The Laker/Lutz News

Hilton Garden Inn

Merged chambers to become Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce

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Members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce came together last week to mark a historical milestone.

They are merging effective July 1, and a special gathering was held to announce the new chamber’s name.

Greg Armstrong, chairman of the board for the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and Les Saland, president of the board for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, both offered remarks during an event that marked a milestone in both chambers’ history. The gathering was held to announce the name of the new chamber being formed to unify both chambers into a single organization. (B.C. Manion)

The new chamber is expected to have more than 1,000 members and will cover an area from Wesley Chapel to the Gulf of Mexico, from county line to county line.

The recent gathering, dubbed the “Come Together Ambassador Mixer” drew a crowd .

So many people streamed to Spring Hill Suites Tampa North Land O’ Lakes in Land O’ Lakes — that parking was at a premium. The hotel’s lot filled up. Cars made their own spaces along the street. And, more parked on a nearby grassy lot.

Meanwhile, inside, the room was buzzing with conversation as members of both chambers networked, lined up for a hot food buffet and listened to live music.

Those attending also had a chance to win numerous prizes — with winners announced periodically during the celebration.

The main event was the announcement of the unified chamber’s new name.

But before that , Les Saland, president of the Central Pasco Chamber board, told the crowd that he believes the merger was meant to happen.

Greg Armstrong, chairman of the board for the West Pasco Chamber, observed that it’s an opportune time for the two groups to come together.

“This new chamber of commerce sits in the center of the fastest-growing county in the United States,” Armstrong said — eliciting cheers, applause and woo-hoos from the crowd.

“What that means for every business and every citizen is unparalleled opportunity — and that’s what this new chamber is going to be all about, is bringing to our businesses unparalleled opportunity to do exactly what? More business,” Armstrong said.

Tim McClain, an executive with the West Pasco Chamber staff, announced the winner for the naming contest for the new chamber.

Tim Hoppes, of Big State Financial of Florida, won the contest with his suggestion: Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

“It overwhelmingly was the No. 1 choice,” McClain said, noting numerous people suggested the name.

Hoppes was declared the winner because he submitted it first — within the first hour of the naming contest. The rules said the winner would be the first person to suggest the selected name, McClain said.

Next up, the two chambers will come together for an awards banquet and installation of the new officers. That event is planned for June 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2155 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz. For more information, visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published May 15, 2019

Turnout might break record in August primary

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Midterm elections typically get a low voter turnout.

But, there are signs of energized voters for the 2018 primary set for Aug. 28 and the general election on Nov. 6.

New voter registrations are up somewhat, said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley spoke at the monthly luncheon of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. (Kathy Steele)

A bigger indicator of voter interest is the more than 62,000 ballots mailed to local residents and military personnel, Corley added, in remarks at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn.

That is a record for mailed out ballots, and if most or all of the ballots are returned, Pasco could set a historical record for total voter turnout in a primary.

About 60 percent of Pasco’s total votes comes from absentee or early voting. Pasco has been promoting both methods of voting to reduce lines on election day.

Corley’s remarks centered on voter turnout and cybersecurity threats from hackers.

“The threats are real,” Corley said. “My job is to be neutral, but facts are stubborn things.”

He cited the federal charges filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller against 12 Russian intelligence officers. They are accused of interfering in the 2016 election through phishing attacks, money laundering and hacking into state election boards.

Corley said he was a target of phishing in 2016 from an email that appeared to come from a vendor. He said he didn’t click to open it, and security measures would have quarantined the email, if he had.

Corley noted that he later learned from court documents (prior to the recent indictments) that the email came from a hacker in Moscow.

Other reports of Russian interference also have emerged since the 2016 election, he said.

About 65,000 Americans apparently responded to social media invitations from Russian hackers to political events that weren’t real.

Also, about 6 million people “liked” or “didn’t like” postings on Facebook from bots. There were postings both for and against Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter.

“They were playing both sides, hedging their bets to get people fired up,” Corley said.

Measures are in place to ensure the reliability and security of Pasco County’s elections, he said.

The elections office works closely with the FBI, Homeland Security, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office regarding potential threats, especially from cyber attacks.

In a worst-case scenario, Pasco would have a backup plan, with a paper trail to secure the vote’s accuracy.

“You can’t hack paper,” Corley said.

A prime concern continues to be low voter participation, particularly in midterm elections.

Typically, about 20 percent of registered voters turn out during primaries, Corley said.

“That’s sad when you think about it,” he said. “We should be the benchmark for having elections in a democracy,” the elections supervisor said.

While a high volume of absentee ballots was requested, Corley said, on average, about 40 percent are returned.

Other countries fine nonvoters or give cash prizes via lotteries to voters.

For example, Corley said Australia fines voters $50 for not voting.

If that were done in Pasco, about $8 million, on average, could be collected. Statewide, about $300 million would be handed out in fines, Corley said.

Residents who want to vote in the primary must register by July 30. Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Democrats and Republicans can participate in their party primaries.

Residents registered, for example, with no party affiliation will be excluded from the primaries. However, Corley said people can change their registration to Republican or Democrat in order to vote on Aug. 28.

“They can always change back later,” he said.

Every registered voter is eligible to cast a ballot in the Nov. 6 general election.

Voters on that date will have choices in local, state and federal races, including county commissioners, state legislators, a governor’s race and a United States senator’s race.

Voters also will decide on 17 referendums, including constitutional amendments, and four local bond issues to fund programs for public safety, fire rescue, parks and libraries.

The elections office managed to put everything onto one page — using the front and the back of the ballot.

Even so, Corley said, “It’s going to be a very, very lengthy ballot.”

Deadlines for voter registration
The last day to register for the August 28 primary is July 30.
Florida is a closed primary state. Only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary; only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary.
The last day to register for the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 9.
For information, visit PascoVotes.com.

Published July 25, 2018

Apartments an option for Northpointe Village

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The Northpointe Village shopping center could get a 300-unit apartment complex, on a vacant parcel with rental appeal for employees of Mettler Toledo.

The Swiss-manufacturer broke ground in January on a 250,000-square-foot plant, within Northpointe. The plant is expected to bring about 500 jobs into Pasco County, with about 185 of them being new jobs for the company.

Northpointe Village is a walkable ‘main street’ village concept with offices and shops, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway. Apartments would add a residential component to the development.
(Kathy Steele)

Members of the Pasco County Development Review Committee recommended approval of the apartments at their March 30 meeting in New Port Richey. The matter now goes to the Pasco County commissioners for a final vote.

Letters of support came from the board of directors of the North Pointe at Suncoast Crossings Owners Association, and Mettler Toledo.

Mettler’s General Manager Viggo Nielsen wrote that the apartments may provide “convenient on-site housing for employees and a good mixed-use development that we hope will thrive for many years.”

The rezoning requested by Land Investment Partners would only affect the eastern portion of a master plan for Suncoast Crossings. The development is divided into east and west sides, with separate owners of each side.

Northpointe is a mixed use office and retail complex at the southeast corner of State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway. The complex is laid out as a walkable “main street” village with shops, offices and restaurants. Renaissance Inn and Hilton Garden Inn also are on-site, as well as TRU Simulation, a manufacturer of flight simulators and a pilot training center.

The Pasco Economic Development Council, which partners with the county on job creation, also has its offices in Northpointe.

The western side of Suncoast Crossings includes the Suncoast shopping center, offices and residential neighborhoods.

Despite efforts to market the Northpointe parcel for non-residential purposes, developers and investors showed no interest, said Clarke Hobby, a land use attorney representing Land Investment Partners.

They repeatedly said the location lacked direct access and visibility to State Road 54

Hobby said, “We think multifamily makes good sense, and it is consistent with market demand. What (Northpointe) doesn’t have and what the retail village has struggled with is multifamily or higher density to get it moving.”

Suncoast Parkway, at State Road 54, is attracting investment for several projects after languishing through the economic downturn.

The master-planned community of Bexley North is under construction on the north side of State Road 54, across from Northpointe. Also, on the north side of the state highway, two more residential and commercial developments are planned adjacent to Bexley and the Suncoast Trail.

If approved, the rezoning for Northpointe would add apartments as a use while retaining office, research and light industrial for another portion of the same site.

Hobby said the focus remains on attracting office and light industrial, and creating jobs. “We’re aggressively pursuing opportunities,” he said.

Future development could include about 225,000 square feet of Class A offices, as well as one or two hotels, he added.

Pasco County plans to build an extension of Northpointe Village Drive as part of an incentive package of about $7.6 million for Mettler Toledo.

Northpointe’s owners will contribute more than $250,000 to the project. That could be reduced by 15 percent if Pasco receives a state reimbursement of about $1.2 million for the estimated $3.2 million road project.

Published April 19, 2017

Hotels go up as tourism grows in Pasco

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Pasco County’s hotel market is thriving.

Five hotels are either under construction, closing in on a groundbreaking or will open within months.

A new Hilton Garden Inn is the most recent to complete permitting, with a construction start now in the offing.

The 125-room, six-story hotel is rising off of State Road 56, at Maple Silver Parkway.

Hilton Garden Inn is under construction at Northpointe Village, off State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Hilton Garden Inn is under construction at Northpointe Village, off State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Another 110-room Hilton Garden Inn at Northpointe Village, on State Road 54 at the Suncoast Parkway, is expected to open in three to four months.

Off State Road 56, an 80-room Holiday Inn Express is well under way, next to the construction site for the Florida Hospital Center Ice sports complex.

The ice complex is expected to open by Labor Day, and play a significant role in boosting Pasco’s sports tourism industry.

Developers of Cypress Creek Town Center, on the north side of State Road 56, are planning a 130-room Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel hotel.

And, Wiregrass Ranch is set to build a 92-room Fairfield Inn & Suites, also off State Road 56.

The hotel expansion comes as Pasco County is looking at another record-breaking year for tourism, with the county’s cash register jingling with bed tax dollars from hotel stays.

Pasco County’s Tourism Manager Ed Caum anticipates hitting $1 million in revenues from the bed tax, exclusively paid by hotel guests who live outside of Pasco.

To date, he said revenues are about $856,000, a 4.6 percent increase over projections.

Holiday Inn Express will open next to Florida Hospital Center Ice sports complex, off State Road 56 near Interstate 75.
Holiday Inn Express will open next to Florida Hospital Center Ice sports complex, off State Road 56 near Interstate 75.

In the last 18 months, hotel occupancy has been about 72 percent to 75 percent. And, the average daily hotel rate is $8 higher than last year.

“Now there is more demand, so there’ll be more supply,” Caum said.

Pasco currently has about 3,600 hotel rooms. More than 600 rooms will be added from the new hotels.

In 2013, an Urban Land Institute study predicted that Pasco would add about 75 rooms a year through 2020.

By that yard stick, Caum said, “We’re actually ahead of projections.”

While business travelers still fill up most of Pasco’s hotel rooms, Caum said more leisure travelers are coming into the mix.

That market is expected to grow as the county reaps benefits from tourist destinations such as Tampa Premium Outlets, more retail and restaurants at Cypress Creek Town Center, Florida Hospital Center Ice, SunWest Park and TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park.

About 6,000 people are employed by the hospitality industry in Pasco, including at hotels and restaurants. Supportive businesses indirectly account for more than 12,000 additional people being employed.

“That’s huge,” said Caum.

Published August 10, 2016