Not everything written on paper works out as originally planned.
Years ago, Pasco County commissioners envisioned a business-oriented development on more than 700 acres at the northwest corner of State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.
But, developers weren’t keen on investing in the county’s “employment center” concept.
(Kathy Steele)
Now, a land use amendment and rezoning have cleared the way for a mixture of residential and neighborhood retail uses. There also will be about 800,000 square feet, on about 15 acres, set aside for offices or light industrial uses.
In addition, 900 single-family detached houses; 300 single-family attached houses; 440,000 square feet of commercial, and 400 hotel rooms can be built.
The Pasco County Commission unanimously approved the new approach at its Feb. 7 meeting. A follow-up vote will be required when additional details for the project are provided.
The land is owned by the Behnke family. DR Horton and BRS Industries are partnering in the site’s development.
The original intent of the county’s land use plan simply didn’t work, said land use attorney Clarke Hobby, who represents home builder DR Horton.
To fulfill the county’s job creation goals for an employment center, for instance, would require about 4,400 apartments for the anticipated workforce. At the same time, the plans for the site didn’t allow single-family homes.
“That’s too many apartments,” Hobby said. “It’s not good planning. You start talking about Suitcase City over time.”
Suitcase City is a name sometimes used to describe an impoverished area near the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Also, the county’s initial plan overloaded the site with potential set-asides of nearly 35 million square feet for office and industrial uses. In comparison, Hobby said the Westshore business district in Tampa has about 12 million square feet over a larger area.
Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said he was reluctant to give up office space for more residential. “We do need jobs,” he said.
In the end, he did cast his vote in favor.
“I love the project,” Mariano said. “I just hate to give up all the acreage we’re giving up to go forward.”
Published March 29, 2017
