The Laker/Lutz News

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

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Starkey Ranch

Discussion continues on Pasco BMX park

By

A BMX and bicycle park may not happen anytime soon in Pasco County, but officials appear to be interested in seeing what can be done to bring the idea to life.

The Pasco County Commission heard a briefing on the concept at its Sept. 8 meeting.

Delaney Morrison, president of the nonprofit Ride Local Inc., outlined the vision for a new large-scale BMX (bicycle motocross) park, that she said would complement existing BMX parks in the region, would expand the area’s recreational offerings and would help to attract more tourists to Pasco County.

Shown here are riders at Tampa BMX in Lutz. A nonprofit organization called Ride Local Inc., is trying to bring a covered BMX track and other amenities to Pasco County. (File)

The idea is to partner with the county to construct a BMX track and bike park on a 23-acre tract situated of the intersection of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway in the Odessa/Trinity area. The land is presently owned by Pasco County Utilities.

Under the proposal, about 3 acres would be used for a BMX dirt race course made of various jumps and rollers.

That would mark the first stage of a larger, surrounding bike park that would include a pump track, skate park, mountain bike obstacle course, casual bike path and other features.

The proposal calls for having an open air, covered track.

“We think that this is super important here in Florida, given the heat and the rain that we have,” Delaney said.  “We really think that that roof will set us apart from just having another BMX track.”

She also noted there would be opportunities for recreational leagues and a beginner’s program for newcomers to the off-road racing sport. And, the facility would host large-scale competitive events sanctioned by USA BMX.

The open space also could be used for drone races, truck rallies, and Boy Scouts of America and All-Pro Dad meet-ups, among other activities, Morrison said.

Over the past year or so, Morrison and her team have had ongoing discussions with Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources.

“They came to me because of my background with cycling and biking,” said Starkey, who helped to Delaney’s group find the proposed site.

It’s an excellent location, Delaney noted, because it’s along the booming State Road 54 corridor, sits along the Tower Road extension and near a future high school, whose adjacent lot could be used for overflow parking for large events.

She also noted that it’s in the middle of some huge community developments, such as Asturia and Starkey Ranch, and others being built in the area.

Plus, she said, the location also pairs well with Tampa BMX and Oldsmar BMX, which is under construction — to attract regional and national tournaments.

Commissioners appear open to the idea, but money is the biggest hurdle.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, who also chairs the Tourist Development Council, said during a recent TDC meeting that the county might be able to support some type of land use or lease deal, but is not in the position to fund additional capital projects.

Moore reiterated the funding issue during the board’s Sept. 8 meeting. He said doesn’t want to give the group false hope.

But, Starkey said Delaney’s briefing was for information only, at this point.

She plans to work with Delaney’s group to explore various funding sources, including possible funding from the legislature and support from private sponsors.

Delaney said the Ride Local Inc., is looking into creative ideas, such as leveraging a corporate naming sponsorship or partnering with an electric company to install solar panels on the proposed covered roof to help offset costs.

Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation and natural resources, said a bike park/BMX was listed as one of the highest unmet needs during workshops held to develop the county’s most recent master parks plan.

However, Wiley noted, that type of amenity was not included in the master plan and, thus, no money has been planned for that type of project.

Wiley said he likes the concept of a bike park, with a BMX track, a playground and open spaces because that would address diverse user groups.

Delaney noted BMX’s broad appeal.

“The biggest thing about BMX is that this is a family sport,” Delaney added.

“This is one of the few sports that you can do alongside your children, not just sitting on the sidelines watching them, or waiting for practice to be over.”

Adam Thomas, the county’s tourism director, said the proposed facility could help round out the county’s sports offerings.

“The TDC (Tourism Development Council) board is in full support of this. I am in full support of this,” Thomas told county commissioners.

“This is a great opportunity, for not only our citizens, but to really diversify our product as a Sports Coast, and as our destination of sports events. The economic impact is strong. The visitation is strong. You have a great partner here with Delaney. I think this is a great opportunity for us to move forward, but funding — obviously, everything comes down to funding.”

Published September 16, 2020

Pasco keeps growing, despite COVID-19

By

Business in Pasco County is coming back to life as residents, weary of a pandemic-enforced lockdown, venture back to the world of shopping and dining.

There are hopeful signs for commercial rebirth.

Continued residential growth in Bexley by Newland Communities generates foot traffic for nearby shops, restaurants, grocery stores and other small businesses. (B.C. Manion)

Neon “open” signs are visible in storefronts.

Banners planted at the roadside’s edge wave at passing motorists.

Parking lots at malls and shopping centers are filling up again.

But, it’s not just the established businesses that are reviving Pasco’s economy. Business owners and developers continue to invest in new retail especially along one of the county’s busiest east/west corridors – State Road 54 and State Road 56.

On State Road 54, west of U.S. 41, The Preserve Marketplace and two retail centers at Starkey Ranch are adding shops, restaurants, health care services, and offices.

At Bexley Ranch, in Land O’ Lakes, land is being cleared and leveled on Lot A for the Bexley South Office Park, off Bexley Village Drive, near Springhill Suites.

A Crunch Fitness is scheduled to open Aug. 25, off State Road 54 in Trinity.

This sign signals future plans for a car wash, just south of the new Aldi that opened at Cypress Creek Town Center. (B.C. Manion)

Meanwhile, on the State Road 54/56 corridor east of U.S. 41, there are new developments, too.

Near the juncture of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, a banner announces that Tidal Wave Auto Spa is coming to an outparcel at Tampa Premium Outlets.

In the same general area, Main Event, a 50,000-square-foot entertainment venue, celebrated its grand opening less than two weeks ago.

And, another Crunch Fitness is planning to open in October in the old Winn-Dixie location, off Collier Parkway and State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

The Collier Parkway location is a great choice for a fitness gym because it’s along a high traffic corridor, said Geoff Dyer, president of Crunch Fitness. “It’s in the heart of the (Land O’ Lakes) neighborhood,” he said.

Crunch Fitness is planning to open a gym in October in the former Winn-Dixie grocery store, at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway. An employee manned a display outside the site to take membership applications. Another Crunch Fitness is opening Aug. 25, off State Road 54, in Trinity. (Kathy Steele)

During the COVID-19 shutdown, work continued on the Trinity and Land O’ Lakes locations, Dyer said, adding, “for all intents and purposes, we haven’t seen any slow-down in our developments.”

He noted that Crunch Fitness gyms shut down for about two months at the start of the pandemic, but now the gyms are open and adhering to safety guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Membership has returned to about 95% of what it was pre-shutdown,” Dyer said.

While activity, in general, appears to be picking up and new construction continues to kick up dirt — a cloud hovers over business decisions due to the uncertain nature of COVID-19.

Ralph Santell and his family moved to Starkey Ranch and began plans to open Santelli Pizza & Pasta nearly three years ago. They saw the growth happening in Pasco.

His storefront is at Starkey Ranch Town Square, a plaza located at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. A few tenants in the center, including J. Joseph Salon, are open.

Santelli Pizza & Pasta will open around September at Starkey Ranch Town Square, at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. (Kathy Steele)

Santell plans to open by September, possibly with outdoor dining and takeout. He said he’ll decide closer to opening whether he’ll initially offer indoor dining.

“That (COVID-19) has been an extra challenge that influences things on a daily basis,” Santell said. “It’s been hard to navigate the whole COVID-19 situation. We take it one day at a time.”

Santell also owns a restaurant in the Westchase subdivision in Hillsborough County. That restaurant closed, then reopened, but is now closed again — except for takeout.

Another Starkey Ranch retail center at State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue – Starkey Ranch Business Park – also has a roster of tenants slated to open, including The Wicked Pour, Tropical Smoothie Café and Hungry Greek.

The pandemic slowed opening plans, but construction on the retail park is nearly finished.

“All of these are coming along,” said Matt Call, project director for Starkey Ranch. “With COVID-19, things take a bit longer.”

Additional outparcels at both retail centers are available for development — though it could take longer to get projects going, Call added.

Typically, residential construction is a key to spurring on new retail, Call said.

He said Starkey Ranch and Bexley by Newland are the top residential sellers in the Tampa Bay area. Together, they add about 800 residential units annually to Pasco, he said.

Work is underway on the Bainbridge Sunlake, an upscale apartment development, being built at Mentmore Boulevard and State Road 54, next to The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre. (B.C. Manion)

Pasco also is on an apartment building spree with about nine complexes planned or under construction.

Near the Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center, Brightwork Crossing apartment complex is attracting new renters to the commercial epicenter of the Wesley Chapel area.

Two Altis apartment complexes, one by Wiregrass Ranch on State Road 56 and a second on South Branch Boulevard at Starkey Ranch, are adding to Pasco tenant population.

Bainbridge Sunlake is an upscale apartment complex being built at State Road 54, and Mentmore Boulevard, next to The Shoppes at Sunlake Centre.

A new standalone Starbucks is coming soon to the Sunlake shopping center, as well.

Retail developments, including The Preserve Marketplace, are adding new tenants, including the recently opened anchor store – Greenwise. Majik Touch Cleaners is open, too.

Other tenants with plans to open include Chipotle, Heartland Dental and CVS Pharmacy.

“It’s going to be a cool little plaza when it’s done,” Call said. “I think Pasco is going to continue to grow. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

What’s happening along State Road 54
Here are some of the office, retail or residential developments that have opened or are in progress along State Road 54.

Construction on a dental office is nearing completion at Starkey Ranch Town Square, at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. (Kathy Steele)

The Preserve Marketplace (State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway)

  • Greenwise Market, owned by Publix, is a specialty grocery store offering an array of organic and natural food products.
  • TouchPoint Medical manufactures medical dispensing equipment, including high-tech carts.
  • Organic Nails offers nail art and design services.
  • Heartland Dental provides administrative support and career development services among a network of dental partnerships
  • CVS Pharmacy is a national chain of drugstores.
  • Majik Touch Cleaners provides laundry and dry-cleaning services in Pasco and the Tampa Bay area.
  • Sport Clips provides haircuts for men and boys.
  • Panera Bread is a national chain that serves sandwiches, salads and pastries.
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill is a national chain restaurant serving made-to-order burritos, tacos, wraps and salads.
The Wicked Pour and Hungry Greek will open soon at Starkey Ranch Business Park, at State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue. (Kathy Steele)

Starkey Ranch Business Park (State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue)

  • The Wicked Pour is a craft beer, wine and taproom with board games, giant Jenga and cornhole.
  • Hungry Greek is a casual restaurant chain offering fast Greek food.
  • Urgent Vet offers after-hours care for pet illnesses and emergencies.
  • Abela Story, a women’s boutique, offers trendy styles for all tastes, and accessories.
  • Encore Nail Salon provides nail art and design, and other services.
  • Chase Bank is a full-service bank.
  • YogaSix is a hot yoga-style studio.
E sushi and Grill, a Japanese restaurant, is expected to open soon at Starkey Ranch Town Square, at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. (Kathy Steele)

Starkey Ranch Town Square (State Road 54 and Gunn Highway)

  • Santelli Pizza & Pasta is a family-owned Italian restaurant with pizzas and pasta dishes.
  • E sushi & Grill is a Japanese restaurant.
  • J. Joseph Salon is a luxury hair salon.
  • Great Clips is a discount, walk-in hair salon.
  • Quality Plus Cleaners provides laundry and dry-cleaning services.
  • The UPS Store offers mailing, printing and mailbox services.
  • A dental office, which has not yet been identified, is on the outparcel across from Santelli Pizza.

Published July 29, 2020

Pasco economy looks to grow and diversify

By

From workforce assistance to recruiting new companies to building new office space, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has many projects “in the pipeline.”

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the economic development agency, discussed those plans and more as the featured guest speaker at The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s November breakfast meeting at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club in New Port Richey.

The Pasco EDC’s mission is “to stimulate balanced and diversified economic growth.”

It uses private investments and tax dollars to foster economic development in Pasco County, helping businesses start and grow.

This rendering shows the future campus for TouchPoint Medical Inc., which is under construction near Suncoast Parkway, on State Road 54. (File)

To do that, Cronin said the agency is working to attract a wide range of industries to the county, such as life sciences and medical technology; business and professional services; high technology; logistics; aerospace, aviation and defense; and, advance manufacturing, among others.

A Michigan native, Cronin stressed the county doesn’t want to wind up like his home state that depends too much on the automobile industry, or another state such as South Carolina, which is too reliant on the tobacco, cotton and textiles industries.

“We don’t want to be that community that has to diversify down the road. We want to do it now and prepare so we’ve got jobs for everybody,” Cronin said.

Part of that diversification, Cronin said, is simply just bringing in more businesses and manufacturing companies, in general, to balance the county’s rapid residential growth over the past three decades or so.

The speaker noted that Pasco County is “pretty upside down in residential, as it relates to job creation.”

He also pointed out that it costs the county “a lot more money” to provide residential services — roads, schools, public safety and so forth — compared to meeting public service needs generated by businesses.

Said Cronin: “It behooves us to go after some of this business to lessen that imbalance on property tax and the burden on our taxpayers.”

Cronin also explained how the Pasco EDC is differentiating itself from other economic development groups across the United States, or what he describes as “16,000 competitors out there trying to get those businesses.”

This rendering from Welbilt shows how the expanded facility will look on completion in late 2019.

One strategic move is going after international companies wanting to expand their footprint in the United States, through its SMARTLandings incubator program.

Many of these international ventures may start with only one or two employees, Cronin said, but capturing that loyalty early on could end up paying dividends in the long run — when a company is ready to expand, perhaps, bring in a distribution or manufacturing center.

He noted, it’s an initiative other economic development groups aren’t doing, because “they’re only interested in these big projects that have 100 jobs, 50 jobs and things like that.”

Cronin also mentioned incorporating “North Tampa Bay, Florida” to the agency’s branding and tagline has gone some way in marketing the area to international businesses and corporations.

The economic development leader acknowledged getting some pushback on the branding.

“Yeah, we’re Pasco, but when we travel overseas, and we’re competing and we’re going out into the world, we first have to be included in the conversation, and then we can differentiate. You’ve gotta be in it first, and then you can differentiate after you’re in it, but if you’re not in it, you can’t differentiate,” he said.

Recruiting a company requires much more than offering incentives, Cronin said. It also involves offering workforce assistance programs and job training grants, he said.

He drew attention to an AmSkills (American Manufacturing Skills Initiative) apprenticeship program at New Port Richey’s Marchman Technical College that he said really resonates with German-based companies, which use a similar apprenticeship model for workforce training.

It helps create a comfort level for companies, Cronin said.

In this case, he said, it shows German companies “they’re really thinking like we’re thinking.”

“Sometimes that’s their biggest fear — what’s the employee look like? Is Joe going to look like Hans? What can they expect? When they see this (apprenticeship program), they know we’re trying to do our best to make sure it looks similar to their operation.”

The Pasco EDC also has partnered with CareerSource on a new website, ‘Workforce Connect,’ a one-stop resource that helps match employers and career seekers.

The website maps available training programs and services countywide, and helps align Pasco’s talent supply with industry demand.

Pasco County’s recent addition of several new companies has given the county more credibility in the eyes of other companies looking to make capital investments in an area, Cronin said.

“Now that (companies) see some activity happening, they’re more receptive to it. The market’s starting to respond,” Cronin said.

Moreover, the county’s proximity to Tampa International Airport and luxury housing developments, including Starkey Ranch and Wiregrass Ranch, have become “a really big selling point” to CEOs looking to add or relocate a company’s headquarters, Cronin said.

For decades, Pasco County has had a reputation of being a bedroom community, where people lived, but commuted daily to work in other counties.

Now, Cronin said, “we have CEO-level housing that CEOs can actually live up here, and their staff lives up here, so why get in that rat race and drive every day to Tampa?

“Instead,” Cronin said, “why don’t you move your operation to Pasco.”

Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s recent wins:

  • Mettler-Toledo relocates to Lutz and builds $30 million, 267,000-square-foot facility, creating nearly 700 jobs
  • TouchPoint Medical Inc., is building $24 million, 142,000-square-foot global headquarters in Odessa, creating 228 jobs
  • Phillips & Jordan Inc., is building $15 million, 47,432-square-foot regional headquarters near San Antonio, creating 40 jobs
  • Welbilt Inc., is adding 110 jobs and 42,000-square-foot building expansion to its New Port Richey headquarters
  • Bay Tech Industries is investing $1.5 million in new equipment and 12,170-square-foot building expansion in Odessa
  • Brew Bus Brewing Inc., is expanding microbrewery operation to Pasco, purchasing 34,000-square-foot facility in Wesley Chapel, creating 46 jobs

Published November 27, 2019

School district responds to Pasco’s booming growth

By

As Pasco County’s rapid growth continues, the county school district is constructing a middle school, expanding existing locations, planning future facilities and acquiring new sites.

Earlier this month, the Pasco County School Board took initial steps to add a 10-classroom addition at Bexley Elementary School, 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., which just opened in 2017 in a subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

As the Bexley development continues to grow, Pasco County Schools are planning to add a 10-classroom addition to the school, which opened in 2017, to accommodate an additional 200 students. (Christine Holtzman)

The board also took action to move ahead on a 20-classroom expansion at Sunlake High School, at 3023 Sunlake Blvd., another Land O’ Lakes school feeling the squeeze from area growth.

The Bexley expansion will increase the school’s capacity by 200 students, bringing its total to 1,106; Sunlake’s capacity will increase by 400, bringing it to 2,041.

Both wings should be open for the 2020-21 school year.

Not far away, the district is wrapping up a $29 million makeover at Land O’ Lakes High School, at 20325 Gator Lane, in Land O’ Lakes. The project is expected to boost capacity by 500 students.

The district also plans to build a K-8 school in the Starkey Ranch development, off State Road 54, another Central Pasco school. That three-story school is expected to open in 2021.

The middle school portion will have a capacity of 1,200, while the elementary school will house 800.

Sunlake High School has been feeling the squeeze from new growth. (B.C. Manion)

Other projects are underway or in the plans in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and other parts of East Pasco County.

Cypress Creek Middle School, on Overpass Road south of State Road 52, is under construction. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020.

The new school is being built on the campus, which has been serving students in grades six through 12. It is expected to have a capacity of 1,600 students, making it the district’s largest middle school.

The district initially had intended to open a high school and a middle school on the site, but fell short of funds, so opened the high school building and split the facilities between a middle school and a high school.

When the middle school opens, boundary changes will be needed to fill up the schools.

Bexley Elementary is just one of the schools in Pasco County that is experiencing enrollment growth, as surrounding areas continue to gain population. (B.C. Manion)

Superintendent Kurt Browning told the board at its June 4 meeting that parents were notified by telephone before the end of the school year that they may be affected by a pending rezoning, Browning said.

“We will be doing a lot of address verification work over the summer, in those affected areas. “And then, we will begin late summer putting maps together and really amping up that process,” Browning said.

Meanwhile, a $33 million renovation is underway at Zephyrhills High School. In addition to significant upgrades, the school will boost its capacity by 500 students.

The district is planning a technical school in East Pasco, which is expected to open in 2022 and will affect high school enrollments on the east side of the county.

Beyond that, work continues to secure future school sites.

This new development is going up catty-corner from Sunlake High School, which will be adding a 20-classroom wing, to increase its capacity by 400.

At its recent meeting, the board approved moving forward toward acquisition of 65 acres on the north side of proposed State Road 52, one-half mile east of Curley Road, south of St. Leo, on what is known as the Merrymeeting site. The purchase price is $25,000 an acre.

The district previously approved acquisition of 104 acres near the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel, on a site at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads, directly across the street from future phases of Epperson Ranch, and just south of the future Mirada development.

That acreage potentially will be used to house a future high school and/or a future kindergarten through eighth grade campus. The full sales price was slightly more than $2 million.

The district also has acquired land on Handcart Road, with the bulk of the acreage purchased for $28,500 per acre in 2008 and some additional acreage purchased in 2010, at $15,455 per acre.

Published June 19, 2019

Specialty grocers sprouting up in Pasco

By

A national trend for smaller, specialty grocery stores is taking hold in Pasco County.

Within the next year, Earth Fare, Sprouts Farmers Market, and possibly Lucky’s Market will open grocery stores that specialize in natural, organic and fresh foods.

Aldi is planning to open its no-frills, discount grocery stores in Zephyrhills and New Port Richey in 2019. Also, a new store is coming to the southeast corner of State Road 54 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, on a parcel owned by developers of the Cypress Creek Town Center.

South Branch Ranch developers submitted plans to the county that include a “prototype” grocery store within a mix of commercial, office and retail. The approximately 25,000-square-foot store, on State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway, would fit within the size range for boutique-style grocery shopping.

These new foodie arrivals on the retail scene follows an explosion of growth all over Pasco of more shops, restaurants and residential development.

Activity centers include Cypress Creek Town Center, the Village at Mitchell Ranch, Starkey Ranch and Wiregrass Ranch.

Rooftops and retail are two major parts of getting development started, and making them profitable, said Bill Cronin, executive director of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

“Some of the developments now are coming to fruition with their plans,” Cronin said.

Grocery stores are one part of that development pattern.

As 2019 unfolds, Pasco residents can anticipate a buffet line of new grocery options in addition to the traditional brand names, such as Publix and Winn Dixie.

According to the U.S. Grocery Store Trends 2018, consumers continue to prize high-quality fruits and vegetables, low prices, and great product selection and variety.

Currently, the new trend in groceries is for smaller stores that offer organic, natural and local foods. In addition, consumers are looking for something extra – a food “experience.”

“Everybody is looking for that food experience, whether its ethnic sourcing or that new product,” said David Fikes, vice president of communications and community/consumer affairs director for the Food Marketing Institute. “It’s not (about) giving people 11 varieties of ketchup in the store.

The digital age is ushering in coupons and social connectivity via mobile applications. Online grocery shopping is gaining in popularity, especially with millennials, according to the survey.

Baby boomers, though, are showing keen interest, as well.

Experiences are shared on Facebook, or other social media, as if saying “I discovered this, and you’re the foodie among your group,” Fikes said.

Prior generations would shop to stock the pantry in order to have enough food on hand, Fikes said. That evolved later to a desire for nutritional, healthy food, he added.

Now, a third factor is a desire for discovery, engagement and connection, according to the FMI survey.

“We are moving away from stocking up our pantry to what’s the next meal,” Fikes said.

The specialty grocery stores coming to Pasco include:

Earth Fare is an organic-based grocery store that boasts that its shoppers don’t need to read labels to know its products are healthy. (Courtesy of earthfare.com)

Earth Fare
The store will open at Cypress Creek Town Center, at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd. The organic-based grocery store boasts that shoppers don’t need to read labels to know its products are healthy.

Its food is free of added hormones, artificial anything, and, according to Earth Fare’s website, the store sells “100 percent clean food for your family.”

Earth Fare began in Asheville, North Carolina, as a health food store before it enlarged and, in 1994, became a full-service grocery store. Its stores are built to be energy efficient, with skylights and LED light bulbs. Biodegradable to-go containers are used, and recycling is encouraged in the store.

Among its features is the Heirloom Juice Bar.

Aldi
Aldi is in the permitting phase for a store at 2215 Sun Vista Drive, which is near the Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56. The store is expected to open in fall 2019, according to email responses from Matt Thon, Haines City Division vice president for Aldi.

Aldi is planning new stores in Pasco County, one near Tampa Premium Outlets and the other in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Aldi)

Thon also confirmed in the email that an Aldi will open in Zephyrhills, but no other details are available.

The location under discussion is off Pretty Pond Road, at U.S. 301. One issue nearing resolution at the site is the relocation of a traffic signal to that intersection.

The traffic signal “is under design review and engineering,” said Todd Vande Berg, Zephyrhills’s planning director.

Plans are to remove the existing signal at the main entrance to the shopping plaza, but to have traffic signals at the north and south ends of the plaza.

No construction date is set, but Vande Berg anticipates Aldi will open in 2019.

Lucky’s Market
Lucky’s is eyeing an approximately $1.5 million renovation to the former Winn Dixie grocery store at Collier Parkway and State Road 54, according to county records.

A pre-application meeting with county planners was held in November.

The Lucky’s option isn’t a done deal, but is the latest grocery to show interest in the site. Previously, representatives for Sprouts Farmers Market made inquiries and submitted a plan for a grocery store, as well as retail and a restaurant.

Nothing came of the proposal.

Now, Lucky’s is exploring options, though a spokeswoman for Lucky’s said no contract is signed.

The pre-application included demographics suggesting why the site has potential.

Average daily vehicle trips within 3 miles of the site, on State Road 54, total nearly 40,000; within 7 miles, more than 173,000 vehicle trips are charted.

About 14,770 households are within 3 miles of the proposed Lucky’s, and about 66,000 within 7 miles. Average household income ranges from about $87,000 to $94,000.

Lucky’s began in 2003 with inspiration from two chefs.

The store highlights local, organic and natural foods. Customers can sip glasses of wine or beer at an in-store café, or as they stroll along the aisles and fill their carts.

Lucky’s also has a juice bar, hot-ramen bar, a bulk foods section, and specialty foods, including house-made sausage and in-house smoked bacon.

Sprouts Farmer’s Market
Pasco’s first Sprouts Farmers Market will be one of three anchor stores at the 165,000-square-foot shopping center, The Village at Mitchell Ranch, according to a Dec. 13 press release from The Shopping Center Group.

Other anchors will be HomeGoods and Michaels. The shopping center is in Trinity, at Little Road and State Road 54.

The Arizona-based chain opened its first store in 2002. Its roots, however, date to 1943 and a fruit stand operated by Henry Boney in San Diego.

Sprouts features natural foods at affordable prices. Its motto is “eating clean and living healthy.” Today, the chain has about 300 stores and 28,000 employees.

By Kathy Steele

Published December 19, 2018

Pasco schools adopt tentative budget

By

The Pasco County School Board has adopted a tentative budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, with a final public hearing set for Sept. 18.

The proposed general fund budget for 2018-2019 is $630,860,337. That’s a $15.2 million increase over last year’s general fund, which represents roughly a 2.47 percent increase.

The capital projects funds in the budget for 2018-2019 total $244,516,610, which reflects an increase of $31.5 million or 14.78 percent above the 2017-2018 budget.

Capital Projects Funds are used to account for expenditures on acquisition or construction of major capital facilities and improvements to existing facilities. The funds also are used for the maintenance of approximately 2,400 buildings across the district, to purchase land and to pay for equipment, technology equipment, buses and vehicles.

Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, after deducting the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $627.90 in school taxes — a decrease of $28.60 from last year.

The state’s basic student allocation for the 2018-2019 school year is $4,204.42. That’s 47 cents more per student than last year. But, since the state applies a cost of living adjustment, Pasco’s base student allocation for the coming year is $4,144.72.

Here are some big-picture highlights of the proposed budget:

  • Teaching makes up 61.78 percent of the district’s expenditures
  • Teaching combined with other school-level programs, including transportation, media, counseling, psychological services, school administration, capital outlay, community services, and operations and maintenance, makes up 92.38 percent of the operating budget
  • Curriculum development and staff training make up 3.26 percent of the operating budget.
  • Human resources, finance, purchasing, warehouse, data processing and mail services
    make up 4.36 percent of the operating budget.

While the state provides funding for schools, it also dictates how much of that money is spent.

For instance, during the 2018 session, the Florida Legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which addresses gun violence on school campuses and promotes school safety. The bill requires armed security guards at every school. Each of those officers is required to undergo training, a background check, drug screening and psychological evaluation.

Pasco already has School Resource Officers at its middle schools and high schools, and is adding school security safety guards at its elementary schools this year.

The public safety act also requires the development of a mental health assistance plan, which will establish or expand school-based mental health care, through assessment, diagnosis, intervention and treatment.

The Safe Schools allocation of $3,725,606 will be used for school resource officers, school safety guards, traffic control and year-end security.

The Mental Health allocation of $1,721,460 will be used to expand school-based mental health
care.

In another area, the district must provide an additional hour of intensive reading beyond the normal school day, for the entire year, at 10 schools that were identified as low-performing schools.

The district also intends to spend its Digital Classrooms allocation of $1,419,851 for computers, iPads and digital devices to support the district’s classrooms.

The budget also includes $80,459,730 for debt service, which is an increase of $5.9 million or nearly 8 percent higher than 2017. The district must repay debt service before making other expenditures.

The budget also lists scores of capital projects, including several in central and east Pasco.

They include:

  • Major renovation/remodeling of Land O’ Lakes High School, Woodland Elementary School and Zephyrhills High School
  • Construction of the new Cypress Creek Middle School
  • Design of a kindergarten through eighth grade school at Starkey Ranch
  • Cafeteria renovations at several schools, including Denham Oaks Elementary, Chester W. Taylor Elementary and Lacoochee Elementary
  • Replacement/repairs of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems at Centennial Elementary and Sand Pine Elementary
  • Site improvements at Wendell Krinn Technical High School, a new technical high school that is opening this fall in the former Ridgewood High School, which was closed and refurbished, in New Port Richey

Published August 15, 2018

School construction activity heating up

By

Cypress Creek Middle High will be adding a senior class this year, but that isn’t the only change that will be happening at the campus off Old Pasco Road.

Cypress Creek Middle School is under design right now, with construction expected to begin in October or November, said Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools.

The construction budget for the school is $43.5 million, and the planned opening date for the new middle school is in August of 2020, he said. When completed, it will have a robust performing arts wing, including a black box theater.

Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools, provided an overview of construction work underway in an area stretching from Starkey Ranch to Zephyrhills. (B.C. Manion)

Also, on the same campus, Pasco-Hernando State College is planning a $15.5 million performing arts center, that will serve as both an educational facility and cultural arts facility.

The college is in charge of construction, but the school district is providing about 5.5 acres for the site.

The state college will build the performing arts center on land that was donated by the school district, and both the college and school district plan to use the performing arts center for educational programming.

The school district plans to use access off Old Pasco Road when construction begins, to avoid interacting with current access to the Cypress Creek Middle High campus.

Meanwhile, work is expected to wrap up at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills by the time school begins.

“The new building is mostly finished,” Gude said, and the renovation of the existing building is for a new administration area underway.

The project includes a new cafeteria, a new classroom building, renovated classrooms and restrooms, and a new administration area.

A major overhaul also is planned at Zephyrhills High School, which is in the middle of design right now.

The district plans to begin some preliminary construction activities at the school during the summer, with the expectation of beginning heavier work later this year.

“It will be a phased project,” Gude said, with the first phase being a new classroom building.

“Everybody will stay on the campus, but by building the new classroom building, that will enable us to move a section of the students out there,” he added.

A final determination hasn’t been made yet, but the project will likely be done in four or five phases, he said.

When the renovation is completed, the district expects to be able to accommodate about 500 more students at the campus. The estimated construction cost is $28 million.

“That will be an exciting project,” Gude said.

Land O’ Lakes High School is on schedule to be completed by August 2019.

“Everything has been going smooth. The principal has been great to work with, in terms of moving his folks around,” he said. When completed, Land O’ Lakes High will be able to accommodate around 450 more students, he said.

New construction also is planned for a kindergarten through eighth-grade school at Starkey Ranch.

“That is in the very early stages of design right now,” Gude said. The school is scheduled to open in August 2021.

As part of that project, the school district will have a partnership with Pasco County involving a public library/community theater, next to the school.

“It’s a good partnership,” Gude said. “It makes perfect sense. We’re all public entities, so why not share in some of these facilities.”

Published June 13, 2018

State Road 54 West booming with development

By

State Road 54, east of U.S. 41, tends to hog the spotlight on new development.

After all, it is home to premium commercial shopping meccas, including Tampa Premium Outlets and the now-rising star of Cypress Creek Town Center.

Brightworks Crossing, an apartment and retail project, is going up at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 54. And, other area development includes Florida Hospital Center Ice, luxury car dealerships, a thriving Shops at Wiregrass, and commercial and residential expansions at Wiregrass Ranch.

The master-planned community of Asturia, off State Road 54, will have single-family homes, apartments, shops and a corporate center. (Kathy Steele)

But, west of U.S. 41, with its large parcels of open land, the game of catch-up is on.

Apartments, single-family homes, offices, hotels and shops are under construction, awaiting permits, or have just cleared the rezoning hurdle.

The mixed-use, master-planned community of Asturia is among many new developments that are reshaping Pasco County’s future. The changes are particularly noticeable in Land O’ Lakes, on the north side of the state road from U.S. 41 to Starkey Ranch.

Construction sites and new development pop up – boom, boom, boom.

The progression of development is taking a natural course of following where land is available, said Lars Kier, president of the Central Pasco Association of REALTORS.

“It’s moving away from Wesley Chapel and Tampa,” he said. “It’s just a natural growth that way.”

Also, the western side of Pasco County is largely developed, he added.

Central Pasco and East Pasco are more rural.

“Real estate is establishing itself where it’s easier to develop,” Kier said. “With all the growth in Pasco, I would definitely think all of it is going to be pretty well-developed.”

Occasionally, the county’s rural past meets up with its urban future.

Down the entrance drive into Asturia, a small herd of cows munches grass on an open field. Behind them, construction workers raise the roofs on new homes.

But, Asturia isn’t all that’s happening.

From U.S. 41, west, there are the Shoppes at Ballantrae Village; Mystic Pointe apartments; Bexley by Newland Communities; Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER; Asturia Corporate Center; South Branch Ranch; and, Publix at Gunn Highway and Starkey Ranch.

A drive into Bexley reveals the Spring Hills Suites Marriott hotel under construction, and the Lakeside Walk apartments, which are preleasing.

Other locations on State Road 54 are filled with clusters of housing frames or smoothed over plots of ground, waiting for a construction start. Or, motorists can spot a sign planted in the dirt, “The Preserve New Homes” coming.

On the south side, for sale signs offer up large swaths of vacant land, waiting on the next development wave. Some parcels are newly rezoned, and need site plans and permitting before more development sprouts.

Some small commercial projects are visible, as well.

The DCI Professional Center at State Road 54 and Ogden Loop has a sign heralding a fall 2017 opening for the 18,000-square- foot office complex, across from Asturia.

So far, all that is finished there is a paved parking lot.

Stanley Steemer is nearing completion on State Road 54, just west of U.S. 41.

Sienna Village II is planned as an expansion of the existing Sienna Village, a small office complex off State Road 54, also just west of U.S. 41.

The expansion, at State Road 54 and Sofia Drive, will have 150,000 square feet of offices, and 30,000 for commercial.

Highlights of new development on State Road 54, from U.S. 41 to Starkey Ranch, include:

  • Shoppes at Ballantrae Village

The shopping center outside the master-planned community of Ballantrae includes DQ Grill & Chill, Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, T-Mobile, Hungry Greek, a dental office and a spa.

Circle K convenience store is adjacent to the shops, at the entrance into Ballantrae.

  • Mystic Pointe apartments

The upscale, gated apartment complex will have 252 apartments, and a Key West vibe when construction is complete. Preleasing on one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments is underway.

The complex is between Bexley by Newland Communities to the west and Ballantrae to the east, off State Road 54.

  • Bexley by Newland Communities

The master-planned community is under construction on more than 1,800 acres, off State Road 54, east of Suncoast Parkway. Newland Communities announced in March that more than 250 new homes have been sold.

On the entry drive into Bexley, Spring Hill Suites Marriott is being built. Lakeside Walk apartments are under construction, but are preleasing.

Bexley’s clubhouse is home to the Twisted Sprocket Café, which is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and happy hour.

  • Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER

The emergency room facility is open outside Bexley, providing medical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • South Branch Ranch

Sembler and Altman Development Corp., had March pre-application meetings scheduled with Pasco County planners for property rezoned in 2017 at the northwest corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54.

Altman is proposing 16 buildings, including a clubhouse. There would be more than 350 apartments with one-, two-, and three-bedrooms.

Sembler is proposing a project with a grocery store, fitness center and shops. Outparcels facing State Road 54 could be future sites for restaurants, offices, shops and a gas station.

Both are part of South Branch Ranch, according to county records.

  • Land Investment Partners offices/apartments

The Atlanta-based investment company plans to build two, three-story premier office buildings of 75,000 square feet each, at the southeast corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54.

The company also plans 300 apartments, with access off Northpointe Parkway in Northpointe Village.

The locations are part of the Suncoast Crossings development property, and adjacent to the newly opened manufacturing plant by Mettler Toledo.

  • Asturia Corporate Center

The Pasco County Commission approved a plan in 2017 to build up to 200,000 square feet of premier office space on the north side of State Road 54, west of Asturian Parkway. The business park will be part of the mixed-use, master-planned community of Asturia.

Harrod Properties Inc., is developing the project, which will be built in phases and without pre-signed tenants.

  • Publix at Starkey Ranch

A 45,000-square-foot Publix grocery store is expected to open in fall 2018 at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. An additional 30,000 square feet will be available for more retail.

Published April 11, 2108

Pulte Homes Opens New Models in Starkey Ranch

By

If you’ve been looking to buy a new home in Starkey Ranch, April is the month you’ve been waiting for.

To celebrate its May 5 grand opening of Monroe Commons — Pulte’s newest community in Starkey Ranch — buyers will receive $4,000 in free quality appliances from Whirlpool for a refrigerator, washer and dryer.

Monroe Commons families will also qualify for $8,000 in Pulte Flex Cash, which can be used at the design center on home upgrades, or applied toward closing cost.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for families looking for the best value in Starkey Ranch,” said Kristen Woske, Pulte Homes’ sales consultant in Starkey. “Our models in Monroe Common are very affordable, beginning in the upper $200,000s for a 2,000-square-foot home. In fact, we offer some of the best home values in all of Starkey Ranch.”

Woske has been selling homes in Starkey Ranch since Pulte first moved into the community last May. In less than a year, she and her sales colleague, Angela Hobbs, have sold 96 homes in the Homestead Park area of Starkey, with only 14 home sites remaining. This success has lead Pulte to recently launch its second phase of 65 homes in Homestead Park.

“While, of course, people love Pulte’s family inspired floor plans and quality construction and finishes, we’ve been so successful in Homestead Park because our buyers fall in love with Starkey Ranch and all that it has to offer,” said Woske.

Starkey Ranch is a master-planned community of more than 2,400 acres located north of State Road 54 in Odessa. The community began its development three years ago, and currently has 450 homes and will eventually be a community of 3,000 homes. The community is known for the extensive preservation of wetlands, woods and wild prairie, and boasts a paved 15-mile trail system that will extend to 20 miles when it connects to the many nature trails in the adjacent Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

“When someone first comes to our sales center, one of the first questions they ask is whether all the natural wetlands and green space they just drove through will stay green,” said Woske. “And, when I tell them yes, plus show them on the map how much land will remain in its wild state, they are amazed and excited,” said Woske.

Pulte’s new Monroe Commons area is deep into Starkey Ranch and far from State Road 54. Homesites are either lakefront, face parkland or back onto conservation.

Saturday, April 21 is the grand opening of Pulte’s two furnished models in Monroe Commons — the 2,098-square-foot Clearview with its garage at the back of the home, and the 2,188 square-foot Sienna with the garage in the front. Both homes are beautifully decorated and open daily from 10 to 6 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Pulte Homes is offering six floor plans in Monroe Commons. Four have traditional, open floor plans like the Sienna, and two are designed with alley- load garages. All are two stories, and offer two to five bedrooms and two to three-and-a-half baths. The Harrison plan has the master bedroom on the first floor. Air-conditioned living areas are from 1,950 to 2,470 square feet, and base prices range from $269,990 to $304,990.

All Pulte homes in Monroe Commons include granite countertops, 42-inch cabinets, 8-foot interior doors, 17-inch ceramic tile floors, covered lanais, two-car garages and paver driveways. Many custom options are available, including quartz countertops, hardwood floors and upgraded porcelain tile.

Every Pulte home comes with ultra-fast fiber-to-the-home connectivity, the diamond-rated Environments for Living energy efficiency package and a 10-year transferrable limited structural warranty.

Only Pulte Homes is building in Monroe Commons. Its 95 homesites are close to the Starkey Ranch District Park, with its abundance of recreation facilities, as well as Starkey’s unique Cunningham Park designed for small gatherings and community gardening, and the recently opened Beckett Pond for launching canoes and kayaks.

The Starkey Ranch District Park is Pasco County’s newest recreational complex and includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field; three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, playground and picnic pavilions.

“Pulte has many communities in the Tampa region, but Starkey is the one getting the most attention because of our success at Homestead Park and the new floor plans we are introducing at Monroe Commons,” said Woske. “There is so much excitement at Starkey Ranch; it’s just contagious.”

Woske said over half of Pulte’s buyers in Starkey Ranch are moving up from other Pasco communities. “We have a lot of families from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel coming here to see why Starkey Ranch is exploding,” she said.

Most of Pulte’s homebuyers are families with school-age children, although there are also many young, first-time buyers and retirees looking to down size.

For more information about Pulte Home’s communities in Starkey Ranch, please call (877) 752-0173, or stop by its sales office at 13047 Payton St. You can also visit Pulte.com/Starkey Ranch.

 

Monroe Commons Models

Clearview
Open gathering and dining spaces
Extended covered lanai
Alley-load – covered walkway
3-5 bedrooms
2-3 baths
2-car garage
2,098 A/C square feet
$278,990

Sienna
Open-concept living
First floor flex room
3 bedrooms
2.5 bathrooms
2,188 A/C square feet
$294,990 

Published March 28, 2018

Five Models at Starkey Ranch Receive Top Parade of Homes Awards

By

Starkey Ranch, a 2,400-acre master-planned community in Odessa, received more recognition at the 2018 Parade of Homes in March than any other community in Tampa Bay.

Five model homes at Starkey Ranch took either a grand or silver award for their floor plans, interior design and outdoor areas, winning in categories with homes priced from $350,000 to $1.2 million.

“We are very proud of the recognition our homebuilders received in this year’s Parade of Homes,” said Matt Call, who leads the development team at Starkey Ranch. “We have five of the most successful builders in the Tampa Bay area, based on sales volume, customer satisfaction and awards. In fact, three of our builders—Pulte Homes, CalAtlantic Homes and Taylor Morrison—are in the top 10 of the national 2017 Builder 100 rankings.”

Buyers like what they see at Starkey Ranch, as evidenced by the volume of new home sales in the community.  In just the first 11 weeks of 2018, Starkey Ranch builders have written 94 sales contracts, a 42% increase over the same period last year. Since sales began in May of 2015, 660 homes have been sold.

Starkey Ranch was initially approved for over 5,000 homes, but Call projects the actual number will be closer to 3,000, due to the high demand for single-family homes on larger homesites. Home prices currently range from the upper $200,000s to over $800,000 on lots that back onto Starkey Preserve.

In 2018, Starkey Ranch is introducing several new neighborhoods: Monroe Commons featuring Pulte Homes; Anclote Reserve featuring Homes by WestBay; Albritton Park featuring M/I Homes; and Whitfield Preserve featuring Taylor Morrison.

Starkey Ranch lives up to its motto, ‘Alive and Thriving,’ says Call. “In less than three years, we’ve gone from no residents to 435 families living in beautiful new homes, and enjoying all the community amenities and programs. More families are moving in each week as their homes are completed.”

Call credits the success of Starkey Ranch to three factors – the place, the product, and the people.

“The place itself is incomparable,” he says. “This is legacy Starkey family land, the last segment of what was once a 20,000-acre working ranch. Most of the ranch became the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve, and we enjoy this forever-wild neighbor along the community’s northeastern boundary. On the other hand, we have three miles of frontage on State Road 54, making access easy for our residents.”

As evidenced by the Parade of Homes awards, the home products are something special, too. Starkey Ranch has rigorous design guidelines that require builders to enhance the exteriors of each home with elements like stone, siding, shingles, porches, decorative trim and upgraded roofing materials.

They also must vary the home plans and color palettes on each block, creating a more interesting streetscape. “You won’t find any cookie-cutter stucco boxes here,” says Call. “It may cost a bit more to build in Starkey Ranch, but the community is looking great and we think it will stand the test of time.”

The last key to success is people. The builder sales counselors, the Welcome Center ambassadors and the community’s Lifestyle team members all recognize that a sense of community is more important than a floor plan to most people.

“Our primary goal is to help new neighbors become friends, and we do that through amenities and community activities that bring people together—with a big focus on nature and outdoor recreation,” said Call.

Of Starkey Ranch’s 2,400 acres, 800 will forever remain as open spaces, parks, lakes and preserved wetlands. More than 15 miles of the planned 20-mile paved trail system within the community is complete, and it will connect with trails in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve and the regional Suncoast Trail.

The newest amenity, Cunningham Park, includes a lake with canoes and kayaks for resident use, a community hall for classes and social events, and a community garden. Neighborhood pools, pavilions and parks are disbursed throughout the community.

The 80-acre Starkey Ranch District Park, Pasco County’s newest recreational complex, opened late last year in the community. Its first phase includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field, three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, a playground and picnic pavilions.

Pasco County has announced plans for the 2021 completion of a K-8 school co-located with the District Park. A public library, community cultural center, and additional recreational facilities will be built with the school.

Coming soon to the intersection of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway is the Publix-anchored Starkey Ranch Town Square, which will also include shops, restaurants and apartments. A small business park is planned for the intersection of Heart Pine Avenue and State Road 54.

For more information, visit the Starkey Ranch Welcome Center at 2500 Heart Pine Ave, Odessa, FL 33556. You can also call (813) 925-9777, email or visit StarkeyRanch.com. Welcome Center hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Recognized builders and their models are:

$350,000 to $399,000
M/I Homes – Grand Prize
Chatham Model

$400,000 to $449,000
M/I Homes – Silver Prize
Sheridan Model

$500,000 to $549,000
Homes by Westbay – Grand Prize
Ballast Point Model

$600,000 to $649,000
Taylor Morrison – Silver Prize
Farnese Model

$700,000 to $799,000
Pulte Homes – Grand Prize
Heatherton Model

Published March 28, 2018