No decision has been reached on whether to rename a portion of Wesley Chapel Boulevard in honor of its historical ties to the King family ranch.
At the April 12 Pasco County Commission meeting, county officials did not give a date for rescheduling a public hearing that had been postponed in February to “a date uncertain.”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Sandy Graves, a member of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, asked that the commissioners settle on boundaries for Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes at their April 26 meeting. That decision is central to the dispute over the road’s naming.
“We will live with the decision you make,” she said.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
After the meeting, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said it was unlikely that the issue would be considered, at least in 2016.
In December 2015, the Central Pasco Chamber proposed renaming the road to Circle O Ranch Parkway.
The renaming would apply only to the portion of the road that is south of State Road 56, running beside the Tampa Premium Outlets. Plans call for linking this segment of the road with County Line Road in the future.
On Feb. 17, commissioners voted to postpone the public hearing on renaming the road while county staff members met with people in the Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel communities. Representatives of Sierra Properties, which is developing a portion of the Cypress Creek Town Center on State Road 56, also were included in discussions.
According to the agenda item, the renaming would be put off until “after the community boundaries are established.”
Chamber members and others were asked to submit oral histories, videos, news articles or other documentation about the histories of Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.
If anyone wants legal boundaries, Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said they would have to incorporate as a city. That procedure involves seeking state legislative approval.
“The board really can’t establish a boundary for these unincorporated areas,” Steinsnyder said.
“This board doesn’t have anything that it can do to settle a boundary dispute between two unincorporated areas, which are really chambers of commerce as to what’s in this area,” the county attorney added.
“The county isn’t interested in creating boundaries,” said Kristen Hughes, the county’s planning and development administrator. “We’re interested in helping everyone succeed.”
A staff member did research on the histories of both areas, and Hughes said, “There is no clearly defined boundary.”
The Circle O Ranch Parkway name, supported by the Central Pasco Chamber, would recognize the King family, whose former ranch is now the site for Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center.
Others have said changing the name would add to confusion at an intersection that has multiple roads linking up including State Road 54, State Road 56 and the northern half of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.
Graves told commissioners she had heard the issue wouldn’t come up again because no one wants “to make anyone mad” during an election year.
Baker said Graves’ comment surprised her.
The county administrator said if commissioners wished to have a presentation to receive information on the issue that one could be scheduled.
Matt Armstrong, the county’s executive planner for long range planning, previously had told commissioners he anticipated providing a staff report in March or April.
Published April 20, 2016
