The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

State Road 54

Food pantries are feeling the pinch

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Drivers wait patiently as cars inch their way toward the pickup point for the drive-thru food pantry at  Atonement Lutheran Church, at 29617 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

Volunteers box the items and place them into a waiting vehicle’s trunk or back seat.

Another group of volunteers is inside the church, wheeling steel grocery carts around tables, “shopping” for food items to fill the food boxes.

They load up their carts with fresh produce, meat, beverages, bread, snacks and desserts to provide a source of food for people who are in need.

Carla Haberland is the ‘temporary’ volunteer director for Atonement Lutheran Church’s food pantry. She stepped into the temporary role 13 years ago and has been at it ever since. (B.C. Manion)

The church helps to feed the hungry every Wednesday, said Carla Haberland, who oversees the operation.

She became the “temporary, volunteer director” when the pantry began its weekly giveaways 13 years ago.

She’s witnessing a great need among the people who are dropping by to pick up food boxes.

“We’re getting a lot of families back that hadn’t been for a long time because of the food and gas (prices), Haberland said.

“We’re getting families where maybe before they would come once a month, but maybe now they’re finding they’ve got to come twice a month,” she added.

Scott Lindner, Atonement’s pastor, put it this way: “People are struggling. People that have never struggled before. Rent is an issue for people. It’s gas. It’s groceries. It’s hitting them from all sides.”

On the morning of Aug. 3, within a 45-minute period, 145 families registered to pick up food, Haberland said. “They were backed to (State Road) 54,” Haberland said.

And that was just during the rush.

Vehicles of varied makes and models continued streaming into the church’s parking lot, making way down the driveway line, throughout the pantry’s hours.

The pantry is open each Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Before COVID-19, people would come inside the church, to do their own shopping, Haberland said. They would pick up an allotted number of items, based on the size of their household.

That all changed when the pandemic hit.

Instead of coming inside, everyone now drives through to pick up food boxes.

The drive-thru approach is faster for recipients; the old lines used to take hours.

The church also has experienced a notable uptick in pantry business.

When the shopping was done indoors, the church provided food supplies to about 200 people every week.

Since COVID, that number has soared to between 375 and 400 families each week, Haberland said.

The pantry could use some help, too
“The community is great in donations, but it’s hard keeping up every week,” Haberland said.

“We do get some (donations) from Feeding Tampa Bay,” but she noted, “their supplies have been going down.”

Donations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are down, too, Haberland said.

When the pantry closed out its records at the end of June, it had 1,413 registered families. It began a new year on July 1 and by Aug. 3, it already has registered 610 families, she said. By comparison, at the same time last year, it had registered 389.

Volunteer Greg Gehring is cheerful, as he loads boxes of food into trunks, during a recent pantry day at Atonement Lutheran Church.

Haberland said the program relies on donations it receives and the commitment of volunteers.

Although food is distributed just one day, it’s a five-day operation, including picking up food donations, accepting donation deliveries, sorting food and so forth.

Its volunteers range from some in their upper-80s to high-schoolers.

About 50 people pitch in, in some form or fashion, but the pantry can always use more help, Haberland said.

It’s especially in need of strong people with good backs, Haberland said.

People who want to help don’t have to put in tons of hours, but they need to know there’s physical work involved — standing, walking, lifting and loading — so would-be helpers should keep that in mind, she said.

Those who pitch in said it’s gratifying work.

“There are so many people who need help and I’m able to help,” said Barb Packer, a volunteer in the program for nine years. Before moving to Florida she was involved in food banks for 20 years.

“Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep,’ and that’s what I keep doing,” Packer said.

It goes beyond providing food, she said, noting, there’s also a sense of connection.

“Everybody’s got a story and they want to share it. We have people who are still unemployed, unable to find work,” she said.

People may wonder why that would be true, with so many “Help Wanted” signs all around, but Packer explained that some people can’t find work because of something that’s in their past.

She notices the families that struggle during the summer to feed their children, and the seniors who would feed their pets before feeding themselves.

A look at some of the drivers lined up to pick up boxes of food at Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

She’s also aware that some people have unique needs.

“One gentleman, he stays at a rest stop out at (Interstate) 75, so we pack his stuff separately because he has no way to keep things cool or cook,” Packer said.

Some recipients are forced to make difficult choices.

For instance, Packer said, they may have to decide: “Do I get the laundry detergent or do I get food for my kids?”

If some laundry detergent comes in, it can go to help someone with that need, she said.

“I feel for them,” Packer said. “Everybody tells them ‘No.’ There’s so many ‘No’s in their life. So, if we can give joy to them at least while they’re here, they go out with a smile.”

Volunteer Cheryl Ohls, who lives in Wesley Chapel, said she’s happy she can help out.

“I love it here,” said Ohls, who is a member of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club.

There are numerous food pantries in The Laker/Lutz coverage area (see accompanying box).

In general, they aim to make life easier for those in need.

Christian Social Services, at 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, provides bags of grocery from its pantry on Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The amount of groceries provided depends on the size of the family, said Jacquie Petet, executive director of the thrift store and food pantry, which operates out of large red building, off U.S. 41.

She noted that the pantry itself could use some donations of canned foods and other nonperishable items.

Over the years, the pantry has received donations from The Letter Carrier Food Drives to help stock its shelves.

“This year, we got maybe less than half,” she said.

Besides food, the pantry also could use brown paper grocery bags, like the ones used at supermarkets, such as Publix, she said.

The pantry would be happy to accept recycled paper bags.

That way, it won’t have to buy them and can instead use that money for food, Petet said.

Pantry List
Note: Before heading to a pantry, call ahead to verify that it remains open and its current days/times of operation. Also, if you want to help, touch base with individual pantries, to see what they need.

LAND O’ LAKES

  • Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry, 21418 Carson Drive, Land O’ Lakes, 813-846-9993: Free grocery shopping for military, first responders and essential workers. The pantry is open on Tuesdays, from noon to 2 p.m. ID is required
  • Christian Social Services and Thrift Store, 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, 813-995-0088. Pantry open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, Lutz, 813-948-4522. The first Wednesday of the month and third Saturday of the month, from 10 a.m. to noon.
  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes, 813-949-4565. Call the church for details regarding its food pantry.

WESLEY CHAPEL

  • Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, 813-973-2211. Drive-thru food pantry is open on Wednesdays, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
  • Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood St., Wesley Chapel, 813-994-0685. Call for pantry operating hours.

DADE CITY

  • Pasadena Baptist Church, 3548 Clinton Ave., Dade City, 352-521-0545. Food pantry: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • DayStar Hope Center, 15512 U.S. 301, Dade City, 352-523-0844. Pantry operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

ZEPHYRHILLS

  • First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills, 813-782-7412. Hot takeout meals, Mondays and Fridays, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Food pantry, Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 5316 11th St., Zephyrhills, 813-782-2813. Food and baby pantry, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Farmworker’s Self-Help, 37240 Lock St., Dade City, 352-567-1432. Call for information.
  • Neighborhood Care Center, 5140 Sixth St., in Zephyrhills, 813-780-6822. Call for information.
  • Food Pantry at Emmanuel Ministries, 12639 Candlewood Drive, in Dade City, 813-713-0305. Call for information.

NORTH TAMPA

  • St. Mark the Evangelist Church, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, 813-907-7746. Call for information.

MOBILE PANTRIES

  • Make a Difference mobile food pantry, 12311 U.S. 301, Dade City, 352-437-3466. Conducts food distributions, either through pre-packed boxes or farmer’s market style. Call for information.

Published August 10, 2022

Plans call for a trade school, or nursing school, on State Road 54

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a zoning modification that would allow a new technical, trade or nursing school on 22.16 acres, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

The proposed development is located northeast of the State Road 54/Aprile Drive intersection, about 1,490 feet east of Ballantrae Boulevard.

The applicant, Colwell Avenue Properties IV LLC, is seeking to add a school that would be a maximum of 60,000 square feet on a parcel in the previously approved Concord Station master-planned unit development. The school would be converting existing office entitlements to a new use.

Concord Station had never developed the subject parcel, then the MPUD for the development expired, according to materials in the planning board’s agenda backup.

There is a cooperative funding agreement between the applicant and Pasco County that was approved by the Pasco County Commission on Oct. 18, 2019.

A condition of approval has been added to address the proposed ‘school’ use and, in keeping with the cooperative funding agreement, restricting it to technical/trade/nursing educational facilities that directly support high-paying job generation and labor force training for target industries.

Planners recommended approval of the request, which was part of the planning board’s consent agenda.

No one appeared from the public to speak for or against the request, which was approved unanimously by the planning board during its Aug. 4 meeting.

The application now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over land use and zoning issues.

Published August 10, 2022

Gearing up for the new school year

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As students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area head off to school for the 2022-2023 academic year, those arriving at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will be helping to usher in the new school’s traditions.

Kirkland Ranch, at 32555 Innovation Drive in Wesley Chapel, is a magnet school that will specialize in preparing students in career fields and technical trades such as automotive maintenance and repair, including diesel; biomedical sciences; building trades and construction technology; cybersecurity; digital media and multimedia design; engineering and robotics; welding; electricity; and, patient care technology.

Students at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52, in St. Leo, will have an opportunity to learn in the school’s new robotics and artificial intelligence lab, on the first floor of Kirk Hall.

Dr. Monika Kiss explains some of the features of Saint Leo University’s new Robotics and AI Lab. (Courtesy of Chad Gonzalez/University of Saint Leo)

The lab is part of the university’s new School of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS), which brings together several popular areas of study and degree.

At Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, 33347 State Road 54, a new middle school building will help to accommodate students at the growing charter school.

Those are just a few changes that await, as a new academic year gets into full swing soon.

The first day of school for students is Aug. 10 in Pasco and Hillsborough public schools.

The beginning of the school year varies for private schools, Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University and the University of South Florida, as well as for home-schooled and online students.

Typically, the beginning of the school year means that families are doing some shopping, or taking advantage of school supply giveaways.

For those still needing to shop, the Florida Back-to-School sales tax holiday remains in effect through Aug. 7. In general, the tax holiday means no taxes are due on the retail sale of:

  • Clothing, footwear and some accessories (selling for $100 or less per item)
  • Certain school supplies(selling for $50 or less per item)
  • Learning aids (selling for $30 or less per item)
  • Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories for personal use (selling for $1,500 or less)

Public school students in Lutz and Odessa attend schools in either Hillsborough or Pasco, depending whether they live north or south of the county line. Some Hillsborough students also attend Hillsborough schools in New Tampa.

Students in Central Pasco attend schools in Odessa, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, while those in East Pasco attend schools in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, St. Leo and San Antonio.

There’s some overlap between communities, since the shapes of school zones vary and there are magnet schools that draw students from beyond traditional boundaries.

As the school year kicks in, the impact on area traffic will be noticeable, as students, teachers, cafeteria workers, assistant principals, principals and other staff members make their way to their respective campuses.

And before heading back, it’s a good idea for students and parents to do a little homework to find out more about what to expect in the coming school year.

School websites often offer a wealth of useful information about school rules and expectations, how to sign up for various activities, fees that are due, and so forth.

Be sure to check the Twitter and Facebook social media channels for individual schools and your school district, too, to see if there’s any current news that’s helpful to you.

For instance, those following the Pasco County Schools’ website would know that the federal government is ending free meals it had been providing for all because of COVID-19 relief funding.

Some students will qualify for free or reduced price meals. But here are this year’s charges for paid and reduced price meals.

Elementary: Breakfast: $1.60 paid, 0.30 reduced; lunch, $3 paid, 0.40 reduced

Middle: Breakfast: $1.75 paid, 0.30 reduced; lunch, $3 paid; 0.40 reduced

High: Breakfast: $1.75 paid,  0.30 reduced; lunch, $3.75 paid; 0.40 reduced.

As the new school year begins, both Pasco and Hillsborough public schools continue to work to fill staff vacancies.

The school boards in both districts also are urging voters to approve a tax increase that they say will help them to attract and retain quality staff.

In Pasco, the ballot question asks for a yes or no vote on whether to levy an additional tax, not to exceed 1 mil, beginning July 1, 2023 and ending no later than June 30, 2027.

The proceeds, according to the ballot question, will be used “for essential operating expenses to maintain salaries competitive with the market, attract and retain high-quality teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative school support employees.”

In Hillsborough, the tax increase also would last four years, unless extended by voters, according to the district’s website.

At least 75% of the proceeds would go for increased compensation for teachers, counselors, media specialists , bus drivers and transportation assistants, classroom assistants, and other non-instructional support staff.

Hillsborough also would use proceeds to protect and expand art, music, physical education and workforce education.

Voters will decide the outcome of the ballot initiative, in their respective county, during the Aug. 23 Primary Election.

Published August 03, 2022

Upgrades to Simons Road to start

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Zephyrhills Public Works plans to begin Phase II of the Simons Road project on July 25, with expected completion of the construction within about 240 calendar days, according to Shane LeBlanc, public works director for the city.

Aerial map view of the Simons Road Project, showing the new intersection that will be created at Fort King Road. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills Public Works)

The Phase II project includes a new road section, box culverts, and gravity walls. The project also includes sidewalks and turn lanes on Fort King Road.

When the work is finished, Simons Road will connect to both Eiland Boulevard and Fort King Road, offering motorists an additional route to State Roads 54 and 56 and Interstate 75.

Connecting Simons Road to Fort King Road — essentially creating a new intersection — consists of about 800 feet of pavement and costs about $2.2 million.

The project includes the installation of a traffic signal at Eiland Boulevard and Simons Road, which the city said is greatly needed because of increased traffic in the area.

Use of Simons Road has increased dramatically because of the opening of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center, and Abbott Square (a Lennar Homes development behind the tennis center).

The community is expected to add about 700 residential units of single-family houses, townhouses and apartments.

BRW Contracting Inc. constructed Phase I and also is constructing Phase II. The contractor’s familiarity with the previous project is expected to be beneficial in the construction of the second phase of the project.

Published June 20, 2022

New schools being planned in Pasco

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Pasco County is on the grow and the public school district is planning to increase its capacity.

The Pasco County School Board recently approved the district’s five-year school plant survey, which includes existing conditions and recommended plans.

Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, slated to open this fall, is one of the new schools on the list.

It’s a magnet school that will specialize in preparing students in career fields and technical trades such as automotive maintenance and repair, including diesel; biomedical sciences; building trades and construction technology; cybersecurity; digital media and multimedia design; engineering and robotics; welding; electricity; and, patient care technology.

Kirkland Academy of Innovation is a magnet school that will open in the fall in Wesley Chapel. It will feature a curriculum that allows students to earn a standard diploma, while having the opportunity to earn industry certifications in an array of technical fields. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Students attending the new high school are primarily coming from Wesley Chapel High, Pasco High, Zephyrhills, some from Wiregrass Ranch, and some from Cypress Creek, according to Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district.

Kirkland Ranch K-8, another school on the list, is expected to begin construction soon.

“As soon as they’re done with the Academy of Innovation, they’re moving to the back of this property. That’s going to be a magnet. Similarly, we expect that to have impact on primarily the east side. Weightman, John Long, Centennial (middle schools),” Williams said.

The elementary school students primarily will come from “Watergrass, Wesley Chapel, San Antonio, and even farther out, Double Branch, Seven Oaks, Wiregrass, that whole region,” he said.

The school plant survey also includes a number of other projects that are either planned soon, or are on a longer horizon.

A 6-12 STEM magnet school, in the emerging community of Angeline in Land O’ Lakes, is a four-story building under construction near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco Campus.

The school is expected to open in the fall of 2023, and the school district is delighted by the partnerships it anticipates with Moffitt.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity we’ll have for our students there,” Williams said.

That school also will be the district’s tallest school, the planning director said, noting there is no other four-story school in the system.

A new traditional K-8 is planned on the south side of State Road 54, across the road from the Ballantrae subdivision. The school will be built behind a Ballantrae office complex.

This magnet school, for students in grades six through 12, is expected to open in the fall of 2023. It will feature partnerships with Moffitt Cancer Center, which plans to create its Pasco County campus nearby. It also will be the tallest school in the Pasco County system.

Other plans call for a school campus in the new Two Rivers development off State Road 56, near Morris Bridge Road.

A site has been identified for the campus, but the school district hasn’t purchased it yet, Williams said. The site likely will be co-located with a regional park.

“We have done some preliminary thinking of how that might look. Because we’re going to have a whole campus there, probably K-8 and a high school, along with the park,” he said.

It’s not clear yet whether there will be a joint-use library, although it’s a possibility, he said.

“What are we going to be sharing? Certainly, we’ll be sharing the (athletic)  fields and the parking,” Williams said.

The planning director noted that projects listed in the district’s five-year plan are subject to change because available funding will be influenced by the collection of impact fees, whether the extension of the Penny for Pasco infrastructure surtax is approved by voters, local capital millage funds, and the overall economy.

If there’s a recession, for instance, there will be less construction activity and fewer revenues collected through impact fees.

Also, voters will decide in November whether to extend the Penny for Pasco surtax for 15 additional years.

That being said, a number of  other projects within the Laker/Lutz News coverage area are on the five-year list:

• Starkey Ranch K-8: Expansion for 400 student stations
Work is starting on that immediately, Williams said. When the district opened the school, it knew that the Starkey Ranch development would grow, but it turned out that the magnet school also attracted students who had been attending private schools and charter schools, Williams said.

• West Zephyrhills Elementary: Expansion for 400 student stations
If Penny for Pasco passes, the remodeling of West Zephyrhills Elementary will likely be one of the first projects that’s completed, Williams said. That project would include additional capacity.

• Pasco Senior High: Expansion for 400 student stations
When the first Penny for Pasco passed, the district did a significant project at Pasco Senior High, Williams said. That work did not include substantial work in the cafeteria or kitchen.

The conceptual plan for this project calls for tearing down the one-story building and constructing a two-story structure. The first floor would contain a kitchen and larger cafeteria. The second floor would be classrooms, Williams said. The media center likely would be remodeled, too, he said.

In addition to district projects, Williams said there’s also an expectation of some charter school expansions, as well as some new charter schools that will come online in the next few years.

Long-term school plans
These Pasco County school district projects are possibilities within the next 10 years:
• Classroom wing at these schools: Wiregrass Ranch High; Centennial Middle; and, Chester Taylor and West Zephyrhills elementary schools
• New K-8 school: Villages of Pasadena Hills and in Two Rivers
• New high schools in Bexley Ranch and in Odessa area

Source: Pasco County Schools

Published July 13, 2022

Avalon Park West invites community to celebration

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A groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of Downtown Avalon Park West is set for this week, and the community is invited to attend the festivities.

The event will be on July 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the construction site, 33613 State Road  54, in Wesley Chapel.

The event will include refreshments and performances provided for the guests’ enjoyment, according to an Avalon Park West newsletter, which was emailed to The Laker/Lutz News.

Performances will be provided by community partners Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council, the newsletter says.

Avalon Park Group/sitEX has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Lema Construction to begin building the first phase of the downtown area of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Terms of the agreement, described in the newsletter, call for a 73,067-square-foot building, which will have a mixture of uses. Plans call for 40 multifamily apartments, with 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor.

Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include a food hall of approximately 12,000 square feet, which will be called the Marketplace at Avalon Park.

Plans also include the fourth location of the globally connected coworking space, The 5th Floor. The newsletter also notes that both concepts have been successful since opening in 2021 at the flagship Avalon Park Orlando.

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” Beat Kahli, CEO, Avalon Park Group/sitEX, said in the article.

“And, while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel,” he added.

A 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July celebrations, as well as community partners including Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who already host events and activities in the community, the posting notes.

Both the park and mixed-used building are scheduled for completion in late 2023.

Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown.

Initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2018 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School.

Pinecrest also is now under the construction of its second phase, which includes the addition of approximately 600 student stations for sixth-graders through eighth-graders, according to the newsletter.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or email .

Published July 13, 2022

Spend Your July 4 with Avalon Park Wesley Chapel!

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July 4th is right around the corner, and Avalon Park Wesley Chapel – a premier master-planned community in Pasco County – is inviting the public to its annual 4th of July Celebration! The event kicks off at 5 p.m., and will end with an extraordinary fireworks display at 9 p.m.

This fun-for-all-ages event will include community performances, food trucks, a bike parade and patriotic bake-off, bounce houses, and numerous exhibitors and vendors.

“If you have not yet visited Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, our 4th of July celebration is a great way to experience the fun, family atmosphere we offer every day of the year,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel would like to thank its Title Sponsor, Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel. Stop by and see a sample of its showroom at the event!

In The Pocket

Groundbreaking Ceremony Around The Corner
The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s first phase of its downtown area. The ceremony will be on July 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the construction site, 33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543. Refreshments will be provided, and guests can enjoy performances and entertainment by community partners, Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council.

Featured musical performers for the groundbreaking ceremony will include In The Pocket –  a group of musicians, all are from the Tampa area, that plays an assortment of genres ranging from Jazz, Latin, Funk, and Hiphop/R&B – as well as Frankie Brown, a Tampa native who recently graduated from Miles College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.

Shawn Rainey

Artist Shawn Rainey, known as Fabstraq, also will be at the event showcasing his one-of-a-kind abstract pieces known for their vibrant colors.

The downtown area’s three-story, 73,067-square-foot mixed-use building plans to include 40 multi-family apartments and 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include an approximately 12,000-square-foot food hall called the Marketplace at Avalon Park and the fourth location of the globally connected co-working space, The 5th Floor.

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” says Beat Kahli, CEO of Avalon Park Group. “And while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.”

Frankie Brown

Additionally, a 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July, as well as community partners like Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who already are hosting events and activities. Construction of both the park and mixed-use building is scheduled for completion in late 2023.

“We have been working with Pasco County over the past several years to develop a program that will be a win-win for the entire Wesley Chapel community,” Kahli says. “Community partnerships are vital to our mission to change the way the world lives, learns, works and plays, by creating a place where everyone can feel like they belong.”

Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown. The initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2018 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School. Pinecrest also is now under construction of its second phase, which includes the addition of approximately 600 sixth-eighth grade student stations.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, please visit online at AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or email .

Published June 29, 2022

Budget discussions begin in Pasco

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A Pasco County budget workshop provided a preliminary look at the upcoming fiscal year, but County Administrator Dan Biles told the county board he’s holding off on any recommended initiatives until he has more numbers.

“We do not have the preliminary assessed values yet from the property appraiser,” Biles told the county board at a May 24 workshop. So, he told the board, the workshop would focus on “trends and what it looks like going forward.”

Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director, told the board that the scenario the county is working with is based on the taxable assessed values increasing at a rate of 10.8%, the same rate as last year.

Goehig noted that’s “not a crazy assumption, given the amount of construction going on in the county.”

Based on the 10.8% rate, revenues would increase by about $27.2 million, of which 40% — or about $10.9 million — would be allocated to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the budget director said.

“After that, if we deduct the payments to the taxable increment finance trust fund and for the Community Redevelopment Agencies, that’s $3.63 million.

“That leaves $12.7 million or so for the board to spend on new initiatives,” the budget director said.

The county’s Fire Municipal Services Tax Unit is expected to yield 12.6% in additional revenues, which will provide $7.3 million in additional revenues for initiatives.

Goehig also outlined a number of fire rescue enhancements under consideration. They include:

  • Rescue 223 in Land O’ Lakes, at State Road 54 and U.S. 41
  • Rescue 226 in Wesley Chapel
  • Two peak-hour rescue units to reduce rescue response times
  • 25 additional full-time equivalent positions
  • New furniture and equipment for fire stations

The workshop also covered some proposed 2023 capital expenditures. Those include building renovations, information technology hardware and software, athletic field renovations, drainage improvements, park maintenance, and the renovation of the tax collector’s office at the West Pasco Government Center, among other things.

The county has received 140 business plan initiatives from department directors, but Biles said he won’t be making any recommendations on those until he has more information from the property appraiser’s office, which is expected June 1.

Biles said once that information is available, he will have individual sessions with board members to discuss potential budget items. If the board wants additional group discussion on the budget, time can be set aside at a June meeting, he said.

Goehig said there are some expenses the county must cover in fiscal year 2023.

For instance, the cost of fuel has gone up. Last year, the county budgeted it at $2.65 a gallon. This year, the county is budgeting it at $3.65 a gallon. It would budget more, but the county doesn’t pay taxes on fuel, Goehig said.

The county also is feeling the impacts of inflation, which is currently at about 8.5%, Goehig said.

“That is really hitting our departments that rely heavily on building, vehicles and IT (information technology). So, those costs continue to escalate,” the budget director said.

He also noted that the county has a compensation and classification study underway, which will result in recommended salary adjustments.

That state is increasing salaries by 5.38, Biles said.

“So, we kind of set that as a floor. We want to at least be equivalent to what the state gave state employees,” he said.

The county salary study is expected to be completed in mid-July.

That study will base adjustments based on what employees do and the market rate.

“I expect the average to be over 5.3, probably somewhere under 7,” Biles said, referring to expected percentages of wage increases.

The county also must cover increased costs for employee retirement contributions, Goehig said.

Some departments will be faced with rising costs.

For instance, Goehig expects Fire/Rescue to experience a 13.3% increase, largely because of fuel costs and equipment maintenance expenses.

Information technology is expected to face a 6.4% increase, due to increases in software contracts and inflationary impact on hardware, he said.

The county also is facing increased costs for outside spending, including an expected 7.5% increase for Medicaid, which is a state-imposed cost on the county, Goehig said.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told her colleagues the county needs to find a way to increase funding for public safety.

“We all love Pasco County. It’s very inexpensive to live here. That comes at a price. And, at what point do we have a responsibility to fund fire and safety at a higher level. I just want you to think about that,” she told her colleagues.

The county board is expected to set to adopt the Truth in Millage tax rate at its July 12 meeting. This is the process used to inform property owners what the maximum ad valorem millage rate is that could be adopted by the board in September. The board cannot adopt a higher rate than the one it specifies in July, but it can reduce it.

Pasco County Budget
Preliminary budget recommendations from County Administrator Dan Biles, include:

  • No increase in the operating millage rate of 7.6076
  • No increase in the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit millage rate of 1.8036
  • No change to the stormwater assessment (The combined rate of that is about 2.7%)
  • Increased water and wastewater rates, in accordance with the four-year rate resolution

Published June 01, 2022

Board is pushing for faster progress on emergency response times

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The Pasco County Commission is turning up the heat on its administration’s efforts to improve response times for the county’s emergency crews.

During a recent budget workshop, board members wanted to know why it isn’t possible to bring fire stations online quicker than is currently planned.

The questions surfaced during the board’s May 24 budget workshop.

The discussion came after repeated appearances at board meetings by members of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 4420, representing Pasco’s firefighters, who have complained that they aren’t able to respond to emergencies fast enough.

They said the delays pose a risk to Pasco residents, who need medical attention and to properties that are in danger of destruction.

During the budget discussion, Robert Goehig the county’s budget director, updated the county board on progress regarding fire stations being built through the general obligation bonds approved by voters.

Fire Station 17 is under construction at 2951 Seven Springs Blvd., in New Port Richey, and Fire Station 9 is being built in Land O’ Lakes.

Fire Station 3, which will be located in Beacon Woods, is expected to be put out for bid in the next few weeks, Goehig said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano wanted to know why more progress hadn’t already been made on Beacon Woods, given the fact the county has owned the property for several years.

Commissioner Mike Moore asked: “What can we do, when it comes to purchasing, to prioritize? I know obviously, when you’re moving something up, something else pops down.

“But we’re talking about public safety. Obviously, that should take priority.

“So, what can we do?”

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the county attorney’s office prioritizes its legal work based on the county administrator’s priority list.

“Fire Station No. 3 is No. 4 on the current ranking,” Steinsnyder said.

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick responded: “It’s needed now. It’s imperative.”

County Administrator Dan Biles responded: “I want to remind the board that before we even took the bond to the voters in 2018, we outlined a phasing program for all nine fire stations.

“We phased the building so that when they come online, we have the funding to operate them.

“If you build them too early, you don’t have the funding to operate them,” Biles said.

“So, right now, (Stations) two and four, we don’t have the funds in ’23 to actually operate them, if they opened in ’23.”

He said the phasing was requested by the board, to ensure the county would have funding for operations.

“So, that’s what we’ve done,” Biles said.

Growth prompts need for faster action
Commissioner Mariano said the decision that was made at that time made sense.

“However, with the surge of growth that’s out there right now, with the extended times that people are taking to get service, I think it’s time we need to re-look at it, and make an adjustment.”

Mariano said he doesn’t understand why it would take so long for architectural work related to the buildings, since they can be essentially the same buildings.

Biles said each building has to be individually sited to make sure the footprint of the building fits on the site.

“You have to do the civil work and adapt it to the site, because every site is different. Every site has different site constraints, different access points. All of that stuff is different for every site,” Biles said.

Biles told the board a proposed “peak-hour rescue program” can be initiated to help reduce the response time for rescue calls.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey asked about the possibility of adding private rescue companies.

“If our dilemma right now is not having enough rescue, we can contract out, temporarily, until we have more of our own. It’s our same firefighters that are working for those companies that are manning that could be available, parked around the county that could help us.

“Right now, I think they just do transport, but I’ve been told they can do rescue,” she said.

Biles responded: “There are different classifications of transport and we allow the privates to do a certain level of that. We don’t allow them to do the initial emergency response.”

The county administrator said part of the problem stems from neighborhoods springing up in areas that are not close to fire stations. Another problem is that the county went a considerable number of years without adding any fire stations.

“We went over a decade without building a new fire station,” he said.

Meanwhile, “we added 100,000 people in Pasco County and we didn’t build a fire station.”

Biles noted that the corridors of U.S. 19, State Road 54 and U.S. 301 are where the peak-hour calls are happening.

The county has existing facilities in those corridors, Biles added. “So, it’s put the peak-hour rescue units in, the facilities that we have and let them be mobile.

“Every new fire station is going to help, but the issue right now is the peak call volume. So, the peak-hour rescue program that we’re already working to stand up, is the right way to attack it,” Biles said.

Commissioner Moore asked Steinsnyder if the county could pursue a Municipal Services Taxing Unit to attempt to force new growth to pay for itself.

Steinsnyder said he’s not aware of any government entity that has crafted that approach and he’s certain it would hold up, legally.

But the attorney did note that impact fees for capital fire projects have not been increased in numerous years.

Published 06/01/2022

Wesley Chapel Boulevard widening projects are a step closer

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a state-funded incentive grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) relating to the construction of a portion of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The board took the action at its May 17 meeting, with no discussion, as part of its consent agenda. The consent agenda includes several items that are approved in a single action.

The agreement with FDOT covers a stretch of the road, from north of State Road 54/State Road 56 to north of Magnolia Boulevard.

By way of background, the county board approved an incentive program agreement with FDOT on May 23, 2017, relating to acquiring right of way for the project. The estimated right of way cost for the project is $11.7 million, with FDOT contributing about $5.9 million.

The construction cost for the project is estimated at about $36.4 million, with FDOT agreeing to fund slightly more than $5.7 million, according to information in the board’s agenda packet.

The overall project includes a six-lane urban typical section roadway, with a sidewalk, bicycle lanes, a multi-use path, lighting, and new signals at the intersections of Wesley Chapel Boulevard (also known as County Road 54) and Stagecoach Village Boulevard; and, Grand Oaks Boulevard and Compark Drive. (The signals at Grand Oaks already have been installed.)

Right of way acquisition is expected to be completed in the winter of 2022/2023. Construction is scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2023 and to be completed by Summer of 2025.

In another action at the May 17 meeting, the county board approved the state-funded grant agreement with FDOT for the construction of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, from north of Magnolia Boulevard to north of Old Pasco Road.

The project includes two new lanes in a 48-foot median to tie into the existing six lanes to the east and proposed six lanes to the south. Most of the lanes will be 12-feet wide, with some sections having 11-foot lanes. Traffic signal adjustments will be made to accommodate the new

six lanes, with new striping and pavement markings.

The project’s estimated cost is slightly more than $1.1 million, of which FDOT has agreed to fund about $569,400.

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2023 and be completed by July 2025, according to agenda backup materials.

Published May 25, 2022