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County Road 54

Zephyrhills development yields roadway concerns

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The City of Zephyrhills is experiencing booming growth and development that includes thousands of new homes and myriad commercial projects — and that’s on top of a newfound tourism and visitor rush felt with the opening of the $4.9 million Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, at 6585 Simons Road.

As the city begins to add new population and outsiders, concerns are increasing about the ability of the city’s road ways being able to sustain traffic arising from all the happenings in the small East Pasco town.

Those qualms were front and center at a Zephyrhills City Council meeting last month.

“We’re having tremendous growth right now, and I think it’s really hard to stay ahead of it, I really do, from a traffic management standpoint,” Councilman Lance Smith said.

Zephyrhills development yields roadway concerns. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

“We see it in (Pasco County). In the county we see the lag that’s happened, and my gosh, how long have they been working on (State Road) 54, adding additional lanes? I’m just concerned that we stay ahead of it,” the councilman said.

Smith directed attention to the Abbott Square development that will add some 700 units surrounding the new tennis center on Simons Road.

The roadway is already becoming a problem with motorists trying to make left-hand turns off the Simons Road/Eiland Boulevard intersection, without a traffic signal, he said.

He also observed “cars stacked up turning left” during a recent event at the tennis complex, therefore increasing the likelihood of accidents and wrecks.

“People get frustrated when they can’t make that left-hand turn, and they’re willing to take a chance when they do that,” Smith said.  “We need to do something.”

In response, Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe explained a signalized intersection improvement is tied into a developer’s agreement with the Abbott Square homebuilder, Lennar Corporation. Meanwhile, the city is looking to time up those signalized improvements and connect Simons Road into Fort King Road by the end of 2021, Poe said.

Smith credited city staff for “doing a really good job” with facilitating various development projects — along with getting some transportation projects in the pipeline, such as the busy U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road and County Road 54/U.S. 301 intersections.

But he cautioned that those involved must think of any potential issues that might result before construction actually begins on a particular project: “Just put on your thinking cap when you’re looking at these developments, ‘How’s it going to impact the road network around it?’”

Smith brought up the example of consulting engineers not including a right-hand turn lane into the recent State Road 56/Morris Bridge Road project.

He said: “Let’s try and avoid (those mistakes). Somebody holler and say, ‘Hey, you forgot this.’ It’s a shame to open up a new road and have these goat trails on the side where people are coming up and making their own right-hand turn lane.”

Meanwhile, another Zephyrhills roadway issue brewing is the sustainability of Wire Road. Nearby construction is afoot on Abbott Park, a 500-plus unit development popping up on the site of the former Gore Dairy Supply property.

Councilman Alan Knight observed: “Wire Road’s taking a beating already and you know with the new people coming in, and we’re looking at 500 homes — whew, it’s going to be tough (to maintain).”

Poe explained that Wire Road is scheduled to be repaved at some point but has been pushed back due to Abbott Park’s construction. Also, Poe said city officials are having internal discussions to find some way to get a utility transmission pole relocated, so that Wire Road can be connected with Kossik Road. There’s also designed plans — but not yet budgeted —  for Dairy Road to be extended north to connect with Kossik Road, the city manager said.

Meanwhile, Knight and other council members called for additional funding and resources to move such transportation projects forward.

Knight, for one, made a vocal plea for more help from the Pasco County Commission: “There’s a lot of money coming from our county commissioners that are going other areas…and some of that money needs to come to us. I’ll be the first to be very vocal about it. I see where a lot is going to Wesley Chapel; I understand the growth. I understand a lots going, but Zephyrhills needs to get some of that money. We need to get some improvements. We’re growing at a rate that’s unreal.”

Council President Charles Proctor echoed those sentiments: “This city is growing so fast. We all lived here a long time and I believe we’re doing our best to stay ahead of it, but we definitely need to work with the state and with the county to stay ahead of it.”

Published January 13, 2021

Zephyrhills adapts to growth, economic shifts

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If 2020 demonstrated anything, it was the necessity for area communities to have economic resiliency — that is, the ability to prevent, withstand and quickly recover from shocks to its economic base, whether that’s in response to a pandemic, natural disaster or stock market volatility.

In Zephyrhills, it’s something city planning director Todd Vande Berg and other city officials are actively balancing and preparing for, as the East Pasco municipality experiences a wave of growth and development, as well as transportation and infrastructure improvements.

Zephyrhills Planning Director Todd Vande Berg outlined how the city is setting itself up for future economic windfall during the annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit. (Courtesy of Todd Vande Berg)

Vande Berg provided an in-depth look at the city’s ongoing efforts during the annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit that was held this fall.

One key moving forward, he said, is reevaluating, updating and incorporating some “best practices” into the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code.

This includes taking a harder look at density bonuses and floor area ratios, as well as stream-lining permitting processes and broadening permitted uses, he said.

Prioritizing municipal investments in transportation (multi-modal, pedestrian-oriented, public transit) and infrastructure (water, sewer, communication networks), and recreation is important, too, he said.

Ripe for industrial manufacturing
The city is banking on diversifying its local economy and bringing high-wage jobs to town via a regional industrial/manufacturing buildout.

Local leaders believe this can be achieved through leveraging approximately 9.76 square miles (6,248 acres) of land in the southeast portion of the city around the State Road 39/Chancey Road corridor and Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. There is 3,000 acres to 4,000 acres available for potential industrial development.

Roughly a third of the entire property is within city limits and the remainder in unincorporated Pasco County — representing the largest aggregation of industrial lands in the county.

Within the area is 442 divisible acres of what’s known as the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park, a build-ready site equipped with water, sewer and electric utilities, and accessible to natural gas.

As industrial space along the Interstate 4 corridor begins to fill up along Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando, Zephyrhills “might be a next logical location for industrial manufacturing to come to,” Vande Berg said.

He reasoned the city’s vast land offerings is ripe to someday be home to a mix of light and heavy industrial and commercial uses — such as building spaces large enough to house semi-trailer truck bays.

The City of Zephyrhills and other local partners are working to bring industrial manufacturing to several thousands of acres of aggregate vacant land in the southeast portion of the city situated around the Chancey Road/State Road 39 corridor and Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

The planning director explained it makes sense now more than ever to prepare for a long-range industrial plan, as Central Florida is following national trends of heavier investment in warehousing than retail construction.

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited this trend as more people and business are working and providing services remotely, in addition to the rise of Amazon and other e-commerce companies, Vande Berg said.

The city also enjoys north-south and east-west state and county road connections that support the long-term vision for industrial development, the planning director said. The city’s municipal airport, CSX main line rail access and close proximity to Port Tampa Bay and Central Florida markets are among its selling points.

“We’re pretty unique in that we have a pretty good roadway network being developed. That’s going to benefit the industrial corridor, to again make us very resilient, but we’ve got to continue to work on that,” he said.

The planning director acknowledged one challenge involves finding a way to widen the U.S. 301 corridor to four lanes from Fowler Avenue in Hillsborough County up through Zephyrhills. The roadway presently stretches four lanes from Port Tampa Bay to Fowler, but transitions to two lanes north through Pasco.

Vande Berg acknowledged that the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) hasn’t been on board with widening the road further north.

To resolve the impasse, the Pasco MPO needs to gather and collaborate with Hillsborough, Vande Berg said, “and really emphasize the importance of getting that segment of road, four lanes.”

He continued: “That four-lane corridor, I think, will pay off huge dividends for manufacturing and just overall betterment of our transportation network.”

Aside from stated transportation improvements to supplement an industrial corridor, Vande Berg also emphasized the importance of having a mechanism that provides workforce training opportunities, as people look to transition to manufacturing jobs.

“I feel like we need to look at identifying, and supporting and incentivizing all those things to provide for more of a diverse workforce,” he said.

Some next steps in the measured industrial corridor planning process include meeting with large industrial property owners; coordinating additional stakeholder meetings; having more discussions with industrial brokers; making airport and railroad improvements; and, continuing with various citywide master plan updates, Vande Berg said.

Growth already ramping up in Zephyrhills
While efforts continue to shape a future industrial hub, plenty is already happening in Zephyrhills in the way of new development, particularly residential construction.

A slew of new housing communities set to come online — such as Abbott Square, 700-plus units surrounding the new Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center off Simons Road; and Abbott Park, 500-plus units tucked behind the Zephyr Commons Publix Shopping Center, off Gall Boulevard.

Other notable homesites include the Link at Calusa Springs, north of Silverado Golf & Country Club; the Oaks at Pasco, southeast of Silverado Golf & Country Club; and Skybird Properties, off Alston Road near the municipal airport.

Various roadway improvements are paving way for new commercial development, too.

Most notable is the $2.3 million state-funded U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road intersection project, now under construction.

The project calls for new traffic signals on U.S. 301 at Pretty Pond and at Medical Arts Court/ Townview Avenue, along with other median and roadway improvements.

The 442-acre Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park is a build-ready site equipped with water, sewer and electric utilities, and is accessible to natural gas. It’s adjacent to the city’s municipal airport and CSX railroad. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

The addition of signalized intersections at these locations is designed to make it easier to move about the area, and to be an economic driver for the northeast and northwest corners of Pretty Pond.

Once construction is complete, the area is poised to land Chick-fil-A and Chipotle chain restaurants, and other businesses.

Vande Berg joked he frequently gets asked about when Chick-fil-A is coming aboard — and said the popular franchise was waiting until the intersection project received the OK to move forward.

“I’m happy to share that they’re still on board,” the city official said.

He also mentioned enhancements coming to a 1.31-mile stretch on County Road 54, east of U.S. 301, east to 23rd Street.

The city is splitting the cost of the $6.5 million project with Pasco County, which will include the addition of intersection turn lanes; a traffic signal at 23rd Street; and multi-use paths and trails on the north and south sides of the road, among other improvements.

The project is addressing one of the city’s “bigger areas of need” to improve traffic capacity along a busy and sometimes dangerous roadway, Vande Berg said.

Elsewhere, the planning director highlighted a slew of other forthcoming projects and goals, further giving a look inside the booming activity in the city:

  • Mixed-use properties along the Zephyr Commons gateway
  • New Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic off Eiland Boulevard
  • Upgrades to Hercules Park, at U.S. 301 and County Road 54, adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodlands Elementary schools.
  • Implementation of form-based building codes from North Avenue to C Avenue, between Sixth Street and Seventh Street
  • Efforts to have more designated complete streets throughout the city, designed to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. (This may include adding sidewalks, bike lanes ,or wide paved shoulders; special bus lanes; comfortable and accessible public transportation stops, frequent and safe crossing opportunities; median islands, accessible pedestrian signals; curb extensions; narrower travel lanes; roundabouts and so on.)

Published December 09, 2020

Improvements slated for County Road 54 in Zephyrhills

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A congested roadway in Zephyrhills is set to receive some long-awaited and seemingly much-needed improvements to ease traffic patterns and enhance safety overall.

The City of Zephyrhills and Pasco County have come to a cost-sharing agreement for upgrades to a portion of County Road 54 which crosses both city limits and unincorporated county areas.

Zephyrhills City Councilman Ken Burgess (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

The scope of the project calls for the following enhancements along a 1.31-mile stretch, east of U.S. 301 east to 23rd Street:

  • Additional signage and pavement markings
  • Left-hand turn lane at the Dairy Road intersection
  • Right-hand turn lane and new mast arms at Wire Road, turning onto 12th Street
  • Signalized intersection at 23rd Street
  • Pedestrian signals and ADA sidewalk ramps at the intersections of Wire Road/12th Street, 20th Street and 23rd Street
  • A 10-foot concrete multi-use path on the south side of County Road 54 adjacent to Zephyrhills High School, and a 5-foot to 6-foot path on the north side of the road, plus associated drainage

The Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 12 unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the county that calls for a 50/50-split on costs for the multi-million project.

An engineer’s estimate for the project’s entirety came in at $6,855,255.44, meaning the city and county each will have an estimated cost of $3,427,627.72.

The entire project will be constructed in one phase. How it’s actually funded will be handled a bit differently, however.

The county has agreed to fund all improvements east of 20th Street to east of 23rd Street, including a new signalized intersection. Any dollars leftover from their cost-sharing portion will be used to help Zephyrhills fund improvements from east of U.S. 301 to 20th Street, which is inside the city’s jurisdiction.

Also, under the agreement’s terms, the county will conduct construction engineering and inspections either by utilizing its workforce or contracting with a third party. The county has also agreed to be responsible for facilities maintenance after construction.

Initial plans outlined many years ago called for the stretch to be widened to four lanes. But, various infrastructure and logistical hurdles necessitated the project to instead feature turn lanes, traffic signals and adjacent multi-use trails.

Zephyrhills City Councilman Lance Smith (File)

Either way, any improvements to the roadway section are greatly needed, city leaders say.

Councilman Ken Burgess labeled the stretch “a nightmare to navigate for many, many years.”

Councilman Lance Smith similarly called it “probably one of the most congested areas, at times, in the city.”

“I think there’s some necessary segments that we need to do,” Smith said. “I’m a little disappointed that we couldn’t get the four lanes in there, but hopefully, this will help with the traffic.”

The project’s sizable price tag — and how to split funding — had been a snag over the last several months between the city and county.

That in mind, the city does have the option to terminate the agreement should receive bids exceed cost estimates for its funding portion.

Council members acknowledged it’s quite possible that project bids will come in higher than anticipated, but they said they likely still will move forward with project — unless bids come in excessively greater than the engineer’s initial projections.

Smith put it like this: “Nothing is getting cheaper to build. I mean, as much as it’s a bitter pill to swallow, I think it’s something we should go ahead and do.”

Bid opening for the project is anticipated for some time in December, with Pasco County commissioners expected to award the bid/contract in February or March.

Once that happens, Zephyrhills will make an initial payment of $1.1 million to the county within a month of the bid award. From there, the city will pay installments (estimated at $581,906.93, plus change orders) to the county each of the next four years, through fiscal year 2024-2025.

Purchase thresholds upped for small projects
In other business, the council unanimously approved a first reading ordinance amendment increasing purchasing thresholds for when quotes and sealed bids are required.

It’s part of a move to streamline smaller purchases and projects, officials say

In a staff memo, Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe and Zephyrhills Finance Director Ted Beason outlined how small projects have been stalled as they’re required to comply with lower, outdated thresholds ($2,500 for quotes; $20,000 for bids) instituted back in 2014.

To alleviate those issues, the altered ordinance raises proposed thresholds for quotes and bids to $5,000 and $50,000, respectively.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

As an example of the ongoing threshold issue, Poe explained how a somewhat routine purchase of a new city-operated pickup truck requires council consideration if it’s greater than $20,000 — which most new trucks are — even though it received prior approval in the regular budget.

The city manager outlined other examples, too.

A damaged handrail on Green Slope Drive cost about $3,600 to repair, but the project “took a while” to complete because the city was having trouble finding three separate quotes, Poe said.

Meanwhile, a pedestrian crossing on Simons Road estimated to cost slightly more than $20,000 is being delayed because it must go out to formal bid “as opposed to taking the plans and getting three prices, and getting the project done,” the city manager said.

“It’s just slowing things down a little bit,” Poe said of the current lower purchasing thresholds. “You know, staff does a great job of finding the most cost-efficient piece of equipment or tool as they can. This just helps…of reducing some of the search time.”

Council members expressed they are on board with the threshold changes. They added there’s still transparency in such purchases and projects, as they’ll still get listed as noted items in regular council meeting packets.

“I’m OK with what we’re doing here, because you don’t want to slow things down,” Councilman Ken Burgess said. “It’s just a formality of making sure that we’re aware of it.”

A second and final reading of the amended ordinance will be considered at an Oct. 26 regular council meeting.

Published October 21, 2020

Zephyrhills adopts $60 million budget

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The Zephyrhills City Council has approved a budget of nearly $60.5 million for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The annual spending plan is based on a millage rate of 6.35 million, which is the same rate as the city has had for the last several years.

The tax rate will generate $5,054,921 in ad valorem taxes, based on a citywide property valuation of $837,847,970. The city’s valuation was $774,173,659 last year and generated $4,695,056 in ad valorem revenues.

No one offered public comment during the budget’s second and final public hearing.

Councilman Charles Proctor commended city staffers for organizing a balanced budget — without raising taxes — amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He characterized that accomplishment as “a big deal.”

The councilman went on: “That’s why I’m so proud to live in Florida. We live in a state where it’s in our constitution that we have to have a balanced budget. I believe that should be nationwide, personally, but it’s not.

“We live within our means, and that’s the whole idea of having this balanced budget,” Proctor said.

In another city matter, staffers are reviewing an amended financial agreement from Pasco County on the multimillion County Road 54 enhancement project, which calls for a signalized intersection, turn lanes and a multi-use path along a 1.31 mile stretch, from east of U.S. 301 to 23rd Street. The proposed agreement will be brought in front of city council “very soon,” City Manager Billy Poe said.

Construction on the $2.3 million U.S 301/Pretty Pond Road signalized intersection project is slated to begin Oct. 12 and has an eight month completion timeline. The project calls for the relocation of an existing signalized intersection from the shopping plaza entrance to Pretty Pond Road, a signalized intersection at Medical Arts Court, and all other required roadway improvements. “We’ll see some dirt being churned very soon,” Poe said.

Published October 07, 2020

Zephyrhills budget decreasing in 2020-2021

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The City of Zephyrhills has adopted its tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year  — and it comes in slimmer than the current year, at $60,412,293.

The roughly $60.4 million budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 represents nearly an 8.8% decrease from this current fiscal year’s budget of $66,293,613. However, it’s slightly greater than the city’s budget two years ago of $59,433,368.

The Zephyrhills City Council had its first reading of the ordinance and first hearing on the proposed budget in a Sept. 14 regular meeting.

The council gave first-round approval, and will have a second reading and final reading before the new budget takes effect on Oct. 1.

The Zephyrhills City Council on Sept. 14 approved a $60,412,293 for fiscal year 2020-2021, based on a 6.35 millage rate. It represents a decrease of about $5.88 million, or 8.8% from the current budget. (File)

The proposed budget is based on an approved 6.35 millage rate, assessed on taxable value of property within the city.

At least one area where the city will begin to see marked savings is the merger of its fire department with Pasco County Fire Rescue. Savings in the first year of the interlocal agreement are tallied at $551,890 compared to the 2019-2020 budget of a fully funded municipal fire department.

The agreement (as well as extended employee benefits) will cost the city roughly $5.5 million total, generally spread out over a period of seven years. After fiscal year 2026-2027, the city won’t have to pay the county for fire rescue services — as it’d be solely propped up by an MSTU assessed to city residents and commercial entities, similar to how Dade City receives such services.

Here’s a rundown of some other proposed budget highlights by the city’s various departments:

Administrative/human resources:

  • 3.5% increase to total health care costs
  • 3% pay increase for employees won’t take effect until April 1, to give the city time to review revenues sources that may decrease as a result of COVID-19
  • City council and city attorney added to city’s 80/20 group health benefits plan
  • Administration expenses for personnel services increased by reclassifying the assistant city clerk position to a public information officer position
  • Human resources worker’s compensation decreased by $9,500 (3%), and property and casualty expenses increased by $51,914 (7%)

Airport:

  • $5.7 million state appropriation for the runway 1-19 extension
  • $800,000 fuel farm
  • $265,000 taxiway alpha design
  • $185,000 airfield beacons

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA):

  • Revenues expected to increase to $426,470
  • $100,000 building façade grants ($50,000 to rentals; $50,000 to non-rentals/commercial properties)
  • $50,000 sidewalk improvements

 Parks:

  • $60,000 tractor/finish mower
  • $150,000 playground equipment
  • $18,000 re-roof park restrooms
  • $13,500 security camera upgrades
  • $2,500 carpet cleaner

Police:

  • $255,000 for five new vehicles
  • $54,969 for administrative solutions and digital surveillance software, solar speed signs, bulletproof vests, and rifles
  • $29,500 for police laptops and server (funded under IT)

Public Works:

  • $500,000 street resurfacings
  • $275,000 Stormwater Master Plan update
  • $80,000 tree chipper
  • $50,000 sign maintenance truck
  • $35,000 retention pond fencing
  • $30,000 pickup truck for building maintenance
  • $21,000 diagnostic scanner software for heavy vehicles, maintenance building awning/rain splash guards and overhead shop fans

Sanitation:

  • $300,000 new front load commercial garbage truck
  • $40,000 curotto-can cart lift
  • $10,000 city yard security cameras
  • $2,500 diagnostic scanner software for heavy vehicles

Water major projects:

  • $1.5 million water line from Phelps Road to Simons Road along Fort King Road
  • $1 million design of utilities building and land clearing
  • $800,000 water line from Alston Avenue to Tucker Road along U.S. 301
  • $150,000 line replacement
  • $80,000 generator for well No. 12
  • $75,000 for two new utility trucks
  • $75,000 GIS mapping
  • $70,000 well rehabilitation
  • $30,000 supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system

Wastewater major projects:

  • $1.5 million reclaimed water line from Zephyrhills High School to Zephyr Lakes along Dairy Road
  • $1 million surge tank
  • $425,000 new vac truck
  • $350,000 sewer line replacement
  • $350,000 rehabilitation of three lift stations
  • $200,000 rehabilitation of approximately 100 manholes
  • $75,000 lift station generator
  • $70,000 digester cleaning
  • $60,000 new truck
  • $30,000 sludge holding tank coating

Aside from big-ticket departmental expenses, the city budgeted $2.3 million for U.S. 301/Pretty Pond intersection improvements, which is coming from a state appropriation; and $1.1 million towards County Road 54 improvements east of Hercules Park, funded via Penny for Pasco revenues. Elsewhere, the city allocated $40,000 in funding for the East Pasco Family YMCA, and $14,000 for youth sports program grants.

Published September 23, 2020

Dispute pauses improvements to County Road 54

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Improvements to a portion of County Road 54 through Zephyrhills are on hold, as the municipality and Pasco County struggle to come to financial terms on the project.

The scope of the project calls for the following enhancements along a 1.31 mile stretch, from east of U.S. 301 to 23rd Street:

  • Additional signage and pavement markings
  • Left-hand turn lane at the Dairy Road intersection
  • Right-hand turn lane and new mast arms at Wire Road, turning onto 12th Street
  • Signalized intersection at 23rd Street
  • A 10-foot concrete multi-use path on the south side of County Road 54, and a 5-to-6-foot path on the north side of the road, plus associated drainage

How to split the cost of the $6.78 million project is the crux of the issue.

County staffers have asked the city to fund 50% of the project through an inter-local agreement. The roughly $3.35 million would be paid in installments, over three years.

An initial draft of the contract also calls for the city to agree to pay any cost overruns, in full.

For instance, if the project ends up costing, say, $7 million, the city would be responsible for the $22,000 difference from the engineer’s estimate of $6.78 million.

The Zephyrhills City Council balked at the proposal.

Council members called for a better deal, at the board’s regular meeting earlier this month.

Council members and city staff indicated the proposed agreement had come out of left field.

They said there wasn’t much or any input with them throughout the design/pre-engineering process.

The estimated cost was an eyeopener, too.

“I think we all had sticker shock,” Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said.

While the city put forth some money into the project’s design several years ago, council members were under the impression it was for a four-lane road extension, as opposed to turn lanes, traffic signals and adjacent multi-use trails.

Any improvements east of 20th Street are not in the city’s jurisdiction, officials noted, so the city should not be responsible for those costs. They also raised a question about whether those improvements are even necessary.

Another snag: The county had already gone to bid on the project before getting the city’s approval on the final agreement. The county later canceled that bid opening, Poe said.

Poe said the ongoing dilemma is that the project won’t be completed, unless the city participates in helping to fund the project’s entire scope — even the portion outside its jurisdiction.

City could do improvements on its own
The city’s other option is to take on the project itself and determine which areas along the roadway are most pressing for improvements, Poe said.

Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson said work certainly is needed along the busy stretch of road.

She observed the area north of Zephyrhills High School, and south of Wire Road and 20th Street  has “pretty dangerous conditions” with heavy traffic.

Zephyrhills City Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson (City of Zephyrhills)

“People are riding golf carts and walking on the grass there. People tend to ride on the street there because there is no sidewalk, there’s no bike lanes,” Wilkeson said.

However, Wilkeson, like others, expressed reservation about the project’s cost — “a significant percentage of our annual budget” — while also noting city residents have already been taxed by the county through Penny for Pasco for such infrastructure improvements.

She put it like this: “A million dollars a year (for three years) sounds like a lot of money, but honestly, my bigger concern is what kind of precedent are we setting with the county, if we begin to fund 50% of the projects that they’ve already taxed our residents?”

Councilman Lance Smith said some type of project needs to get done along the roadway, one way or another.

“It’s going to get bad,” Smith said. “That road’s bad at certain times of the day.”

Smith suggested his fellow council members extend an olive branch to Pasco County Commissioners, to direct their staff-level employees to negotiate in better faith.

“They’re just pushing us, trying to get us to sign this thing,” Smith said. “I think we need to reach out to them and tell them, ‘We will participate, but we’re feeling strong-armed into this thing right now, and it’s not what we originally talked about.’”

The councilman added the city has partnered well with the county on countless transportation projects in the past, including State Road 56, the Eiland Boulevard/U.S 301 intersection, Copeland Drive, Kossick Road, Simons Road, plus various frontage and reverse frontage roads.

Said Smith: “We do need to remind them of all these things we’ve helped them with in the past. Maybe we suggest, ‘Look, we’ve been good partners with the county and we want to continue to be good partners with the county, so we need some help. We need you to help us out.’”

With that, Smith is optimistic a deal can be struck.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time, that’s all,” he said.

While concurring with other council members, Council President Charles Proctor expressed frustration with the county for trying to take advantage of the city.

“All of a sudden they’re in this big rush for us to put in our portion and nothing’s even broken ground.

“We do have a good relationship with the county and I don’t want to ruin that relationship by any means, but I think it has to be fair for all involved, and I just feel like this was kind of shot at us real quick and we didn’t have a signed agreement, so I think we need to protect our own and look out for the citizens of our great city,” Proctor said.

Meanwhile, Councilman Alan Knight advised the city to take a “wait and see” approach before jumping into the multimillion dollar project with the county. “I think we have to look at it again, I really do,” he said.

Knight also proposed the city look into possibly taking on the project itself and make desired traffic improvements at the most troubled areas along the mile-plus long roadway — such as the Wire Road intersection.

“We could almost do that intersection just with our own money and not have to jump into three or four million dollars with the county,” Knight said.

In a follow-up interview with The Laker/Lutz News, the city manager said it could take several more meetings before a solution with the county is reached.

“It’s a big price tag, and so the message was relayed to Pasco County, so there’s still more conversations to be had,” Poe said.

Published August 26, 2020

New interchange will ease congestion

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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

UPDATE: Southbound I-75 to westbound SR 56 reopened

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The southbound Interstate 75 ramp to westbound State Road 56 has been reopened.
Work on the Diverging Diamond had closed the right lane of the ramp heading west, but kept open the left lane on the ramp.
Now, motorists exiting at the ramp can head either direction on State Road 56.
The ramp was reopened because too much congestion was building up at the ramp, according to John McShaffrey, a community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation.
Revised June 03, 2020

Opponents cite access concerns in Wesley Chapel rezoning

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Questions are being raised about the safety of entering Wesley Chapel Boulevard from Hay Road, in a rezoning case seeking to allow 35 single-family attached townhomes on Hay Road.

The applicant, Lawrence P. Martinez, represented by Attorney Barbara Wilhite, is seeking to change the zoning on about 6 acres from agricultural use to medium density, multiple family.

The Pasco County Planning Commission heard the request at its May 9 public hearing.

The request involves a parcel on the west side of Hay Road, about 1,800 feet south of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The applicant has voluntarily agreed to deed restrictions that would limit the use of the property to single-family attached townhomes, said Denise Hernandez, Pasco County’s zoning administrator.

“This will not be an apartment complex,” Hernandez told planning commissioners, who serves as an advisory body to the Pasco County Commission on zoning and land use plan cases.

The zoning administrator also noted that the Pasco County Commission has approved similar zoning requests, and that county planners have recommended approval.

“The access at this point of time is proposed through Hay Road,” Hernandez said, but she added there’s a possibility that the parcel maybe developed along with the property to the north. If that happens, the primary access would be Wesley Chapel Boulevard, also known as County Road 54.

Neighbors, however, voiced concerns about the safety of using Hay Road as the primary access. Reginal Mesimer, a traffic engineer from St. Petersburg, appeared on behalf of Perry and Synthia Horner, who own property near the proposed rezoning.

The Horners own Hay Road, with some others who have easements to use it, Mesimer said.

“Right now, there are seven homes on Hay Road. One day, the Horners would like to develop their property with 200 units.

“About a year ago, a traffic signal went up at the entrance of Grand Oaks Boulevard, which didn’t line up with Hay Road. Now, there’s no way to provide a left-turn lane to enter Hay Road from County Road 54, and northbound queuing traffic coming out of Hay Road often is blocked by traffic queuing at the traffic signal at (County Road) 54.

“Mr. Horner tells me in the past year there have been two accidents associated with people who actually live on Hay Road, at that intersection, simply because Hay Road is so close to the traffic signal.

“Now, the county has plans to widen County Road 54 (also called Wesley Chapel Boulevard) to six lanes,” Mesimer added.

Mesimer noted that the parcel up for rezoning might be joined with another to the north, which has access to Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

That would be more suitable than trying to flow the traffic from the 35 new units onto Hay Road, Mesimer said.

The Horners have offered to provide land for an access road to allow motorists to drive to the signalized intersection at Grand Oaks Boulevard, which would improve access for everyone using Hay Road, Perry Horner said.

Paul Steele, of 4100 Hay Road in Lutz, urged planning commissioners to reject the rezoning request.

“We see our lives being turned upside down by this whole development, and a devaluation of our property. I’m here in complete protest to the idea,” he said.

Steele said he has lived on his property for 22 years and is raising several children there.

“We moved into that neighborhood for the specific express purpose of having our solitude, our privacy, being able to lead our lives in a certain way — free of heavy traffic, free of potential crime, free of people coming onto property constantly, being able to have our dogs run free, etc., etc., etc.

“This proposed development is going to have a serious negative impact on our lifestyle.

“If the road situation is not changed, it will have even an additional impact on the safety of my family and people coming to visit us on Hay Road.

“There’s been two very serious accidents. It led to one resident actually selling the property, leaving the property.

“It’s already a bad situation with a blind turn. When you turn right off of Hay Road today, traffic is coming 55, 60, 65 miles an hour. Very frequently people are almost rear-ended, just making a right-hand turn because you can’t see the traffic coming,” Steele said.

Wilhite said she’s not sure if her client will use Hay Road to get to Wesley Chapel Boulevard, or will be able to access the road through a property to the north.

David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, asked the applicants if there is sufficient right of way to improve Hay Road, if that becomes necessary for access.

Steve Henry, a traffic engineer from Lincks & Associates, representing the applicant, said there is enough right of way for a 20-foot road on Hay Road.

The planning board unanimously recommended approval of the rezoning. The Pasco County Commission has the final say.

Published May 15, 2019

Wesley Chapel Boulevard expansion plans progress

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A construction time frame has been set for Pasco County’s plans to widen Wesley Chapel Boulevard to six lanes.

The expansion of the road — also known as County Road 54 – will be broken into two projects.

The first project begins just north of the road’s intersection with State Road 56 and extends to the north of its intersection with Magnolia Boulevard.

This is what Wesley Chapel Boulevard looks like now. Its widening to six lanes has been a long-awaited development among motorists who travel the busy road. The project is a response to Pasco County’s continual growth. The project is set to begin construction as early as the fall of 2021. (File)

The second project extends from the intersection at Progress Parkway to the intersection of Oakley Boulevard.

An initial 2003 study prompted the idea of expanding Wesley Chapel Boulevard to four lanes. However, later studies predicting an increase in density resulted in a call for more widening.

“Projections we did, before 2008, show that future growth is going to bring the volumes up to a point that we’ll need to have six lanes there,” said Panos Kontses, a Pasco County engineering manager.

The widening comes at a time when State Road 54 and State Road 56 are adding new commercial and residential buildings, in response to the area’s growing demands.

County engineers are finalizing the blueprints for the project.

“Right now, we are trying to finish the design plans,” Kontses said. “We are about 90 percent finished.”

Letters offering to purchase right of way have been sent to landowners along the route of the first project.

Most of this stretch is two lanes, without a median to divide opposing traffic.

The new construction adds a median, which will have openings so motorists can make turns.

Future plans for commercial growth and road widening on Old Pasco Road was considered in this project, the engineering manager said.

Kontses said the expansion of Old Pasco Road, which intersects with Wesley Chapel Boulevard, is expected to increase traffic.

The county’s plan to create a new interchange at Interstate 75 and Overpass Road — which feeds into Old Pasco Road — also will increase activity in the area,  Kontses added.

Motorists heading northbound on Wesley Chapel Boulevard, have to make a slight right curve when going past the intersection of Old Pasco Road.

Eastbound traffic already has three lanes from Old Pasco Road to Oakley Boulevard, but westbound traffic has just two lanes for a portion of that stretch.

To accommodate an expansion of a six-lane road, the existing median will be narrowed.

This median runs north of Magnolia Boulevard to Oakley Boulevard.

The projects’ additional amenities will include an 8-foot multi-use trail to the east side of Wesley Chapel Boulevard and 5-foot to 6-foot sidewalk on the west side. These will be installed in the area between State Road 56 to Magnolia Boulevard.

Also, traffic lights will be added at Wesley Chapel Boulevard’s intersections with Stagecoach Village Boulevard and Compark Drive.

A signal already has been installed at Grand Oaks Boulevard, but will undergo an upgrade during construction.

While it’s too early to tell what delays or closures may come, Kontses assured that contractors will use night construction in order to minimize disruption.

Both projects will be treated as one development during the construction phase. The project cost is estimated at $53 million.

“We assume construction should start sometime between the end of 2021 and [the] beginning of 2022,” Kontses stated.

Construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024.

Published May 08, 2019