The Laker/Lutz News

Jack Mariano

Land O’ Lakes rezoning gains approval

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request by DMMD I, LLC/MI Homes to rezone 20 acres at the northwest corner of Kristen Lane and Joy Drive for the development of 54 single-family homes.

The request received a recommendation for approval from county planners and from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

At a Sept. 28 public hearing, Clarke Hobby, the attorney for the applicants, told the county board that the site is within the urban service area and the South Market Area — which is the area the county has designated for its greatest growth to occur.

The request, for a Residential-4 Euclidean zoning district, requires lots to be at least 60 feet wide.

Other nearby developments include Oakstead, Bexley North and Concord Station, to name a few. Oakstead Elementary School is across the street from the rezoning site and Pasco County Animal Services is nearby.

Hobby told county commissioners that many of the nearby master-planned developments, if not all, include lot sizes that are substantially smaller than those planned for the rezoning site.

“So the lots you’re seeing here are essentially 50% larger than the majority of the lots that have been approved in this area, over the last several years,” Hobby said.

“MI Homes is proposing a development that will include houses from 2,100 square feet to 4,450 square feet. Two-thirds or more of the houses will be more than 3,000 square feet.

“This is not an entry-level project. It will be a credit to the area, and I believe will raise values in the area,” Hobby said.

However, area residents raised concerns about existing traffic and flooding problems — noting the additional development could worsen those conditions.

Jason Christman lives on Mitchell Road, which he described as “right around the corner” from the proposed development.

He laid out three primary issues.

No. 1, he said, is traffic. No. 2, flooding. And, No. 3, a lack of space for wildlife.

He described existing flooding problems.

After recent rains the water on his property and in the road was 4 inches to 8 inches deep, Christman said. “It took five days for that to recede.”

He’s also worried about the impacts that continuing development is having on wildlife.

“We have an overrun of wildlife. I have deer coming out, even in the daylight, trying to get into my garden,” he said.

Large developments are crowding out wild creatures, he said. “There’s no place for them (wild creatures) to go.”

Debbie Moore, who lives near the rezoning site, said “this isn’t a NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) thing. This is a ‘Save the wetlands, the wildlife and our way of life,’ thing.

“The builders and the developers, they make their money and they leave,” Moore said.

Area resident Becky Smith told the commissioners: “This is a huge problem. I’ve been in the area since the early ’80s, living on Mitchell Road. The changes over the last couple of years have been drastic.”

Moore said residents also are being forced to have their septic tanks pumped because of rising groundwater.

“How you can do this to us is unthinkable,” Smith told the board.

But Hobby told commissioners: “None of the flooding issues that you just heard on Mitchell are germane to this site.

“The closest, as the crow flies, that this site is to Mitchell is over a quarter of a mile,” the attorney said.

He also noted that the site in not located on maps that depict areas of observed flooding, and it’s not within a basin of special concern.

“There are neighbors that have flooding problems. We don’t deny that,” Hobby said.

He assured commissioners and neighbors that he is happy to meet with neighbors and county staff, after the rezoning, to see if there steps that can be taken by the county elsewhere, to address the area drainage issues. There may be some issues with a county drainage structure, for instance.

Hobby disputed testimony relating to traffic on Lake Patience Road.

Lake Patience Road is operating well within its capacity, according to a traffic engineer’s report prepared for Hobby’s client.

The issue, Hobby said, is the lack of a traffic signal at U.S. 41 and Lake Patience Road.

That intersection is at least a half-mile away from his client’s proposed development.

“It is simply not enough for the members of the public to say that there’s a traffic problem — when they don’t have the expertise,” Hobby said.

County board members were not swayed by the residents’ testimony and vote 4-1 to approve the rezoning, with Commissioner Jack Mariano voting no.

Published October 06, 2021

Pasco County is breaking growth records

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Pasco County’s growth has been so rapid that its staff can’t keep up with it — prompting the county to budget for additional positions to address the increasing development.

The county plans to add 10 staff members to its planning and development department, two positions in code enforcement and 14 positions in building construction services during the next fiscal year.

This is an apartment development off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes, that was under construction last year. It’s just one sign of a flourishing building market in Pasco County. (File)

“The county is experiencing unprecedented growth at this time. And, a lot of that growth impacts our branch, directly,” Sally Sherman, assistant county administrator for development services said, during a presentation at the Pasco County Commission’s Sept. 15 meeting.

“As we strive to meet the demands of the customers for which we serve, we are also looking to — ‘How are we doing, and can we do it better?’— all of the time.

Along those lines, the branch’s staff put together a survey to gauge its performance, and to identify its strengths and weaknesses.

“The survey went out to over 6,000 customers and those individuals who have literally had interactions with the branch.

It received 644 responses, and of those 517 came from individuals who’d had interactions with the branch within the past year.

“This is the first-ever survey that has been conducted to try and gauge where we are as a branch and the services,” Sherman said.

“What we see this is — an opportunity to set a benchmark, as to where we are, and as we continue to make improvements, how we’re doing. This is anticipated to be conducted annually,” Sherman added.

All of the new people moving into Pasco County are generating a demand for retail and restaurant uses.

“The survey captured percentage ratings of various processes that our department offers.

“It rated everything from very satisfied to not satisfied.

Satisfaction ratings, out of a possible 100%:

  • Planning and development department: 64%
  • Building Construction Services: 72%
  • Code Enforcement: 67%
  • Office of Economic Growth: 73%

Those taking the survey also were able to submit comments, which yielded additional information for the department, Sherman said. She added: “We’re going to be looking at those in detail and following up with individuals.

Volume is up in everything, from calls coming into the department, to site plans under review, to proactive code enforcement actions, to permits being pulled, Sherman said.

The county has 422 active site plan reviews currently under consideration, she said.

“With our site plan review process, we have pre-application meetings for those. And, right now, those are slated out to January with the number of requests we are receiving for reviews.”

Sherman also addressed the volume being handled by the building construction services department.

“New single-family home permits, as you know, have taken off in Pasco County.

“In 2020, there were 5,741 new homes issued,” she said, adding at that time it was taking nearly 23 days to process a new single-family residential permit.

So much residential growth happened in the Bexley subdivision, off of State Road 54, in Central Pasco, that an additional classroom wing was needed at the elementary school soon after the school opened.

Over the last eight months, the department has issued 6,317 new single-family home permits, processing them in an average of 8.5 days.

“This is due in part to a great team, working extremely hard, looking for innovative ways to improve service,” Sherman said.

In working with the Tampa Bay Builders Association, the county was aiming for a 10-day turn-around for single-family permits, Sherman said.

“As you can see, we have met that goal and we’ve exceeded that goal. I’m hoping with the changes that we are continuing to make that we will continue to exceed that goal.”

In the arena of commercial permitting, the county is currently embarking on a major effort to streamline its processes, Sherman said.

“We have a team that’s very innovative and ready to seek change to make things better for our customers,” she said.

The county’s inspectors also have been very busy, Sherman said.

“Over the last eight months of this year, they have conducted over 202,000 inspections,” she said.

Ultimately, the county’s new development is expected to result in a $2 billion expansion to the county’s tax roll, Sherman said.

Continually seeking ways to improve
Sherman thanked her staff for its dedication and hard work.

“I see them in the mornings, when I walk in at 6:30, going into the office to start work. They’re not going in early to leave early, but are going in early to meet customer needs.

Santander is one of the businesses that has taken advantage of Pasco County’s economic development efforts, which entices employers to provide good jobs.

“We see them on the weekends, coming into work, to meet the needs of our customers.

“They are extremely, extremely dedicated team members.

“And, as we continue to serve the community, in keeping with our strategic plan to create a better community, a better future for all of those involved, we want to continue to do that with integrity, respect, service innovation and service excellence.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano praised Sherman for demonstrating her initiative in conducting a survey about the branch’s work.

“You’ve got a baseline to work with now,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey zeroed in on the amount of time it takes to get a pre-application meeting.

“What can we do in the short term to shorten that time. I think we’re up to four months to get a pre-app meeting. Is there anything we can do to help that?”

Sherman said efforts are being made to improve that part of the county’s process.

Starkey followed up: “Is it more planners that we need?”

“We are getting more planners,” Sherman said. “But we are taking a look at how we can streamline the process. We’re looking at it in detail right now.”

Nectarios Pittos, director of planning and development, told Starkey:  “It’s a logistical issue, not just with the planning and development department, but also with all of the other departments that participate in the process with us.

“So, yes, you could add, theoretically, more planners to address the pre-application, but you’d also have to double up the other positions in the departments that participate in the process, just to get more than eight or nine pre-apps that we can do per week.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley told Sherman: “I appreciate everything you are doing Sally, you’ve made the department stronger and better, and moving forward.

“We want to do it the right way, but we want to continue to streamline, and get it faster and quicker through the system.

“If we were not having so many projects, it would be different, but we’ve got them piled up,” Oakley said.

Published September 29, 2021

Pasco County gives a sweet send-off to long-time attorney

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During her 19 years in the Pasco County Attorney’s office, attorney Jane Fagan was involved in legal work on thousands of county actions and shared her wealth of knowledge on complex issues.

She had a hand in issues, great and small.

Her contributions were described in a resolution adopted by the county board on Aug. 24.

Fagan joined the county on July 29, 2002, as an assistant county attorney, specializing in the area of procurement, according the resolution, which was unanimously adopted in her honor.

She later was promoted to senior assistant county attorney, and while continuing her work in procurement issues, also served as an academic resource for other attorneys in the office on issues ranging from ethics to emergency management, and more.

Senior Assistant County Attorney Jane Fagan was lauded by the Pasco County Commission and the county attorney’s office, as she ended her 19-year tenure in the County Attorney’s Office. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Certified by the Florida Bar, in city, county and local government law, Fagan is a highly experienced, well-regarded attorney, the resolution says.

And, regardless of how busy Fagan was, “she would set aside her own work to listen and assist co-workers” who were seeking direction and information, the resolution notes.

She shared her knowledge on government law, edited documents and listened to her co-workers’ professional questions to help steer them on a productive path and to identify resources to help them with the issue at hand, according to the resolution.

It goes on: “She is also a talented editor, with a knack for finding mistakes and clarifying ambiguities others have overlooked.”

And, it notes: that “despite Jane juggling a heavy workload for years — working nights, weekends and on vacation, and assisting and supporting co-workers — Jane could be relied upon to get the job done.”

Indeed, the attorney assisted with legal work on a myriad of assignments, including multimillion projects and complicated county initiatives.

She was involved in work on the Ridge Road extension, the Wesley Chapel District Park, the Wiregrass Sports Campus, the software used for public access to county documents, the construction of fire stations throughout the county, and a multitude of other issues and projects.

In addition to highlighting some of her professional contributions, the resolution compliments Fagan’s personal qualities. It notes: “In addition to Jane’s intellect and legal skills, Jane’s thoughtfulness and kindness is abundant. She is always among the first to sympathize with frustrations, help to organize celebrations, and give others credit rather than engaging in self-promotion, even when it is well-deserved.”

After approving the resolution of appreciation, commissioners were quick to heap on additional praise.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley told Fagan: “We’ll let you go, but we don’t want you to go.”

Commissioner Mike Moore put it like this: “What a true professional you are.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano expressed his respect: “You were a solid, tremendous worker for the county, always protecting the county, every step of the way.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey observed: “We’re losing a leader up on the third floor. What a void we’re going to have.”

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder also expressed his gratitude for Fagan’s professionalism and her personal warmth.

“I inherited a marvelous team when I got here. Jane was one of those people that was there, and was there to help me grow into the role of county attorney.

“I can’t tell you how many emails I have gotten at 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning, with her finishing up projects that just had to be done. She’s always been there, always ready to help.

“She’s always there to help her teammates and has always thought of the good of the county for the entire time I’ve been county attorney and she will be very missed,” Steinsnyder said.

Fagan was obviously touched by the tribute.

“I’m just totally floored. This is totally unexpected,” she said, her voice choking with emotion.

“It’s been an honor to represent Pasco County and to work with all of you all, and all the staff.

“It’s been a really positive experience.

“It has always been my goal, to give the best advice,” said Fagan, who received a standing ovation from the commissioners, county staff and those attending the meeting.

Published September 08, 2021

Pasco MPO plans to launch to three planning studies

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The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization plans to embark on three studies aimed at improving opportunities for the county to attract state and federal funding.

One will focus on Pasco County’s Freight Transportation Plan, a second will zero in on d the Zephyrhills Multiuse Path and the third will focus on the U.S. 19 corridor in West Pasco.

Carl Mikyska, executive director of Pasco MPO, described the importance of the freight study this way: “We are a county that has a number of great opportunities. I want to use that freight plan to not only improve freight access and mobility, while preserving the quality of life for our residents, I want to use it as an economic attractor tool — to grow, to develop in a manner that’s careful, but increases our tax base.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano also seized on the potential: “That spur up in Lacoochee should be a part of that study.”

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley also reiterated comments he’d made previously about the potential for the Lacoochee area.

Mikyska also talked about the need — when conducting corridor studies — to consider a variety of perspectives.

When looking at the U.S. 19 corridor, for instance, the examination must go beyond traffic and congestion, he said.

Corridor studies define the conditions of the route, what options may be available to address safety, congestion, or other mobility needs and what limitations may be present, according to the MPO board’s Aug. 12 backup materials. Examples of limitations might include environmental conditions that should be avoided and/or the need to purchase right-of-way.

Planning studies are used to determine which transportation alternatives may be advanced and which alternatives may be eliminated from further consideration. Planning-level studies of corridors also help to more carefully define anticipated improvement project costs, the backup materials say.

Besides approving the proposed corridor studies, the transportation planning board also agreed with Mikyska’s suggestion to join MetroPlan Orlando in its efforts to extend its Transportation System Management & Operations (TSM&O) system.

MetroPlan, which is the MPO organization for Orlando, has been working on its system for years and seeks to extend it from Daytona Beach, on the Atlantic Coast over to the Tampa metro region on the Gulf Coast.

The TSM&O approach involves using technology to improve the performance of the transportation system rather than through more expensive options, such as roadway widening, according to agenda backup materials.

Examples of TSM&O include dynamic message signs on the interstate warning of traffic congestion ahead, traveling in a corridor at the speed limit with consistent green signals, and cable infrastructure to assist with broadband connectivity, the agenda materials say.

The idea is to use those strategies, in a coordinated fashion, to keep traffic flowing.

The Pasco MPO board approved Mikyska’s request to participate, with the only expected cost to be the expenditure of staff time.

On another item, the MPO board approved a scope of work for a study at the intersection of State Road 52 and Adair Road.

The Pasco MPO, in cooperation with the City of Dade City and the Florida Department of Transportation has identified the need to evaluate implementation of traffic control measures at the intersection, where additional traffic is expected because of increased residential development nearby.

Federal Transportation Planning Grant Funds will be used to pay for the $29,345.01 study.

Published September 01, 2021

Rezoning would allow 400 apartments

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The Pasco County Planning Commission and the county’s planners have recommended approval of a rezoning that would allow 400 apartments on approximately 43.42 acres at the southeast corner of Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Hay Road.

Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, detailed the request at the planning board’s July 22 meeting.

The proposed multifamily project would be located between the recently approved Hay Road Townhomes project to the west and Compark 75, to the east.

“Multifamily apartment uses create a transition from the industrial uses to the townhomes,” Hernandez said.

The request is consistent with the county’s land development code and its comprehensive plan, Hernandez added.

The site is currently zoned for agricultural and light industrial uses.

In addition to the rezoning, the applicants also are requesting a variance from the county land development code requirements relating to parking and park space, Hernandez said.

The planning board and county staff recommend approval of those variance requests.

The planning board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning, with the exception of Planning Commission Roberto Saez, who was absent.

No one raised objections about the request during the public hearing.

The Pasco County Commission is expected to take final action on the land use plan amendment, which is required for the rezoning, and on the rezoning itself, during its Aug. 24 meeting, according to Joel Tew, the attorney representing the applicants.

Although the request has the support of the planning board and county staff, it has faced opposition in the past.

Commissioners were divided on the land use plan amendment, voting 3-2 to transmit the request to state officials for review.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, and Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Christina Fitzpatrick voted in favor of the transmittal, while Commissioners Mike Moore and Jack Mariano were opposed.

Moore who ultimately persuaded his colleagues to allow a six-month moratorium, which affects only his district, has urged commissioners to ease up on rezonings for multifamily developments.

If it doesn’t, Moore predicts there will be a heavy price to pay in the future, when a glut of apartment buildings leads to high vacancy rates and buildings that fall into disrepair.

Published July 28, 2021

Will planning board appointments become more political?

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Pasco County commissioners want a greater say, individually, regarding appointments to the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The issue arose at the county board’s July 6 meeting, when commissioners were set to approve two-year reappointments of planning commissioners Charles Grey, Christopher Poole, Roberto Saez and Don Anderson.

The item had been placed on the board’s consent agenda — meaning no discussion was expected and it would be approved as part of a bundle of agenda items.

But Commissioner Mike Moore pulled the item to express his desire to consider such appointments individually in the future —  instead of voting on them collectively.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, however, pushed for a bigger change.

She wants to discard the process that’s been used recently to choose the planning board.

Instead of soliciting applications and then voting on appointments as a collective county board, she called for individual commissioners to choose a planning board member to represent their district.

“I prefer to appoint someone to that (planning board),” Starkey said.

Jack Mariano supported the move.

“Commissioner Starkey, I agree 100%. I don’t have a single person from District 5 and there’s not a single person from District 1, either.”

Moore said he had no problems with what Starkey and Mariano were suggesting.

It’s similar to the process that commissioners used in the past to select members of the planning commission.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told the board that changing the selection process would require an amendment to the land development code.

Steinsnyder added: “I’ll also remind you that the reason you moved to board appointments versus commission appointments was to move forward the way most other jurisdictions do it.”

Having the entire county board select planning commissioners reduces potential for “political appointments,” Steinsnyder said.

“It is probably your most important board,” Steinsnyder said.

“That’s why I feel that the west side should be represented,” Starkey said. “They don’t have to live in a commission district. I may not find anyone who qualifies in my district,” she said. “But at least I want someone on the (planning) board who understands my district.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said he doesn’t have a problem with the current planning commission.

“I think the planning commission has been operating very well. I don’t have any feeling of not being represented on that planning commission board. They’re all our citizens,” Oakley said.

However, Oakley joined in with the rest of the commission when they approved a motion by Starkey to extend the terms of Grey, Poole, Saez and Anderson for six months.

That will allow time for new commission district lines to be drawn through redistricting.

After that, commissioners agreed they would appoint one planning commissioner each, with the full board choosing an at-large member. The school board seat on the planning board would not be affected by the change.

Planning board members who already have been reappointed to longer terms would need to be addressed separately, Moore noted.

The issue was bought up at the Pasco County Planning Commission’s meeting on July 8, by Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator.

She informed the planning board about the county board’s action.

David Goldstein, the chief assistant county attorney, said the possibility remains that the planning board’s composition could remain the same — since commissioners have the option of appointing someone who lives outside of their district.

Future vacancies, he said, will be filled by individual board members, except for the at-large seat, which will be selected by the entire board. The school board seat will not be affected.

Because the change requires an amendment to the county’s land development code and because it would not take effect until redistricting is done, it might not occur within six months, Goldstein said.

“My understanding is that there’s an issue with the census data. It’s not out yet. The redistricting has to be based on the census data.

“It may not occur in six months. It may roll into the next year. I suspect what will happen is that we may need to be going back to the board saying, ‘We need to extend another six months, or something to that effect,” Goldstein said.

Currently, there are no representatives on the planning commission from Oakley, Starkey or Mariano’s districts.

“There are three planning commission members from Christina Fitzpatrick’s district and three members from Commissioner Moore’s district,” Hernandez said.

The planning commission is a volunteer board, which provides recommendations on comprehensive land use, zoning, and land development code changes, as well as conditional use requests and operational permits. It is the final decision-making body for special exception applications.

Planning Commission Chairman Grey quipped that zoning administrator Hernandez was behind the planned change.

To which Goldstein responded: “It was not the recommendation by staff or the county attorney’s office.”

Planning board member Anderson asked: “Does that (the new process) make it more of a political appointment?”

Goldstein responded: “Yes, that was one of the reasons the county attorney’s office originally recommended that it be the decision of the entire board, so the entire board could pick the best fit from an expertise perspective, more so, versus, say, they happen to live in the district, perspective.”

Serving on the planning commission requires a certain amount of expertise in real estate, planning, development and so on, Goldstein said.

“I think the county attorney’s office, and probably the planning staff as well, thought the appointment should be based on knowledge and expertise, rather than where you live,” Goldstein said.

Published July 14, 2021

Pasco MPO board turns up heat on Port Richey

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The Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s board delivered the City of Port Richey a clear message earlier this month: Start showing up consistently or get booted from the board.

Complaints about the city’s absence at MPO meetings have been growing louder, and last month, the board asked the organization’s new executive director, Carl Mikyska, to find out if the board had the latitude to change its composition.

The Pasco MPO — which is the lead transportation planning agency for the Pasco region — is made up of the Pasco County Commission and representatives from the cities of Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he’s been voicing his concerns for years about Port Richey’s lack of attendance at the meetings. If the city isn’t going to be there, Moore has said, the seat should be filled by someone who will.

Port Richey Mayor Scott Tremblay showed up at the MPO board’s June 10 meeting to address the issue.

Pasco MPO board chairman Lance Smith welcomed him, warmly.

“I’m happy that you’re here today. We want the input of Port Richey. I feel like it’s very much needed. I think we’re all in this together,” said Smith, who represents the City of Zephyrhills.

Tremblay said he’s not sure the MPO board’s absenteeism records are accurate regarding Port Richey’s attendance. He said there have been occasions during remote meetings when the city’s vice mayor was virtually present, but wasn’t able to be recognized because his microphone was muted.

Tremblay also said he would appreciate receiving the agenda materials at least 15 days in advance of an MPO meeting, so the entire Port Richey council could have the opportunity to weigh in on issues.

He said he feels uncomfortable voting on substantive issues as just one representative of Port Richey’s five-member council. He also noted that’s not an issue for the Pasco County Commission, because the entire county board sits on the MPO board.

Tremblay also mentioned concerns that voting solo on issues involving the entire city might constitute a violation of the Port Richey city charter.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano then said: “Let me ask the city of New Port Richey, Zephyrhills and Dade City: How is your charter set up where you can actually sit here and make a decision that you think is best for your city? Do they empower you to do that, is something in your charter different than Port Richey, do you know?”

Chairman Smith responded: “I don’t even know that our charter, our particular charter, considers that. At every reorganization, we delegate responsibilities, as a body, to certain individuals to sit on different boards.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told Mariano: “Jack, every board that we sit on, I sit on TBARTA (Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority), Tampa Bay Water — I am the authorized person from my board to make that decision for the board.”

Moore said that’s the way it works all over the county. “It’s nothing new. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, agreed: “It’s done through delegated authority.”

Moore also told Tremblay that he doesn’t support the mayor’s request to get MPO agenda materials two weeks early.

“For us to make special exceptions because this is the way you want to do it, I’m sorry, that’s not how it’s going to work,” Moore said.

Goldstein also told Tremblay that he wouldn’t be at liberty to pick and choose which items he would vote on. “If you attend this meeting, you do have to vote,” Goldstein said, unless there’s a conflict of interest.

The attorney also noted that any item requiring a financial commitment from Port Richey would have to be taken back to that respective city council to authorize the expenditure.

Board chairman Smith and Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez voiced support for Port Richey’s participation.

Hernandez put it like this: “I do understand the importance and significance of the small cities being part of this board and understanding all of the transportation needs. It is important to have them on here.”

Smith told Tremblay that decisions have been made in Port Richey’s absence that have affected the city.

“So, you need to be here, to have input on it,” Smith said.

He told Tremblay: “I am looking forward to your continued attendance.”

Port Richey mayor offers assurances
The Port Richey mayor assured the MPO board: “We do want to make it clear that we do have an interest in this board. We have an interest in working not only with the county, but with the cities, especially our sister city, New Port Richey, which is right next to us. We do have some overlapping projects.”

Moore, however, expressed skepticism.

“My only fear, and I’m being honest here … is that we end up having this same discussion six months down the road, or a year down the road. People show up for a while and then they don’t show up for months.”

Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick also weighed in: “I feel it’s important for all of our municipalities to have a voice on this board, but I do also think that attendance is extremely important.

“Attendance needs to be accounted for.”

Goldstein offered this suggestion: “The MPO board has to go through reapportionment next year, after the decennial census, anyway.

“What I recommend you do is direct staff to start keeping track of attendance between now and the time that you reapportion.

“If you find that it’s (Port Richey’s attendance) a continual problem, when you reapportion next year, you can then look at eliminating that seat, or multiple seats, if you want to,” Goldstein said.

The MPO board members reached a consensus to proceed with that approach.

Published June 23, 2021

Pasco to become home to ‘Let Us Do Good Village’

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The Pasco County Commission has cleared the way for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to create a neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes devoted to recipients of mortgage-free homes for catastrophically injured veterans, for surviving widows and children of fallen military and first responders.

“The Let Us Do Good Village, which is what we are calling our development, is a community created by our foundation, which is going to bring these families together,” said Matthew Mahoney, executive vice president of the foundation, at the county board’s June 8 meeting.

It will be the first development of its type in the country, created by a foundation that began 20 years ago, in the aftermath of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The foundation is named after Stephen Siller, a firefighter who had finished his shift and was on his way home when the attacks occurred at the Twin Towers.

Instead of going home, the firefighter turned around and headed back toward Lower Manhattan.

When he wasn’t able to drive into the area because of the emergency, Mahoney said, “Stephen donned over 60 pounds of firefighting gear on his back and ran over 2 miles to the World Trade Center, ultimately losing his life that day at the South Tower.”

Siller was one of 343 firefighters who perished, of the 406 first responders lost that day, Mahoney said. He left behind five young children.

The foundation provides mortgage-free homes for recipients in its Smart Home, Fallen First Responders and Gold Star Family programs.

Typically, it either provides mortgage-free homes or pays off the mortgage, he said. By the end of this year, it will have paid off or provided 400 homes.

The Let Us Do Good Village will be created on about 75 acres, on the south side of Parkway Boulevard, about a half-mile east of Ehren Cutoff.

It will include specially adapted one-floor homes, on 100-foot-wide lots, for catastrophically injured veterans, the foundation’s Smart Home Program.

It also will provide two-story homes, on 60-foot lots, through its Fallen First Responders Program and through its Gold Star Family program.

The foundation believes that bringing these families together will help them to recover, Mahoney said.

“Their children are going to be able to grow up, where other children don’t have a dad, or other children don’t have a mom — because of their service,” the foundation executive said.

The county board’s unanimous approval came after the foundation agreed a number of concessions, which will be recorded through a deed restriction.

That deed restriction limits the development to 103 lots, said Cyndi Tarapani, a planning consultant representing the foundation.

The reduction in lots equates to an overall density of the development of about two homes per acre, she said.

The deed restriction also specifies that a 6-foot fence will be installed to separate the new neighborhood from the adjacent Panther Run and Dupree Lakes subdivisions, she said.

The development also will include a number of other amenities for its residents, including a clubhouse and neighborhood park, Tarapani added.

Mahoney said the foundation also plans to plant trees in backyards.

“We want to ensure privacy for our neighbors, and, of course, for our widows and children,” he said.

The foundation, technically, was not required to provide a deed restriction, according to the county’s legal staff.

However, neighbors in Panther Run had pushed back against the project, voicing objections based on concerns about compatibility and potential loss of privacy.

Pasco Planning Commission members also expressed misgivings about the compatibility, ultimately recommending denial of the application.

After the Planning Commission’s action, the foundation agreed to include additional concessions in its deed restriction — including reducing the number of lots on the Panther Run border, making most of those lots 100-feet wide and developing most of them with single-story homes.

“The foundation has made significant commitments along that common border with Panther Run to address their concerns. We believe we’ve gone above and beyond, in our efforts, to be good neighbors,” Tarapani said.

In general, some neighbors still voiced concerns about privacy issues and the intensity of the underlying zoning for the project.

But fewer residents expressed objections during the county board meeting than did at the planning commission meeting.

Panther Run resident Shelby Carrero, of 6448 Paw Place, thanked county commissioners for meeting with her to discuss the issue. She also thanked Tunnel to Towers Foundation for working with the neighbors.

“I think that we have finally come up with a compromise on both sides,” Carrero said.

Like many of the new development’s future neighbors, she supports the foundation’s work.

“I greatly, greatly appreciate that,” she said.

She’s also looking forward to the new community which the foundation will build.

“I think we couldn’t ask for better neighbors,” she said, adding, “we are excited to see what they are going to do.”

Pasco County Commissioners also expressed enthusiasm for the planned “Let Us Do Good Village.”

“I thank you for coming before the board with such a great project,” County Commissioner Jack Mariano said.

He also expressed appreciation to the foundation, for listening to the neighbors.

“I think you’re making yourself fit in real well,” Mariano said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley agreed: “You’ve all done a good job in answering the public  — the neighbors of that project.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey put it like this: “I’m  very proud that we’re going to have this in our county.”

Published June 16, 2021

New 122-house subdivision approved off Old Pasco Road

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning that will allow a new 122-home subdivision off Old Pasco Road, after delaying the request last month.

Commissioners approved the request from Life Church, LLC, with conditions, including a requirement for a 1.2-acre neighborhood park and that a tree be planted in front of every home in the development. Commissioners disagreed with a recommendation by the Pasco County Planning Commission that would have required fencing near retention ponds in the development.

Instead, that fencing would only be necessary if the ponds fail to meet sloping requirements and thus trigger the land development code’s requirement for fencing.

The county board’s decision came after a delay last month based on concerns regarding the timeline for construction of the widening of Old Pasco Road.

Commissioners also wanted to know about trail and sidewalk plans along that portion of the Old Pasco Road widening project.

Tammy Snyder, of the county’s planning and development department, told commissioners that design work for the portion of Old Pasco Road near the subdivision is set to be done this summer with construction of the road widening expected by the end of 2023.

Snyder said that the road widening also includes a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on one side of the road, a 12-foot-wide multi-use path on the other side of the road and a bike lane on each side of the road.

Commissioner Mike Moore said that timing of the road widening seems to nearly coincide with the development of the subdivision.

The applicant previously had requested a reduction in the size of the subdivision’s neighborhood park, which planners had recommended.

But Commissioner Jack Mariano objected to the reduction during the last meeting and the applicant dropped that request.

The tree requirement was added at the board’s June 8 meeting, at the urging of Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“For me to approve this project, it’s going to require a tree in front of every house. Not in the back. Not a queen palm,” she said.

Starkey said will continue to seek the tree condition on every master planned development until the county fixes its landscape ordinance.

“Right now, we can put the tree in the backyard,” she said.

She wants the county’s ordinance to require a shade tree in front of every house in every new master plan zoning approved by the board.

One woman spoke, on behalf of her son, during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

Her son lives behind the development site.

The woman told commissioners that the road is packed with school buses, dump trucks and cars every day. She also showed video she took near the subject rezoning.

But information provided to the commissioners about the timing of the widening of that portion of Old Pasco Road seemed to alleviate their concerns about adding another subdivision along the road.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to grant the request.

Published June 16, 2021

Pasco board moves ahead on jail expansion funding

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The Pasco County Commission has authorized county staff to secure funding from the county’s general obligation bonds to pay for expansion of the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center.

The expansion is funded through general obligation bonds that Pasco voters approved in November 2018. The board unanimously authorized an amount of nearly $108 million of those funds to pay for the work.

The project will add 1,000 new beds, plus major upgrades to the jail’s central services, including medical, laundry, kitchen, intake and administrative facilities to meet a larger capacity.

At completion, the 352,700-foot-facility will be about 200,000 square feet larger.

The current facility has 1,432 beds, but is operating above capacity.

Completion of the expansion will allow the facility, at 20101 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, to house more than 3,000 inmates.

Commissioner Jack Mariano requested an update on the project for the board and County Administrator Dan Biles said he would schedule a presentation sometime in July or August.

On another matter, the board agreed to amend an ordinance, at the county administrator’s request, to permit greater flexibility in how the county spends it transportation tax increment funds.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein told the board the proposed change would allow the funds to be transferred to the general fund for other public facilities and services — to the extent they’re not needed for mobility fee subsidies.

“The exact amount of this transfer will be determined yearly, as part of the budget process,” Goldstein said.

The change also will apply to the Villages of Pasadena Hills, which has its own tax increment financing district. Those funds also had been restricted to transportation-only related costs, Goldstein said.

No one from the public spoke either for, or against, the change.

In another item, the board appointed members to the Northeast Pasco Rural Advisory Committee.

The county’s planning and development department sought applicants for the 13-member volunteer board and received 22 applications.

The committee’s task will be to  evaluate policies and regulations related to the Northeast Pasco Rural Protection Overlay District, and to recommend commercial development design standards and guidelines to the Pasco County Commission.

The northeast rural area is bordered by Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, the Green Swamp, State Road 52 and the Hernando County line.

Those appointed to the committee are:

  • Area residents: Nancy Hazelwood, Anthony Midthun, Lisa Moretti, Mary Kaye Harrison and Diana Hughes Diaz
  • Area business owners: Craig Linton Jr., James N. Hancock, Paul Boetcher, Frank Greco and Ronnie L. Deese
  • Land-use attorney: G. Randall (Randy) James
  • At-large members: Cyndi Tarapani and Chris Williams

The board, at the suggestion of Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, also appointed Seth Weightman, one of the applicants, to serve as an alternate.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, whose district includes the area, said “the staff did a good job of selecting the 13 out of the 22.”

With Northeast Pasco’s growth, the board will be able to address issues regarding the need for workforce housing and other issues, he said.

Oakley said the board will provide an avenue for input.

“People will be able to voice their opinion,” the commission chairman said.

Advisory committee members will serve until a final recommendation is made to the county board and then the committee will disband.

On another issue, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said she would like to pursue a board workshop on the issue of the county’s vacation rentals ordinance.

She said she knows that opinions are divided on the issue, but she thinks something must be done regarding the county’s current ordinance — which she said is not working.

It is not yet known whether a workshop will be held.

In other action, the board:

  • Authorized the acquisition of 7.41 acres on State Road 54 for what will become Fire Station No. 5, and will serve central Wesley Chapel and communities within a 5-mile radius. A market value appraisal was completed on Feb. 8, using a sales comparison approach and it came in at about $3.1 million. The parcel is vacant and is zoned for commercial uses. The county’s purchase price is $2,450,000.
  • Approved a task order with Fleishman and Garcia Architects and Planners, AIA, PA (FGA) to perform architectural, engineering and related services for the design and construction of Fire Station No. 18 on Chancey Road in Zephyrhills in an amount not to exceed $261,230 for fiscal year 2021.
  • Accepted the donation of an electronic varsity scoreboard from the Dade City Little League, Inc. for John S. Burks Memorial Park. The 8-foot-by-4-foot LED scoreboard with wireless remote control, is valued at $3,090. It will be used for baseball games.

Published June 16, 2021