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Pete Pensa

Pasco commissioners clash on apartment request

January 19, 2021 By B.C. Manion

A divided Pasco County Commission has continued a request for a conditional use that would allow a maximum of 248 apartments on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, south of Eagleston Boulevard.

Adventist Health Systems Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation submitted the request, but the hospital chain intends to sell the 16.24-acre site to an apartment developer.

The land currently is zoned for commercial uses.

Development of apartments is allowed in the commercial zoning district, but the applicant first must secure a conditional use permit from the county.

Debate on the request at the county board’s Jan. 12 meeting revealed that commissioners are not on the same page, when it comes to this request.

In a departure from routine, the hearing also included a fairly detailed refresher from Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, relating to the board’s directive on  future apartment development along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

That directive does not apply to the property in question.

Still, Pittos went over many of the statistics relating to apartments that were included in the board’s workshop on apartments in February 2020.

The proposed apartment development would be built next the BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, which is expected to open in early 2023.

The new multifamily development features three four-story buildings, with a total of 248 units, according to Pete Pensa, a professional planner from AVID Group, representing the applicant. The site plan calls for active and passive recreation areas, the preservation of a significant amount of open space, and a connection to an existing multi-use trail on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Pensa also noted that the current zoning would allow uses that would generate more traffic than the requested zoning would create.

Representatives from the future BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel and Blue Heron Senior Living, neighbors to the proposed apartment complex, both submitted letters of support for the project.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, representing the apartment developer, noted that the proposed use meets the criteria in the comprehensive plan and land development code.

She also cited a recommendation of approval for the request from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

Commissioners Mike Moore and Jack Mariano, however, opposed the request.

Moore made a motion for denial, citing sections of the county’s land development code and land use plan that relate to economic development.

“The proposed conditional for multifamily will consume land and transportation capacity that the county must ensure is available for employment-generating land uses,” Moore said.

Mariano supported Moore’s motion.

The proposed development would be located directly on an arterial roadway, Mariano said, “with the connection that we have right there, it screams for something commercial — a job generator.”

Moore and Mariano weren’t the only ones opposed to the proposed apartments.

Seven emails in opposition were read into the record, and 17 other emails in opposition were received and filed.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, however, said the site seems suitable for apartments.

Starkey said the site is close to two transportation corridors and it also is within walking distance to nearby jobs.

While Moore has repeatedly complained that the area is oversaturated with apartments, Starkey disagreed with Moore’s position.

“I’m not sure this area is overbuilt for this price point. I think most of the housing around here is actually very expensive,” Starkey said.

Oakley said an apartment development on the site makes sense.

“I think the project fits,” Oakley said. “I don’t think the traffic would be a problem. I don’t think there’s going to be any issues with the schools. And, I think it fits in the neighborhood where it’s located. It’s a good project, as far as I’m concerned.”

Initially, when commissioners voted on Moore’s motion for denial, there was 2-2 split, with Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick not voting.

She asked for greater clarification, and after receiving it, voted against Moore’s motion.

She said she agrees with the project because it will be next to the hospital, and within walking distance.

Next, Mariano moved for a 60-day continuance, which Moore seconded.

Fitzpatrick supported the continuance to give her time to thoroughly study the issue.

That motion passed on a 5-0 vote.

After the vote, Oakley said, “I feel like I’ve been in a workshop I shouldn’t have been in.”

Published January 20, 2021

Filed Under: Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: Adventist Health Systems Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation, Barbara Wilhite, BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, Blue Heron Senior Living, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Christina Fitzpatrick, Eagleston Boulevard, Jack Mariano, Kathryn Starkey, Mike Moore, Nectarios Pittos, Pasco County Commission, Pete Pensa, Ron Oakley, State Road 54, State Road 56

Apartments proposed on Bruce B. Downs, at Eagleston

December 29, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow an apartment development on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, south of Eagleston Boulevard.

The request, submitted by Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation, would allow a maximum of 248 apartments on the 16.24-acre site. Adventist intends to sell the land to enable the development.

The Pasco County Commission is scheduled to hear the request on Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m., in the board’s chambers at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

Pete Pensa, director of planning for AVID Group of Tampa, outlined details of the request for planning commissioners.

The property is located at 5101 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., which is about one-fourth mile south of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Pensa said. It has direct frontage on Bruce B. Downs and Eagleston boulevards.

There’s a mixture of development in the area, including retail, medical office uses, car dealerships and an assisted living facility, Pensa said.

It’s south of BayCare’s planned hospital, which recently was announced, Pensa said.

Baycare hospital officials recently had a ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility, which is under construction.

Other nearby uses include fast-food and sit-down restaurants, and a bank, Pensa added.

“To the south of us are townhomes and single-family subdivisions,” he said, adding, “there is no existing multifamily within this mixed-use quadrant.”

He also mentioned that multifamily is an appropriate transitional use between commercial to the north and single-family residential to the south.

The site has been zoned for commercial use since 1984, but there hasn’t been a market for that use, Pensa said. “They’ve not been able to find a buyer and developer.”

“There are a variety of commercial uses in the area that support the project, both from  opportunities for shopping and eating, as well as working, including the BayCare facility,” he said.

The hospital is expected to have 275 jobs, and the nearby assisted living facility.

Plans call for preserving a significant portion of the apartment project property, Pensa added.

Amenities will include walking trails around a pond, a park, a dog park, picnic areas, a clubhouse and a pool.

Pensa also noted that there would be fewer trips generated by this development than from a commercial use. And, he said there is water, sewer and reclaimed water available to service the site.

He submitted two letters of support for the project.

However, there were objections.

Todd Yontec emailed his objections, noting that he’s a longtime resident of the Seven Oaks community and objects to adding apartments in an area that already has plenty of residential development.

“This would truly be poor planning by the commission, if it keeps adding apartment complexes without encouraging the building of the infrastructure to support the increasing population density in this area,” Yontec wrote.

“The only deviation from this original plan that I would support would be to return the parcel to wetlands, or create a park,” he added.

Planning commissioner Roberto Saez, who lives in Seven Oaks, also objected to the request.

He said the area is oversaturated with apartment complexes.

“I go to Publix. Every time, it’s getting busier,” he said, making it harder to find parking.

“As an owner, I believe it is increasing the value of my property. As a user, it can be a real nightmare. I don’t see any type of expansion of Bruce B. Downs. I don’t see any plan to cover the schools,” Saez said.

“I have a hard time with the project, to be honest with you,” the planning commissioner added.

Saez said he’s also concerned about overloading Seven Oaks Elementary School.

Chris Williams, who represents Pasco County Schools on the planning board, said the proposed development would generate 30 elementary school students.

Saez voiced skepticism about that projection.

But, Williams said the biggest impact on schools comes from single-family developments.

As the school district’s director of planning, Williams is in charge of the planning done to address future school needs.

He said he has no concerns about the impact on schools from the proposed development.

“We don’t object to this particular development,” Williams said.

Revised on Jan. 3, 2021

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation, AVID Group of Tampa, BayCare, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Chris Williams, Eagleston Boulevard, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Planning Commission, Pasco County Schools, Pete Pensa, Publix, Roberto Saez, Seven Oaks, Seven Oaks Elementary School, Todd Yontec, Wesley Chapel Boulevard

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