to engage in small group instruction with their instructors and peers, utilizing the iPads and specialized cameras that the teachers will have that will be able to follow the teacher, and the teacher’s interactions with the kids,” Capwell said.

It’s as close as students can get, she said, “to actually being there together.”

“If I’m a first-grader, for instance, and it’s time for reading class and I’m at home, I’ll join in. The platform we’re using is Schoology.

A rendering of the front of the school, in an aerial view.

“All of my courses will be in one area, one folder on my iPad, where I can click on my reading link. When I go there, I’ll have my Zoom access for that class, right there, too. My assignments are right there. And, if the teacher wants to assign me an assignment that the other kids don’t have, it’s there, too.

“Then, I click on the Zoom. I interact with the teacher. I can raise my hand and ask questions. I can collaborate with a peer, using the cameras,” Capwell said.

Goyani added: “We wanted to make sure that everyone has access to the same software, the same learning platform, and then they have the hardware device at home, so they’re not left behind.”

To ensure that all students will be able to fully participate, the school is providing a device for each student, regardless how many children a family has, Capwell said.

Kartik Goyani, a vice president with Metro Development Group, said the opening of Innovation Preparatory Academy represents the fruition of a dream that began more than four years ago. He grew up in India, where the education system was rigid. He’s excited about the possibilities that InPrep will offer its students.

Classes also will be recorded, so if a child has to miss a live session, it can be viewed later.

Another thing that sets the school apart is its collaborative approach to teaching, the principal said.

“Grade-level instructors instruct together, as a team, with a grade level of students,” Capwell said. “Each teacher has an area of expertise, that he or she has been hired for, and that is the primary expert teacher for that content area, and the other teachers actually provide support throughout that content time, as co-teachers and co-facilitators. They pull small groups. They provide direct instruction to individual students or small groups, while the content expert is providing the direct, overall instruction.”

The school has adopted a WISH model of education, which stands for wellness, innovation, science and health.

To promote wellness, the school has a partnership with AdventHealth West Florida. It also has two indoor wellness tracks. In addition to wellness walks, there will be other wellness activities, such as yoga and meditation, Capwell said.

The idea is to make wellness a part of daily life, Goyani said.

The school also will emphasize science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Capwell said.

InPrep is part of Charter Schools USA, Inc.

It will serve students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, but initially is opening as a K-6 school, and will add grades seven and eight in in subsequent years.

InPrep will have a maximum enrollment of 615 this year, with students coming from Wesley Chapel, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes and other communities, Capwell said.

Both she and Goyani are excited about opening the new school.

“We think this is going to be a school unlike anything else that the state has ever seen —  so that’s the part that I’m most excited about,” Goyani said.  “I can’t wait to welcome parents and kids on Aug. 24.”

Innovation Preparatory Academy, K-6
7800 Avery Scope Way, Wesley Chapel
Principal: Sara Capwell, (954) 202-3500

Other area charter schools*

Hillsborough County
Learning Gate, K-8
16215 Hanna Road, Lutz
Principal: Michelle Mason, (813) 948-4190

Lutz Preparatory, K-8
17951 N. U.S. 41, Lutz
Principal: Bonnie Guertin, (813) 428-7011

Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, K-8
18681 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz
Principal: Dr. Judith Moore, (813) 616-5099

Pasco County
Academy at the Farm, K-8
9500 Alex Lange Way, Dade City
Principal: Ray Polk, (352) 588-0508

Countrywide Montessori Charter School, 1-8
5852 Ehren Cutoff, Land O’ Lakes
Principal: Michael Picone, (813) 996-0991

Imagine Charter School of Land O’ Lakes, K-9
2940 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
Principal: Aimee Williams, (813) 428-7444

Published August 19, 2020

New interchange will ease congestion

By

Construction crews could be turning dirt within months on a new interchange at Interstate 75 and Overpass Road.

A contractor is expected to be selected by August, and completion is expected about 2 ½ years after construction begins.

The junction frequently is identified as a “gateway” into Pasco County, and a potential catalyst for new development in a largely rural area already experiencing a burst of growth.

The new I-75/Overpass Road interchange is expected to significantly reduce the volume of vehicles per day here and at two other interchanges. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“It has a regional impact for Pasco,” said Bill Cronin, president and chief executive officer of the Pasco Economic Development Council. “Another exit opens into the county where we have potential for residential and commercial growth. That is another big gateway for Pasco County from the north but from the east, too.”

On a more local scale, the new interchange is expected to ease traffic congestion, bring more connectivity to northeast Pasco cities, and give the county another evacuation route for hurricanes and other emergencies.

“The benefit to the county is just tremendous,” said Margaret Smith, Pasco’s director of engineering services. “We’re giving residential and commercial users a whole other entrance. It takes the volume of traffic off the two busiest interchanges.”

Margaret Smith

Situated about halfway between I-75 interchanges with County Road 54 and State Road 52, traffic engineers estimate a reduction of about 13,000 vehicles per day at each interchange.

It also opens up an east/west route that aids current development in the area, including the futuristic Connected City and its Crystal Lagoon, as well as the Villages of Pasadena Hills.

Once the contractor is selected, final design details will be completed. Conceptually, though, the interchange is expected to be a modified diamond exchange with a flyover.

Pasco County is paying for the project, except for $15 million provided by the Florida Legislature. The final price tag has not yet been determined.

In this rendering, cars are eastbound as they approach the I-75/Overpass Road interchange.

The Florida Department of Transportation is partnering as managers of the project — which includes vetting the construction bids.

It’s significant that Pasco will get a new interchange along one of the major state highways in the country, Cronin said.

Interstate 75 begins in the south at Miami Lakes, Florida and passes through five states before it ends at Sault St. Marie, Michigan, on the Canadian border.

While roadwork and new development, along State Road 54, State Road 52 and the Suncoast Parkway, are highly visible, the I-75 interchange’s potential can be overlooked, Cronin said.

But, its role in attracting developers for commercial, residential and industrial projects will be significant, he added.

The new I-75/Overpass Road interchange will feature a flyover.

“You’ve got pretty good sites for industrial growth,” he said.

And, projects, such as distribution centers, built on speculation, will attract new economic development, he said.

“As soon as you announce that, 10 are in there,” Cronin said. “Space is needed so badly.”

Even Connected City, with its residential and unique Crystal Lagoon, includes industrial in its overall master plan, Cronin said.

Development in the area off the Overpass interchange is well-suited for distribution and office centers “where staff will be driving to work,” Cronin said.

That is in contrast to Suncoast Parkway development, which has “more value for people flying in and out of airports,” he added.

One beneficiary of the new interchange is a former county-owned spray field just south of Overpass Road at the interchange.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (File)

Pasco County commissioners approved a land sale in December 2019, and an incentive package, to aid Atlanta-based Rooker Company in developing the 99-acre site as an industrial park.

In phase one, Rooker plans to build a 400,000-square-foot distribution center that is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Pasco.

“We hope they’ll duplicate this over and over, and over again,” Cronin said.

Amid the new development, the Pasco Rural Protection Overlay District stands as a protection for rural lands and landscapes. Its borders generally are Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, the Green Swamp, State Road 52 and the Hernando County line.

Job creation and growth matters, said Cronin, but development decisions must be made with care.

“Once you use it, you can’t get it back,” he said. “There are a lot of things up there we don’t want to touch.”

In coming years, future and ongoing projects will create more east/west connections that will weave a network of new roadways. They include the Overpass interchange, but also extending State Road 56, widening and realigning State Road 52, and a realignment of U.S. 301 and U.S. 98, with connections to I-75 to the west, and Interstate 4 to the east.

“It’s coming together really well,” Cronin said. “The county has really championed this effort.”

The following highlights features of the new I-75/Overpass Road interchange:

  • Overpass Road from Old Pasco Road to I-75 will be four lanes with bike lanes, a sidewalk on the south side of Overpass, and multi-use trail on the north side of Overpass.
  • Overpass Road bridge will be four lanes with an eastbound to northbound turn-lane. The bridge will include bike lanes, a sidewalk and multi-use paths.
  • Overpass Road from I-75 to Boyette Road will be six lanes with two auxiliary lanes, bike lanes, a sidewalk, multi-use path, turn lane improvements at Overpass and Boyette, and a traffic signal.
  • A traffic signal will be installed at Old Pasco Road and Overpass.
  • Blair Drive access to Overpass will be closed, but a new two-lane road constructed from Blair to Old Pasco, south of Overpass.
  • Current McKendree Road access at Overpass will be relocated to alternate location on Boyette, north of Overpass.
  • Current secondary entry into Wesley Chapel District Park will be closed, with park entrance reconfigured for multi-modes of transportation, including for pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Overpass between Old Pasco and Boyette will be closed for up to one year during interchange construction.

Published June 17, 2020

Borrow pit approved, despite neighbors’ objections

By

The Pasco County Commission has approved a request to allow 500,000 cubic yards of dirt to be excavated from a site on the south side of Tyndall road, about three-quarters of a mile west of the intersection Tyndall and Curley roads, in Wesley Chapel.

The permit and conditional use request were approved unanimously by the Pasco County Commission on June 2, despite concerns raised by area residents.

Based on the board’s action, the applicant can excavate and export dirt from about 30 acres of an overall site of 59 acres.

County staff found the request consistent with the county’s land development code — contingent on 31 conditions for approval.

Joel Tew, an attorney representing the applicant Sandhills Flats LLC, said the conditions required by the county staff are standard for this type of operation.

“We did not negotiate or quibble with any of those.”

“The property owners commit to make sure the pit operator complies with them. I intend to attach those conditions to the contract of the pit operator so that they have no choice but to comply,” Tew said.

The pit operator will be required to comply with noise-level limits, operating hours and other county conditions, Tew said.

“We have specific requirements for Tyndall Road maintenance. We have to post a maintenance bond with the county to ensure that our operator complies with those maintenance requirements of Tyndall Road.

“We have to maintain access conditions to all adjacent properties,” he said.

He also noted that more than three-fourths of the way from Tyndall Road out to Curley Road, there are no residences on either side.

Signage will be required, no stacking of trucks will be allowed on Tyndall and no trucks will go west on Tyndall from the site,  Tew said.

He also noted: “Due to the Connected City’s approvals, which you are aware of, there is already a requirement for Tyndall Road to be permanently improved to county standard, that is already in the construction plan review process by Metro, related to the Epperson CC (Connected City) MPUD (master planned unit development).”

Although the permit allows two years of operations, Tew said the hope is that dirt will be excavated and exported within a few months.

“You can’t develop those Connected City properties and VOPH (Villages of Pasadena Hills) without fill dirt,” Tew said.

But, neighbors living west of the site raised objections.

Mark Stober, who has lived on Tyndall Road for about 12 years, said the road cannot handle the heavy truck traffic.

“Tyndall, as a completely unimproved dirt road, already turns into an absolute mud pit during heavy rains, which we inevitably experience every year, and that’s without heavy trucks,” he said.

“There’s no way the company would be able to maintain that road during that period unless they substantially improve the road by either paving it or laying down a considerable amount of lime rock or stone to elevate the roadbed,” he added.

Instead of merely maintaining the road, the applicant should be required to improve it, Stober said.

Christopher Abati, also opposes the borrow pit.

“I have lived on Tyndall Road for 24 years, in peace and quiet,” he said, via email. “I do not want the borrow pit for our neighborhood.”

Abati added: “Our quality of life here is in jeopardy.”

Ernest Black, who also lives on Tyndall Road, asked, via email, whether the project would affect the area’s water table.

“This just seems like a bad idea for all of us living here,” he added.

Commissioner Ron Oakley, noting the county had placed “very good restrictions” on the project, made a motion for approval, which passed unanimously.

Published June 10, 2020

inPrep charter school to open this fall

By

When Innovation Preparatory Academy, a new charter school in Wesley Chapel, opens this fall, it will usher in new opportunities in technology and innovation for students, according to officials at the groundbreaking ceremony last week for the school.

“It would be easy just to throw another school building up here. That’s not what you’re going to see,” said Jonathan Hage, the founder, chairman, president and CEO of Charter Schools USA.

Greg Singleton, CEO of Metro Development Group, shared details of Innovation Preparatory Academy, or inPrep for short, that is set to open this fall in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

“You’re going to see a learning environment that’s truly on the very cutting edge of what is the best in the country,” said Hage, whose organization will be operating the school, under a partnership with Metro Development Group.

“This is actually one of the most innovative school projects we’ve ever been a part of, in our 22 years of building and operating charter schools around the country,” the education professional said.

“We’re going to be looking at the technology in a wholly different way because we have the 5G network,” Hage said. “They created a project from the ground up that’s designed to ensure that parents have amazing options and choices for their children.

“I’ll tell you, it’s a testament of the work that’s been done on the ground here, by an innovative team that wanted to make sure that we put the kids first in this county and make sure that the families had something that was unique for them,” Hage added.

Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group, told the crowd: “We’re super excited about what’s going on here. The goal here is to make this one of the best educational facilities in this particular region.”

The K-8 school, which will be called inPrep for short, will have a capacity for 765 students.

It will open this fall as a K-6 school, adding seventh grade in its second year of operation, and eighth grade the year after that.

“We’re going to use a curriculum called the WISH model, which stands for Wellness, Innovation, Science and Health. And, also, the science courses will be based on the STEM model, which is used to kind of motivate kids to get interested in science and technology, and engineering and math.

“Also, for the gifted and high-achieving students, inPrep is going to offer programs that are designed by England’s University of Cambridge to meet the needs (of those students.)

“Obviously, it took a Herculean effort to pull this off,” Singleton said, thanking the Metro team involved in the effort, as well as Red Apple Development, Charter Schools USA, Pasco County Schools, the Pasco County Commission and Pasco County government.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley was there to celebrate the groundbreaking.

He praised the progress being made in Connected City, which encompasses two Metro Places communities — Epperson and Mirada.

Each of those communities has a multi-acre Crystal Lagoon and Metro’s exclusive ULTRAFi high-speed Internet technology.

Pasco School Board member Alan Altman noted, “this is extremely rare to have such a cooperative partnership arrangement between a private developer and the county and the school district, and see an innovative charter school come in.”

He touched on the variety of academic programs the school district has added, to provide more choice for parents and students, and this charter school offers another new option.

“The more I learn about other school districts around the state, the more appreciative I am of Pasco County, and our board and our superintendent who have stepped out and said, ‘We want to provide choice. We want to provide opportunities.’

“The families and the citizens of this community will benefit for years to come because of the cooperation that has allowed this to be another opportunity for learning for our students,” Altman said.

Hage, too, marveled at the partnerships involved in the project.

The future is bright, he said, “when people still care about education this much and in this way.

“You see families and kids and business people and elected leaders all coming together, and doing what’s right for families and kids, that’s a unique thing.

“You don’t often see that,” Hage said.

Singleton encouraged parents who are interested to sign up soon.

“I think this is going to fill up immediately because this is something really special,” he said.

For more information, visit inPrep.com.

Published February 26, 2020

New regional headquarters coming to Pasco County

By

Phillips & Jordan Inc., a heavy civil and right of way infrastructure contractor, plans to locate a regional headquarters just east of the State Road 52 and Interstate 75 interchange.

The national company has purchased 5 acres and is investing more than $15 million in a 47,432-square-foot facility, according to a news release from the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

The national company is building the new Class A office building in the One Pasco Center business park.

The site plans for the project have been submitted to Pasco County and construction is expected to start late this year.

The company plans to move 40 employees onto two floors of the office building, leaving one floor available for speculative space, the release says.

“This is going to be a huge project for the area,” Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC said in the release. “Not only is this their regional corporate office headquarters, but they are including speculative space in the project, which is in high demand right now. I’m thrilled to see the investments in that area come to life.”

Art Phelps, vice president of Phillips & Jordan, said “we are excited to continue our growth in the state of Florida having found a perfect site right off of I-75 that is so close to the skilled workforce we are looking to attract.”

“This site is strategically located close to Connected City and Wesley Chapel in north Tampa Bay, and it provides a larger operation base for P&J to serve all of our clients throughout Florida,” Phelps added, in the release.

The Pasco EDC assisted the company with advisory services to its site consultant, regulatory assistance and expedited permitting. It also will assist with workforce and training needs in the future.

Ron Oakley, chairman of the Pasco County Commission, also weighed in.

“The diversification this project brings is great for an area that has long focused on agriculture,” Oakley said, in the release.

Published September 11, 2019

School district responds to Pasco’s booming growth

By

As Pasco County’s rapid growth continues, the county school district is constructing a middle school, expanding existing locations, planning future facilities and acquiring new sites.

Earlier this month, the Pasco County School Board took initial steps to add a 10-classroom addition at Bexley Elementary School, 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., which just opened in 2017 in a subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

As the Bexley development continues to grow, Pasco County Schools are planning to add a 10-classroom addition to the school, which opened in 2017, to accommodate an additional 200 students. (Christine Holtzman)

The board also took action to move ahead on a 20-classroom expansion at Sunlake High School, at 3023 Sunlake Blvd., another Land O’ Lakes school feeling the squeeze from area growth.

The Bexley expansion will increase the school’s capacity by 200 students, bringing its total to 1,106; Sunlake’s capacity will increase by 400, bringing it to 2,041.

Both wings should be open for the 2020-21 school year.

Not far away, the district is wrapping up a $29 million makeover at Land O’ Lakes High School, at 20325 Gator Lane, in Land O’ Lakes. The project is expected to boost capacity by 500 students.

The district also plans to build a K-8 school in the Starkey Ranch development, off State Road 54, another Central Pasco school. That three-story school is expected to open in 2021.

The middle school portion will have a capacity of 1,200, while the elementary school will house 800.

Sunlake High School has been feeling the squeeze from new growth. (B.C. Manion)

Other projects are underway or in the plans in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and other parts of East Pasco County.

Cypress Creek Middle School, on Overpass Road south of State Road 52, is under construction. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020.

The new school is being built on the campus, which has been serving students in grades six through 12. It is expected to have a capacity of 1,600 students, making it the district’s largest middle school.

The district initially had intended to open a high school and a middle school on the site, but fell short of funds, so opened the high school building and split the facilities between a middle school and a high school.

When the middle school opens, boundary changes will be needed to fill up the schools.

Bexley Elementary is just one of the schools in Pasco County that is experiencing enrollment growth, as surrounding areas continue to gain population. (B.C. Manion)

Superintendent Kurt Browning told the board at its June 4 meeting that parents were notified by telephone before the end of the school year that they may be affected by a pending rezoning, Browning said.

“We will be doing a lot of address verification work over the summer, in those affected areas. “And then, we will begin late summer putting maps together and really amping up that process,” Browning said.

Meanwhile, a $33 million renovation is underway at Zephyrhills High School. In addition to significant upgrades, the school will boost its capacity by 500 students.

The district is planning a technical school in East Pasco, which is expected to open in 2022 and will affect high school enrollments on the east side of the county.

Beyond that, work continues to secure future school sites.

This new development is going up catty-corner from Sunlake High School, which will be adding a 20-classroom wing, to increase its capacity by 400.

At its recent meeting, the board approved moving forward toward acquisition of 65 acres on the north side of proposed State Road 52, one-half mile east of Curley Road, south of St. Leo, on what is known as the Merrymeeting site. The purchase price is $25,000 an acre.

The district previously approved acquisition of 104 acres near the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel, on a site at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads, directly across the street from future phases of Epperson Ranch, and just south of the future Mirada development.

That acreage potentially will be used to house a future high school and/or a future kindergarten through eighth grade campus. The full sales price was slightly more than $2 million.

The district also has acquired land on Handcart Road, with the bulk of the acreage purchased for $28,500 per acre in 2008 and some additional acreage purchased in 2010, at $15,455 per acre.

Published June 19, 2019

Biscayne Homes now in Epperson

By

Biscayne Homes is a new homebuilder in Tampa Bay whose partners bring 30-plus years of expertise in exceptional construction practices and innovative design to the Wesley Chapel community of Epperson.

“Compared to other homes in our price range, we believe we build a better home with superior construction methods and floor plans never seen before in Tampa Bay,” said David Adler, a partner in the business.

This fabulous, high-end kitchen in the Sabal 3 model home flows gracefully into a large dining area that overlooks a huge covered lanai.

Working with Adler is Emmanuel Stern, who also heads up the company’s Epperson community of 107 single-family homes.

“All of our homes are built on 75-foot lots — the largest homesites available in Epperson,” said Stern. “And, our homes have the closest proximity to the Crystal Lagoon in the community.”

All Biscayne Homes residences are just a short walk or bicycle ride to Epperson’s unique Crystal Lagoon pool and recreation area. This 7.5-acre, 16-million-gallon amenity has crystal-clear water that is perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, paddle-boarding, sailing on small boats and relaxing in its quiet cabana coves.

“We chose Epperson as our first community because we want to be part of the Crystal Lagoon phenomenon and the fabulous amenities it offers our buyers,” said Stern.

Open House This Weekend
Biscayne Homes is hosting an open house of its Sabal 3 model home this weekend, April 27 and April 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also the following weekend, May 2 and May 3.

The Sabal 3 model is beautifully decorated and offers a spacious floor plan at 4,271 square feet. The home has coffered ceilings in its oversized living room, master bedroom and dining room; a high-end kitchen with an oversized island; and, 3 bedrooms on the first floor. The second floor boasts a large bonus room and 4th and 5th bedrooms. The home also has 4.5 baths.

Every Biscayne Homes floor plan has the option to convert a side garage and adjacent flex room to a large and airy in-law suite, featuring a bedroom, private living area, full bath and lots of windows for natural lighting.

The side garage is also ideal for active families to store bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards and even golf carts — all to enhance their new Crystal Lagoon lifestyle.

Biscayne Homes executives are also excited to be introducing its superior construction process to the Tampa market.

“Our homes are built to the high standards required in south Florida, which means our homes are more wind and water resistant than most homes built in Tampa,” said Adler. “An example is our use of concrete block, which we use instead of wood, to build the second floor of our homes.”

Biscayne Homes also incorporates the latest in international design trends that are popular in south Florida, but new to this area.

“We design our homes so that all space is truly usable, and that all living areas flow smoothly together,” said Adler. “We offer as standard features 10-foot ceilings, and large bedrooms that easily accommodate queen-size beds and dressers.”

Homes Starting In The Mid $400s
In addition to the Sabal 1, 2 and 3 floor plans, Biscayne Homes offers six more distinct floor plans, each with three unique elevations — Key West, Modern and Mediterranean. As a semi-custom builder, its floor plans can be customized to meet the needs of every buyer, including moving walls to create larger rooms.

Homes begin at 3,174 square feet with the one-story Sabal 1, and go up to 5,227 square feet with the two-story Canary 3. Prices begin in the mid $400s.

Epperson Amenities
Epperson’s Crystal Lagoon is the length of five football fields, with fingers that stretch out 1/4 mile in length from the main lagoon. The lagoon’s average depth is 8 feet, with some areas as deep as 12 feet, and features swim-up bars and restaurants along its shores.

Located inside Pasco County’s Connected City corridor, Epperson residents have ULTRAFi, which offers 1 gigabit of Internet speed and up to 1 gigabit at individual homes.

“Living in an ULTRAFi community means there are no buffering delays as residents play, watch, game, surf and stream by the pool, on the trails, at the playground and right inside their homes,” said Stern.

About Biscayne Homes
Biscayne Homes’ partners have decades of experience, including leadership positions with Builders Association of South Florida and earning its top distinction as Builder of the Year. Together, this team has been responsible for creating 30,000 new homes in Florida, Texas and other key destinations around the world, with homes ranging from $300,000 to $15 million.

“With our key focus on craftsmanship and personalized customer service, we invite you to visit our new model and see firsthand the unique homes we build at Epperson, while exploring the community’s unique lagoon lifestyle,” said Stern.

Tour Biscayne Homes’ model home at 7858 Roma Dune Drive, Wesley Chapel, FL 33545. For more information, visit BiscayneHomes.com, call (813) 291-4886, or email .

Published April 24, 2019

Biscayne Homes Opens Model In Epperson

By

Biscayne Homes is a new homebuilder in Tampa Bay whose partners bring 30-plus years of expertise in superior construction practices and innovative design to the Wesley Chapel community of Epperson.

“Compared to other homes in our price range, we believe we build a better home with superior construction methods and floor plans never seen before in Tampa Bay,” said David Adler, a partner in the business.

All Biscayne Homes residences are just a short walk or bicycle ride to Epperson’s unique Crystal Lagoon pool.

Working with Adler is Emmanuel Stern, who also heads up the company’s Epperson community of 107 single-family homes.

“All of our homes are built on 75-foot lots — the largest homesites available in Epperson,” said Stern. “And, our homes have the closest proximity to the Crystal Lagoon in the community.”

All Biscayne Homes residences are just a short walk or bicycle ride to Epperson’s unique Crystal Lagoon pool and recreation area. This 7.5-acre, 16-million-gallon amenity has crystal clear water that is perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, paddle-boarding, sailing on small boats and relaxing in its quiet cabana coves.

“We chose Epperson as our first community because we want to be part of the Crystal Lagoon phenomenon and the fabulous amenities it offers our buyers,” said Stern.

Grand Opening
Biscayne Homes is celebrating the grand opening of its Sabal 3 model home this weekend, March 30 and March 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., both days. Open houses will continue the following two weekends: April 6 and April 7, and April 13 and April 14.

Culminating its grand opening celebrations is a ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 11 from 4 to 6 p.m., which is being hosted by the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

The Sabal 3 model is beautifully decorated and offers a spacious floor plan at 4,271 square feet. The home has coffered ceilings in its oversized living room, master bedroom and dining room, a high-end kitchen with an oversized island, 3 bedrooms on the first floor, a large bonus room, and 4th and 5th bedrooms on the second floor, and 4.5 baths.

All Biscayne Homes floor plans have the option to convert a side garage and adjacent flex room to a large and airy in-law suite with a bedroom, private living area, full bath and lots of windows for natural lighting.

The side garage is also ideal for active families to store bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards and even golf carts — all which enhance their Crystal Lagoon lifestyle.

Biscayne Homes executives are also excited to be introducing its superior construction process to the Tampa market.

“Our homes are built to the high standards required in south Florida, which means our homes are more wind and water resistant than most homes built in Tampa,” said Adler. “An example is our use of concrete block, instead of wood, to build the second floor of our homes.”

Biscayne Homes also incorporates the latest in international design trends that are popular in south Florida, but new to this area.

“We design our homes so that all space is truly usable, and that all living areas flow smoothly together,” said Adler. “We also offer as standard features 10-foot ceilings and large bedrooms that easily accommodate queen-size beds and dressers.”

In addition to the Sabal 1, 2 and 3 floor plans, Biscayne Homes offers six more distinct floor plans, offering three unique elevations — Key West, Modern and Mediterranean. As a semi-custom builder, their floor plans can be customized to meet the needs of the buyer, including moving walls to create larger rooms.

Homes begin at 3,174 square feet with the one-story Sabal 1, and go up to 5,227 square feet with the two-story Canary 3. Prices begin in the mid $400s.

Epperson Amenities
Epperson’s Crystal Lagoon is the length of five football fields with fingers that stretch out 1/4 mile in length from the main lagoon. The lagoon’s average depth is 8 feet, with some areas as deep as 12 feet, and features swim-up bars and restaurants along its shores.

Located inside Pasco County’s Connected City corridor, Epperson residents have ULTRAFi, which offers 1 gigabit of Internet speed and up to 1 gigabit at individual homes.

“Living in an ULTRAFi community means there are no buffering delays as residents play, watch, game, surf and stream by the pool, on the trails, at the playground and right inside their homes,” said Stern.

About Biscayne Homes
Biscayne Homes’ partners have decades of experience, including leadership positions with Builders Association of South Florida Past President and earning the top distinction of Builder of the Year. Together, this team has been responsible for creating 30,000 new homes in Florida, Texas, and other key destinations around the world, with homes ranging in price from $300,000 to $15 million.

“With our key focus on craftsmanship and personalized customer service, we invite you to visit our new model and see firsthand the unique homes we build at Epperson, along with the community’s unique lagoon lifestyle,” said Stern.

Tour Biscayne Homes’ model home at 7858 Roma Dune Drive, Wesley Chapel, FL 33545. For more information, visit BiscayneHomes.com, call (813) 291-4886, or email .

Published March 27, 2019

School board eyes 104-acre site near Connected City

By

The Pasco County School Board has approved the acquisition of a 104-acre site near the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel.

The school district anticipates there will a need for future schools as more residents move into Connected City, which includes Epperson Ranch and other future developments.

Pasco County Schools is proceeding with steps to purchase a 104-acre site at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads. The school district said that more schools will be needed in the area, as more residents move into the Connected City, which is just across the street. (Christine Holtzman)

The site is at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads, directly across the street from future phases of Epperson Ranch and just south of the future Mirada development.

The board’s unanimous vote allows district staff to proceed with the necessary steps to acquire the property from the owners of Kirkland Ranch.

This acreage would potentially house a future high school and/or future kindergarten through eighth grade school, according to a school board document prepared by Chris Williams, director of planning services for the school district.

The owners have agreed to sell the property to the school district for $20,000 per acre, with the full sales price expected to be slightly more than $2 million.

The purchase is contingent on the completion of two independent appraisals, due diligence and some additional conditions.

Part of the agreement includes that the entire campus to be constructed at the site shall be named the Kirkland Ranch Campus, subject to applicable school board policy.

The campus may include one or more of the following types of schools: elementary, middle, high, vocational training or magnet.

The agreement also stipulates that once the campus is named, the name cannot be changed for a minimum of 50 years subsequent to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, or completion.

The proposed sale is also subject to other requirements, which include allowing the seller to use the land for livestock grazing purposes at no rental until such time the school district commences construction of the campus.

The school district also agrees to build a barbed wire fence to separate the property from the seller’s remaining land to the south.

Published March 13, 2019

BayCare wants to build new hospital in Pasco

By

BayCare has received preliminary approval of an application to build a new 60-bed hospital on a 111-acre site, at the northeast quadrant of Interstate 75 and Overpass Road.

The Agency for Health Care Administration on Dec. 10 announced preliminary approval of the hospital’s application for a Certificate of Need.

Tommy Inzina, president/CEO of BayCare (Courtesy of BayCare)

As part of its application, BayCare outlined plans that include:
• Construction of the hospital
• Recruitment of primary care practitioners
• Implementation of additional behavioral health services
• A commitment to community outreach, wellness and education activities
• An investment in training and education for Pasco County school students interested in health care careers.

Tommy Inzina, president/CEO of BayCare, said the new hospital would provide medical services in a growing area of Pasco County.

The proposed site meshes well with the hospital’s need to take the long view, Inzina said, noting, “hospitals have to have a plan for 50 or 100 years.”

When BayCare was considering locating a hospital in Pasco, it began looking north of Wesley Chapel, to meet the growing need moving north along the Interstate 75 corridor, the hospital executive said.

BayCare wanted a site near Interstate 75, to make the site easily accessible, and it wanted 50 acres or more of land, Inzina said.

“There’s just not an infinite number of sites that would meet that definition,” Inzina said.

The property at I-75 and Overpass Road fit the bill.

Inzina noted the property is “a large enough piece of property to not only accommodate the hospital needs today, but what the needs might look like 30, 40, 50 years into the future.”

There are plans to create an interchange at I-75 and Overpass Road, and the area is poised for considerable growth, as new developments occur in the state-approved Connected City corridor, which covers about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County, bordered by I-75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

The timing for construction of the new hospital is unclear at this point, Inzina said.

Adventist Health, which operates Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and Florida Hospital Dade City in Pasco County, has raised objections to BayCare’s application.

Inzina said BayCare expects to know by early January whether Adventist Health will appeal.

Inzina said the state was aware of the objections that were raised and BayCare’s responses, when it issued its preliminary approval for the Certificate of Need.

“If they (Adventist Health) appeal this, it could take perhaps up to a year to work through the appeals process,” Inzina said.

Meanwhile, BayCare will continue preparing for the new hospital, Inzina said.

“You can’t begin construction without a Certificate of Need, but we can do all of the planning we want to,” he said. For example, the hospital can work to secure the proper zoning for the land.

Typically, it takes 3 ½ to 4 years for a hospital project to be completed, including design, permitting and construction, Inzina said.

No specific figures are available for the project’s cost, but Inzina offered a rough estimate ranging from $250 million to $300 million.

BayCare expects hospital construction to bring hundreds of jobs to the area. It also expects about 300 permanent positions at the hospital by the second year of hospital operations.

Additionally, BayCare expects the hospital’s economic impact to include surrounding growth, including medical offices and other businesses.

BayCare Health System operates 15 hospitals in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida regions.

Published December 19, 2018