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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Long Lake Ranch

COVID-19 complicates school start

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Students in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are set to begin a new school year on Aug. 24, but not all of the students will be headed to campus.

In Pasco County, students have three options for learning — amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Some students are expected to arrive at Pasco campuses on Aug. 24, while others opt for two versions of online learning. In the mySchool Online version, students are connected virtually to their assigned schools. With Pasco eSchool, they have more flexibility in the schedule and pace of learning.

In Hillsborough County, classes begin on Aug. 24, with all students beginning the school year through online learning only, until campuses open for students on Aug. 31. Like Pasco, Hillsborough is offering three learning options — face-to-face instruction and two virtual approaches.

Pasco and Hillsborough county students are set to return to school on Aug. 24, either in-person or virtually. (B.C. Manion)

Of course, there’s nearly a week before school begins, so it’s not inconceivable that these plans could change again.

As of press deadline for The Laker/Lutz News, there were two legal actions pending over whether school districts must comply with Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s Emergency Order that requires a face-to-face learning option on public school campuses.

The school year is already starting later than initially planned, with both Hillsborough and Pasco starting on Aug. 24, rather than Aug. 10.

The Hillsborough County School Board then voted to begin the district’s school year with four weeks of online-only instruction.

That decision came after a panel of medical experts advised against reopening schools until the COVID-19 positivity rate declined to about 5%.

Corcoran, however, rebuffed Hillsborough’s temporary online-only plan.

Corcoran said Hillsborough’s new plan was inconsistent with the reopening plan the district previously had submitted to the state that had been approved.

Hillsborough Superintendent Addison Davis then took a trip to Tallahassee, to seek middle ground.

That didn’t work.

After Davis returned, the district announced that “state leaders rejected two different phased-in models our district proposed that would have delayed our brick-and-mortar opening while ensuring our most vulnerable student populations were served in a face-to-face capacity.”

So, Hillsborough’s school year will begin with one week of online, with brick-and-mortar campuses opening on Aug. 31, for students choosing that option.

Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the school district plans to follow its Aug. 24 opening plan.

However, the United School Employees of Pasco has filed a lawsuit, seeking return to online learning only, until the COVID numbers come down, per the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and the Pasco School Board have stood behind the district’s reopening plan. Not following that plan, they have said, would jeopardize state funding.

The Florida Education Association’s motion for injunctive relief from Corcoran’s Emergency Order has been scheduled for mediation Aug. 18, and if necessary, for court hearings on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20.

The decisions being made at the state and school board levels have caused parents and teachers to make a variety of personal decisions.

Ben Langston, of Long Lake Ranch in Lutz, said he and his wife, Rene, decided to enroll their children, Connor and Avery, in a private school.

The Langstons had been planning to send the children to Oakstead Elementary, but switched those plans because of the uncertainty with what will happen with public schools.

They want Connor and Avery to have an in-school experience, rather than online, because they believe it offers a superior form of learning.

Cindy Smith, an art teacher at Land O’ Lakes High School, on the other hand, has made a different decision: She’s retiring after 31 years in Pasco County Schools.

“It was very difficult. It took me months to decide it,” said Smith, who taught Art 1 through Advanced Placement.

“I didn’t feel like it was wise to go to school and expose myself to the possibilities of COVID, at my age,” Smith said.

She doesn’t think that virtual teaching is effective for secondary art classes, although she said it would be a safer option until COVID-19 cases decline.

The teacher said she’ll miss teaching and her students.

“I’m sad about it. I’m sad for my friends. I’m sad for my students. How horrifying to think any one of them could die because of one person, or a few persons’ decisions,” Smith said.

She added: “I’m concerned that parents may not be taking this seriously enough.

“I don’t think they understand the hazards and the dangers and the concerns that we, as teachers, have. We love our students, we love our jobs, but to put us in a danger, death-threatening kind of situation is unreasonable,” Smith said.

Despite the focus on COVID-19, there also are other developments associated with beginning the 2020-2021 school year, and that includes the opening of Cypress Creek Middle School.

The new school, on Old Pasco Road, will serve students in grades six through eight.

Students who have been housed in a portion of Cypress Creek High School now will be moving to Cypress Creek Middle.

Other students previously assigned to John Long Middle, will join them, providing long-needed relief from crowding at John Long Middle.

Students from Wiregrass Ranch High also have been reassigned to Cypress Creek High, but the full effect of that boundary change won’t be immediately felt because the school district grandfathered the junior and senior class at Wiregrass Ranch.

Two new public charter schools also are opening this year, in Wesley Chapel — Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel and Innovation Preparatory Academy in the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel.

Published August 19, 2020

Flooding concerns prompt rezoning protest

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Pasco County Commissioners adopted a change to the county’s future land use map, and also approved a rezoning in the Sierra Pines area — despite concerns by neighbors that the planned project will add to the area’s flooding problems.

The rezoning and land use change involve 164.8 acres, on the south side of State Road 54, approximately 2,000 feet east of Meadowbrook Drive.

The property is surrounded by the Shoppes at Ballantrae Village to the north, single-family residential to the south and west; Long Lake Ranch, and a proposed Pasco County school site to the east.

The land use and zoning changes had received recommendations for approval, and had been going through the process without any apparent opposition.

Joel Tew, an attorney representing the applicants, told commissioners that the land already is entitled to develop 1,534 apartments and the requests would lower the proposed intensity to 400 apartments, and a maximum of 150 single-family homes and 150 townhomes.

The front of the site would retain its office and developments, with the apartments and gathering space behind them.

Opponents turned out in force at public hearings held on the two related requests.

Jessica Stempien, of 1102 Wildwood Lane, appeared on behalf of the Sierra Pines Coalition, which works on stormwater and flooding issues in the community.

“We are highly concerned about this development,” she said. “We’re concerned that it’s going to increase the intensity and the duration of the stormwater events in our neighborhood.

“We would like to propose for a delay, or a slowing down of this process, so we can get and have a third-party reviewer, an engineer, an advocate on our side when we sit down and talk with those developers. We’re just asking for time and transparency.”

Kevin Marks, of 1530 Woodfield Court, told commissioners: “It just gets worse every year. I think we need to fix the issues before we create any more issues.”

Scott Slone, of 17135 Gunn Lock Road, said “we bought property as a dream. And, year after year, that dream has eroded away because of the water that flows into our residences, erodes our property.”

His wife, Lisa Slone, said she can’t get out of her neighborhood during flooding events.

“I love my neighborhood, but I need to be able to leave my neighborhood,” she said.

“It’s not just flooding. It’s congestion and quality of life that needs to be thought about here, too,” she added.

Patrick Kennedy, of 17320 Raintree Road, owns one of the parcels that backs up to the planned 150 townhomes, which would be 15 feet from his property line.

He worries about negative impacts on his property values, and a loss of privacy for his family.

“We’re not saying, don’t build the townhomes. We’re saying, set them back. Give us some space,” Kennedy said.

Dr. Jessica Greer, of 17324 Raintree Road, said her family owns 2.5 acres backing up to the proposed townhomes.

“When we bought the lots there, were told that there would be a wildlife corridor right behind us. We were told that would be 100 to 150 feet,” she said. She and her husband wanted to buy land to provide a buffer to their property and were told it would cost $500,000 an acre, she said.

Other neighbors reminded commissioners how deluged their neighborhood was when Irma hit, dumping 8 ½ inches of rainfall. It was impossible for people to get in or out because of the floodwaters. They also asked commissioners to balance progress with the way of life they enjoy, and to fix existing flooding problems before adding projects that could make them worse.

Commissioner Jack Mariano asked county staff if additional drainage requirements could be imposed to protect the neighbors, as the county has done in some previous cases.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder agreed stricter standards have been required in some cases, but the attorney added: “You’ve never done that with an entitled project.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey reminded her colleagues that the applicant is reducing the amount of development that has already been approved for the site.

She said that’s an important first step.

The commissioner, whose district includes Sierra Pines, said “we’ve been trying to deal with flooding, very serious flooding that’s going on in Sierra Pines. There’s no doubt about it.

“We’ve been peeling away the layers of challenges in Sierra Pines.”

However, she added: “It’s not Smith54’s (the applicant) responsibility to fix the woes of Sierra Pines. It is Smith54’s responsibility to not make it worse,” Starkey said.

Both Starkey and Commissioner Mike Moore said they want better buffering provided for the properties backing up to the townhomes, and Tew agreed to a condition that would involve the county staff in addressing that concern.

Tew also agreed to a condition that provides the neighborhood 45 days to review and comment on the drainage and buffering plans, before they are implemented.

Published July 17, 2019

Changes coming to Sunlake and State Road 54

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The Pasco County Commission has approved an amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan, at the southwest corner of Sunlake Boulevard and State Road 54.

Commissioners are scheduled to consider a specific zoning request for the land at a May 21 public hearing.

The 72.6-acre parcel, which is part of the Long Lake Ranch development, previously was designated for retail, office and residential to a planned development designation.

The change also includes a text amendment to the long-range plan to expand the general range of potential uses to include compatible light industrial, distribution, logistics, research and corporate parks, and target industries.

Among other things, the change is consistent with the comprehensive plan goal, which encourages large-scale employment opportunities in the county, according to background materials in the commissioners’ agenda packet.

The agenda backup also notes that the wetlands on the site must be protected.

On a motion by Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, the board voted 4-0, with Commissioner Mike Wells absent.

Commissioners are scheduled to consider a specific zoning request for the land during their May 21 public hearing, which begins at 1:30 p.m., and will be in the board’s chambers at government center in New Port Richey. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of the rezoning request.

Published May 15, 2019

Ballantrae Village is adding more shops

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Taco Bell is the newest tenant at the Shoppes of Ballantrae Village.

The Mexican fast-food restaurant joins DQ Grill & Chill and Circle K in a retail shopping plaza that is almost fully constructed, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

Within 30 days, Dunkin’ Donuts is expected to open in a spot between Taco Bell and DQ Grill & Chill.

Taco Bell is open for business at the Shoppes of Ballantrae Village. The fast-food restaurant joins Circle K and DQ Grill & Chill. (Kathy Steele)

In March, more shops, a spa, a dental office and a Japanese restaurant will open, said David McComas, chief executive officer of European Equities Corporation. His firm is handling tenant negotiations for the plaza.

The list of tenants includes Domino’s Pizza, T-Mobile and Hungry Greek.

Dentist Lisa Brooks also will occupy one suite, and Casablanca Spa will be in another.

“It will be nice. It will create some balance,” McComas said. “I think it will have a lot of curb appeal. Everything is coming out tastefully.”

The current list of shops and restaurants aren’t all that will open.

Three additional parcels are currently under negotiations, McComas said. And, another outparcel on the opposite side of Aprile Drive, across from Taco Bell, likely will have a day care center, he said.

One access point into the plaza is at Aprile Drive, a new road that intersects with State Road 54, by the Taco Bell on the eastern boundary. Entry also onto Aprile Drive and the plaza can be made at the entrance into Ballantrae subdivision, farther west at Ballantrae Boulevard, by Circle K.

The area is bustling with new development, spurred in part by about 50,000 vehicles that drive along the state road daily. And, new residential is bringing more customers to the area.

The Ballantrae community is built on about 436 acres, has six villages and about 970 homes.

To the south of Ballantrae, Long Lake Ranch homes are under construction. Northward, Bexley Ranch and Asturia are adding new subdivisions, with single family homes and apartments.

And, Mystic Pointe is a new apartment complex under construction at Meadowbrook Drive.

Published January 10, 2018

Growth continues to transform Wiregrass Ranch

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Once known for its cattle and citrus groves, the Wiregrass Ranch area of Wesley Chapel is now being viewed as a place where people can live, work, shop, learn and receive medical care.

During the past decade:

  • Pasco-Hernando State College opened Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, giving Wesley Chapel students their first opportunity to seek a four-year college degree in their own backyard.
  • Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened, and the demand was so great that the hospital expanded — well ahead of expectations.
  • Florida Medical Clinic opened, on land situated near the hospital.
  • North Tampa Behavioral Health opened, and has been so successful that it is already undergoing an expansion.
  • Financial services giant Raymond James closed on the purchase of 65 acres of land and is expected to break ground later this year on a satellite campus, across from the college.
J.D. Porter, president of sales and development for Wiregrass Ranch, talks over projects that have been completed, or are on the horizon — at Wiregrass Ranch, a development of regional impact that covers thousands of acres in Wesley Chapel.
(B.C. Manion)

And, that’s just part of the story, according to J.D. Porter, president of sales and development for Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

Besides the health care, education and commercial projects, residential growth is going strong, too, Porter said.

Wiregrass Ranch — with 340 housing starts — was No. 1 in housing starts in the period ending Dec. 31, 2016, according to a report by MetroStudy.

FishHawk Ranch, in southern Hillsborough County, was second on the list with 324 starts.

Other Pasco County developments among the top five were Long Lake Ranch, at fourth place, with 227 starts; and, Starkey Ranch, at fifth place, with 219 starts.

Porter expects residential growth to continue to flourish in Wiregrass Ranch.

He pointed to a contract on a large tract of land for a new active adult community that’s expected to close this year.

The development, which will have around 1,000 units, will fill a niche in the market, Porter said. “Nowhere in Wesley Chapel is there really an age-restricted community,” he said.

It will be “highly amenitized,” he said, and will be designed for people who are 55 and older.

Another residential development will offer row houses, and will appeal to people who are looking for a maintenance-free lifestyle, he said.

More commercial growth is on the horizon, too, Porter said.

North Tampa Behavioral Health, on State Road 56, is in expansion mode.

A 15,000-square-foot medical office is going up next to Florida Medical Clinic, he said, noting the bottom floor will be occupied by an orthodontist.

He expects that to open within the next seven months to nine months.

“They’re turning dirt like crazy right now, which is fantastic,” Porter said.

The medical office market is hot, Porter added.

“We probably get five to 10 calls a day,” he said.

It’s possible that another 100,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet of medical office could be added, he said. “It’s going to be limited by size.”

Porter also noted that his family is actually doing a strip center of its own on State Road 54, which will include restaurants and businesses which cater to local needs.

And, while there’s been a considerable amount of interest about when Raymond James will break ground and bring new employment opportunities, Porter said other major players are also eyeing the Wiregrass Ranch area.

Wiregrass is also on the shortlist of a couple of other companies that have equal, if not greater, name recognition as Raymond James, Porter said.

“Now that we have these foundations, it just ramps up to a different level, which is exciting,” Porter said.

Published March 8, 2017

DQ Grill & Chill comes to Ballantrae Village Shoppes

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DQ Grill & Chill is nearly ready for its debut at Ballantrae Village Shoppes. By mid-March, franchise owner Carlos Saenz plans to host a grand opening.

Meanwhile, Saenz has had to watch hopeful customers slowly steer their vehicles into the drive-through lane on a daily basis.

It’s disappointing not to at least have a Blizzard or an ice cream cone to hand out, said Saenz.

But, he isn’t surprised at the response from people eager to try a new restaurant.

Franchise owner Carlos Saenz plans to open his DQ Grill & Chill at Ballantrae Village Shoppes by mid-March.
(Kathy Steele)

DQ Grill & Chill is located at 17826 Aprile Drive, off Ballantrae Boulevard and State Road 54.

More than 50,000 vehicles travel up and down the state road. Ballantrae Village Shoppes sits at the entrance to the master-planned community of Ballantrae, north of U.S. 41.

Further north, Bexley Ranch and Asturia are among new subdivisions populating the state highway. To the south, Long Lake Ranch homes are for sale. More retail and commercial are popping up where cows once grazed.

At Ballantrae Village, Circle K is nearly built. In addition to Dairy Queen, the approximately 17,000-square-foot shopping plaza will have T-Mobile, Taco Bell and Dunkin’ Donuts. Other parcels are available.

The activity up and down State Road 54 is a prime reason that Saenz, and his wife Pam, took a deep dive into a new venture – as fast-food restaurant owners.

“We think we’re in a great spot,” said Saenz. “Three years ago, this area was probably a five or six (on a scale of 10). I think we’re at a nine or 10, with the amount of homes and traffic.”

The Saenz’s live in the Oakstead subdivision with their 14-year-old daughter, Madison. Pam Saenz is a Pasco County teacher.

Carlos Saenz is stepping away from a long career in the insurance industry to open his first Dairy Queen. A second franchise in Hudson is possible.

When Saenz researched restaurant franchises, he zeroed in on Dairy Queen for a personal reason. He grew up in Puerto Rico, but as a middle school student moved to Kissimmee, Florida.

His first fast-food meal was at a Dairy Queen on U.S. 192. “It’s still there,” Saenz said.

He feels many others also feel nostalgic about a restaurant that began in 1940. Back then, it sold burgers, hot dogs, fries, Peanut Buster parfaits, Dilly bars and ice cream cones.

Dairy Queen celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2015. The company boasts of more than 1,560 DQ Grill & Chill restaurants in 46 states.

Saenz said Dairy Queen, in recent years, has kept its traditional menu items, but also modernized to keep up with the times. The DQ Grill & Chill concept started nearly two decades ago.

The old favorites are still there, but chicken strip baskets and sandwiches and honey-flavored barbecue have been added. DQ rotates some items in and out, including a recent Kansas-style pork sandwich on pretzel bread and a Philly cheesesteak.

Customers are now described as “fans.”

Dairy Queen supports community-based charitable events. Saenz said the company supports a national campaign to collect donations for the Miracle Children’s Network. However, money collected locally stays in the community, he said.

He anticipates sponsoring special “spirit night” events for area schools, with a portion of proceeds benefiting each school.

A grassy area near the outdoor patio could be gated off as a kind of dog park. Saenz said he expects foot traffic from nearby Ballantrae homes, and people will want to bring their pets.

“We’re going to be partners with the community and engaging with schools,” Saenz said.

Published March 1, 2017

2016 marked by rapid growth, touching moments

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The national election captured headlines and attention, but 2016 was an eventful year in many other ways, as well, across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The big story is the region’s growth.

Eighty-eight-year-old Angel Torres, center, a veteran from Puerto Rico and a resident of the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, is being positioned to have his photograph taken by Mark Fosket, of Valrico, during the ‘Honor Flight’ ceremony at the nursing home. Gabrielle Perrella, a volunteer from Baltimore, Maryland, who is dressed in a uniform costume, posed with each veteran for their portrait.
(File Photos)

New houses are popping up all over the place, with developments such as Long Lake Ranch, Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch, Connerton, Bexley and Asturia, just some of the residential communities beckoning to buyers.

Pasco County is on the move in many other ways, too.

A futuristic, technology-based network of communities across 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County is in its planning stages.

Raymond James Financial has closed on a deal to buy 65 acres across from Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, with the financial services giant expected to have hundreds of workers in Pasco County at some point.

Florida Hospital Center Ice — a new 150,000-square-foot hockey arena and sports complex — is nearly set to open, and that is expected to be a big draw for both tournaments and tourists.

And then, there’s the commercial development that continues to transform the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, especially near the Interstate75/State Road 56 interchange.

Just in that vicinity alone, there’s Tampa Premium Outlets, Longhorn Steakhouse, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chick-fil-A and Culver’s.

A 186,000-square-foot Costco Wholesale is expected to open in February, with an estimated 200 employees.

A historic photo of a baptism of members of the First Baptist Church of Lutz.

Just across the road, on the north side of State Road 56, Cypress Creek Town Center — another shopping development — is being built.

There are also plans for a new cinema, grocery store, apartments, shops and restaurants next to The Shops at Wiregrass, off State Road 56.

Of course, all of this growth is compounding traffic problems on area roads — and numerous projects are underway or are expected to begin work in coming years.

Improvements are expected to begin near the I-75/State Road 56 interchange. Wesley Chapel Boulevard is slated to be widened. An extension of State Road 56 is planned between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, and discussion continues about the best solution for reducing congestion at U.S. 41 and State Road 54.

Growth is putting the squeeze on schools, too.

Pasco County Schools can’t keep pace with growing enrollments.

The district opened Wiregrass Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel, in August, to reduce crowding at area schools.

In the coming school year, it plans to open Bexley Elementary and Cypress Creek Middle/High.

Bexley is being built in a new subdivision off State Road 54. Cypress Creek Middle/High is going up on Old Pasco Road.

School board members gave preliminary approval for boundaries for Bexley and Cypress Creek at a contentious public hearing on Dec. 20. A final vote is expected on Jan. 17.

But, school board members and Superintendent Kurt Browning said the new schools fall far short of addressing district needs. They want the Pasco County Commission to require new residential construction to pay higher impact fees to support school construction.

Paramedic John Ward helps Sister Helen Lange blow out the candles that lit up her 103rd birthday cake at a party at Heritage Park in Dade City.

While growth and its ripple effects clearly dominated the news, there were plenty of other notable moments within the region during 2016.

For instance, there were heroics in everyday life.

On June 3, a fire claimed the life of a tiny black Chihuahua named Peanut, but not until after the dog’s persistent barking saved the life of three generations of a Lutz family.

Later that same week, quick actions by a student at Saddlebrook Preparatory School in Wesley Chapel averted potential tragedy at the international boarding school for aspiring golf and tennis players.

A student smelled smoke, investigated, pulled the alarm and help to ensure that all 28 students and two adults got out of the dorm safely.

It took 55 firefighters more than 1 ½ hours to put out the blaze.

This past year also was one of milestones and celebrations.

The First Baptist Church in Lutz celebrated its 75th anniversary, The San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival turned a half-century, Cox Elementary School turned 90 and the Town of St. Leo marked its 125th anniversary.

On a more personal note, Sister Helen Lange, of Dade City, received a surprise cake to mark her 103rd year on Sept. 28 in Dade City, and Nellie and Gain Hughs Bailey Sr., of Lutz, celebrated 70 years of married life on March 31.

There were inspiring moments, too.

Hundreds of people turned out for the “Honor Flight” celebration on Aug. 20, at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Home in Land O’ Lakes. The event provided a virtual tour of the nation’s war monuments because these veterans are unable to make the trip to Washington D.C.

The stands were also filled at Ron Allen Field at Gaither High School, in North Tampa, to attend the June 15 vigil to honor Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, one of 49 people killed during a mass shooting on June 12 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

There was the inspiring message, too, from Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, who spoke at two days of gatherings at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz.

Ilibagiza’s family, friends and other members of her tribe were brutally murdered in Rwanda, but through her faith, she was able to forgive the killers.

Forgiveness, the genocide survivor said, brings freedom.

Published December 28, 2016

Rezoning approved for 320 new homes

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Homes by WestBay plans to build up to 320 single-family homes on a large swath of wooded land off Henley Road in Lutz.

The Pasco County Commission approved a rezoning for the project on Aug. 9

The 175-acre site is east of Long Lake Ranch, a master-planned community off State Road 54.

The newly approved residential project includes extending a one-lane, dead-end stretch of Leonard Road, at its intersection with Henley, as a two-lane road into the proposed development.

Homes by WestBay wants to build 320 homes on land off Henley Road. A dead-end section of Leonard Road would be extended into the proposed housing development. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Homes by WestBay wants to build 320 homes on land off Henley Road. A dead-end section of Leonard Road would be extended into the proposed housing development.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

During construction, truck traffic is scheduled to cut through Long Lake via Sunlake Boulevard, Long Lake Boulevard and Breynia Drive. Initially, about 120 homes will be built.

Some Long Lake residents expressed concerns about the construction route.

Long Lake resident Bill Cullen said he doesn’t oppose the rezoning, but he provided documents with more 70 signatures calling for an alternate construction route.

“There are a lot of children in this community,” Cullen said.

Residents are frequently out walking to the swimming pool, along trails or to other amenities within Long Lake, he said.

Trucks also would have to maneuver through two roundabouts, another resident said.

By the end of the public hearing on the rezoning, a developer’s representative said Henley and Leonard roads could be added as future truck routes.

Leonard Road residents also voiced objections, based on concerns about traffic from the new subdivision and potential flooding.

Seeking to improve safety, residents have lobbied for years to get sidewalks built along the two-lane winding road, between U.S. 41 and State Road 54.

John Foster presented county commissioners with letters and emails from about 20 Leonard Road residents against the rezoning.

The proposed homes will be built at a higher level than existing homes, Foster said. “We will be the low-lying area in comparison to everywhere else. We don’t want to be flooded out.”

Leonard Road resident Charlie McBride said WestBay representatives had done “as best as they could” on the project. But he added, “I realize there ain’t no way I’m going to stop the traffic coming from Long Lake. There are going to be a lot of traffic problems.”

Developers anticipate providing five entrances for the new subdivision.

The extension of Leonard, a re-alignment of Henley and Leonard, and paving Henley from State Road 54 to Leonard will improve traffic flow, said land use attorney Andrea Zelman.

“Leonard Road, as an east/west road, was always part of (the county’s) highway vision plan,” Zelman said. “It provides some of the connectivity that Pasco is looking for, as well as an alternative route.”

Revised August 22, 2016

Residential building momentum in Pasco

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Motorists cruising on major corridors see bulldozers stirring up dirt on open pasture land or crews in hard hats pounding nails into houses, frame by frame.

Billboards are inescapable. They fill the rights of way in clusters along State Road 54, State Road 56 and U.S. 41.

They call out to passersby — inviting prospective homebuyers to seek out the newest in luxury living.

The Moore family moved from Michigan to a new Wiregrass Ranch subdivision to enjoy Florida sunshine and the small-town feel of their new neighborhood. From left: Noah, 2, father Marlo, Kynnedy, 5, and mother Traci. (Courtesy of the Moore Family)
The Moore family moved from Michigan to a new Wiregrass Ranch subdivision to enjoy Florida sunshine and the small-town feel of their new neighborhood. From left: Noah, 2, father Marlo, Kynnedy, 5, and mother Traci.
(Courtesy of the Moore Family)

Long Lake Ranch, Bexley South, Asturia, Connerton and Estancia at Wiregrass are just a few on the expanding list of upscale communities with new homes for sale.

The unmistakable message?

New home construction is taking off in Pasco County.

Homebuyers are touring the market from near and far, in person and online.

Moving day for Traci and Marlo Moore, and their children, Kynnedy 5, and Noah, 2, came on the weekend of the Fourth of July.

They moved into a single-family home in an enclave of Wiregrass Ranch that is so new that construction dirt is still flying.

The Michigan transplants spent more than two years searching for a dream home in Florida, Texas and North Carolina.

They found it in Wesley Chapel, off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, one of the busiest development areas in the county for homes and retail.

Building continues on some houses, but others are ready for residents in a new subdivision at Wiregrass Ranch. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Building continues on some houses, but others are ready for residents in a new subdivision at Wiregrass Ranch.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

The Moores are among a multitude of people in the hunt for new and modern homes, with easy access to jobs, shops, schools and restaurants.

“There is a lot of pent-up demand,” said Steve Seeger, director of sales and marketing for Lennar, one of the home builders at Wiregrass Ranch.

In 2016, Lennar plans to build 116 homes in the Wiregrass subdivision where the Moores now live. The homebuilder is constructing or selling homes in nine communities in Pasco and 46 in the Tampa Bay area.

Other builders including CalAtlantic, M/I Homes, Beazer Homes, Homes by WestBay, David Weekley Homes and the Ryland Group are among the companies signing up for the residential boom in Pasco.

Housing on the rise in Pasco
Business is brisk in Pasco County’s building department.

Contractors pulled more than 1,900 building permits by mid-July. That’s nearly the number that was pulled for the entire year in 2015.

Work crews are building new homes in the Waterford enclave of Concord Station.
Work crews are building new homes in the Waterford enclave of Concord Station.

Construction of single-family homes has been on an upward trend in Pasco County every year since 2012.

The climb back from the Great Recession continues, though there’s still a huge gap between the number of homes being built this year compared to the number that were built in 2005, when the county issued 7,252 permits for single-family homes.

At the same time, the number of permits issued in both 2015 and in 2016, reflect a significant improvement compared to the 884 permits issued in 2011.

People who study housing trends see Pasco’s residential construction continuing to trend upward.

Pasco had four of the top 10 communities, based on new housing starts in the first quarter of 2016, according to Metro Study.

Long Lake topped the list with 264 housing starts in that period. Wiregrass was next, with 229. FishHawk in Hillsborough County took third spot with 225 housing starts. Most on the list are in Hillsborough.

A large sign advertising future construction of the planned master-community of Bexley South seeks to catch the attention of passing motorists on State Road 54.
A large sign advertising future construction of the planned master-community of Bexley South seeks to catch the attention of passing motorists on State Road 54.

But Union Park, with 188 housing starts, and Concord Station, with 175 housing starts, were also in the top 10.

“A year ago, no Pasco community was on the list,” said Tony Polito, regional director for Metro Study.

And, these numbers are not just data collecting in some government computer.

The information for the Metro Study is gleaned by local field teams who drive through the county collecting information on housing trends.

New construction in many communities was just beginning last year, and now Polito said, “Pasco has the biggest supply of lots.”

The one missing product from Pasco’s flurry of home building is starter homes, Polito said.

“Apartment buildings are taking over for people who would be traditional first-time buyers,” he added.

Builders can build on a ‘grand scale’
Others also find good news in Pasco’s housing trends.

The economy in general is looking brighter all across Tampa Bay.

But in the housing arena, Pasco is in what real estate broker Bill Eshenbaugh described as an interesting position. Eshenbaugh publishes the Eshenbaugh Report, which looks at local trends and property listings.

“It’s a pretty clean palette,” he said.

These mailboxes are ready for some future residents in the Waterford enclave at Concord Station.
These mailboxes are ready for some future residents in the Waterford enclave at Concord Station.

Large tracts of open land, especially along State Road 54 and State Road 56, are worthy investments for developers who want to build on a grand scale.

More new development is possible in Pasco in contrast to redevelopment and infill in more urban, built-out counties like Hillsborough and Pinellas, Eshenbaugh said.

“Pasco has a really nice place in the market,” he said. “It’s a desirable area.”

Long Lake is enjoying great success, as is Wiregrass, where a couple of $1 million sales have happened in Estancia, Eshenbaugh said.

Some residential is going up in Lutz around the Veteran’s Expressway and North Dale Mabry Highway. One new subdivision under construction is CalAtlantic’s The Promenade at Lake Park, off North Dale Mabry, near Idlewild Baptist Church.

Some homebuyers in Pasco are purchasing second, or third, homes, Eshenbaugh said.

“They are moving to upscale,” he said.

Those age 55 and older also are interested in Pasco.

Concord Station is on a top-10 list for new housing starts for the first quarter of 2016, according to Metro Study. The master-planned community is off State Road 54.
Concord Station is on a top-10 list for new housing starts for the first quarter of 2016, according to Metro Study. The master-planned community is off State Road 54.

And, Eshenbaugh said some people are skipping South Tampa, where they might have to tear down an existing house to build the new home of their dreams.

“Here, they can buy a lot of house that is nice and modern,” he said.

That is what eventually sold the Moores on their new home, even after checking out Orlando, as well.

They wanted a neighborhood with a small-town feel, but one that was part of new growth.

“We thought it would be nice to get into that process earlier,” said Traci Moore.  “We’re doing this as a family.”

Wesley Chapel fit the mold.

“It’s an extremely diverse area, multicultural and with age diversity. That appeals to me especially,” Traci Moore said. “The Wiregrass area seems to be a good mix of things – business and residential.”

Pasco is a good place to start a new chapter in their lives, she said.

Not far behind will be her parents.

They, too, are in the market for a Pasco County home.

Top ten communities for housing starts first quarter, 2016
Long Lake Ranch – 264
Wiregrass Ranch – 229
FishHawk Ranch – 225
Waterset – 216
Hawks Point – 195
Union Park – 188
Ayesworth Glen – 186
Valencia Lakes – 179
Concord Station – 175
South Fork – 165

Published July 27, 2016

Sunlake extension offers new route for drivers

By

The blockades disappeared a few weeks ago, and suddenly Sunlake Boulevard was no longer a dead-end street at the construction site of Long Lake Ranch, the master-planned community south of State Road 54.

Motorists slowly are beginning to realize they can travel in a mostly straight line from State Road 54 in Pasco County to North Dale Mabry Highway in Hillsborough County, with a bonus of bypassing the traffic-clogged intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

Motorists traveling north on Sunlake Boulevard, away from the roundabout, will see speed limits increase from 35 mph to 45 mph. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Motorists traveling north on Sunlake Boulevard, away from the roundabout, will see speed limits increase from 35 mph to 45 mph.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Portions of the approximately 3-mile stretch provide a smooth, four-lane road for drivers, with a roundabout in the middle.

The road narrows to two lanes soon after passing Long Lake’s entrance. Varying speed limits are posted along the journey toward Hillsborough County, with the slowest speed of 20 mph through the roundabout.

At the southern end, Sunlake Boulevard enters Sunlake Park, a mature tree-lined neighborhood of 36 single-family homes, built in the 1960s. A series of three speed bumps and a speed limit of 25 mph keep speeders at bay.

“It’s convenient to drivers,” said Melissa Greene, commenting on the Sunlake Boulevard connection. She recently was waiting in mid-afternoon at the intersection of the boulevard and Evergreen Oak Drive for a Hillsborough County school bus to drop off her son.

But Greene and other parents at the school bus stop say they also worry about speeding motorists, increased traffic especially during rush hours, and confusing speed limits that change from one side of the road to the other.

They would like speed bumps similar to those in Sunlake Park.

“I don’t know if that would happen because there are no houses on every section of road,” Greene said. “It would be nice. It would slow people down.”

She also would like to see school buses drive into the subdivisions dotting the boulevard, but Greene said that might not happen.

Still Greene said, “We see drivers fly by here.”

The roundabout also is troublesome to some who worry about accidents as motorists approach and leave the traffic circle.

Heading south toward the roundabout, speed limits drop from 35 mph to 30 mph. On the opposite side on the same stretch of roadway, heading northward, speed limits bump up from 35 mph to 45 mph.

It’s confusing to drivers,” said Jennifer Todd, who waited with Greene for the school bus.

The sequence of speed limits meets national standards for road design for roundabouts, said Deborah Bolduc, Pasco County’s program administrator for engineering services. “It’s for safety reasons,” she said. “It’s supposed to do that.”

Hillsborough and Pasco signed off on the project, but Amprop Development Corp., did the road design and construction to extend Sunlake Boulevard. The company developed the Shoppes at Sunlake Centre on the north side of State Road 54, at Sunlake Boulevard. It also sold land to T. Rowe Price at the southwest corner of the intersection. However, the financial investment firm backed away from plans to build a campus there.

Making Sunlake Boulevard into a connector route has been part of long-range planning for decades, said Hillsborough County engineer Mike Williams. “As you make additional connections, it helps facilitate the distribution of traffic in the area.”

Heavily traveled North Dale Mabry Highway and U.S. 41 are expected to see some traffic diverted to the boulevard, but area residents say traffic congestion in their neighborhoods will only get worse — especially at Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard, and at the left-turn lane off North Dale Mabry Highway, near a 7-Eleven convenience store.

“That backs up pretty far, “ Greene said, describing the traffic at those intersections.

Published April 1, 2015