By Kyle LoJacono
Pasco County’s vision for the future won it the first ever One Bay Award on March 18 from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
“One of the biggest awards, in fact the biggest award, is One Bay,” said Pasco Tourism Manager Eric Keaton. “This is the first time that the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council has given out this award and Pasco County is bringing it home. We’re very thrilled to bring it home, just like we’re bringing opportunities home.”
The honor was presented to members of the county commission, its administration and its Growth Management Department at the 19th annual Future Regions Award Ceremony.
“This is a first time award that the region has put together with a number of partners like (Southwest Florida Water Management District) to guide how to control future growth by focusing on concentrated growth areas,” said Richard Gehring, Pasco’s growth management administrator.
The council sought out the views of thousands of Tampa Bay area citizens for what a shared region should be, based on responsible land use, mobility and transportation, economic development and environmental sustainability.
Pasco submitted its New Smart Pasco Area Plan and Transit Oriented Development Amendments for consideration. The council gave the award to the county because it best followed that vision for the bay area.
Florida’s population has grown by more than 17 percent in the last 10 years and U.S. Census estimations project that trend to continue in the coming years.
Pasco County’s population increased by 119,932 people from 2000 to 2010, topping out at 464,697 residents. Gehring said the county is booming and all levels of its government have been working hard to develop the best plans to accommodate that growth.
“We are one of the largest future growth counties in the Tampa Bay area,” Gehring said.
Pasco formed its growth concept in 2008 from recommendations by its Urban Land Institute. For additional information on the county’s area and transit plans, visit portal.pascocountyfl.net.
