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Epperson

New schools coming to Pasco County

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A groundbreaking was held Sept. 9 to begin work on a new career and technical school off Curley Road, in East Pasco County, across from a sizable development called Epperson.

Then, at the Sept. 15 Pasco County School Board meeting, a contract was approved for preconstruction work on a new 6-12 School in the emerging Angeline community in Land O’ Lakes.

Dignitaries gather to fling shovels of dirt during the ceremonial groundbreaking for Kirkland Academy of Innovation, which is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 school year. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Meanwhile, work continues on the construction of the new Starkey Ranch K-8 in the Starkey Ranch development, a growing Pasco County community.

During the groundbreaking ceremony and at the board meeting, Pasco School Board members and school district officials expressed enthusiasm about expanding educational opportunities for district students.

The 184,000-square-foot Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, being built at 9100 Curley Road, is expected to serve 1,000 students and is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school will prepare students for high-salary, high-skill careers in high-demand areas such as digital multimedia, engineering and robotics, biomedical sciences, building construction, and cyber security, according to district officials.

School board member Allen Altman is delighted with the new school, as he has been pushing for years to expand educational opportunities in East Pasco.

“That just warms my heart,” Altman said, at the board’s Sept. 15 meeting.

“I can’t tell you how many years that I’ve tried for that. The Recession kind of put us behind,” he said, then it was one thing after another.

The new facility, he said, is “just a tremendous thing for the entire county, but especially that community.”

After pushing for years to expand opportunities for East Pasco students, school board member Allen Altman is delighted about the construction of Kirkland Academy of Innovation, a new high school being built off Curley Road.

In a video of the groundbreaking, posted on Twitter, Altman put it like this: “Things came together, I believe, in almost divine intervention, with the right property, at the right time, with the right people in place to make this a success.”

In the same video, Superintendent Kurt Browning said “you know, technical education is so important. We’re excited for what it means for our students and our community.”

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd, who also made an appearance in the video, said: “The school will sit right here, on top of this big hill, overlooking the ponds below and the oak trees. And then, behind us, on the back side of the property will have a K-8 STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) Academy, at some point, opening probably in ’24. This school will open in ’22.

“We’re literally going to put a technical school right in the middle of what will be a future suburbia for Pasco County,” Gadd said.

While the district proceeds on construction of Kirkland Academy of Innovation, it also is embarking on another project for a school known on as School LLL, which is planned for Central Pasco County.

At its Sept. 15 meeting, the board approved a $235,000 contract with Ajax Building Company for pre-construction work relating to a new 6-12 school planned for the Angeline community of Land O’Lakes.

The school will be designed for 1,694 student stations, which at 90% capacity translates to about 1,530 students.

The school will be designed on an 18-acre site within Angeline.

Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2021, with substantial completion expected in July 2023.

Meanwhile, the district has begun the boundary process for the new Starkey Ranch K-8.

A parent-night workshop is planned for Oct. 6  from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Odessa Elementary School, 12810 Interlaken Road in New Port Richey. New boundaries must be drawn to assign students to the school.

A public hearing for the boundaries proposal is planned for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., with final school board action on Dec. 1.

Published September 23, 2020

InPrep delivers innovation, through teachers and technology

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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

Borrow pit approved, despite neighbors’ objections

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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

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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

Charter school coming to Connected City’s Epperson

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A K-8 charter school could open as early as this fall in Epperson, if all goes according to plan.

The Pasco County School Board has approved an agreement with Metro Apple LLC and Red Apple Development LLC — known collectively as the developer — for a charter school that is planned on the east side of Curley Road.

Details regarding the school are spelled out in the agreement.

Plans call for a two-story school of approximately 55,000 square feet, that will be built on a site of about 8 acres to 10 acres.

The charter school will have a capacity of 765 students.

The proposed concept for the school is based on the acronym of W.I.S.H., which stands for Wellness, Innovation, Science and Health.

The aim is to open the school for the 2020 school year.

The charter school will be built to the state standards, certified by a third-party architect. It will not include any hurricane shelter requirements.

Once construction is completed and students are enrolled, the entity that paid for the design, permitting and construction of the school shall be entitled to school impact fee credits, for the land and facility portion of the impact fee only.

The maximum amount of any fee credits and the cash reimbursement for all design, construction and land costs shall be $18.2 million. Land value for fee credits or cash reimbursements shall be based on a fair market value appraisal obtained by the developer.

Published January 22, 2020

Biscayne Homes now in Epperson

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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

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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

Crystal clear lagoon at Epperson opens with a splash

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Metro Lagoons, by Crystal Lagoons — the first Crystal Lagoon amenity in the United States —officially opened with a party on Dec. 16.

About 400 invited guests and residents were expected to turn out, according to officials.

This is an aerial view of the Crystal Lagoons amenity at Epperson. (Courtesy of Aqua Marketing & Communications Inc.)

“Residents have waited a few months to get in here, so we wanted to throw them a nice holiday party,” said Eric Wahlbeck, managing director of Metro Lagoons.

“This is compliments of Metro,” he said, noting the festivities would include a showing of the movie, “Elf,” on a huge screen, followed by the broadcast of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Baltimore Ravens.

There also was free barbecue, bounce houses, a visit from Santa and, of course, people taking advantage of a chance to play in the lagoon — the only one of its type in the United States.

There were lots of ways to enjoy Metro Lagoon by Crystal Lagoons, during a party to mark the amenity’s official opening at Epperson.

The lagoon covers 7.5 acres and includes 16 million gallons of water.

“It’s a pretty amazing idea of bringing crystal, clear water — this amount of water, this size, into a residential community. It’s something that’s never been done before. We’re really excited to offer this through the Epperson community,” Wahlbeck said. “What we’re excited about is getting the residents in here and allowing them to start enjoying the space.”

The lagoon’s water temperature fluctuates with the ground temperature.

“In the summer, it’s going to be like the Gulf (of Mexico),” he added.

The lagoon is operated using sustainable technology and maintained remotely by Crystal Lagoons to ensure crystal clarity. It offers various aquatic activities, including kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding and a waterslide with rock wall.

There are also private cabanas, a family beach, an event pavilion and more.

And, what’s there now is only the beginning, Wahlbeck said.

“We’ve got development plans all around the lagoon,” he said, noting that new amenities will be added over time.

The Epperson community currently has about 300 homes, with about 1,500 people living there.  At completion, it is expected to have 4,000 dwellings.

Published December 26, 2018

This crowd was bullish on East Pasco’s prospects

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Speakers at the recent “Discover Dade City” symposium cast a spotlight on East Pasco’s development opportunities.

The event, held in the conference center at the East Pasco campus of Pasco-Hernando State College, focused on ongoing projects, as well as those on the drawing board and future prospects.

Dewey Mitchell, the keynote speaker at ‘Discover Dade City’ said that as Dade City grows, its biggest challenge will be to preserve its authentic charm. (B.C. Manion)

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Greater Tampa Realtors and Central Pasco Association of Realtors (which merged with the Pinellas Realtor organization), hosted the inaugural event on Nov. 29.

Larry Guilford, who moderated the two panels of speakers, said “so many things are already happening in Dade City, and so much more is going to happen.”

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said since becoming mayor in 2012, she has tried “to make sure that Dade City has a seat at the table.”

The city continues to look at ways to enhance its quality of life, through such amenities as recreational trails, a bike hub and a splash park, Hernandez said.

It also wants to find ways to repurpose its old buildings, and to explore a Farm-to-Table initiative, she said.

As the city grows, it wants to be sure it plans appropriately, Hernandez added, so it can preserve the “quaint authentic nature of Dade City that you won’t find anywhere else.”

New roads to progress
State Rep. Danny Burgess talked about the extension of State Road 56, which now ends at Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, but is being extended to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

The road will create a new east-west artery that will help ease congestion and promote economic growth. Burgess said, “That will open up so many opportunities.”

David Gwynn, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, said it looks like the State Road 56 extension could be completed as early as next spring, or at least by summer.

The transportation leader talked about a number of other projects that will have a significant impact in East Pasco.

The biggest investment involves projects on State Road 52, starting at the Suncoast Parkway, with stretches being widened all of the way over to U.S. 301, he said.

“This summer, in June, we’re going to let over $150 million in state projects just on State Road 52,” he said. “Widening to six lanes the portion between the Suncoast (Parkway) and (U.S.) 41; some other projects between (U.S.) 41 and the interstate (I-75); and, the realignment (of State Road) 52 all of the way out.”

The state also is studying whether State Road 56 could be further extended from U.S. 301 over to State Road 39 to create another corridor leading to Interstate 4.

Another big project, referred to as the Diverging Diamond, is expected to begin construction in early 2019.

Aimed at reducing congestion at State Road 56 and I-75, the project is expected to make traffic in that area more challenging during construction.

The planned construction of an I-75 interchange at Overpass Road also is expected to provide a significant improvement to transportation in East Pasco.

Preparing future workforce
On the education front, Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools, said a new technical high school expected to open in 2022 on Old Handcart Road will expand opportunities for students, while helping to boost Pasco’s economy.

The school will serve students from the Dade City, Zephyrhills and greater Wesley Chapel areas.

The goal is to build a school that helps students to develop skills that are needed by employers, which will benefit the school’s graduates and companies seeking to fulfill workforce needs.

The district is doing its homework now, to ensure that the school is equipped to offer relevant programs, Browning said.

“We don’t want to build a building and then figure out what programs we’re going to teach,” the superintendent said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley addressed the need for local government to pick up the pace with regards to permit approvals.

“That’s the worst part of government —  how slow it moves,” Oakley said.

He pledged: “Pasco County is not going to hold up the builders and others who want to do things the right way. We’re going to make it so it’s more streamlined for them to get those permits.

“There’s nothing wrong with controlled growth,” Oakley said.

Opportunities for all
Another panel talked about investments being made in East Pasco.

Jason Newmyer, administrator for Florida Hospital Dade City, said next year will be a transformative year at the hospital, as a $22 million makeover begins.

Michael Lawson, director of operations for Metro Development Group, talked about Connected City, which is intended to be a place where there will be opportunities for everyone, ranging from large companies to small entrepreneurs.

“We’re going to create this environment that will promote this growth,” Lawson said, noting the 50-year plan for Connected City calls for the development of 10 million square feet of nonresidential and 40,000 residential units.

Connected City is in a corridor covering about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County. It borders Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

Some things are already happening.

Epperson, a community in Connected City, became the first community in North America to open a manmade turquoise lagoon, known under the trademarked name, Crystal Lagoon.

“Crystal Lagoon has been a game-changer for the industry. We were proud to be the first in the U.S. We’ll see these deployed all over the country, but that’s just one element (of Connected City). There are going to be so many more.

“I look at Connected City as basically being an iPhone with unlimited ability to put Apps on it,” Lawson said.

Dewey Mitchell, co-owner of Capstone Tropical Holdings Inc., was the symposium’s keynote speaker.

Agreeing with other speakers on the agenda, Mitchell said there’s no doubt East Pasco is poised for growth. He also touched on an issue raised by Dade City Mayor Hernandez.

“I think the biggest issue for Dade City going forward — as all things happen, and they are going to happen — is keeping the charm the city has currently. I think that’s going to be the biggest issue.

“I kind of like to look at the city of Dunedin. They’ve done a really good job of merging the old city with newer development.

“It’s a pleasant place to be. There’s restaurants and shops. It’s lively. They have a bike path through.

“It sounds easy, but it’s not,” he said.

“At the risk of being offensive to someone, take St. Pete Beach. They messed it up,” he said, and now, “they’re struggling to get back what they once had.

“They just didn’t do it right. Dunedin did,” Mitchell said.

The symposium’s aim was to raise awareness of development opportunities in the East Pasco area, and provide networking opportunities for developers, brokers and property owners, according to John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Saint Leo University was the presenting sponsor, assisted by Pasco-Hernando State College, First National Bank of Pasco, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Properties Group, Florida Hospital Dade City/Zephyrhills, San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, the City of Dade City and The Laker/Lutz News.

Published December 12, 2018

All aboard for a bus tour of Pasco development

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A bus tour through Pasco County connected the dots, and highlighted both new development, and notable educational institutions, such as Saint Leo University.

The Central Pasco Association of REALTORS sponsored the tour to offer professionals in real estate and area residents an up-close look at what’s happening in Pasco. The bus tour on June 7 was the first, but CPAR officers say they plan for more in future.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, center, president of Saint Leo University, welcomed bus tour visitors to the university’s campus.
(Kathy Steele)

“We’re looking to introduce people, to say, the (Florida Hospital Center Ice) rink,” said Jack Buckley, who is chairman of the CPAR committee that organized the tour. “Not everyone knows it’s here. We want to make them aware of activities in the area.”

About 60 people boarded the bus at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway. The all-day tour visited nine locations, including stops at Florida Hospital Center Ice, Saint Leo, and the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

Other locations were the master-planned communities of Bexley by Newland Communities, Epperson and Mirada; the Dade City Business Center; the business park, Compark 75; and Tampa Premium Outlets.

A lunch break at Florida Hospital Center Ice included a tour of the ice rink facility, off State Road 54.

The CPAR bus tour also was about forging closer ties between Central Pasco and Dade City business and chamber of commerce communities.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez arranged a police-escorted drive through downtown Dade City, and touted its historic, small town charm.

“This is my little piece of heaven that I call home,” the mayor said.

The real estate organization will be supporting Dade City officials for “Discover Dade City,” an economic summit on Sept. 27 at the Pasco-Hernando State College.

“We’re feeding off one another, so residents and businesses get the benefits from our associations,” said Buckley.

The tour offered opportunities for networking, and getting to know new people, said Hernandez. “I’m excited about that.”

Jo Easton, a certified residential specialist, said the tour provided new experiences in getting to know not only about new development but well-established places such as Saint Leo.

She had driven by the university many times, but the tour was her first visit to the campus.

Florida Hospital Center Ice was new to her, too.

“This is really helpful to us,” Easton said.

John McCabe, a vice president and Small Business Administration lender with CBC National Bank, was also glad to get to know the area better.

“You see these places driving by, but to do a deep dive, it’s terrific,” he said. “I think the tour is a great thing.”

McCabe works out of Tampa but services the Tampa Bay area including Pasco.

For more information, visit CPARFl.com.

Published June 13, 2018