The Pasco County Commission liked the business park, but couldn’t stand its proposed name.
“Vibrant Sun (Business Park) would sound like I’m going to a casino,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said.
So, instead of being called the Vibrant Sun Business Park, the new development site will be known as Overpass Business Park.
The business park, which will be located on 91 acres at Overpass and Old Pasco roads, has been approved for 2.2 million square feet of office and industrial space.
The county’s Office of Economic Growth submitted the project as part of its efforts to provide “site-ready” parcels for industrial and business park developments. Such sites are offered on speculation.
By taking care of land use and zoning matters, county officials believe these types of parcels are developed sooner.
The site is in an area of northeastern Pasco that is quickly developing with new residential and commercial projects, including the Epperson and Mirada master-planned communities.
Advanced manufacturing or a research facility would be an asset to the area, Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said.
“It puts us in a tremendous position to create jobs,” Mariano added.
Some area residents, however, are worried about growth, traffic, loss of property values, and encroachment of industrial into rural neighborhoods.
Jean Ann Jakes spoke against the project during the hearing before the Pasco County commissioners on March 14 in Dade City. She also objected to the project previously at the Development Review Committee meeting in January. A handful of other residents also raised concerns.
However, the review committee recommended approval of the project.
The business park won’t fit in be with the surrounding area, Jakes said.
“Everybody else is agricultural and residential,” she said. “It’s not compatible at all. It’s going to cause more traffic. There is nothing light industry around us.”
Traffic will only get worse, Jakes added, noting that school buses pick up and deliver students to area schools.
“I’m sure Old Pasco Road is going to be widened,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley. “It should be widened. It needs to be four-laned already.”
The Florida Department of Transportation is widening State Road 52, east and west of Interstate 75. The state agency also plans to build a new interchange at Overpass Road and I-75.
Old Pasco Road intersects State Road 52, west of I-75. That stretch of state highway is being widened from two lanes to six lanes, from west of Old Pasco to east of Corporate Boulevard.
There are no immediate plans to widen Old Pasco Road, but county officials said right-of-way for the widening would come from the business park, not from area residents’ home sites.
Published March 21, 2018
