The Laker/Lutz News

Greg Singleton

inPrep charter school to open this fall

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When Innovation Preparatory Academy, a new charter school in Wesley Chapel, opens this fall, it will usher in new opportunities in technology and innovation for students, according to officials at the groundbreaking ceremony last week for the school.

“It would be easy just to throw another school building up here. That’s not what you’re going to see,” said Jonathan Hage, the founder, chairman, president and CEO of Charter Schools USA.

Greg Singleton, CEO of Metro Development Group, shared details of Innovation Preparatory Academy, or inPrep for short, that is set to open this fall in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

“You’re going to see a learning environment that’s truly on the very cutting edge of what is the best in the country,” said Hage, whose organization will be operating the school, under a partnership with Metro Development Group.

“This is actually one of the most innovative school projects we’ve ever been a part of, in our 22 years of building and operating charter schools around the country,” the education professional said.

“We’re going to be looking at the technology in a wholly different way because we have the 5G network,” Hage said. “They created a project from the ground up that’s designed to ensure that parents have amazing options and choices for their children.

“I’ll tell you, it’s a testament of the work that’s been done on the ground here, by an innovative team that wanted to make sure that we put the kids first in this county and make sure that the families had something that was unique for them,” Hage added.

Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group, told the crowd: “We’re super excited about what’s going on here. The goal here is to make this one of the best educational facilities in this particular region.”

The K-8 school, which will be called inPrep for short, will have a capacity for 765 students.

It will open this fall as a K-6 school, adding seventh grade in its second year of operation, and eighth grade the year after that.

“We’re going to use a curriculum called the WISH model, which stands for Wellness, Innovation, Science and Health. And, also, the science courses will be based on the STEM model, which is used to kind of motivate kids to get interested in science and technology, and engineering and math.

“Also, for the gifted and high-achieving students, inPrep is going to offer programs that are designed by England’s University of Cambridge to meet the needs (of those students.)

“Obviously, it took a Herculean effort to pull this off,” Singleton said, thanking the Metro team involved in the effort, as well as Red Apple Development, Charter Schools USA, Pasco County Schools, the Pasco County Commission and Pasco County government.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley was there to celebrate the groundbreaking.

He praised the progress being made in Connected City, which encompasses two Metro Places communities — Epperson and Mirada.

Each of those communities has a multi-acre Crystal Lagoon and Metro’s exclusive ULTRAFi high-speed Internet technology.

Pasco School Board member Alan Altman noted, “this is extremely rare to have such a cooperative partnership arrangement between a private developer and the county and the school district, and see an innovative charter school come in.”

He touched on the variety of academic programs the school district has added, to provide more choice for parents and students, and this charter school offers another new option.

“The more I learn about other school districts around the state, the more appreciative I am of Pasco County, and our board and our superintendent who have stepped out and said, ‘We want to provide choice. We want to provide opportunities.’

“The families and the citizens of this community will benefit for years to come because of the cooperation that has allowed this to be another opportunity for learning for our students,” Altman said.

Hage, too, marveled at the partnerships involved in the project.

The future is bright, he said, “when people still care about education this much and in this way.

“You see families and kids and business people and elected leaders all coming together, and doing what’s right for families and kids, that’s a unique thing.

“You don’t often see that,” Hage said.

Singleton encouraged parents who are interested to sign up soon.

“I think this is going to fill up immediately because this is something really special,” he said.

For more information, visit inPrep.com.

Published February 26, 2020

Lack of building permits halts work

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Pasco County issued a stop work order at Epperson, after a routine county fire inspection found 19 structures lacked building permits.

A 7.5-acre recreational pool by Crystal Lagoons is being built at Epperson.
(File)

The May 10 inspection came less than two weeks after Epperson kicked off the anticipated opening of the Crystal Lagoons amenity. The festivities, to mark the first development in the United States with this type of amenity, featured an appearance by Michael Phelps, the most decorated athlete in the history of the Olympics.

The massive pool, with a patented technology to keep its waters crystal clear, covers about 7.5 acres at Epperson.

Pasco County building officials were notified of the problem immediately, and the stop work order issued the same day, said Anthony Mastracchio, the county’s deputy building official.

County officials said most of the structures without permits were tiki bars and cabanas.

Representatives of Metro Development Group, which is developing Epperson, met with building officials about the permits on May 14, and permit applications are being pursued, Mastracchio said.

“This is a great project and the county wants it to move forward,” he said.

However, the county will assess penalties by doubling the cost of the permit fees.

Mastracchio said some of the structures weren’t placed on the initial site plan submitted a year ago but Metro Development has provided new drawings which include the structures.

Building inspections, including plumbing and electrical, are done by a private company, which then files reports with the county.

Mastracchio said the county only does the fire inspections.

“Our process actually worked,” he said. “He (fire marshal) alerted us immediately. Our concern is for life safety.”

Metro Development’s president, Greg Singleton, wasn’t available for comment.

Epperson officials did release this statement: “The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson unfortunately did not open as we all hoped on May 19th. Here’s why: This is the first-ever Crystal Lagoon in the United States, and while exciting, that means the review processes are all new, and that is requiring more certifications. We know this is disappointin

g, and we apologize. We are working closely with Pasco County partners, and we appreciate their diligence. Meanwhile, we are doing everything we can to welcome everyone to the lagoon as soon as possible.”

Published June 6, 2018

Crystal Lagoon debuts with a splash — from Michael Phelps

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The weather was warm, the sun shining, and the crowd deep for the grand debut of the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson.

The April 28 kickoff for the nation’s first lagoon was further buoyed with a special appearance from retired Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympics history with 28 medals — 23 gold, three silver, two bronze — serves as global ambassador for Crystal Lagoons Inc.

Michael Phelps, a retired Olympic swimmer, spent part of the time during his visit talking about the importance of water safety. (Randy Underhill)

Following a short promotional video and introductions, Phelps’ entrance at the Wesley Chapel-based lagoon drew bursts of cheers and applause from the crowd, who nestled near a main stage to get an up-close look at the legendary swimmer.

Phelps engaged the crowd by highlighting the enjoyment his own family had at a similar lagoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

“You guys are going to enjoy it. It’s so much fun,” Phelps said in his opening remarks. “The water’s crystal clear, and there’s so many activities — and that’s something that’s so much fun for me now being a dad with two kids, so I’m excited you guys get to experience this.”

Phelps noted it was his first visit to Wesley Chapel and the Tampa Bay area, arriving on a flight from New York City.

“I wish I lived down here, so I could experience this with my family more often,” he said. “Maybe we’ll have to bring the family down sometime soon.”

Following brief remarks, Phelps met with scores of fans and spent the afternoon signing autographs.

He later held a formal question-and-answer session with media.

Phelps’ first impression of the 7.5-acre lagoon? Gorgeous.

Said Phelps, “This is such a great place to be, and the atmosphere is incredible, so it’s going to be cool to watch this place grow, and watch families come and enjoy this.”

Phelps also said he “would love one in Arizona,” half-jokingly egging lagoon developers within earshot to plan a similar lagoon near his Phoenix-area residence.

Besides the Epperson lagoon itself, Phelps said he’s impressed by the modern technology which maintains the waters’ vibrant blue hue — the brainchild of biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann.

Phelps said, “To be able to turn brackish water into the prettiest, crystal blue water you can possibly find — it’s pretty mind-blowing. It’s incredible to be able to see the technology that we’ve been able to use…and it’s so cool how you can literally clean 1 percent (of the water) if 1 percent needs cleaned.”

Meanwhile, Phelps used his platform to discuss the importance of water safety, particularly regarding young children.

He stressed the importance of lifeguard and parent supervision, as well as teaching children to swim properly and to avoid drains.

Drowning is the second-highest cause of death for children under the age of 14, Phelps said, noting that teaching children about water safety is one of his passions.

Other dignitaries at the event included Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr.; Pasco County commissioners Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey; state Reps. Danny Burgess and Amber Mariano; Kevin Morgan, executive vice president of Crystal Lagoons US Corp; Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group; and Christopher Souza, regional manager for Crystal Lagoon.

Hundreds of people turned out to see Michael Phelps at the grand debut of the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson.

In addition to Phelps’ appearance, the daylong tropical-themed celebration included water ski shows, flyboarding performances, and live music and dancing.

The perimeter of the lagoon was lined with food trucks, bounce houses and several other family-friendly activities.

Various real estate agents and homebuilder companies also had booths there.

While attendees weren’t allowed to swim in the lagoon, many walked along the perimeter, with some dipping their toes in the sand and shallow water.

The lagoon won’t be open for swimming until sometime this summer.

The lagoon spans over three-quarters of a mile, with its deepest point around 10 feet. It’s filled with approximately 16 million gallons of water.

It is the featured centerpiece of the Epperson community, which is eventually expected to have 2,000 homes.

Epperson residents will be able to enjoy aquatic activities, including swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing small boats, as well as Caribbean-style beaches and cabanas, a waterslide, an entertainment plaza, a yoga lawn and an area for special events.

The lagoon will have some limited guest opportunities, but will more or less function as a private club.

Though Epperson is the first, it’s one of 22 Crystal Lagoons planned throughout the U.S., by Metro Development Group. A majority of those are in Florida, with a handful in Texas, along with another on the Las Vegas Strip.

That includes a Crystal Lagoon planned for Mirada, a master-planned community next to Epperson. Another is planned in south Hillsborough County for the Southshore Bay community.

Both Epperson and Mirada are part of the Connected City corridor, which encompasses about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County.

At build-out, the entire Connected City will have about 37,000 homes and more than 12 million square feet of commercial space.

Published May 2, 2018

Crystal Lagoon toasted with champagne at ribbon cutting

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The ribbon cutting for the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson — the first waterbody of its type in the United States — received warm applause from the crowd on an untypically chilly Florida morning.

The weather is expected to be warmer on April 28, when Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Michael Phelps is scheduled to kick off festivities at the lagoon and the master-planned community of Epperson.

Representatives from Crystal Lagoon, Metro Development Group and members of the Pasco County Commission cut the ribbon to celebrate a ‘topping off’ of water flowing into the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson. (Kathy Steele)

About 75 people gathered on Jan. 18 at the beachfront at the lagoon to toast champagne to celebrate the final drops of 16 million gallons of water topping off the lagoon.

With temperatures dipping into the 30s, people bundled up and sipped coffee or hot chocolate to stay warm.

The frigid air, however, did not chill the guests’ enthusiasm.

“This is just a great day,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley. “It’s just amazing what you’ve done here. The only word that describes it is ‘awesome’.”

Other dignitaries at the event included Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr.; Pasco County commissioners Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey; Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group; and Christopher Souza, regional manager for Crystal Lagoon.

“The blues and the different hues of the water really pop out here,” Singleton said, during his opening remarks.

The ceremony was held on a small sandy beach that will be known as “Gasparilla Island,” built around a “tidal basin.”

“We envision it as a family area,” Singleton said.

The lagoon also will have Caribbean-style beaches and cabanas, a waterslide, entertainment plaza and water activities, including swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said the lagoon will put a national spotlight on Pasco.

“Anytime we get national attention, it’s a good thing,” Moore said.

Metro Development is building Epperson, which is expected to have 2,000 homes. There also will be commercial development, and a town center.

“It’s going to bring jobs to the area,” said Singleton. “This is the gateway to Connected City in the area. It’s going to bring positive things to the county.”

Next to Epperson, the master-planned community of Mirada also will be built. It will have its own, larger Crystal Lagoon.

Mirada and Epperson are within, what is designated as, the Connected City corridor. About 7,800 acres is set aside as a state-approved development district meant to foster residential communities and employment centers that are the wave of the future. The borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

Cutting-edge technology, including gigabit Internet speeds and self-driving vehicles, will be featured throughout Connected City.

Pasco County is a partner in the development of Connected City.

The project seemed almost too ambitious when Metro Development initially brought the project to Wells, prior to his election to the county commission about four years ago.

“I said, ‘You’re nuts. There’s no way,’” Wells said. But, he added, “This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership.”

Other developers are expected to offer their own projects for Connected City, which has an estimated build-out of 50 years. Metro Development is the beginning phase.

“They were pioneers in bringing it (Crystal Lagoon) to the United States,” said Souza, who described Crystal Lagoon as a water technology company. “It was a good starting point for us.”

The company now has an American headquarters in Miami.

Metro Development is building another Crystal Lagoon in south Hillsborough County for the Southshore Bay community. A lagoon also is planned in Fort Myers.

Published January 24, 2018

Crystal Lagoon ‘clear blue’ star at Epperson

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The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson will have its grand debut in spring 2018, with Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps headlining the festivities.

Phelps is the global ambassador for Crystal Lagoon Inc., which built its first lagoon in Chile in 2006. The massive swimming pool, with a patented technology to keep its waters crystal clear, was the brainchild of biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann.

At Epperson, the 7.5-acre lagoon began filling up with approximately 16 million gallons of water, purchased from Pasco County.

An unidentified woman, in red, and an unidentified man look out at the Crystal Lagoon, which is a 7.5-acre manmade amenity at the master-planned community of Epperson. (Stefanie Burlingame)

With that task completed as of Dec. 26, Epperson, and Metro Development Group, soon will have the distinction of hosting its spring grand opening for the first Crystal Lagoon in North America.

A walkway overlooking the lagoon offers sweeping vistas of the blue waters, landscaping and ongoing construction at Epperson. Signage at an overlook tells the story of Connected City, the surrounding community of Epperson and the Crystal Lagoon.

About 70 homes are occupied at Epperson, according to Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group.

More homes are under construction, and additional lots are being prepared for even more homes.

When completed, the lagoon will be the featured centerpiece of the community. There will be swimming, kayaking and paddle-boarding activities. Even, small sailboats will skim over the surface. Residents and guests can hang out at Caribbean-style beaches and cabanas, slip down a waterslide, enjoy an entertainment plaza, join a yoga class or gather for special events.

Epperson may be the first — but four more Crystal Lagoons are on their way to Florida. Metro Development will break ground in spring on a second lagoon at its Southshore Bay community in Hillsborough County.

Another Crystal Lagoon also is planned for Mirada, a master-planned community next to Epperson.

Both Epperson and Mirada are part of the Connected City corridor, which encompasses about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County.

At build-out, the entire Connected City will have about 37,000 homes and more than 12 million square feet of commercial space. While Metro Development controls a large swath of Connected City, other developers also are expected to bring forth their proposals.

In addition to about 2,000 homes at Epperson, there will be office and retail, as well as education, medical and technology facilities. Saint Leo University and Tampa General Hospital are partners with Metro Development for state-of-the-art hospitals, schools and research centers.

For information, visit MetroDevelopmentGroup.com.

Published January 3, 2018

Crystal Lagoon will make a splash in 2018

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The Epperson residential development, with its Crystal Lagoon, will open in spring 2018 with a special guest – Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps.

Phelps signed on with Crystal Lagoons as its “Global Ambassador.” He will promote swimming and water sports around the world, with appearances at Crystal Lagoon properties, including Epperson, according to a news release from The Conroy Martinez Group.

Details and a date for the grand opening will be announced later.

The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson is expected to open in spring 2018, with festivities that will include Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. (Courtesy of Crystal Lagoon Inc.)

The 7-acre lagoon at the center of Epperson is a mammoth swimming pool, with crystal blue, see-through waters. Epperson’s lagoon will be the first in the nation.

“(Phelps is) big on promoting people being active in water sports,” said Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group, which is developing Epperson. “Metro is big on having people swimming and being active in our lagoon.”

Epperson residents can enjoy aquatic activities, including swimming, kayaking, paddle-boarding and sailing small boats. There also will be Caribbean-style beaches and cabanas, a waterslide, an entertainment plaza, a yoga lawn and an area for special events.

Singleton said the lagoon would have some limited guest opportunities, as well. But, he added, “It’s not designed to be a public water park.”

Instead, it will function more like a private golf course, Singleton said.

Metro is purchasing water from Pasco County to fill the lagoon. Once it is filled, Metro officials estimate the lagoon will use 50 times less water than a park of the same size and 30 times less water than a golf course.

Epperson will have about 2,000 homes when completed. Residents will participate in the first “smart gigabit community” in the nation, with UltraFi technology as a built-in feature of the community, indoors and outdoors.

Epperson also will be the first residential community within the Connected City corridor.

Pasco County commissioners approved the framework for Connected City in February. The approximately 7,800 acres in northeastern Pasco is designated as a state-approved, 10-year pilot program designed to feature technology-based neighborhoods. However, full development of Connected City is anticipated to take about 50 years.

When completed, the area will have about 37,000 homes and more than 12 million square feet of commercial space.

Saint Leo University, Florida Hospital and Tampa General Hospital are partners in the development of a wellness district within Connected City, with plans to build hospitals, schools and research facilities.

The Connected City boundaries are Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads. Epperson is at the juncture of Curley and Overpass roads.

Currently, about 200 homes have been built at Epperson, with another 200 lots available for construction. Singleton said homeowners occupy about 70 houses.

Metro also is developing Mirada, a master-planned community north of Epperson. It also will have a Crystal Lagoon.

“Mirada is underway,” Singleton said. “We’re moving dirt and developing lots.”

Other lagoons are expected to open at developments in southern Hillsborough County and in Fort Myers.

Published November 22, 2017

Golf course could be replaced by houses

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Despite impassioned pleas from residents of Quail Hollow, it appears that the Quail Hollow Golf Course & Country Club soon could give way to residential and retail development.

Property owner Andre Carollo, of Pasco Office Park LLC, is proposing to build a maximum of 400 single family homes, 30,000 square feet of office/retail and 10,000 square feet of day care.

The golf course is located on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

More than 20 residents attended a public hearing of Pasco County’s Development Review Committee on March 9 in Dade City.

Committee members agreed to recommend approval of the project to the Pasco County Commission.

County commissioners will have another public hearing, where they will make the final decision.

Many residents speaking in opposition to the proposal said they bought their homes decades ago when it was marketed to them as a golf course community, with large lots, ranging from 1 acre to 3 acres.

Land use attorney Barbara Wilhite said the golf course – built in the 1960s – pre-dated the home sales.

There never was a master-planned golf course community, said Wilhite, who represents Pasco Office Park LLC.

The golf course shut down in 2008 and reopened in 2011.

Its website touts Quail Hollow as “more than just a golf course” with a restaurant and banquet facilities for weddings, parties and special events.

Residents are worried about losing their rural enclave.

But, they also raised issues about ongoing flooding in the neighborhood and concerns about increased traffic.

Boom Boom Drive currently is the only access road off Old Pasco Road into the golf course.

A traffic engineer for Pasco Office Park described intersection improvements that would add right- and left-hand turns on Old Pasco to improve traffic flow. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2019, about the time new residents would be moving into their homes.

Flooding already is a chronic problem for homeowners, said Edward Glime, who lives in the area.

“We can’t stop them from building on the golf course,” he said. But, he asked: “Is it (water) going to be running like a river? “What kind of erosion is going to be happening to my property?”

Engineer Greg Singleton said a drainage system would be designed to “provide more area for floodwaters to spread out.”

Resident Jeanne Luczynski was skeptical.

“The flooding is tremendous in the rainy season,” she said. “We need more assurances that this is not going to be worse.”

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker expressed sympathy for the residents’ plight.

But, the reality she said is that “golf courses are a dying breed.”

At least three in Pasco County have shut down, including the now-closed Magnolia Valley Golf Course in New Port Richey.

Residents either face redevelopment or finding a way to buy the land to stave off new housing construction.

Plantation Palms Golf Course, in Land O’ Lakes, is one community that opted to hold onto its golf course, but Baker said it was at a “premium.”

She did make a promise to residents about flooding when the final plan came to the county commissioners.

Baker came to Pasco County initially as its emergency management director. She also has dealt with flooding problems countywide in recent years from heavy summer rains and tropical storms.

“I hear you,” she said. “We will be reviewing it with a very jaundiced eye and make sure there is no negative impact.”

Published March 15, 2017

Commissioners approve Connected City

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A champagne toast and tethered hot-air balloon rides heralded the groundbreaking for a 7-acre manmade Crystal Lagoon that — when finished — will be large enough for six football fields, end to end.

In the background, construction workers stirred dust and hammered nails into model homes for the first master-planned community in Epperson Ranch, along the Connected City corridor. The Crystal Lagoon is the splashy jewel at the center of Epperson.

Connected City, if successful, could become Pasco’s economic jewel.

Pasco County commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to approve the framework to establish the Connected City, as a state-approved 10-year pilot program to foster a technology-based “city of the future.”

Dignitaries picked up shovels and tossed dirt at a ceremonial groundbreaking for Crystal Lagoon, a 7-acre, manmade lagoon at Epperson Ranch.
(Courtesy of Cole Media Productions)

At its 50-year build out, the Connected City is expected to have more than 96,000 residents within multiple neighborhoods; 37,000 homes and apartments; as many as 7.2 million square feet of employment facilities; and, a role-model reputation for technology innovation.

But, for now, all eyes are on Epperson and the Crystal Lagoon in northeastern Pasco, at Curley and Overpass roads. The mammoth swimming pool, with clear blue, see-through waters, is a global phenomenon, with locations in Chile and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Pasco’s Crystal Lagoon will be the first in the nation.

“It’s like swimming in a bottle of Zephyrhills water,” said Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group. “It’s so incredibly clear.”

It took more than two years of planning, workshops and negotiations to reach the groundbreaking at Epperson on Feb. 2, followed by the Connected City vote nearly a week later.

“It was worth the time. I say congratulations to everybody,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “I think we’ll see great things for our neighborhoods. All eyes are going to be upon us now. People will be coming to Pasco County, to follow suit.”

State lawmakers carved out about 7,800 acres in northeastern Pasco, in 2015, for a special development district. The boundaries are Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

State law, and now county approval, set in motion a 10-year pilot program to encourage mixed-use development projects and master-planned communities built from the ground up with cutting edge technology.

“At the end of the day, I feel it’s the right thing for the county,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells. “It comes down to job creation for me.”

Still, the excitement level created by Connected City isn’t shared by everyone.

Resident Jennifer McCarthy has been a frequent critic of Connected City at prior meetings. She and her husband, Chris McCarthy, attended the final hearing on Feb. 2, but neither spoke during public comment.

They both remain worried about property rights of residents who have lived in the area for decades. Increased traffic is another issue, especially on Kenton Road where they live.

They also aren’t convinced that the area can become another technology-heavy Silicon Valley.

“This isn’t California,” said Jennifer McCarthy.

Resident Nancy Hazelwood worries about preserving the rural character of the area.

She objected when county commissioners voted to carve out a portion of the Villages of Pasadena Hills, and to add it into Connected City boundaries.

County commissioners said that made sense because the state-drawn boundaries overlapped into one of the Villages’ neighborhoods.

It was the third time, Hazelwood said, that the county gave up rural land to accommodate urban development.

“You keep taking things from what we were given at one time,” she said.

Change is coming.

Metro Development Group anticipates completion of the lagoon in 2017, with the opening of model homes in late 2017 or early 2018.

Metro Development Group is working in a public-private partnership with Pasco County on the initial development within Connected City. The development company controls about 35 percent of the targeted area.

A second community – known as Mirada – is planned by Metro Development Group, along with a second Crystal Lagoon of more than 10 acres.

In return for meeting more than 50 development criteria, the county is offering mobility fee credits and a faster-than-usual review process to Connected City projects.

Technology is the premier feature in what is expected to entice high-paying jobs to Pasco.

The vision is for the entire area to become a northern gateway into the Tampa Bay region, with links to commerce and education centers to the south, including the research-oriented University of South Florida.

“I am doing everything I can to hook them up with tech companies,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Published February 15, 2017

Crystal Lagoon start date coming soon

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Developers at Epperson Ranch anticipate a construction start in May on the “Crystal Lagoon” that will be a showpiece for their master-planned community, and the first of its kind in North America.

Model homes at Epperson could be under construction by summer.

Home prices will start in the mid-$200,000 range.

Metro Development Group is finalizing the permit process before digging dirt on a 7-acre manmade lagoon.

In this artist’s rendering, a sunbather enjoys the crystal lagoon at Cabo San Lucas. (Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.)
In this artist’s rendering, a sunbather enjoys the crystal lagoon at Cabo San Lucas.
(Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.)

The water body is designed with patented technology by Crystal Lagoons Inc., and the lagoon will be filled with about 16 million gallons of crystal blue water.

Construction could take a year.

The Epperson Ranch project is also the site for another first for Pasco with plans for creating a “Connected City” corridor with ultrafast Internet connections.

The project is a state-approved, 10-year pilot program that envisions state-of-the-art technology embedded in the design of residential and commercial development in a 7,800-acre special district. The district’s borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley and Overpass roads in east central Pasco.

Metro Development Group and Crystal Lagoons are partnering on the creation of several Crystal Lagoons’ communities, including a second location in Pasco, and in Fort Myers.

Pasco’s growth boom and the availability of such a large swath of vacant land were motivators for the companies’ partnership, according to an email from Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development.

“Our hope is that we are one part of a collective group of planners, thinkers, educators and others who see Pasco County as a destination for more jobs, top schools, premier shopping, dining and entertainment,” the email states.

Biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann created and built the first Crystal Lagoon at San Alfonso del Mar in Chile in 2006.

The lounge area at Cabo San Lucas overlooks the crystal lagoon in this artist’s rendering.
The lounge area at Cabo San Lucas overlooks the crystal lagoon in this artist’s rendering.

According to the company’s website, the lagoons are eco-friendly and need to be filled with water only once. They use 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and more than 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course, the website states.

Lagoons typically are deep enough to allow for a variety of water sports and recreational activities, including swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.

In his email, Singleton said the lagoon will be in a gated community where the lagoon’s upkeep would be included in fees paid to a homeowner’s association.

There is potential for packages, day rates or memberships to the lagoon for nonresidents. However, Singleton in his email said, “Nothing has been outlined or finalized yet.”

Published April 27, 2016