The Laker/Lutz News

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

Mike Moore

June opening anticipated for Dade City bike hub

By

Bicyclists and fellow exercisers alike will soon have an idyllic spot in Dade City to relax and take a breather — thanks to a new visitor’s information welcome center and bike hub that’ll help anchor a forthcoming downtown park site.

The visitor’s information welcome center/bike hub concept — aptly referred to as “Spoke” or “Hub” — will be situated in the heart of downtown Dade City, across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead, at the corner of Church Avenue and Eighth Street.

The visitor’s center/bike hub is just one aspect of a grander 2-acre-plus downtown park site in Dade City, to eventually include an inclusive/ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, amphitheater for outdoor venues and children’s splash pad, among other amenities. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

Project construction officially kicked off following a March 10 groundbreaking ceremony. Since then, footers have since been set and concrete poured.

Dade City officials anticipate a June grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a presentation from the city’s community and economic development director Melanie Romagnoli, during a March 24 Pasco County Tourist Development Council meeting.

The tourist-friendly project is multi-faceted.

The roughly 1,500 square-foot welcome center takes on an open space interior concept that will house brochure kiosks for other countywide tourism partners to promote upcoming activities and attractions, museums, art exhibits and places of interest.

The city also is seeking sponsorships to incorporate digital displays, additional outlets and internet connectivity capabilities at the center.

Romagnoli explained of the concept: “We want to be able to have a mobile area for our partners in the tourism industry to be able to display what’s going on in their areas, so it can be anything from, let’s say, like the Dade City Heritage (and Cultural) Museum, or even the West Pasco (Historical Society) Museum, if they want to bring something over and put it in.”

The facility also will include two outdoor covered porch areas with seating options, as well as an exterior bike shelter, with parking stations and repair stands for traveling bicyclists. Two public restrooms also will be included.

The welcome center/bike hub is being funded with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and its official destination marketing organization, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, which promotes Pasco’s varied outdoor and recreational offerings.

Pasco County TDC chairman Mike Moore during the meeting said the welcome center/bike hub will be “a great addition to the community and county, as a whole.”

The facility is a corner part of the quaint East Pasco town’s multi-use downtown park concept —  to eventually feature an inclusive/ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, amphitheater for outdoor venues, and children’s splash pad and other amenities.

The city originally purchased a 2.23-acre property for the park site in December 2019 for $800,000 from the family of local businessman Otto Weitzenkorn.

From there, the bidding process, construction contracts and permitting on the visitor’s center/bike hub alone wrapped up in February.

Other elements of the planned park may not come to fruition for some time, as the city collects public input, and establishes specific design and engineered plans.

Total investment of the entire downtown park could exceed $3 million, officials previously have estimated.

The city is seeking grant opportunities and other funding sources to help pay for the multi-use park.

Dade City leaders have said the park project is designed to help revitalize the downtown business district, while also offering another recreational outlet for local youth, residents and visitors.

Officials also say that the park fits with the city’s vision of fostering a healthy and age-friendly community.

Published April 14, 2021

Divided county board approves apartment request

By

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

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

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

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

The land currently is zoned for commercial uses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published April 14, 2021

Pause on multifamily moves step closer in Pasco

By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published April 07, 2021

Pasco board delays decision on land use change

By

The Pasco County Commission has delayed a decision regarding a controversial request that would clear the way to consider commercial uses at the southwest corner of State Road 54 and Meadowbrook Estates.

The request is being vigorously contested by residents in Meadowbrook Estates and Sierra Pines subdivision, in Lutz.

Opponents object to allowing a change in the land use designation that would open the door to a rezoning request that would allow a litany of commercial uses.

Kiddie Campus University Inc., the land owner and applicant, is represented by attorney Barbara Wilhite.

Two previous efforts to gain approvals for a day care at the site were denied.

The current effort is to first obtain a land use change to allow commercial uses, and then to get a zoning change for the 1.67-acre site.

It is not unusual for the sale of property to be contingent on the successful acquisition of land use or zoning change.

Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson, of 17300 Riverstone Drive, told commissioners she’s lived in the neighborhood for 30 years.

“I do know firsthand, I was called by the person that I believe Barbara (Wilhite) represents, and I was told this was going to be a gas station/car wash. We cannot have a gas station/car wash within our neighborhood,” Hunnewell-Johnson said.

Speakers told commissioners that they worry that contaminants from a gas station could seep into their groundwater supply. They said the neighborhoods rely on well water for drinking water, as well as watering their fruit trees.

The neighborhoods were represented by Todd Pressman, a private consultant, Patricia Ortiz, a private planning consultant and attorney Luke Lirot, in opposing the request.

Numerous neighbors — sporting red T-shirts in a sign of solidarity — appeared via a remote feed at the March 23 public hearing to voice their objections. A number of letters of opposition also were read into the record.

Ortiz said the request represents a commercial intrusion into an established residential neighborhood.

Neighbors told commissioners that they don’t oppose use of the site, but want the use to be less intense.

Pressman also presented petitions signed by more than 140 people opposed to the request.

Lirot said that neighbors oppose potential uses that could affect their property values and their quality of life.

“If it’s a doctor’s office, or something else that wouldn’t be open deep into the evening, with noise and smoke and fumes, and things of that nature — if it’s a professional type of development — there’s no problem whatsoever.

“Nobody wants to deny the property owner of the use and benefit of that particular property,” Lirot said.

He asked the county board to consider a restriction that will limit the options available only to uses that would not have an adverse effect on the neighborhood.

Wilhite told commissioners that the proposed use is in keeping with the county’s long-range land plan.

The location fronts on State Road 54, which is a six-lane arterial highway. The site also is at a signalized intersection, which is ¾-miles east of the Suncoast Parkway.

She cited a policy in the county’s land use plan that specifically directs where the board wants commercial land uses to occur, and this location meets that criteria.

Commissioners said they want to ensure that buffering is adequate to protect the neighboring properties.

Commissioner Mike Moore asked: “Any chance counsel on both sides could maybe get together, put their heads together a little bit, and come up with a compromise between the two and bring this back?

“Just a thought, a suggestion. I don’t know if both sides are willing to have those discussions,” Moore said.

Moore said he has concerns for the house that’s across the street and for the house that abuts the property. He also questioned if there is sufficient room to meet buffering requirements.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley and Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also raised concerns about protecting nearby properties.

Starkey said “the devil is in the details” and noted there are plenty of examples of commercial uses adjacent to residential neighborhoods around the county.

Moore asked Wilhite if she was willing to meet with the other side.

She responded: “Commissioner Moore, you know I will always have conversations. I’m happy to have conversations.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed with Moore’s suggestion to ask the two sides to meet, to see if they can work something out.

Mariano told Pressman: “Mr. Pressman, I strongly recommend, take the opportunity to meet with them, otherwise, we vote on it now. We don’t know where it’s going to go yet.”

Pressman replied: “I hear you commissioner, and with that, I don’t think we have a choice but to meet and talk. But I’m going to say again, you’re putting the onus on the applicant for site plan and buffering. You need to put the onus on use.”

Starkey told Pressman: “I disagree.”

After both sides agreed to meet, the board voted to continue the land use request until April 20. The companion rezoning request also has been delayed. It is now set for May 18.

Published March 31, 2021

New businesses beginning to pop up, along U.S. 41

By

The signs sprouting along U.S. 41 — which is also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard — are an indication that new development is beginning to take root, on the main artery through Land O’ Lakes and Lutz.

New restaurants, a car wash and gas stations are coming. A new coffeehouse and meat shop have opened. A medical center and other developments, are planned, too.

None of this is on the same grand scale of the Tampa Premium Outlets or the Cypress Creek Town Center along State Road 56, but something is happening along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard that hasn’t happened in years.

A new restaurant is in planning stages on a site at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It briefly was occupied by a restaurant called Mosquito Bar & Grill, and before that, Rapscallions. (Kathy Steele)

New businesses are taking a chance on a long overlooked, heavily traveled highway.

“This is great,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, whose district includes Land O’ Lakes. “As they have begun filling up along State Road 54/56, you’re seeing more happening along U.S. 41.”

Much of the new activity on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard extends from Bell Lake Road north toward State Road 52 and a nearly $50 million highway project that passes through Gowers Corner at U.S. 41.

For sale signs are plentiful, sites have been cleared and construction is underway — conveying a sense that new commercial projects are on the way, or could be coming soon.

A new Circle K gas station and convenience store is in the works at 7767 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., according to county records.

The project is being built by Frontier Building, according to a news release from that company, and the Circle K is expected to open in July.

Redstone Commercial is marketing more open land next to the Circle K.

Zaxby’s and Vortex carwash are planned for a location at U.S. 41 and Wilderness Lake Boulevard, according to posted signs and county records.

A 7-Eleven is anticipated at Bell Lake Road, along with another 7-Eleven at 9077 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., near the Tierra Del Sol subdivision, county records show.

Ps & Qs will be fluffing and styling pets from a new doggie day and boarding facility planned for 7495 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., near the community of Connerton.

Heights Meat Market, a longtime presence in the Tampa neighborhood of Seminole Heights, is operating at a small plaza at 5132 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It opened in early 2020.

Aroma Joe’s coffeehouse is serving java, breakfast and sandwiches in a shop by the Preserve at Lake Wilderness.

Aroma Joe’s is a new coffeehouse open in a small plaza by the Preserve at Lake Wilderness, off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

A new restaurant is expected to open at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd, the site previously occupied briefly by Mosquito Bar & Grill and before that by Rapscallions, a popular meeting place.

No details are yet available regarding what the new restaurant will look like, or the type of cuisine it will serve.

The old restaurant structure has fallen into disrepair, after its closure in 2013.

Longtime Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves remembers how popular Rapscallions was, especially among nearby Bell Lake residents.

Graves is pleased to see some new development and redevelopment along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

“It’s nice to see any kind of progress,” Graves said. “I’d love to see more. It’s nice to see a new restaurant.”

There’s definitely room for improvement, she added, noting there’s still a lot of Land O’ Lakes that looks “stuck in the ’60s.”

Graves looks forward to bicycle trails being built in the future that follow along the old railroad tracks. And the completion of the Ridge Road extension, which will emerge at U.S. 41 across from Connerton, also could help, she said.

“It will be a lot easier going east and west in the county. I think things are looking up for Land O’ Lakes, which extends to the outlet mall.”

Graves sees positive changes along the northern corridor at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Frontier Building announced the construction of a Circle K gas station and convenience store, at 7767 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

County officials and officials from Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., previously have touted potential economic investment in the area that is likely to result from the development of the K9 Tactical Center/Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics, or F.I.R.S.T., and the Adam Kennedy Memorial Forensics Fields, also known as the body farm.

These facilities are expected to attract forensics-related businesses and organizations, as well as national and international visitors to forensics conferences.

Road improvements on a northern segment of U.S. 41, plus substantial improvements along State Road 52, also are expected to support new development efforts.

And, the development of the Angeline community — along with a planned Pasco County campus of Moffitt Research Center — are expected to have a significant economic impact in Land O’ Lakes.

County records show developers are getting ready for what comes once the roadwork is finished.

Five years ago, the Tibbetts family rezoned its property at the southwest corner of Gowers Corner for residential and commercial development. No projects are announced as yet.

On property adjacent to the Tibbetts’ parcels, county records show Sandridge Commercial LLC applied for a “mass grading” permit to level and prep a large swath of land for an unidentified project.

Gowers Corner and U.S. 41 are on the development radar.

Meanwhile, the signs of new development on U.S. 41 are much less obvious south of Bell Lake.

O’Reilly Auto Parts has opened a store at 3600 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., and the Walmart Supercenter, at 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., is opening a fueling station.

Businesses along the southern end of Land O’ Lakes struggle to redevelop properties after a road widening years ago that chopped off frontage, Graves said.

The county may need to consider overlay districts at locations along U.S. 41, to foster redevelopment efforts, she said.

By Kathy Steele

Published March 10, 2021

Pasco board looks to put pause on multifamily

By

The Pasco County Commission is considering a temporary pause on multifamily development in the central part of the county.

The board has directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit new applications for multifamily to be considered in an area bounded by State Road 54/State Road 56 on the south; State Road 52 on the north; U.S. 41 (Land O’ Lakes Boulevard) on the west; and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and on the east.

The moratorium would take effect beginning on the date of the first public hearing — which has not been determined yet.

This 262-unit apartment development is being built off State Road 54, at Oak Grove Boulevard. The Pasco County Commission is pursuing a temporary moratorium on new multifamily development in the central part of Pasco County, to give commissioners a chance to get a better handle on how much of this type of development is already entitled in existing zonings. (B.C. Manion)

The idea is to give county staff time to research the number of existing entitlements for multifamily development and to report back to the board. Once the board has that information, it can decide how to proceed.

Board members voted 3-2 to support pursuing the temporary moratorium.

Commissioners Mike Moore, Christina Fitzpatrick and Jack Mariano voted yes; Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley voted no.

The vote came after extensive discussion, including analysis of Pasco County’s Class A market demand provided by Lesley Deutch, managing principal with John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

Deutch, who appeared on behalf of land use attorneys Joel Tew and Barbara Wilhite, told commissioners that demand for Class A apartments in Pasco County is expected to grow by about 5,380 over the next five years. She characterized that projection as a “conservative” estimate.

Nectarios Pittos, the county’s planning director, provided a presentation that reviewed the county’s policies regarding multifamily development.

“The compact nature of development requires less infrastructure; it’s less land, and so you are making use of existing infrastructure as much as possible,” Pittos said.

Commissioner Starkey cautioned against becoming too restrictive regarding the development of multifamily housing.

“We need to have some workforce housing,” Starkey said. “I am really getting concerned that we don’t pay enough attention to this part of our society, and they need to be integrated into all of our communities.”

Commissioner Moore said his district is becoming too saturated with multifamily development.

He has repeatedly warned against the long-range potential of having large apartment complexes that become less competitive over time wind up with high vacancy rates and ultimately fall into disrepair.

Commissioner Fitzpatrick has similar concerns.

“What’s going to happen 30 years from now?” Fitzpatrick asked, expressing worries about the prospect for crime.

But, Starkey said multifamily is needed to address today’s demand.

She said young professionals aren’t buying; they want to rent.

Starkey also noted: “There is a rise in trend of apartment dwellers being higher-income brackets.”

Noting that Pasco is an attractive area, Deutch said, “there’s a lot of growth in Pasco. Unless you want it to stop, you  have to have housing.”

Like Starkey, Deutch said that renting has become a much more popular choice than it was in the past.

Chairman Oakley said Deutch’s report was informative.

“I don’t see we’re overrun with apartments,” Oakley said.

But, Moore persisted: “We continue to change zoning on parcels, when we already have the inventory to meet the demand.

“The parcels are there, ready to be developed tomorrow. These guys already have the entitlements,” Moore said.

“Did you look at all of the parcels that have the entitlements for the future, when you did your study?” Moore asked Deutch.

Deutch responded: “No, I did not. That wasn’t part of the study.”

Starkey noted that it can take decades for a property with an entitlement to actually be developed.

Attorney Tew raised this issue with the board: “I’m concerned that the commission will get into picking winners and losers in the marketplace. That is not what the government is supposed to do.”

He also told board members: “I think this is very treacherous ground and really uncharted territory for this commission.”

The prospect of a moratorium, according to Tew, “will be an immediate buzz kill to your potential employers.”

But, Moore cited a number of other places — such as Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas and other jurisdictions in Florida — where moratoriums on multifamily are either in place, or are being considered.

Mariano, like Moore, thinks the county needs a better understanding of its current level of entitlements.

“I’m really scared that we don’t know what our supply could be, if everything was going to be built out,” Mariano said.

In another action relating to multifamily development, commissioners directed staff to prepare changes to the county’s land development code to remove the possibility of developing multifamily, as a conditional use, in a commercial zoning district.

The goal is to preserve commercial land for commercial uses, according to Fitzpatrick, who made a motion to pursue the change.

Moore seconded the motion, which was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Starkey dissenting.

Published February 24, 2021

Two Rivers will offer places to live, work, play

By

Two Rivers — a community proposed to rise along State Road 56, between Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301 — is making its way through necessary government approvals, to bring the community closer to reality.

The Pasco County Commission voted last week to transmit a request to state officials for their review. The request involves changing the text in the county’s comprehensive plan and amending the county’s highway vision map.

This land, along State Road 56, east of Morris Bridge Road, is now occupied by trees, ponds and open fields. But it is proposed to become the future community of Two Rivers — a place that will feature homes, businesses, recreational options and schools, under proposals going through Pasco County’s regulatory process. (B.C. Manion)

The state review is required before the county board can take final action on the request.

In addition to gaining approval of those changes, the developer also must secure a rezoning to create the proposed community.

The rezoning request is in process and is expected to come before the board within the next few months.

Once those regulatory hurdles are cleared, efforts can begin to bring the proposed 3,405-acre community to life.

Two Rivers is envisioned as a place that features a mixture of housing types, work opportunities, shopping, recreation and schools.

Details of the proposed project were outlined during a previous Pasco County Planning Commission meeting.

The project has been in planning stages — off and on — for more than 10 years, and there have been a number of ownership changes.

The current proposal calls for creating Two Rivers as a master-planned development, on the southern edge of Pasco County. The project would tie into a community that’s under the same ownership, which is just south of the Pasco-Hillsborough line.

County documents detail the proposed plan, which includes:

  • 246 acres of conservation area
  • 3,875 single-family homes
  • 1,400 multifamily homes
  • 1,125 age-restricted homes
  • 1.3 million square feet for a targeted industry
  • 630,000 square feet retail

Other elements include schools for elementary, middle and high students, on property that would be next to an 80-acre county park.

Two Rivers is expected to be a community that emphasizes walkability and includes an extensive trail system that provides connectivity within the community. Alternate modes of transportation, such as golf carts, also will be encouraged, to help residents get from place to place.

The proposed community also calls for numerous recreational amenities, including recreational complexes, multipurpose fields, ball diamonds, an aquatics center, playgrounds, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, and open spaces.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore spoke in favor of the proposed project.

“I’m in support of this. In the future, this is going to be a really, really nice, very well-done, master-planned community. This is something that has really been on line for a long, long time,” Moore said.

And, while Moore has decried what he perceives as a proliferation of multifamily development, he said he doesn’t oppose including multifamily in Two Rivers.

“There are multifamily apartments in the future of this property, which I understand and am in support of because this is an area that does not have the oversaturation of the multifamily. It makes sense in a large master-planned community,” Moore said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also spoke in favor of the proposal.

She also noted that she’ll be very interested in seeing the proposed trail network in the rezoning request for the master-planned community.

Commissioners unanimously approved the transmittal request.

Published February 17, 2021

Saint Paul’s Episcopal continues its faith journey

By

In the beginning, it had no walls and no members — but there was a vision, to create an Episcopal church community within Wesley Chapel.

The congregation began gathering in car dealership conference rooms, then moved to larger locations.

Now, it operates at 3836 Flatiron Loop, Suite 101, in a stand-alone building in  a professional business park in Wesley Chapel.

These officials recently took part in a dedication ceremony at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Wesley Chapel. From left: Mike Moore, of the Pasco County Commission; Bishop Dabney T. Smith, of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida; Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce; and the Rev. Adrienne Hymes, church vicar. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

The church also has an official name: St. Paul’s Episcopal — to replace its original placeholder name of Wesley Chapel Episcopal Church.

The congregation celebrated its first patronal feast day on Jan. 24 with a special visit from the Bishop Dabney T. Smith, the current and fifth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.

At the service, the bishop confirmed five adults, commissioned the church’s first governing board and blessed an icon of St. Paul.

The church also had a dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting on Jan. 28.

In addition to Bishop Smith, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and North Tampa Bay Chamber CEO Hope Kennedy offered remarks.

Initially, the church was operating only in a portion of the building, but it has expanded and is using the remaining space in the building for a parish hall, for fellowship and teaching.

The long-term vision is to secure land and build a traditional church building, said the Rev. Adrienne Hymes, who was the original church planter and is now the church vicar.

While the church is in a new building, it is rooted in an ancient tradition, Hymes said, in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

The fledgling church has come a long way, in four years.

“To be able to stand behind an altar and actually see people in the seats, safely distanced, is awe-inspiring for me, every Sunday,” Hymes said.

The people who have gravitated to the church so far are already Episcopalians who were looking for a church closer to home, Hymes said.

“The closest Episcopal church is 11.5 miles from here, down Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. A lot of people had been going there, but we’re now in their backyard,” she said.

Having a church close to home allows greater participation by church members, Hymes said.

“Distance definitely determines the depth of discipleship. People who really want to serve and do things beyond Sunday, they can now do that,” Hymes said.

Since the church is new to the area, people might wonder what to expect, she said.

She noted: The exterior of the building is contemporary, but the liturgy is traditional.

And that, she said, evokes a familiar feeling for Episcopalians.

“It feels like their church, even though we don’t have the marble floors or the stained glass windows. With the liturgy, there’s no denying where you are and what to do,” Hymes said.

“I think that really does appeal to the Episcopalians who are showing up.

“They are starving for that ancient liturgy,” she said.

She takes care to preserve the sanctuary as a sacred space.

“There is a reverence here. They have a space that feels like church, that has a quiet in it, a sanctity to it,” Hymes said.

When people arrive before a service, to spend some time in personal prayer, she wants to be sure that they have a space where that can happen — without interruption by others.

“The space is small, and the sanctuary is used for the sanctuary work,” she said.

Ultimately, St. Paul’s Episcopal will want to operate in a more traditional church building — but that will take some time, Hymes said.

“We’re grateful for a space for us to kind of nest, and build and grow and call more people to the ministry, but the vision has always been to find land here in Wesley Chapel — which we know is going to be a challenge,” Hymes said.

The church leader said she realizes that not everyone enjoys the uncertainty that comes from planting a church in a new place — or being a member of a church that it not fully established, but Hymes embraces the challenges, and is pleased that others have joined her in this leap of faith.

Anyone interested in knowing more about the church, or watching a livestream service can visit the website at SaintPaulsEpiscopalChurch.org.

Those seeking additional information can call 813-803-7489, or email .

Published February 17, 2021

Pasco board divided over proposed apartments

By

A proposal that would allow 400 apartments off Wesley Chapel Boulevard, at Hay Road, is being sent to state officials for review.

A divided Pasco County Commission approved the transmittal to the state, on a 3-2 vote, with Commission Chairman Ron Oakley and Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Christina Fitzpatrick voting in favor, and Commissioners Mike Moore and Jack Mariano voting against.

The state transmittal is just one step in the regulatory process needed to allow the proposed apartment project to proceed.

The site currently has a long-range plan designation of six dwelling units per acre and light industrial. Much of the land is occupied by wetlands and cannot be developed.

The proposed change would allow up to 24 dwellings per acre, but because of the wetlands, only about 13 dwellings per acre could be achieved, according to county planners.

County planners have recommended approval of the request, characterizing the request as “an appropriate transitional land use between the single-family residential development to the north and zoned multifamily district to the west.”

The Pasco County Planning Commission also recommended approval — despite objections from Planning Commissioners Peter Hanzel and Roberto Saez, who said the area is becoming oversaturated with apartments.

Commissioner Moore has repeatedly argued against rezonings that allow more apartments in the Wesley Chapel/Land O’ Lakes areas.

He predicts there will be a heavy price to pay in the future, when a glut of apartment buildings leads to high vacancy rates and buildings that fall into disrepair.

In recommending approval, county planners also noted that a proposed employment center use abuts the property, and that generally encourages higher densities to support that type of use.

Attorney Joel Tew, who represented the applicant, said the site has multiple property owners and the land has been assembled for this potential project.

Having multifamily adjacent to an employment center is consistent and supportive, Tew said.

“We submit this would be the poster child for the appropriate infill project,” Tew said.

Tew also noted that the wetlands on the site prohibit the possibility of future retail or office uses there.

In concurring with Moore, Mariano said: “I think we do have enough apartments out there. If they want to keep it residential, keep it smaller densities.

“Do I need more density right there? I don’t know that I do,” Mariano said.

A separate rezoning request is expected to come to the county board in the future.

Published February 17, 2021

Pasco County tourism decreased in 2020

By

Tourism in Pasco County came back to earth in 2020 — following a record year the year before,  which saw the area surpass the million-visitor mark for its first time.

An informational presentation from Experience Florida’s Sports Coast — the county’s branded tourism arm — reveals some sobering facts and figures in a fiscal year impacted largely by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Adam Thomas, director for Pasco County’s tourism brand, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast (File)

Pasco attracted 959,700 visitors in fiscal year 2020, down 7.6% from fiscal year 2019 when it drew 1,038,700 visitors, according to an analysis by Downs & St. Germain Research Inc., consultants to the county.

Other tourism economic impact indicators registered noticeable reductions across the board for the county when compared to the previous year:

  • Room nights generated — 1,069,849 (12.1% decrease)
  • Direct expenditures — $391,642,500 (15.3% decrease)
  • Total economic impact — $552,216,200 (15.3% decrease)
  • Jobs supported by tourism — 6,790 (13.7% decrease)
  • Wages paid by tourism — $149,461,500 (11.1% decrease)
  • Tourist Development Tax (bed tax) — $2,639,427 (13.2% decrease)
  • Taxes supported — $51,789,400 (14.8% decrease)

County tourism manager Adam Thomas shared these annual findings and other details during a Pasco County Commission meeting last month.

The 113-page visitor report shows that about one in four visitors to Pasco came to visit friends and family, while one in 10 visitors traveled to attend or participate in a sporting event.

The areas within the county attracting the most visitors were New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Port Richey and Lutz, according to the report.

Perceptions of Pasco based on coded, open-ended tourist responses generally found the area as a friendly and pleasant place, with tropical Florida weather, and lots to do.

In the way of visitor satisfaction, Pasco earned an 8.3 rating, out of a possible 10, as a place to visit or vacation in 2020, with 95% of respondents saying they plan to return to the county.

Pasco County’s tourism brand, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, places an emphasis on its state-of-the-art athletics facilities and outdoor recreation opportunities. County visitation decreased 7.6% in 2020 from 2019, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 85% of all visitors drove to Pasco in 2020, while 11% flew in through Tampa International Airport.

Florida made up the bulk of the county’s visitation, with 51% of all visits, followed by the rest of the Southeast (16%), then Northeast (12%) and Midwest (12%) regions of the country. Six percent of visitors were international, while 3% came in from the West.

Relatedly, 60% of all the visitors to Pasco were from 10 states.

Besides a majority of Florida-based visitors, roughly 5% of tourists came in from Georgia and New York. Smaller subsets were from Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee; top origin markets were Tampa Bay (29%), Orlando (6%), Atlanta (4%) and New York City (4%).

Another notable data point is that length of stays were shorter during the past year, according to the report.

A typical visitors length of stay in Pasco measured an average of 4.8 nights in 2020, down from 5.7 nights in 2019. The reduction is believed to be a result of the pandemic.

Despite reversing course in fiscal year 2020, Pasco’s tourism efforts have spearheaded in recent years, following a shift in philosophy to emphasize youth and amateur sports and recreation opportunities.

The Experience Florida’s Sports Coast branding efforts highlight the county’s growing list of modern athletics venues, including AdventHealth Center Ice, the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center and the Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County. Tourism efforts also showcase the county’s myriad outdoor activities that include golfing, saltwater fishing, skydiving and scalloping.

The county’s day-to-day tourism efforts are under the direction of Thomas, a former minor league baseball pitcher who led the Citrus County Visitor and Conventions Bureau before being hired to Pasco in September 2017.

Bullish on tourism future
Following the annual report presentation, county commissioners commended Thomas and his tourism staff for the work they’ve done of late, and expressed optimism of a rebound — figuring the depressed 2020 was a temporary setback and anomaly because of COVID-19.

Commissioner Mike Moore, who chairs the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, highlighted how the tourism agency achieved national recognition throughout the past year.

Pasco County’s 10-day bay scallop season in July could help boost tourism efforts in 2021.

Experience Florida’s Sports Coast won three Telly Awards, including gold, for its scalloping promotional video. The Telly Awards is recognized as the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. It received over 12,000 entries from all 50 states.

The tourism department also claimed two silver Flagler Awards in 2020 for its website design and meeting planner guide. The Flagler Awards serves to recognize outstanding tourism marketing in Florida.

Continuing on the positives, Moore pointed out bed tax collections actually increased in September 2020 compared to September 2019, despite the pandemic.

Moore gave Thomas kudos for “amazing, amazing work,” to lock in enough amateur and recreational sporting events to make that happen.

Others on the dais also voiced strong approval for Thomas and his tourism staff’s varied efforts.

“I don’t remember what it was like before, but since you’ve been here, it’s really been booming, even with COVID,” Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said of Thomas. “It’s a great team.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano noted Thomas was hired at an ideal time for the county almost four years ago, as projects like AdventHealth Center Ice and the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County were on the ramp-up.

Mariano also noted more tourism options on the county’s west side are taking shape, with seawall plans for Hudson Beach and improvements to SunWest Park — the latter of which could pave the way for some major sand volleyball and wakeboarding events in the future. “It’s going to be real exciting times coming forward,” Mariano said.

Commission Vice Chair Kathryn Starkey, too, acknowledged the staff of eight at Experience Florida’s Sports Coast has done a solid job.

As for what more can be done to make the county an attractive tourism destination, however,  Starkey turned to the county’s current slate of nature and parks offerings.

She referenced a point in the report’s visitor surveys that indicated those features generally fell below expectations. Moreover, about 43% of polled visitors desired more outdoor activities, despite the county boasting over 24 miles of coastline to the west, hilly terrain to the east, and more than 100,000 acres of wilderness to explore in between.

Upgrades in these arenas should be on the way, Starkey noted, thanks to a recently approved bond issue. “We haven’t had the money to make all of our parks as premier as we’d like them to be, but it’s coming,” she said.

Published February 17, 2021