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Pasco Commission

Pasco bans cannabis growth and sale

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The Pasco Commission has placed a one-year moratorium on the production and distribution of cannabis.

The plant is the basis for “Charlotte’s web,” a low-strain of medical marijuana.

In a roll-call vote, commissioners approved the ban unanimously, without discussion.

The Florida Legislature approved the non-euphoric form of medical marijuana in 2014, but the state has yet to get the program operating.

cannabis rgbWithin the next three months, the Florida Health Department anticipates awarding five permits to businesses that will grow and distribute medical marijuana.

Several municipalities throughout the state have adopted moratoriums of varying lengths, similar to the one adopted by Pasco County commissioners.

During public comment, Chase Daniels, representing Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, told commissioners that the sheriff supports the moratorium.

The ordinance in part states that growing and dispensing medical marijuana “represents new land uses not previously studied in drafting the county’s current regulations.”

By the end of September, Pasco planning officials will ask commissioners to prioritize a list of zoning issues that need to be addressed, including those related to cannabis.

According to the ordinance, commissioners could consider prohibiting production and distribution of cannabis, or enacting additional standards to regulate cultivating and dispensing cannabis.

During public comment, Palm Harbor resident John Chase cited several recent studies looking at the effects of legalizing medical marijuana, including ones from the Tulane School of Public Health, Lancet Psychiatry, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“They all say there is nothing to fear from medical marijuana,” Chase said.

The studies’ findings, he said, found no increase in violent crime or property crime, and no increase in marijuana use by adolescents.

“Marijuana dispensary, I know that’s a loaded word,” Chase said. “I also know our decisions are made better when based on evidence, not based on opinion or belief.”

Medical marijuana is a matter that could reappear as a referendum on the 2016 ballot.

United for Care, a group backed by attorney John Morgan, announced on Sept. 1 that Supervisors of Elections had validated 74,000 signatures on its petition. That means the next step is a review by the Florida Supreme Court.

The constitutional amendment’s language is similar to one in 2014 that received more than 57 percent of the vote, but fell short of the 60 percent needed to change the state’s constitution.

Supporters still must provide more than 609,000 additional, validated signatures to get medical marijuana back on the ballot.

Published September 9, 2015

Citizens’ coalition to pursue charter commission

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A group of residents critical of current efforts to determine Pasco County’s future government structure are banding together to follow their own path toward a charter-style government.

On June 8, the newly formed Pasco Citizens Charter Coalition announced plans to gather 45,000 petition signatures needed to establish a charter commission. If successful, the commission would be a counterpoint to the 15-member charter panel appointed by the Pasco Commission and the legislative delegation.

Members had a press conference outside the Dade City Courthouse shortly before the start of the panel’s second meeting.

“We want to keep government simple…and answerable to the people,” Clay Colson, a community activist, and a former Independent candidate for the Pasco Commission, said in an interview. “We want government to be one that gives citizens control, not one that gives government control of citizens.”

Colson said the petition is being drafted with language that will make clear that the charter commission should represent all segments of Pasco County.

The existing panel has been widely criticized for its nearly exclusive makeup of white men. Only one woman serves on the panel.

“We’re ambitious,” Colson said. “We think we can do it in three months. We’ve set a goal.”

The group hopes to forge an alliance with State Rep. Richard Corcoran. The lawmaker pushed Pasco County commissioners to create a charter commission back in January.

Under state law, a charter commission – once established – must write a charter that then has to be put on the ballot for voters to decide. County commissioners could not make changes to the document.

The appointed panel, in contrast, is nonbinding with a final decision of what, if anything, goes to voters in the control of county commissioners.

The panel will consider issues such as term limits, single-member districts and whether to allow an elected county administrator or mayor. Members can take as long as 18 months to complete their task.

Meetings to date are scheduled into July.

Corcoran could not be reached for comment.

In March, he sent a letter to Chairman Ted Schrader naming the legislative delegation’s five appointments to the panel.

“We strongly urge you to make the commission’s report binding,” he wrote. But he also complimented Schrader for statements that county commissioners would distance themselves from the panel and “not micro-manage.”

Coalition members have not met with Corcoran as yet, Colson said. The lawmaker in recent weeks has been in Tallahassee attending a special session of the Florida legislature.

“We’re waiting until he is back in Land O’ Lakes,” Colson said.

The coalition and Corcoran don’t agree on every issue.

Corcoran has said he wants an elected county administrator, but coalition members want to keep that a non-elective position.

Other issues supported by the coalition include term limits, single-member and at-large districts, a $250 limit on campaign contributions, nonpartisan elections, ethics reform and a process for residents to recall elected officials.

The petition will be promoted through social media and online.

Published June 17, 2015

 

Funds approved to pursue Ridge Road extension

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The Pasco Commission approved additional funds to pay a Washington D.C., consulting firm that is helping shepherd the Ridge Road extension project through the federal bureaucracy.

Commissioners agreed on May 19 to a reduced monthly fee of $28,500 for six months to Dawson & Associates. The contract could be extended three additional months if needed. Previously, the county had been paying $38,500 a month for the firm’s services.

Even with the reduced rates, the contract had two commissioners grumbling about the long process and costs of obtaining a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“They need to get this done in this time frame,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “It’s going to be very difficult for me to approve additional funds. They need to be very aware that they need to get it done. We’re not going to keep these people in business for the next 20 years.”

The 8-mile extension of Ridge Road is a high priority for the county to provide an evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies. It also would be a new link connecting east and west Pasco.

The road currently dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act. The county has been pursuing the permit for nearly 15 years.

In April, Dawson & Associates aided the county in crafting a second application to obtain a permit for the project. An earlier application was rejected because the county didn’t provide sufficient data. The new submittal package provided an analysis of 17 potential alternatives for the road’s design and cost estimates.

The least damaging road, and also the most expensive road – at about $102 million – would be four lanes and partially elevated.

At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate wetlands lost during construction of the parkway. The road extension must do the least damage to the environment in order to qualify for a permit.

The county’s budget, for several years, has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project.

That is money the county isn’t using, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“We’ve got other pressing needs,” she said.

The next step in the permitting process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required.

Many of the principals at Dawson & Associates formerly worked for the Corps of Engineers or other federal agencies, said Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.

They can interpret issues of concern and take the application to the next phase, she said.

While the federal agency is not under a deadline to make a final decision, Baker said, “We have asked that they expedite this.”

Published May 27, 2015

Pasco merges county departments

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Pasco County will merge its parks and recreation department and its environmental lands program and create a new division – the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department.

The Pasco Commission approved the merger at its May 5 meeting.

Pasco County is preparing to implement a 10-year master plan to improve existing parks and add new ones. The plan was crafted with public input. (File Photo)
Pasco County is preparing to implement a 10-year master plan to improve existing parks and add new ones. The plan was crafted with public input.
(File Photo)

The restructuring comes as the county prepares to implement a master plan for county parks. The focus is on improving efficiency, better customer service and keeping up with the growth from new development.

“It all comes down to funding really,” said Cathy Pearson, assistant county administrator for public services.

The restructured department would have three managers for natural resources, fiscal and support services, and parks and recreation, who would report to a director of parks, recreation and natural resources.

“We’re going through the budget now,” Pearson said. “It’s been a challenge.”

The parks department has struggled since 2009 through lean times with budget cuts and job layoffs. To fill in financial gaps, the county began charging user fees four years ago at 11 of its parks, including $2 parking fees. Youth league teams, co-sponsored by the county, including the Central Pasco Soccer Club, the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association and the Dade City Little League, also have been charged fees.

Some commissioners would like to see an end to the parking and athletic participation fees.

“We’re taxing things that we’re trying to encourage,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano.

But losing revenues means more tough budget decisions.

Parks and recreation employees have done a “tremendous” job keeping up with services, but Pearson said, “We’re really struggling. Hopefully we’ll come up with some creative ideas.”

Revenues since 2009 have increased from about $840,000 to about $1.5 million currently. But the department’s overall budget in that same time dropped from about $10 million to about $8.9 million.

The loss of parking and athletic fees would mean about $440,000 in lost revenues, Pearson said.

During public comment at the May 5 meeting, Jeff Olsen of the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association made a plea for commissioners to restore the parks and recreation’s budget to a level more in line with budgets prior to the recession.

“A lot of money has been siphoned away from some important needs,” Olsen said.

A job description for the newly created position of natural resources manager will be advertised in the next week or so.

Along with the reorganization, Rick Buckman, the county’s current parks and recreation director, will take on a new role as park supervisor for Moon Lake Park, Robert Strickland and Robert Rees Memorial parks.

He also will provide support during the transition, said Pearson, adding that finding a natural resources manager could take months.

Another newly created position of program coordinator will not be filled until the manager is on board and can decide if the position is needed, Pearson said.

The county has budgeted $160,700 for salaries and benefits for the two positions. The manager’s salary would be in the range of $70,000 to $85,000.

The decision to step away from the director’s job was one that Buckman made on his own, said Pearson.

“It was a surprise to me,” she said.

Buckman’s new job as parks supervisor became available as the result of another employee’s retirement.

“Rick Buckman has been a tremendous asset for the county, building a tremendous team, ” said Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves.

Chairman Ted Schrader also had praise for Buckman.

“I think we all realize the work Mr. Buckman has done through trying times,” he said. “You never complained. You managed to get your job done.”

Published May 13, 2015

State loan may help widen State Road 56

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The Pasco Commission agreed that a low-interest state loan to fund the widening of additional lanes on State Road 56 is worth exploring, if developers take responsibility for paying it back.

Commissioners voted unanimously to direct county administrators and staff members to gather details about the loan and prepare a letter of interest to be sent to the State Infrastructure Bank. The letter must be submitted by May 29 for state officials to consider granting a loan in its 2016 cycle.

‘I do have some reservations. People here believe growth should pay for itself.’ – Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader
‘I do have some reservations. People here believe growth should pay for itself.’ – Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader

The infrastructure bank provides loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects that qualify for aid under federal and state law.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the matter at their May 19 meeting.

“There’s a lot of details that need to be worked out on this,” said Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein.

Goldstein and Richard Gehring, the county’s planning and development administrator, sought permission at the commissioners’ May 5 meeting to pursue the loan option.

A lot of staff time will be needed, Goldstein told commissioners.

“I think this is a regional road, not a local road, and will be a benefit for the entire county,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “There may be options, many ways the loan can be packaged.”

But commissioners also had concerns about potential costs and who would be held accountable for repaying the loan.

“I do have some reservations,” said Chairman Ted Schrader. “People here believe growth should pay for itself.”

Gehring said the county would be the lead applicant for the loan but would collect repayment funds from developers through mobility surcharge fees and potentially special property assessments.

County officials hope the city of Zephyrhills will agree to pay 10 percent of the annual loan payments not covered by developers’ contributions.

The Zephyrhills City Council was expected to discuss the matter at its May 11 meeting.

The state loan option arose out of a February town hall meeting to discuss transportation issues. Since then county officials, State Sen. John Legg, State Rep. Danny Burgess and state highway officials have had additional meetings on the loan plan.

Current plans are to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, as a two-lane road.

Zephyrhills’ residents and city officials have pushed for the additional lanes as a boost to the area’s economy. They also have said it would be less costly to build four lanes now rather than later.

Gehring said the agreement might be crafted along the lines of a similar one that paid for roadwork for the Villages of Pasadena Hills. In that instance, the Florida Department of Transportation and developers each paid for two of the four lanes built to accommodate increased traffic generated by the development project.

If needed, other funding sources could be tax increment financing and gasoline taxes.

However, Gehring cautioned commissioners that if these funds were used, the county might have to defer other road projects.

Commissioners said developers should bear the burden of repaying debt from the project.

“Other developers have already been paying,” said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Published May 13, 2015

 

Bexley Ranch divided in two

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The Land O’ Lakes property will be developed as Bexley North and Bexley South

 

The Pasco Commission has made it official.

The sprawling Bexley Ranch property, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, has been split into rezoned tracts known as Bexley North and Bexley South.

Interior roads are being constructed for the development of Bexley South, a Land O’ Lakes community being developed by Newland Communities. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Interior roads are being constructed for the development of Bexley South, a Land O’ Lakes community being developed by Newland Communities.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Commissioners voted April 21 to allow the developer to do away with the original 2006 development agreement in favor of the two redrawn subdivisions.

Bexley South is under ownership and control of Newland Communities that is developing a master-planned community, similar in scale to the company’s Fishhawk Ranch and Westchase communities in Hillsborough County.

The Newland property is about 1,733 acres and includes the acquired properties of Ashley Glen and Suncoast Commercial on the north side of State Road 54, east of the Suncoast Parkway, and on north and south sides of Tower Road.

The Bexley family will retain ownership of Bexley North, which contains about 5,400 acres. The property is on the north and south of Tower Road, extending east to Suncoast and the CSX rail corridor. The planned subdivision is allowed about 11,000 single-family homes, 1,000 apartments and townhomes, about 295,000 square feet of commercial and retail, and about 537,000 square feet of offices.

Meanwhile, development preparation work continues in Bexley South.

“Newland (Communities) which has begun developing the southern portion is very excited to be in Pasco County,” said attorney Andrea Zelman, who represented both Newland and the Bexley family at the April 21 public hearing.

Site preparation and construction on the main entrance into the mixed use, residential and commercial community of Bexley South began last summer.

No buildings have yet been constructed. The community will be built in phases over 20 years.

The project includes construction of elementary, middle and high schools, an 80-acre district park and the option of an 18-hole golf course.

Bexley South’s master plan sharply reduces office space from a one-time high of about 2 million square feet to about 562,000 square feet. However, the county would allow up to 1.8 million square feet of offices, if needed.

In addition Bexley South is approved for 1,200 single-family homes, 520 apartments and townhomes, and more than 94,000 square feet of commercial and retail.

The vision also includes triggers for design and construction of roadway improvements based on housing volume and traffic analyses for both Bexley North and South. Among the developer’s obligations would be phased extensions of Tower Road and Sunlake Boulevard, linkage of Bexley Village Drive from State Road 54 to Mentmore Boulevard, a roundabout at Mentmore and Bexley Village, and construction of the intersection at Tower and Ballantrae Road.

The master plan anticipates neighborhood centers and pedestrian-friendly amenities including common areas, green spaces and trails.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey made a plea that developers design trails that “meander” and don’t merely follow a roadway, such as Tower Road, in a straight line.

Put it far enough from the curb that it is safe for families, she said.

“When a trail meanders,” Starkey said, “it’s a much better experience.”

Published May 6, 2015

Efforts are on again for Ridge Road extension

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Pasco County is trying again to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build an 8-mile extension of Ridge Road.

The project is a high priority for the county to provide an additional evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies.

Consultants with Washington D.C.-based Dawson & Associates briefed the Pasco Commission on April 14 on its analysis of road designs requested by the Corps of Engineers, including the county’s initial proposal and 17 alternatives. The federal agency rejected a prior application based on insufficient data.

County officials expressed frustration over the agency’s lack of information regarding its requirements prior to sending in its application.

“We would do what you want, if you’d just tell us what you want,” said Georgianne Ratliff, an urban planning consultant serving as project manager on the Ridge Road extension.

The rejected application eliminated without analysis 10 alternatives that the county considered not practical to build largely due to cost. Corps officials said detailed analysis of all options had to be provided.

“They wanted a full analysis, and we have done that,” said David Barrows, senior counselor with Dawson & Associates.

At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate the loss of wetlands during construction of the parkway.

County officials must come up with an option that will do the least damage to the environment. Efforts to secure the permit have been ongoing for nearly 15 years.

Critics of the extension have said the project will open up the area to more development.

The county has determined that four of the 17 alternatives are practical options.

Costs range from about $77 million to nearly $102 million. The most expensive road project would be four lanes and would be partially elevated. Barrows said that alternative would be the least damaging to the environment.

It would impact about 23 acres of wetlands and 86 acres of upland habitat.

For several years the county’s budget has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project.

Currently the road dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey.

The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act.

Before the matter is all settled, other agencies also will weigh in. Among them are Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Environmental Protection Agency

The next step in the process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required, Barrows said. He hopes a meeting will be scheduled within two months.

While a final decision is still months away, Barrows said there is a better understanding of what has to be done.

“I congratulate you on securing the goal posts,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano. “I’m very impressed.”

Published April 22, 2015