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St. Joe Road

Is Dade City poised for a marketing rebrand?

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The City of Dade City is in midst of an evolution that undoubtedly will alter the community’s aesthetic  — perhaps for decades to come.

The charming town in East Pasco is poised to see some 14,000 new homes on the books within the next five years, plus a slew of exciting downtown amenities and other unique, adventurous hotspots on the outskirts of town, just outside the city limits.

Drawing attention to Dade City’s past, while embracing it’s future is likely a challenge as the community looks to define its marketing identify. It’s an exercise that’s similar to how Pasco County in 2019 rebranded itself as ‘Florida’s Sports Coast,’ which is intended to capitalize on the county’s wave of youth and amateur recreation facilities. Shown here is The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum, housed within the Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Depot. This was the first site in Pasco County that was be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (File)

It’s longtime moniker, “Proud Heritage and Promising Future,” may no longer be quite apt — because, as it turns out, the future is happening now.

So, city leaders face this looming question: How does Dade City go about rebranding itself as a tourist destination, and what specifically does it want to promote, to best encourage visitors and foster economic growth amid an unprecedented period?

Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director talked about those issues during two city commission workshops, held in October and November.

“We need to decide who we are and what we want to be,” Romagnoli said, addressing the Dade City Commission. “I think the whole thing about the brand is actually having our vision of what we want our future to be and sticking to it. How can we market the city as a destination, like Clearly Zephyrhills, like Florida’s Sports Coast?”

Following the monthly workshops and three-plus hours of discussion, at least one conclusion is apparent —  much more brainstorming is needed, before the city become serious and throws thousands of dollars to a branding consultant to develop an image profile (photos, videos, graphics, logos) to best promote the town’s features.

Built into the city’s budget for this year is $40,000 toward a marketing and advertising plan, promotional activities and other contractual services.

Before that money (and possibly much more) gets allocated, however, commissioners believe additional input is needed from the community and the public, including local businesses, residents and other stakeholders.

The input could take form in charrettes, surveys, monthly forums, and even door-to-door visits.

Commissioners also agreed that it may be prudent to wait until some new amenities throughout the city are established.

In other words, don’t put the cart before the horse.

“I do think branding right now is a little premature,” Mayor Camille Hernandez said. “There’s a lot of things happening, but I think what we need to do is go back to this community (for input).”

She also added: “I think we’re just a few steps away. It’s right under our noses.”

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive likewise was vocal about fostering grassroots community feedback on branding the city for the future.

“I don’t think we have actually talked about a real vision of what we want, or expect from the future, when it comes to development, when it comes to growing the city,” he said. “I think we need to have the public on board with this, especially when you’re talking about branding.”

Commissioner Normita Woodard, too, pointed out that some of the best ideas or designs may first come from a talented local volunteer, which may yield some cost savings instead of hiring an outside branding firm. Woodard also added she’s in “a reserved state” about spending thousands of dollars just yet, as the city is in a transitional period and still navigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

First things first
In the meantime, sprucing up the city’s downtown is necessary before doubling down on a full-scale rebranding effort, commissioners agreed.

Commissioners expressed concerns on proceeding with a full-on rebrand until noticeable improvements are made along the city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) district in the form of wayfinding signage, speed limit and lighting fixtures, façade improvements and filling commercial property vacancies.

Some solutions could come via a commercial minimum maintenance standards ordinance, which staff is drafting — based on a consensus reached by commissioners to proceed in that direction.

If a maintenance standard is approved, it would require upkeep from property owners and business tenants on building paint, signs, window coverings, dumpster enclosures and fencing or security upgrades. Besides the CRA, standards would likely apply to the city’s main thoroughfares along U.S 301, U.S. 98 Bypass, State Road 52/21st Street intersection, and Meridian Avenue.

Emphasizing the importance of cleaning up the city, the mayor said: “Nobody wants to go to an icky, dirty place.”

Also before spending thousands on branding and marketing, another pressing issue is solving the city’s sizeable commercial building vacancy rate.

It presently exceeds 40% just in the downtown area, Romagnoli said.

“What are the vacancies telling our visitors: That there’s not anything going on. You walk down a street and you see a long wall of nothing but empty,” she said. “What makes them want to go to the next store?”

Commissioner Knute Nathe said it’s a “chicken-and-egg” dilemma that can’t quite yet be fully quantified: “You know, it’s kind of hard to market a place as a destination, without a ton of stuff already there; but it’s hard to bring businesses into town when people aren’t going there,” he said.

One way to create more consistent foot traffic is to have the city retain an event coordinator, Romagnoli suggested. The coordinator could host artisan and craft vendors somewhere downtown each weekend.

Commissioners expressed optimism with that idea.

Branding options abound
Aside from blighted areas, Dade City is beaming with opportunity on the horizon.

The city is in the midst of developing a 2-plus acre downtown park on Church Avenue, slated to include a multi-use water splash pad, bike-share shelter, amphitheater, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, open space, concession area and other amenities.

Just a stone’s throw away is a forthcoming event and entertainment center on Seventh Street, known as The Block.

The site of a former car dealership, and spearheaded by development partners Larry Guilford and Melanie Armstrong, The Block will include a wedding and event venue, outside patio, brewer, catering business, space for food trucks and a CrossFit gym.

Also on Seventh Street is the Dade City Center for the Arts, which has begun making inroads to facilitate community art events, as well as indoor and outdoor arts and cultural exhibits.

Other imaginative and creative marketing and branding possibilities seemingly abound.

Possibilities include leveraging the fun, family friendly experiences at Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and Snowcat Ridge, the state’s only snowtubing park, off St. Joe Road. Those attractions are just outside of city limits, but have a Dade City address.

The city also may be able to capitalize on another niche: Its budding reputation for rural, rustic destination weddings.

There are about nine such spots in East Pasco, including several with a Dade City address, Romagnoli said.

The city could consider a branding campaign that hypes local wedding spots, while encouraging other activities nearby, whether it’s biking the local trails and roads, shooting at West Armory’s indoor range, strolling the downtown shopping and dining scene, touring Pioneer Florida Museum, and so on.

The city’s economic director said another opportunity to piggyback on the destination wedding angle, includes attracting photographers, caterers and wedding planners to lease one or multiple empty building spaces downtown.

Yet another branding concept? Promoting the city as a wholesome place to raise a family.

In any case, a challenge going forward will be fighting through some established perceptions and misconceptions, Romagnoli said.

A case in point: Forbes magazine once listed Dade City among “The Best Places to Retire.”

That label no longer fits, or is appropriate, Romagnoli said.

The city’s median age is around 36.

“We’re no longer the best place to retire, but we’re a great place to raise a family,” she said.

Published December 02, 2020

New residences popping up all over Dade City

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Residential construction is on a roll in the City of Dade City, and officials are predicting that it will yield marked increases to the town’s ad valorem revenue across the next several years.

Information shared during a budget workshop revealed some of the city’s timelines and projections for when new single-family housing and apartment complexes are expected to hit the city’s tax rolls, in the foreseeable future.

Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director provided the latest housing and apartment updates to the Dade City Commission.

The most recent large-scale projects — that are all but complete — include two affordable workforce apartments — Osprey Pointe (110 multi-family units) and Arbours at Hester Lake (80 multi-family units).

Melanie Romagnoli, Dade City’s community and economic development director (File)

Osprey Pointe, at 12870 Courtyard Estates, is already 100% occupied. Arbours at Hester Lake, 13300 Hester Lake Way, has been receiving application requests since it broke ground and is expected to be fully occupied shortly, Romagnoli said.

Both apartment complexes, plus the addition of 13 single-family homes (11 infill development, two Suwanee Lakeside models) are expected to increase the city’s tax rolls by another $205,000 in fiscal year 2021-2022, she said.

That represents about a 10% bump from this upcoming fiscal year’s tax rolls — where ad valorem taxes are tallied at $2,044,490.

Long-term, at least 3,000 new units are expected to come online within the next decade, with a substantial number expected to be built out over the next few years.

With that, the city has a bullish outlook for ensuing years, with further projected increases in ad valorem revenue in fiscal years. In fiscal year 2022-2023, it expects an increase of $91,000. In,  2023-2024, a bump of $199,400; in 2024-2025, an increase of $206,400;, and 2025-2026, an additional $182,000.

In other words, by 2025-2026, ad valorem tax revenues are expected to total more than $2.9 million.

And, that’s a conservative estimate, Romagnoli said. She noted that single-family homes are calculated with an assessed value of $98,000, at a 7.14 millage rate by the Pasco County Property Appraiser.

But, she said, many new properties being built come in with much higher property values.

Romagnoli explained: “A majority of the homes being built start at $220,000 to $240,000 and goes up from there based on customization, so hopefully we’ll see a lot more than that.”

Meantime, the economic development director offered a rundown on several of the more pressing projects.

Suwanee Lakeside is a 302 single-family, three-phased development along Adair Road west of State Road 52.

Earthwork on the 10-year build-out is under way since it experienced various slowdowns due to issues related to seasonal weather and environmental reviews. “They expect to see some homes built this year, we just don’t know how many. We know it’s two (model homes), for sure,” Romagnoli said.

Phase II of the Abbey Glenn development off Prosser Road and State Road 52 likewise has been held up by seasonal weather issues since its design review process was approved by city planners last fall. The 170-single family expansion is expected to have a five-year build-out, with about 35 homes coming online each year.

Earthwork and pad installations have begun at Countryside, a 25-lot subdivision at the intersection of U.S. 301 and State Road 52. “They expect to have one or two homes before the end of the year, and then 25 homes completed at the end of next year,” Romagnoli said.

Underground and roadway work is complete at The Cove, a 10-unit Habitat for Humanity development situated at 15th Street and Main Avenue. The project is still awaiting some funding and other assistance though, Romagnoli said.

Meantime, the 812-unit Summit View project is on hold as its developer is “reassessing their situation right now,” Romagnoli said.  The development is expected to eventually consist of single-family homes and townhomes east of Happy Hill and south of St. Joe Road. “We hope to see something with them coming up the first quarter of next year,” she said

Following the report, Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez expressed her pleasure that dirt is being moved and housing developments getting under way within city limits.

“It’s very exciting, and it’s very good news that we will have these rooftops and we will be moving forward over these years,” Hernandez said.

Planned residential development in Dade City

  • Vista Walk (450 units): Construction expected 2021; eight-year build-out
    • Summit View (812 units): Project on hold; 10-year build-out
  • Abbey Glenn II (170 units): Construction in progress; five-year build-out
  • Suwanee Lakeside (301 units): Construction under way; six-year build-out
  • Osprey Point (110 units): Completed
  • Arbours at Hester Lake (80 units): Completed
  • Countryside (25 units): Construction under way; two-year build-out
  • Hilltop Point (250 units): Construction expected 2021; six-year build-out
  • Highland Trail (600 units): Construction expected 2021; 10-year build-out
  • Perfection Partners (300 units): Development plans to be determined
  • Crossroads (total units unknown): Pending comprehensive plan amendment; 10-year build-out
  • Various infill development: Roughly 10 to 15 units per year for 11 years

Dade City’s expected increases in ad valorem, year by year
Fiscal year 2021-2022: $205,500
Fiscal year 2022-2023: $91,000
Fiscal year 2023-2024: $199,400
Fiscal year 2024-2025: $206,400
Fiscal year 2025-2026: $182,000
Note: Single-family homes calculated with assessed value $98,000 at 7.14 mills

Published September 16, 2020

Savor a slice of ‘Old Florida’ beauty

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Residents who live on the eastern side of Pasco County don’t have to travel far to get an idea of what “Old Florida” was like.

They can find evidence of that loveliness all around the locale’s corners and bends.

Perhaps that’s why those with deep ties to this part of the county fight so fiercely to protect their piece of paradise, and why the area attracts newcomers who want to put their stakes down to partake in the beauty, too.

With its lush landscapes, rolling hills, fertile farmland, historic places and outdoor spaces — the area offers much to enjoy and admire.

The incredible view of the setting sun over Lake Pasadena, as seen from the Dade City home of Derek Thomas. Thomas lives on Fort King Road, near the top of Leheup Hill, which is one of the area’s highest elevations at 240 feet above sea level. This ‘mountain’ is part of a series of rolling hills in the area. (Christine Holtzman)

 

Nature’s beauty can be found at the Withlacoochee River Park, in Dade City. The Withlacoochee River cuts through the 406 acres of forested land, brimming with an abundance of wildlife. Park amenities include fishing piers, boardwalks, canoe/kayak access, picnic and camping areas, shelters/pavilions, trails, playgrounds, and an observation tower.
Tucked away in an area across State Road 52 from Saint Leo University, (next to the golf course), there are two historic grottos.
The Gethsemane Grotto, was built by local men from San Antonio in 1933, to depict Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The construction contains natural stones, such as Florida coral, limestone and flint.

 

 

 

The Lady of Lourdes Grotto was built in 1916, and is the final resting place of the Saint Leo Abbey’s first Abbot, Charles Mohr, OSB.
The historic Capt. H.B. Jeffries House, 38537 5th Avenue in Zephyrhills, was built in 1911, for city founder and Civil War veteran Capt. Harold B. Jeffries. Today, the building is used by the non-profit Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc., a group dedicated to the preservation, revitalization and the economic vitality of the downtown business district.
Many farms dot the East Pasco landscape, an area that is rich in agriculture. These silos on a farm at the corner of St. Joe Road and Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, peak above the lush pasture.

 

 

 

 

 

Dade City set for fall fun

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The autumn season will soon be ushered in with the St. Joe Fall Festival, which will feature a wide range of vendors, diverse food selections and fun activities for kids.

At the St. Joe Fall Festival, kids will be able to show their creative skills with pumpkin painting. This will be one of many activities at the fall event on Oct. 5.
(File)

The Oct. 5 event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 32145 St. Joe Road in Dade City.

Hungry patrons can choose from a diverse selection of foods ranging from barbecue ribs, and Cajun and Polish cuisines, as well as catering by Chick-fil-A.

Tickets, which sell for $1, can be used to purchase adult beverages — for those who are old enough — and also can be used toward a gift basket drawing.

There will be picnic tables where people can relax, enjoy live performances and eat.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office will present a canine demonstration.

And, there will be plenty for the youth to do, with bounce houses, face and pumpkin painting, obstacle courses and touch-a-tractor.

A $15 wristband gives kids unlimited access to activities.

Parking is free and the event is pet-friendly.

Proceeds will go toward the upkeep of the church.

For additional information, please call Larry Plunkett at (813) 431-8569.

What: St. Joe Fall Festival

Where: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 32145 St. Joe Road in Dade City

When: Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free

Details: Patrons can check out items offered by various vendors and sample a diversity of ethnic foods. Activities will be offered for youths and there will be live music.

Info: Call Larry Plunkett at (813) 431-8569

Published October 2, 2019

Frolicking in the Florida snow?

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Children, and adults alike, will have a new recreational option when a new winter park opens for business in Northeast Pasco.

The Pasco County Commission on Aug. 6 approved the addition of a snow park, which will be situated next to Tree Hoppers Aerial Adventure Park, on the north side of St. Joe Road, about 800 feet east of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, in Dade City.

The conditional use, approved by the board, applies to a western parcel that makes up about 58.5 acres and an eastern parcel that makes up about 60 acres.

The western parcel, which consists of areas of dense vegetation and a mature tree canopy, will be used for the winter park. Under the conditions, it can operate up to 120 days a year

The eastern parcel, which is the Tree Hoppers site, consists of zipline and rope ridge obstacle courses, concession areas, and a gift and pro shop. It also is used for fall festivals and Halloween festivities, including Scream-A-Geddon. Those activities will be allowed for up to 56 days a year, according to the conditions.

Both attractions will operate between two days and seven days a week, and they will not be allowed to operate at the same time, the conditions say.

The Pasco County Planning Commission and the county’s planners recommended approval of the request. They also recommended approval for the sale of beer and wine for consumption at the sites, which the county commissioners also approved.

Attorney Clarke Hobby, representing the applicant, detailed plans for the winter park, which he said will have a snow hill, where people can go snow-tubing, an area where people can play in the snow, and other features.

The snow is made using new technology, and the snow will stay in place for long periods, provided the weather doesn’t exceed 80 degrees, according to Hobby.

“I will tell you, as a native Floridian, staying under 80 degrees doesn’t happen a lot and, even though we’re allowed 120 days to operate the snow hill here, something tells me that it’s probably going to be more like 45 days,” Hobby said.

“We think we can be good neighbors and not create what is going to be a traffic or noise issue for our neighbors,” Hobby added.

Access to the properties will be off St. Joe Road, Hobby said.

Thousands of trees will be planted, which will create an evergreen condition and provide a noise and visual buffer, for the neighbors, he added.

He cited a dozen letters in support of the project.

But, there were opponents, too.

Judy Geiger submitted a binder full of documents and expressed opposition to the request.

She also introduced Bob Hunter, a planning expert, who said he was there to speak at her request.

Hunter, former executive director of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission and a former president of the American Planners Association, told commissioners that the request is inconsistent with the county’s comprehensive plan. He also said the use is inappropriate and should not be approved.

Stephen Gonzalez, who lives on St. Joe Road, put it like this: “It’s just in the wrong place. Why isn’t this on (U.S.) 301, up where there used to be a golf course, north of Dade City? That’d be a perfect spot for this business.”

Gonzalez also complained to commissioners about the trash left behind on his road from people attending Scream-A-Geddon.

Hobby said the location works well for his client because of the natural topography.

“We’re working with the hills; we’re not cutting them down, we’re going to augment them,” Hobby said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley told Hobby: “You worked very hard with that neighborhood. I appreciate everything you did.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano weighed in with words of support: “The Tree Hopper thing, I think was a great addition to the county. Scream-A-Geddon was tremendous. I think this will be a nice amenity, as well.”

Commissioner Mike Moore, who is chairman of the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, agreed: “I think this is going to bring a lot of great things.”

But, Moore also asked Hobby to ask his client to keep an eye on St. Joe Road, to address any problems with trash.

Published August 14, 2019

A winter play park in Florida?

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A new winter play park may be coming to East Pasco.

The attraction would have a snow hill where people could go snow-tubing, an area where they could play in the snow, and other features.

The winter park would be situated next to the Tree Hoppers Aerial Adventure Park, off St. Joe Road, east of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, in Dade City.

The Pasco County Planning Commission and the county’s planning department have recommended approval of the request, with conditions.

A dozen letters in support have been incorporated into the public record, as part of the application, but the request also encountered opposition during the planning commission’s July 11 public hearing.

The applicant is seeking conditional use approval for two parcels, as well as permission to sell beer and wine for consumption on premises, said Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator/special projects manager.

The western parcel makes up about 58.5 acres and the eastern parcel makes up about 60 acres, Hernandez said.

The western parcel consists of areas of dense vegetation and a mature tree canopy. The applicants want to convert that into a winter park.

The eastern parcel is occupied by Tree Hoppers, which was approved as a conditional use in 2012. It consists of zipline and rope ridge obstacle courses, concession areas, and a gift and pro shop.

The Tree Hoppers site also is used to host an annual fall festival and Halloween festivities, including Scream-A-Geddon. Those events have been operating under annual temporary use permits.

The pair of attractions would be on the north side of St. Joe Road, about 800 feet east of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard and on the east side of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, approximately 1,400 feet north of Bent Fork Road.

The conditional use, which would apply to both parcels, would allow the winter park to operate up to 120 days a year and the festivities on the Tree Hoppers site to operate up to 56 days a year, according to proposed conditions. Both of the attractions would operate between two and seven days a week, and both attractions would not be allowed to operate at the same time, according to the conditions.

Attorney Clarke Hobby said his client owns the Tree Hoppers site and purchased the other parcel.

“There is actually new technology where you can build a snow hill, and provided that the weather stays under 80 degrees, the snow will stay in place for an extended period of time,” Hobby said.

“While we’re asking for a term that may be up to 120 days (for the winter park), my suspicion is, based on being born and raised here — it may be only open 30 or 45 days a year,” Hobby said.

The proposed winter park would not be the first operation of its kind, the attorney said.

“They’ve got one up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and it’s a bigger facility than we may have here, but this is what they are talking about creating. They’re very, very popular. People really, really enjoy them with their kids,” Hobby said.

The attorney said his client wants to be a good neighbor and has had a number of neighborhood meetings, which he described as being productive.

As a result, most of the neighbors living or having property closest to the site have submitted letters of support, Hobby said, adding he would be glad to continue working with any neighbors who have concerns.

William Geiger, who owns property next to the proposed winter park, told planning commissioners that he’s concerned that the proposed project could negatively impact his property values.

“I just don’t feel a 40-foot snow hill fits the agenda you all put in for Northeast Pasco,” Geiger said.

He characterized the request as a commercial operation, and said there are plenty of other commercial locations where it could go.

Stephen Gonzalez, of St. Joe Road, lives less than a mile from the proposed attraction.

“I moved out there 23 years ago. We did so because it’s quiet and it’s rural, and you can see the stars at night,” Gonzalez said.

He doesn’t mind Tree Hoppers, because the attraction is back in the woods.

But, he asked:  “How did Scream-A-Geddon come about?

“It’s like having the state fair at the end of your residential road, for about two months. That kind of traffic. That amount of cars. That amount of people, driving up and down the roads. “That amount of trash, on the side of the roads. Every Saturday and Sunday. It’s a big crowd.

“I think it’s .75 miles from my house to the corner of St. Joe and Bellamy Brothers,” Gonzalez said.

Like Geiger, Gonzalez said the proposed attraction should be in a commercial space.

“It’s just in the wrong area. It should be on (U.S.) 301. It should be on (U.S.) 19. It should be in a commercial business area,” he said.

“This is an amusement park. People are paying admission. This should be in a commercial area,” he said.

“It’s on a road that’s a completely quiet, rural residential road,” Gonzalez said. “This doesn’t fit at all to that rural, residential setting.”

Hobby said one of the reasons for locating the park in the area is because of the land’s contours. “There’s a natural roll on it. There is about a 30- to 40-foot drop over the west side.”

The attorney also noted the plan calls for substantial buffering.

Hernandez said the conditions place specific limits on the operating hours.

When the winter park is open, its operating hours would be Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

When the fall festival and Scream-A-Geddon area open, the operating hours will be Sunday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Planning Commissioner Jaime Girardi spoke in favor of the request.

“The applicant here seems like he’s done a lot to protect the buffer. He’s protected the access. He’s limited the access to only St. Joe Road.

“I think the applicant has done a lot to try to be a good neighbor,” Girardi said.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has the final say on zoning and land use issues.

Published July 24, 2019

110-foot observation tower in Dade City gains approval

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The Pasco County Commission has cleared the way for a 110-foot observation tower to be erected on a property off St. Joe Road in Dade City.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a conditional use request, submitted by Terry D. and Mary McKnight.

The application received a recommendation for approval by the Pasco County Commission, on a 3-2 vote, and a recommendation for denial by the county planning staff.

The staff said the proposed tower is not in keeping with the character of the area, but a majority of planning commissioner said it could be approved, along with a lengthy list of conditions.

The County Commission agreed with the Planning Commission’s recommendation.

Some area property owners objected to the tower. They claimed it is not a compatible use and could pose an invasion of privacy.

Terry McKnight, of 36210 St. Joe Road, told county commissioners that just five of the 19 neighbors receiving notice of the request had objected to his proposal.

“Nobody, that is not on our land, would be able to see all of the tower,” McKnight said.

Plus, he added, “relatively few people would be able to see the tower, at all.”

Those who would be able to see it — at most would be able to see about 50 feet of it, he said.

“But, they’ll be seeing it at some distance,” he said, and would be seeing the cabin, which is about 7 feet by 7 feet.

McKnight also showed commissioners some photographs taken by a drone at the exact spot where the observation platform would be.

Those photos essentially showed treetops, a lake and the sky.

“As you can see, the homes won’t even be visible from the tower, if it were to be erected,” McKnight said.

But, Stephen Futch, whose family owns property next to the McKnights, submitted a letter outlining 11 points of opposition.

“My great-grandfather was a county commissioner when this courthouse was built. So we have a long legacy in Dade City. That goes back 109 years ago,” Futch said, noting his mother used to live on the property, which is now part of an estate.

“Would you want to have a 110-foot tower next to your property?” he asked commissioners.

Another nearby resident, Doug Stentz, of 36125 Lynan Farms Drive, across the lake from the proposed tower, said he’s worried that the request could set a precedent.

“We don’t want a lot of towers around our lake,” Stentz said.

Two others spoke in support of the McKnights’ request.

Charles Waller, of 38038 Americana Ave., in Dade City, said he has an ownership interest in some nearby property, and he and his partners have no objections to the observation tower.

He noted that the McKnights’ property already has some unique features.

“This property has an iron fence along the front of it. That fence that came from a public housing project, over in Tampa.

“The bricks in the columns came from Sunken Gardens in St. Pete.

“There’s a beautiful fireplace out back that came from the stone in the Old City Hall here in Dade City,” Waller said.

He also noted that McKnight “has a vital interest in the Boy Scouts. He thinks that this will be an educational situation for them, and I certainly agree.

“These fire towers, which have been such an important part of our life here in Florida, are being decommissioned at a steady rate, and to have this one preserved here, I think is going to be an asset for us.

“It’s not going to harm any person. It will be a good thing for the community,” Waller said.

A room with a view
Margaret Woods, of 36332 St. Joe Road, said, “I’m the third property east of the McKnights.”

She noted that out of those notified about the McKnights’ request, just five objected.

“The rest of us have not objected,” Woods said. “Most of the neighbors that I talked to thought it was kind of a cool idea. We were excited about it from the very beginning.

“When you’re in the national forest and you see a fire tower in the forest, is it a blight upon the scenery in the forest? No, it isn’t.

“Certainly from the drone pictures you can see, there’s no privacy issue. Nobody is going to have anybody looking through their windows because of the tree canopy.

“I don’t see it as posing a danger for anyone. I don’t see it posing a privacy issue for anyone.

“And, I really don’t see that it ruins the view,” Woods said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley made a motion to approve the request.

“I don’t find that it’s going to be an eyesore,” Oakley said. “You’re going to be looking across a beautiful area of Pasco County, which is right here in East Pasco, which is pretty remarkable in itself, with our hills and trees.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said “My first thought on this was, ‘It’s very odd.’”

But, she added, “I’d probably want to stop by and climb it.”

“If you didn’t have the canopy and you could look down on everybody’s yards, that would be a little creepy, but I think you’ve got a good canopy. And, quite frankly, anybody could fly a drone these days and see much more than they should.

“I think the conditions are good conditions,” Starkey said.

Published October 17, 2018

Planning Commission recommends approval of controversial tower

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a 110-foot observation tower on the south side of St. Joe Road in Dade City.

The approval came despite objections from two planning commissioners, as well as county planners, and an area resident and the owner of some adjacent property.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has the final authority.

Terry and Mary M. McKnight, 36210 St. Joe Road, of Dade City, want to install the observation tower on a 9.84-acre site on St. Joe Road, about 4,965 feet east of Happy Hill Road.

Planning commissioners Michael J. Cox and Roberto Saez both strenuously opposed the request.

“I think this is just a real gross abuse of the land development code,” said Planning Commissioner Cox. “The land development code was written to not allow this kind of thing in an agricultural area.”

He also noted: “That’s pretty intrusive to other people. This thing is going to stick up five floors above the tree line.”

Plus, Cox said, “It’s not consistent with the rural character of that area.”

Planning Commissioner Saez put it bluntly: “I’m totally against this.

“I don’t like to create this precedent in the county,” Saez said, adding, “It’s more about privacy than anything else, in my opinion.”

The county’s planning staff recommends denial of the request.

During an Aug. 9 Planning Commission hearing on the request, however, the issue was continued and planners were asked to bring back conditions that could be attached to an approval.

The planners provided a list of 17 conditions, including that the tower cannot be used for commercial purposes. Among the other conditions: The tower must be painted green, loud music cannot be played in the tower and no electronic or recording devices are allowed on the tower, except for cellphones.

Terry McKnight said the applicant is agreeable to the conditions.

But, Steve Futch, of 2975 Plantation Road in Winter Haven, spoke against the request. He said the McKnights’ property is adjacent to property that was his mother’s land.

That property will be transferred to heirs of the family, and they oppose the request for the 110-foot tower.

The observation tower “will not promote rural or estate-type living,” Futch said.

The height of the structure would be the equivalent of an 11-story building, he added, “that would tower over the adjacent properties and be seen from a significant distance in all directions.”

He asked commissioners to consider the impacts the tower would have on its neighbors.

“Imagine having your private property being observed from such a high ‘observation tower’ which could easily be an invasion of  your privacy, your personal use of the property,” Futch said.

Another area resident, who lives across the lake from the proposed tower, said many of the people who would see the tower do not live close enough to receive notification of the McKnights’ request.

Despite the Planning Commission’s recommendation for approval, the county’s planning staff continues to recommend denial of the request, said Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator/special projects manager.

Published September 19, 2018

Bellamy Brothers are stars of reality TV show

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More than 40 years after releasing their chart-topping country pop hit, “Let Your Love Flow,” recording 20 No.1 hits and selling 40 million albums, The Bellamy Brothers show no signs of slowing down.

They’re touring worldwide upward of 150 days a year.

They released an autobiography, “Let Your Love Flow: The Life and Times of The Bellamy Brothers.”

They’re a few harmonies shy of releasing their 30th studio album.

Howard and David Bellamy take a break in-between shooting scenes for their reality show, Honky Tonk Ranch. (Fred Bellet)

And, that’s not all for the 67-year-old David Bellamy and 72-year-old Howard Bellamy, who were born and raised in Darby, and graduated from Pasco High School in the 1960s.

They’re also in the middle of filming a new reality television show, “Honky Tonk Ranch” on The Cowboy Channel, an American cable television network airing in 25 million homes.

The reality show follows the international country music icons through their misadventures of a demanding tour schedule and life back home at their family’s 200-acre ranch, outside of Dade City.

The first season premiered April 8 and wraps up with the 13th episode season finale on July 1.

In the series, David, Howard and the Bellamy family open their doors to cameras illustrating how they balance ranching, recording, world touring, running a record label, as well as guiding the careers of the next generation of Bellamy music aspirations.

The Laker/Lutz News recently had an exclusive look into the filming of an episode at the ranch.

As part of the day’s hijinks, the Bellamy Brothers and their crew try to round up a 7-foot-long alligator nesting at one of the ranch’s ponds.

Another scene that afternoon involved David and his wife of 25 years, Susan, bantering about hoarding. “What I tell her is, it’s not hoarding if it’s cool stuff,” David quipped.

Such storylines have helped make the show an instant hit, in both the U.S. and overseas.

It’s become the No.1 rated show on The Cowboy Channel, which is owned by Rural Media Group Inc.

Available in 28 countries, it’s also been the network’s most-streamed show.

One sign of the show’s success and The Bellamy Brothers’ global fame: 100 people in China pay $10 a month to subscribe to the show, according to Chris Shaheen, the duo’s business manager.

Kachunga alligator handlers Chad Wright and Chad Wright Jr., of Dade City, along with David Bellamy, Noah Bellamy and Howard Bellamy size up the situation on what it takes to capture a 7-foot alligator in a pond on The Bellamy Brothers Ranch in Darby.

“One of the reasons we thought the show would be successful is because we have a pretty good world audience,” David said.

Throughout the first season, several scenes have been filmed in and around Dade City, like Charlie’s St. Joe Market on St. Joe Road.

“We like to expose the local people and local things and Central Florida as much as we can,” Howard said. “It’s a really cool place and, after (touring) 72 countries, it’s still a unique place here.”

Yet much of the show revolves around the family ranch in Darby. Located just north of Tampa, the working ranch is home to purebred Brahman cattle, crossbred cows, quarter horses and three generations of the Bellamy family. The ranch was purchased in 1870 by the Bellamy’s great-great-grandfather, Abraham, and has been the family’s homestead ever since.

Between the fruit trees, ancient oaks and crepe myrtles, the series follows the chaos from one household to another on the ranch’s lush land.

The property — and rural Darby — offers a sanctuary of sorts for the Bellamys. It’s the one constant in their frenetic showbiz schedule.

“This is the recharger right here — this old place,” Howard said while gazing at the ranch. “It’s where it all started, and I suppose it’s where it’ll all end, right here.”

Added David: “Just some place we could come home to, and just relax and take it easy. We still do quite a few dates a year and so it’s nice to have this. In the winter it’s nice because we mainly play weekends, so we’re home during the week, and it’s nice to lay back.”

Other regular cast members on the show include H.C. Young, Howard and David’s cousin and ranch hand; Randy Hiebert, The Bellamy Brothers’ longtime guitarist, David’s sons, Jesse and Noah Bellamy; and Melanie Owston, a family friend from Texas.

Besides the ranch, the show also followed the duo outside of central Florida — one episode was filmed in New York City, where the Bellamys were doing a media blitz to promote their new book.

The brothers tried to get a reality show for years while they were in contract with a handful of media companies, their business manager explained.

They originally shopped it to other major stations like A&E and the History Channel before winding up with Rural Media Group and The Cowboy Channel.

Said Shaheen, “Those people just couldn’t grasp it without seeing it and that was kind of the issue. They’ve had a relationship Rural Media Group for a while, and they just got into talks and decided that was probably the best route to take.”

With the show’s success, the Bellamys and their representatives are now in talks for two more seasons. Future episodes will likely focus more on the road.

The cameras have been rolling since January, a few months after the TV deal was inked.

“I just try to ignore  ‘em,” David jokingly said of having omnipresent filming crews.

Between breaks in action, the younger Bellamy noted the season finale will feature appearances from fellow American country music stars Mickey Gilley and Tanya Tucker. David and his wife also will renew their vows in the episode.

David pinned the show as “just a combination of all sorts of things.”

“We’ve done pretty well so far,” he said. “Everybody’s had fun.”

Honky Tonk Ranch airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m.

For the full program schedule and more information, visit TheCowboyChannel.com or BellamyBrothers.com.

In addition to their new reality television show, the Bellamy brothers casually touched on other topics, including today’s country music scene and what it was like growing up in Darby, in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News:

On today’s country music scene and the industry in general:
Howard Bellamy: “Musically, it doesn’t excite me. And, of course we cut our teeth, we worked with (Merle) Haggard and (George) Jones in our early days, so we’ve seen the best there was and, after that, everything’s a little bit of a disappointment. It’s not as creative as it was in the ’70s and ’80s, musically. Songs aren’t as creative, I don’t think. They get a little redundant, lyrically and musically. But, that’s not because of the artists. There’s a lot of talent out there. It’s because of the business itself. Everybody plays it safe, finds formulas of things and sticks to those formulas. And, the same with movies. The real creative stuff, I kind of miss that. …If anybody can make a living in this business, more power to them.”

On life in Dade City and how it’s changed over the years:
Howard Bellamy: “It’s amazing how you can sit here and feel pretty removed from things. Now in 15 minutes you can literally be into a mall, the next exit up, which is kind of cool in a way, as long as we can keep ‘em at bay. It has changed in that respect. And, of course, technology’s changed so much, so you can have everything everybody else does. It’s really great living in the country, but you don’t have to go far to get into a traffic jam.”

On their favorite places to perform over the years:
David Bellamy: “It’s a little hard to pinpoint the favorite spots. We’ve been to places that I’d never thought I’d see that are pretty cool and we’ve done interesting things. We played for presidents, royalty and all kinds of stuff like that, but I think our favorite stuff to do is, as far as still playing concerts, is to play out where people really like the music, because there’s still places like that. I mean a lot of cities are kind of jaded musically. There’s just so much and so many, and it’s just all the time. And, not that there aren’t good shows there. Like, when we were (recently) out in Texas, it’s like the whole town, the whole city shows up. That’s a lot of fun when you get places like that. We’ve played places overseas like that, like Sri Lanka and India, Australia. …Those are kind of the most fun things because those are the people who really appreciate it.”

On what people can expect from the new autobiography, “Let Your Love Flow: The Life and Times of The Bellamy Brothers.”
David Bellamy: “Some of my favorite stories and some of the old stories about growing up here were about family. I think there’s a lot humor and a lot of things that were fun to us, but other people, I think, they’ll like some of our road stories after we got a couple hits and got going on the road, started traveling. Some of the weird things and funny things that happen or some of the acts that you play with — I think in the book we say we’ve played shows with or done television with or recorded with everybody from Abba to Conway Twitty. I mean in the ’70s we were working with acts like Abba and Bonnie Tyler and Boney M., Dr. Hook. …So we had all that, and then we’d come back here and we had a whole country career going on, as well as a pop career…so I think that kind of makes the book more interesting.”

Published June 13, 2018

Rallying ’round the blueberry bushes

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Hurricane Irma blew across the landscape, uprooting and toppling about 100,000 blueberry bushes at Frogmore Fresh Farm, outside Dade City.

Pasco High senior ​Matt​ ​Gregory, 17,​ took a break and used a cane stake to stretch out his back.​ ​Gregory​ ​and​ ​senior​ ​Nathalie Sawczuk, 17,​ ​​(obscured​ ​by​ ​plant)​ were​ ​among​ ​students​ ​who​ ​volunteered​ ​at Frogmore Fresh Farm. (Fred Bellet)

In Irma’s aftermath, the farm’s general manager, Leonard Park, knew he had a narrow window to salvage as many of the plants as possible. He also knew he didn’t have enough labor to make that happen.

An unexpected phone call from Whitney Elmore offered some hope.

Elmore is the chief executive director of the University of Florida/IFAS Pasco County Extension, in Dade City.

“She wanted to know if she could send some volunteers to help,” said Park. “I thought she meant a van with maybe 20 people.”

Elmore had bigger ideas, and put social media to work.

“This went viral,” said Elmore. “It’s been all over Facebook and Twitter.”

Pasco County, the University of Florida and the extension service worked as a team to put out the word.

Land​ ​O’​ ​Lakes​ ​resident​ ​Tom​ ​Stewart​ ​staked​ ​fallen​ ​blueberry plants​.​ ​Stewart​ ​said​ ​he​ ​learned​ ​about​ ​the​ ​event​ ​at Frogmore Fresh Farm on​ ​​Facebook.

On a hot, Saturday morning, about 200 volunteers drove their cars and trucks down a narrow dirt lane, off St. Joe Road, to put in a day’s work and save the blueberries.

Volunteers focused on about 23 acres of the approximately 145-acre farm. That is where the youngest blueberry plants had either been uprooted or knocked down.

Farm employees were able to put their attentions on more mature plants elsewhere.

The turnout caught Park by surprise.

“It’s heartwarming. This is a tremendous benefit to us,” he said. “This (the young plants) is the future. We’re going to keep on, keeping on.”

It was all for a good cause, said Elmore.

Frogmore Fresh Farm benefits the county’s economy. The Sigety family, which owns the farm, does charitable work in Pasco, donating to food banks and providing internships to local students, Elmore said.

University​ ​of​ ​Florida​ ​graduate​ ​students​ ​Carlos​ ​Zambrano​, right, ​and​ ​Dario​ ​Racano,​ both​ ​of​ ​Gainesville,​ staked​ ​young​ ​blueberry​ ​plants​ ​at Frogmore​ ​Fresh Farm.

“It’s about being part of the community and making it better for everyone,” she said.

About 50 students and faculty members came from UF. Two sororities also sent volunteers.

“People have driven two hours basically on a call from social media, which is really interesting,” said Kevin Folta, UF professor and chairman of the university’s horticultural sciences department.

“But, this is what we’re supposed to do as a land grant institute. It fits our mission well.”

Frogmore’s blueberries are hybrids developed through UF research. Folta said the plants produce fruit after the harvests in other countries, such as Chile.

It opens markets for Florida blueberries that might not be available, he said.

Linda​ ​Dao,​ ​a​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Florida​ ​senior​ ​biology​ ​major,​ ​worked to​ ​fix damaged​ ​blueberry​ ​plants​ ​that​ ​fell​ ​over​ ​from​ ​the​ ​force​ ​of​ Hurricane Irma’s wind.

They are rooted in wood chip beds and hydrated with an irrigation system, sort of as a “big, crazy hydroponic garden,” Folta said.

“None of this would happen naturally,” he said. “It’s a system that works and brings millions of dollars to the state of Florida. Blueberry acreage is exploding.”

Elmore said Florida produces about 20 million pounds of blueberries annually, with a value of about $82 million to $100 million.

UF wasn’t alone in rounding up students to help.

Another 50 or so volunteers were from Pasco High School’s science club and student body council. There also were students from Saint Leo University, local residents, and church members.

The Salvation Army provided bottled water.

Margarita Roma, local migrant activist and executive director of Farmers Self-Help Inc., came with about 10 volunteers. Most were teenagers, wearing T-shirts in support of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Kevin Folta, professor and chairman of the University of Florida’s horticultural sciences department, relied on social media to recruit about 50 UF students to help salvage blueberry plants damaged by Hurricane Irma.

Those children, often referred to as Dreamers, are undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children before age 16, and who have lived here since June 15, 2007.

“It’s good for our kids to have visibility,” she said. And, good to show that they can help the community they live in, she added.

Jose Pedro Lopez, 14, wanted people to know that Dreamers are like everyone else. “They should be able to live a free life,” he said.

Volunteers headed into the field, one group at a time.

In groups, volunteers carried batches of cane stakes and rolls of tape, and walked into the field.

Jim Moll, the extension service’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping program manager, gave tutorials on blueberry care.

Plants had to be stood upright, firmly replanted, and wrapped with tape to keep foliage from drooping.

“It doesn’t have to be a pretty knot, just effective,” Moll said. “You want it tight, but, not too firm. You don’t want to cut off circulation.”

Moll felt optimistic.

Pasco High School student, ​Roney​ ​Webster, 17,​ ​ties green tape​ ​around​ ​a​ ​​stake​ ​to support a damaged blueberry plant.

The plants “will be traumatized from being whipped in the wind,” he said. “The good news is they are all green. They aren’t limping.”

Samantha Acacio, 21, bent down to tie a knot around a blueberry plant. She felt a connection to the environment, as she worked to put the plants upright.

“These (plants) produce oxygen,” said Acacio, a pre-med student at Saint Leo University. “Why not have more oxygen in the world? It’s motivation. They weathered the storm, and we’re going to help them stand upright.”

Wesley Chapel residents Maleena Newcomb, 14, Allie Black, 14, and Ana Anderson, 24, might have been volunteering at an annual coastal cleanup, if not for Irma.

But, they were happy to find themselves being useful at the farm instead.

“It’s a good effort,” said Black. “You get community service hours. It’s all good.”

Gayle Womer and her daughter, Jenny Konow, attend First Baptist Church in Dade City. Konow is a 4-H leader.

Konow said they had some experience with blueberry plants. “We’re small hobby farmers,” she said. “We kind of know the struggles if you need help.”

But, it was her 11-year-old son, Archer Konow, who told his family that they had to volunteer. He loves everything about farming.

“It’s good to help people after hard things come through,” he said. If it’s a business, he added, “You need to help out.”

Roney Webster, 17, is a Pasco High senior. He volunteered around his community to help neighbors with cleanup.

This was one more chance to help.

“It’s just giving back,” Webster said. “I’ve been outside pretty much every day helping people.”

Published September 27, 2017