The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

David Engel

Official: Pasco needs more affordable housing

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Pasco County’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was recently told the county has a very evident need for more affordable housing.

One of the reasons for this is its expectation that approximately 100,000 people will move to Pasco in the next few years so they can work on projects the county has already approved, Pasco County’s Economic Growth Director David Engel said during a May 21 workshop on affordable housing. Engel makes recommendations to the BOCC about projects that should be approved.

(Jens Behrmann/Unsplash)

One of his recently approved recommendations was for a development agreement to be approved between the county and two companies that are in the process of developing a large employment center on a 785-acre site north of State Road 52 and west of Interstate 75. When it’s completed, the employment center is anticipated to result in the creation of 2,770 new jobs.

However, Pasco County’s population is estimated to increase by 200,000 people between now and 2045, said Elizabeth Strom, who is an associate professor at the University of South Florida. This would require 80,000 more housing units to be constructed to house those people, Strom said.

Most of the new homes being built in Pasco County cost $300,000, $400,000 or $500,000, said Ron Oakley, BOCC chairman who represents District 1 in east Pasco County. A lot of the people who move to Pasco for jobs won’t be able to afford that type of housing, he said.

In order for housing to be considered affordable it shouldn’t cost more than 30% of an individual’s monthly income, Strom said. The Average Median Income (AMI) for Pasco County is $63,187. A person with that AMI would have to pay $1,579 or less in rent a month for their housing to be considered affordable, and people whose income is 80% of Pasco’s AMI would have to pay $1,263 or less a month.

Some of the individuals identified as likely to be earning 80% or less of Pasco’s AMI included starting teachers, medical assistants and bank tellers, Strom said.

Pasco County should try to have housing options for doctors and home health aides, and CEOs and receptionists, Strom said.

It costs approximately $1,337 to rent a one-bedroom apartment in New Port Richey, said Marcy Esbjerg, the county’s director of community development. Approximately 43% of the county’s staff could only afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment there.

Commissioners were presented with several options on how the amount of affordable housing could be increased in Pasco County. They included:

  • Making it legal for accessory dwelling units to be built on residential lots. These units are generally known as granny flats or backyard homes. The county could consider allowing that to occur on property people already own provided that the accessory unit is smaller than the primary unit, according to Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein. Normally this is only permitted in master-planned unit development districts. It would likely take about six months for commissioners to make changes in how other neighborhoods could be developed, according to Goldstein.
  • Adding duplexes, triplexes and quadruplexes to increase the density in existing single-family neighborhoods.
  • Requiring developers to provide or pay for affordable housing as part of the process of applying for the approval of new developments. Pasco County had required this in the past, according to Goldstein, but the plan expired and commissioners hadn’t applied it countywide.
  • Making some parts of West Pasco targets for development. Some communities in that area were developed 50 years ago for retirees and have since fallen into disrepair, according to Engel.

Commissioners requested additional information to be provided to them on affordable housing in the future.

Published June 05, 2024

Progress made toward development of large employment center

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The development of a large employment center north of State Road 52 and west of Interstate 75 was approved by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners during its May 7 meeting in Dade City, with the rezoning of approximately 785 acres where the site is located.

An economic development agreement was approved to provide a Public Infrastructure ad valorem rebate for infrastructure installed for the development, not to exceed $29,269,623, as adjusted for inflation.

Both requests were made by MU Landco Liquidating Company & SF Landco Liquidating Company LLC, which owns the property.

(Gabrielle Henderson/Unsplash)

The zoning was changed from A-C Agricultural District, R-1MH Single Family/Mobile Home District, and C-2 General Commercial District to MPUD Master Planned Unit Development District. 

This will allow the development of 190,000 square feet of Retail/Commercial; 3,000,000 square feet of Light Industrial; 500,000 square feet of Office; a 250-room Hotel; 2,327 residential dwelling units and associated infrastructure. 

The Hines Group, based in Texas, will oversee development of the project. Hines also developed the Asturia subdivision for luxury homes in Odessa. 

The infrastructure rebate will be for road systems and public utility transmission lines for both the on-site and off-site areas of the employment center as shown in the agreement.

None of the roughly $29 million will be paid until infrastructure work has been completed, according to the agreement.

Some of the major roadway improvements within the project will consist of a north-south extension of Old Pasco Road and “Roadway ‘AD,’” which will be the east-west vision collector road internal to the project.

“This area is a very important employment and tax generating area and this is one of the most important components of that development,” said David Engel, Pasco County’s director of planning and economic growth.

It is anticipated that 2,770 jobs will be created when construction of the employment center has been completed.

In other business on May 7, commissioners:

  • Awarded a bid not to exceed $7,937,909 to The Diaz/Fritz Group Inc., d/b/a Diaz Fritz Group General Contractors, for work on the Starkey Ranch District Park Phase 2B-2G – to provide fields, a concession stand, a parking area, and other improvements for the Starkey Ranch District Park located off Lake Blanche Avenue in Odessa. This award will create six new ball fields with sidewalks and multi-use paths to extend around the existing stormwater pond area, parking and a concession stand to support sports activities at the park.
  • Approved a zoning change requested by Blanton Creek Development Corporation for Timber Ridge Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) from R-3 Medium Density Residential District to an MPUD Master Planned Unit Development. This change will allow a maximum of 190 single-family detached units on approximately 48.42 acres located on the east side of Pasco County. Access to the proposed subdivision will be via 14th Street. The applicant was also granted its request to be able to use an emergency access connection to Catalina Drive because this road is not built to county standards. This will avoid impacting existing neighbors in the residential subdivision to the north.
  • Agreed to the recording of a plat with a performance guarantee for Clinton Land Investments LP – Clinton Townhomes for 158 residential lots on 21.61 acres on the north side of Clinton Avenue approximately 0.38 miles west of U.S. 301 in east central Pasco County. The county received a Surety Bond in the amount of $5,071,115 to cover the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements.
  • Agreed to the recording of a plat with performance guarantees for LNR3 AIV LLC – Connerton Village 3 Phase 2A for 144 residential lots on 77.612 acres on the east side of Connerton Boulevard, approximately 2.41 miles east of U.S. 41/Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in west central Pasco County. The county received Surety Bonds in the amounts of $3,259,872.38 and $40,794.30 to cover the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements.
  • Agreed to the recording of a plat with a performance guarantee for Lennar Homes, LLC – Wiregrass Ranch M21 Plat for 42 residential lots on 3.44 acres on the northwest side of Silent Gardens Cove, about a half mile east of the Suncoast Parkway. The county received a Surety Bond in the amount of $1,836,727.79 to cover the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements.
  • Approved Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department to coordinate with the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s Office and the Woody Williams Foundation to designate Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson, and Wesley Chapel District Park, 727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel, as locations for Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments to be installed.

Published May 15, 2024

Pasco names planning and economic growth director

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David Engel is Pasco County’s new planning and economic growth director. The position is a result of a county reorganization, combining economic and planning issues into one department. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Pasco County has done some reorganization — resulting in the confirmation of David Engel as the county’s planning and economic growth director.

Engel previously was the county’s economic growth director. With his new role he will oversee zoning, the county’s new planning services team and economic growth.

Engel was recommended for the role by Roy Mazur, assistant county administrator.

“I feel great about entrusting the direction of this new group to Mr. David Engel,” Mazur said, in comments to the Pasco County Commission at its Feb. 6 meeting.

The board voted 5-0 to confirm Engel to the post, which has an annual salary of $161,000.

Engel thanked the board for considering his confirmation.

“We’re at a crossroads. I know that everybody has expectations — leadership, executive team, the team that I work with on a daily basis,” he said.

“My mission is to reach those expectations and make the county a better place to live for tomorrow,” he said.

In making the recommendation, Mazur noted Engel’s extensive planning and economic growth expertise.

According to background materials in the agenda packet, Engel has more than 20 years of experience in city and county government, specializing in urban and transportation planning, affordable housing, and economic development and redevelopment.

The background materials also say that Engel holds a Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Regional Sciences from George Washington University.

Additionally, Engel has been affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1980.

Published February 14, 2024

David Engel joins Pasco MPO’s technical advisory committee

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The Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization has approved the appointment of David Engel to serve as a member of its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). 

Engel is director of Pasco County’s Office of Economic Growth. He also is a certified planner and has more than 30 years of planning experience.

He previously chaired the Technical Advisory Committee for the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization (MPO).

He has deep knowledge of Pasco County’s development trends and is well-versed regarding how development affects the county’s transportation system.

Published November 15, 2023

Bakery company bringing 600 jobs to Pasco

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Bauducco Foods has purchased 72.5 acres of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s Ready Site and expects to hire more than 600 employees within the coming decade.

The news was announced during the Oct. 24 meeting of the Pasco County Commission, which approved an incentives package to help lure the company to the county.

The effort to attract the Brazilian-based company to North Tampa Bay was one that was about 10 months in the making, and involved Pasco County’s economic growth department, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the City of Zephyrhills and the state of Florida, among others.

The company expects to invest more than $200 million in the new facility, which will produce and distribute its baked items across the United States, according to a Pasco County Economic Development Council news release.

This group shot was taken after the Pasco County Commission approved an incentive deal to help bring Bauducco Foods to the county. The company plans to create a production facility in Zephyrhills. The deal to bring the Brazilian-based company here involved a collaboration between Pasco County, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the City of Zephyrhills and the state of Florida. (Courtesy of the Pasco Economic Development Council)

“The company manufactures baked goods including biscuits, wafers and breads, and is the largest producer of panettones in the world, and the market leader in the U.S.,” the Pasco EDC release says.

“The Bauducco brand is sold in all 50 states in regional supermarket chains, national grocery stores, pharmacies and more,” the release adds. 

Zephyrhills will become the company’s main production hub for the U.S. market, according to the release.

Stefano Mozzi, CEO of Bauducco USA, appeared at the county board’s meeting to celebrate the company’s decision to locate in Pasco.

To express its pleasure, the company passed out baked goods to all those attending the county board’s meeting.

A baking company for generations
Mozzi shared the company’s story with the county board and others gathered for the big announcement.

“We are a family owned business. We are in the third generation. It’s an Italian family that moved to Brazil in the ’50s and they started with a small bakery. Today, we are one of the largest bakery companies in Latin America.

“The company has five manufacturing plants in Brazil, with a capacity to produce more than 400,000 tons of baked goods annually with over 8,000 employees worldwide,” according to Pasco EDC’s release

Mozzi told the Pasco County board: “The family always had a dream that was to develop the business in the U.S. They started with a small office in Miami, in 2005. A couple of years back, we built our first facility in Miami.

“It was only a warehouse. It also became a factory. Today, we have over 130 employees there. “But we need to expand,” he said.

The company chose Pasco after a detailed analysis involving more than seven states and 10 counties, according to the Pasco EDC release.

Collaboration yields big jobs win for area
The company’s decision to come to Pasco County is the result of a coordinated effort between Pasco County, the Pasco Economic Development Council, the City of Zephyrhills and Florida Commerce.

Mozzi said Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Co. and the gas company also were involved in the effort.

The collaboration between the different entities, the company executive said, “made our life easy, in terms of selecting where to go.”

Bauducco is ready to get going as soon as it can obtain permits, Mozzi said. It has already hired architects and hopes contractors can start building as quickly as possible.

“We are very excited,” Mozzi told the board.

David Engel, Pasco’s economic growth manager, spelled out some of the specifics of the county’s deal.

The 72.5-acre site where the plant will be located is at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Chancey Road, which was recently annexed by the City of Zephyrhills. The project will be using city water and sewer.

The 72.5-acre site, which is colored in red, is where Bauducco Foods plans to have a production facility in Zephyrhills. The location is part of a Ready Sites program, initially launched by Duke Energy. The Pasco Economic Development Council has built on that concept, working with private landowners to make a number of sites around the county ready for light industrial and manufacturing uses.

When complete, the project will be about 403,000 square feet and will create 600 new Pasco jobs, Engel said.

The project will be done in two phases, he said.

The first phase will be 96,494 square feet and is expected to be completed in 2025-2026, Engel said.

Phase two will be 306,500 square feet and is expected to be completed around 2028-2029.

The county’s incentive in the agreement involves a 25% ad valorem equivalency grant — which is a rebate on their ad valorem tax payment to the general fund.

The property currently is vacant, so the project’s development represents “a tremendous gain into the general fund for tax revenue,” Engel said.

He also noted that the incentives are entirely performance-based, meaning no incentives will be paid until the company has completed phase one and has received a certificate of occupancy.

“No incentives will be paid on the second phase until there’s a CO (certificate of occupancy) on that property and taxes are commencing,” Engel added.

Training dollars are part of deal
Additionally, the county is providing a $100,000 discretionary training grant to the business out of tax revenues generated by Penny for Pasco, Engel said.

The company will be able to receive that money once it has received its shell certificate of completion for phase one. That will enable them to train and hire before receiving a certificate of occupancy for the buildings, Engel said.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, characterized the project as “probably one of the more exciting projects that we’ve had in quite a while.”

He said the Pasco EDC “worked together with the state of Florida and Enterprise Florida’s international offices. We worked together with the municipality of Zephyrhills, and of course, with our county and our county staff.

Cronin described the project as competitive, noting that Pasco competed with San Antonio, Texas, for the company.

“Usually we don’t mention our competitors, but in this case, I want you to know, this was truly a project where people came together, collaborated, worked together, not just on the incentive deals, but some of the nuances we have here in Florida.”

Laura DiBella, immediate past Florida Secretary of Commerce and president and CEO at Enterprise Florida, told the county board there was “heated competition from Texas.”

She said Bauducco’s footprint in Miami could no longer support what it needed to do.

“The state obviously is participating on the incentive side, as well,” she said.

She said the “wrap-around approach” involves working together with partners “to make sure that this project not only lands, but continues to succeed here.

“This is really, really a happy day for all of us,” she said.

Zephyrhills is delighted by Bauducco’s choice
Billy Poe, city manager for the City of Zephyrhills, said the city is appreciative of the partnership with the county board, the Pasco EDC and the state.

“We’re thrilled that Bauducco selected Zephyrhills and our growing landscape of business potential. The positive impact of these job openings goes beyond providing steady, high-wage employment. It strengthens the fabric of our community by fostering opportunities and prosperity.

He said the city already is known for its water, skydiving and tennis, and now, with Bauducco, will be known for its baked goods, too.

The City of Zephyrhills has approved incentives totaling $8.27 million, according to the Pasco EDC news release. That incentive is based on the company creating 120 new positions, with each having an average wage of 80% of the median one-person income in the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area.

The city’s incentive package also includes waiving transportation impact fees up to $331,000 and permit fees up to $660,750. Plus, the city will provide a job creation incentive cash grant equal to 50% of the ad valorem city property taxes paid for the first 10 years, according to the Pasco EDC release.

Mozzi said he hopes his company’s investment in Zephyrhills will be the first of many to come.

“I think it will happen. Normally, when one company goes to a place, a lot of others follow later on,” he said.

Published November 08, 2023

One big project gets a green light; another begins construction

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Some sizable projects are heading to Pasco County.

One of the developments — known as Abbey Crossings — is a master-planned unit development (MPUD) that includes 800,000 square feet of light industrial, 400,000 square feet of office, 400,000 square feet of commercial and 1,000 multi-family dwellings.

A rendering of a future view of the massive DoubleBranch development, planned on 965 acres at Interstate 75 and State Road 52. (Courtesy of Dona Loncar/via Pasco Economic Development Council)

The Pasco County Commission cleared the way for the project by approving a rezoning request on 245.24 acres on the south side of County Road 52, intersecting with McKendree Road.

The land had been zoned for agricultural and commercial uses, until the county board changed the designation during its Oct. 10 meeting.

The project is within the boundaries of Connected City, specifically within its business core.

The Connected City corridor consists of about 7,800 acres in a state-approved development district meant to foster residential communities and employment centers that are the wave of the future. Its borders are roughly Interstate 75, State Road 52 and Curley and Overpass roads.

The area is meant to feature cutting-edge technology, including gigabit Internet speeds and innovation, and it is supposed to be easy to get around for pedestrians, cyclists, golf carts and vehicles.

The county board’s Abbey Crossings vote came just days after some commissioners joined in a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 5, hosted by Columnar Land to celebrate the beginning of DoubleBranch, on a site formerly known as Pasco Town Center.

Mike Wolf is senior vice president of Columnar/DoubleBranch. He was one of the speakers at the Oct. 4 groundbreaking ceremony.

Columnar has invested more than $60 million to date and is providing another $75 million in Phase I infrastructure, according to a news release issued by the Pasco Economic Development, Inc. (Pasco EDC).

“DoubleBranch has been anticipated in Pasco County for nearly two decades,” Daniel Traylor, managing principal of Columnar/DoubleBranch, said in the news release. “Today marks the beginning of the first phase of development for a project that will have a tremendous impact on generations of Pasco County residents.”

The project will feature 4 million square feet of industrial development, 725,000 square feet of offices, 400,000 square feet of retail, 3,500 housing units and 300 hotel beds on a 965-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52, the release says.

At its completion, DoubleBranch is expected to have more than $600 million in long-term economic impact on an estimated $2 billion buildout for the surrounding area. Over time, the development is anticipated to be home to 6,000 jobs including many in the logistics, life sciences and healthcare target industry sectors, the release adds.

These are just some of the people who have played a role in making the idea of DoubleBranch a reality.

“Our team is proud and excited to get this project started,” Mike Wolf, senior vice president of Columnar/DoubleBranch, said in the release. 

“Since purchasing the land in 2021, we set out to intentionally create a desirable town center development where Pasco gathers to work, live and entertain while creating jobs and economic development for the county,” Wolf added.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, also weighed in.

“Pasco County leadership is very cognizant of creating opportunities for smart, strategic development,” Cronin said, in the release. “This is one of the largest master planned development projects we have had here, and it has taken tremendous effort by Columnar, county officials, and stakeholders alike to make sure it is done right. I was honored to be a part of the celebration yesterday.”

David Engel, economic growth director for Pasco County, provided additional perspective on the project’s importance and impacts.

“The DoubleBranch project is an excellent example of the benefits of a public-private partnership,” Engel said, in the release. “The developer is installing over $70 million in on- and off-site primary roads and utility connections to complete core infrastructure for the entire Connected City Employment Center area. Pasco is providing an Ad Valorem Equivalency Grant to fund a portion of the infrastructure cost, and when this project is complete, over $9.5 million in ad valorem taxes will come into the county each year.”

The Point Distillery is expanding

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The Point Distillery is expanding and will be creating 20 to 25 new jobs, according to background materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Aug. 22 agenda packet.

The distillery, in New Port Richey, will be adding a new bottling line, which will expand the company’s ability to obtain contracts, nationally and internationally, according to a news release from the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC).

The Pasco EDC’s announced the company’s expansion after the county board’s vote to approve an interest-free loan to The Point Distillery.

The Point Distillery, in New Port Richey, has announced an expansion, which is being supported through an interest-free loan from Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman voted against the interest-free loan, while other commissioners supported it.

“For me, it’s a fundamental issue on what government should and should not be doing. I just have a concern that the government is giving interest-free loans for private business and we’re operating as a bank, and I just fundamentally just disagree with that.

“It has nothing to do with the business, I don’t believe Pasco County government needs to be working in a capital investment space. There’s risk to the taxpayer money. It’s just a principled position I have on it, it has nothing to do with the business and the success of the business.

“I just think that that business needs to be done in the private sector and Pasco County shouldn’t be competing with banks and other loan entities,” Weightman said.

But other commissioners disagreed.

Commissioner Ron Oakley told Weightman: “You’ve got to remember that it’s board policy to help small businesses, and so we do go out and try to help. A lot of businesses cannot afford to show a way that they can pay it back.

“This particular business has done that in the past and has paid very well,” Oakley said.

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano told Weightman: “The microloan program was started years ago with (Pasco) EDC. I think we put money into it and we had the private sector put money into it as well. It helped these small businesses get loans that otherwise couldn’t get (them.)

“You could pretty much look at giving grant money and not get anything back. At least we’re getting money back from this, coming forward. That just helps them to make the next step, to make an investment and create (a total of) 50 more jobs.”

David Engel, the county’s economic growth director, provided some policy perspective for Weightman.

“Our office doesn’t arbitrarily dole out money or request or recommend money to be provided to businesses in the county,” Engel said.

He explained a board resolution, which established the guidelines for the Penny for Pasco.

“It stipulates that we should provide aid and assistance to target industries and businesses to create jobs, create a public purpose benefit to the local economy.

“This Point Distillery project meets all of the criteria of the board’s adopted, stipulated policy, for Penny for Pasco funding.

“In 2018, the property owner bought the project for $1.4 million, has pumped $400,000 of its own capital into equipment,” Engel said.

The company has already created 32 jobs and will be adding approximately 20 more, with the new equipment it is installing, Engel said. It plans to transition into a double shift, he said.

“If you look at the value equation here, the jobs that this business is creating are for people that needed a second chance, whether that be single parents or ex-felons that served their time.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano said offering loans to businesses is just one tool in the toolbox to help stimulate job growth for county residents.

“And, if you look at the Pasco Re-entry Program, which is a board-funded program through our Workforce Board, we pay the Workforce Board $7,000 for a job placed and trained. This is $962.

“The calculation is key. Zero interest is actually the incentive.

“At the prevailing borrowing rate in Pasco County, 4.22% as of last June, that’s $50,000 in interest expense. If you apply that to the 52 jobs, I think that’s very efficient use of public funds.

“Might I add, redevelopment is very difficult.

“This is a redevelopment story in the West Market area.

“The property was formerly occupied by drug abusers and vagrants. The property is cleaned up. It’s a vibrant business.

“Why do we give them the incentive?

“It’s because they have enormous startup costs to get the new line of business up and running.

“We’re providing a helping hand, getting a lot back in return, and they do pay taxes,” Engel said.

Weightman told Engel he appreciates the detail and the fact that Pasco is following its own rules, but he still doesn’t believe that Pasco should have the role of providing interest-free loans for private business endeavors.

That money could be spent in other ways for the overall public benefit, Weightman said.

Mariano told Weightman he appreciates his input, but views these loans as “another tool in the toolbox” to help bring more jobs to the county.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said she supports helping the county’s small businesses to grow.

“I think it’s part of government,” Starkey said.

She also noted that she questioned providing a zero-interest loan but was persuaded that the county is getting a great return on a small investment.

Weightman also said he’d like to see a spreadsheet of how much the county has invested and the overall return.

Engel said he’d welcome such a review. “Our overall ROI (Return on Investment) to all of the expenditures going through our office, including the PEDC is, for every dollar out, we have $62 back to the economy.”

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, and Spencer Wolf, the distillery’s CEO, addressed the expansion, in the Pasco EDC’s news release.

“This is great news and wonderful timing as more manufacturers begin to locate along the State Road 52 corridor,” Cronin said, in the release.

“We are delighted with the support from Pasco County and eagerly look forward to our continuing development and expansion,” Wolf said.

Published September 06, 2023

Pasco scores 555 manufacturing jobs

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The Pasco County Commission has approved an incentive agreement with Gary Plastic Packaging Corp., in a deal expected to result in 555 new manufacturing jobs.

The board unanimously approved a total of $983,000 in incentives during its Dec. 6 meeting.

The property is located in the Harrod Properties venture, at the North Pasco Corporate Center, according to David Engel, director of Pasco County’s Office of Economic Growth.

The Pasco County Commission, county staff, representatives of the Pasco Economic Development Council and from Gary Plastic Packaging Corp., celebrate an economic incentives deal expected to yield 555 new manufacturing jobs for Pasco County. At the center of the photo, Commission Chairman Jack Mariano holds a framed copy of the agreement, along with Richard Hellinger, president of Gary Plastic Packaging Corp. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

That project consists of two buildings, each being approximately 440,000 square feet, on 72 acres, off Softwind Lane, in Spring Hill.

One of the buildings, according to the developer’s website, has been completely leased, Engel said. Gary Plastics Packaging will occupy 279,000 square feet of industrial space in the other building.

“The property has been cleared and is under mass grading right now and construction is imminent,” Engel said.

He also noted that Gary Plastic is investing approximately $16 million in improvements such as manufacturing equipment, furniture, and other fixtures.

Harrod Properties is set to invest approximately $50 million in the building, land, and infrastructure, according to a Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) news release.

Engel outlined the incentives package for Gary Plastic Packaging Corp., for the county board.

He said the economic deal essentially can be broken into three buckets. $552,000 for 184 new jobs; $306,206 for a high-impact bonus; and, $100,000 in training funds.

The agreement is a terrific investment for the county, Engel said.

“For every dollar the county provides, we’re getting back annually approximately $110. So, the rate of return is enormous to the community,” Engel said.

The deal came to the county through the Pasco EDC.

Tom Ryan, director of business development for the Pasco EDC, has been working for four years to secure it.

Ryan told the county board that he went to the Bronx to meet with Richard Hellinger, president of Gary Plastic.

“He was enamored with the idea of moving to Florida, he thought it was a great opportunity, but he was looking at two other states. So we had to make our case, and we made our case,” Ryan said.

The biggest issue was finding a suitable space, Ryan said.

Hellinger, the company president, told the county board that he’s “super excited about this opportunity to expand my operation into Pasco County, from New York.”

He expressed enthusiasm for the workforce training opportunities available in Pasco, through the county’s high schools, colleges and AmSkills.

Hellinger also provided some insights about his company, which was named for his father, Gary.

The company was founded in 1963, Hellinger said. It produces plastic packaging and plastic promotional items.

The plastic packaging is clear, hinged containers for the electronics industry and the medical industry, he said.

The vast majority of the company’s product now — 85% — is in the promotional space, he added.

The company’s customers include government, pharmaceutical, medical, gift, cosmetic, jewelry, hardware, automotive, food, drug, and discount chain accounts throughout the United States, according to its website.

Published December 14, 2022

Proposed land use change sparks debate

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has rejected an argument that the county should preserve two lots along Ridge Road for industrial use, rather than allowing them to be converted for commercial development.

The 3.47-acre plot at Galen Wilson Boulevard and Ridge Road in Port Richey has been discussed as being converted to commercial use, but Pasco County Planning Commission rejected that idea on Sept. 1. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

The county’s planning staff had recommended denial of the proposed land use change, but the planning board dismissed rationale used by planners and recommended approval, instead.

The 3.47 acres at issue are east of Galen Wilson Boulevard and south of Ridge Road, according to information in the Pasco County Planning Commission’s Sept. 1 agenda packet.

Planners said the request is inconsistent with policies within the county’s comprehensive plan. They argued that the current light industrial designation should be preserved because it has the prospect of producing more and higher-paying jobs, than commercial uses would generate.

An email from David Engel, the county’s economic growth director, is included in the planning board’s agenda packet. Engel says the industrial designation has the potential to generate 41% more jobs, and that industrial jobs, in general, pay more.

But planning board member Jon Moody was skeptical.

Moody said he takes issue with the information provided.

“There’s nothing to back it up,” Moody said. “These are nebulous statements.”

Moody questioned the reasoning that industrial uses are big job generators.

The numbers don’t bear out that industrial creates more jobs than commercial, Moody said, noting that Pasco’s “second-largest employer is Publix.”

Planning board chairman Chuck Grey raised objections, too.

“We’ve got blinders on, in this particular instance,” Grey said, explaining he’s familiar with the applicant who has assembled 20 acres of light industrial.

“He’s asking for two acres,” Grey said.

The chairman also asked planners: “Where’s all of the industrial, if there’s such demand?”

Grey went on: “We’re really involved in the Ridge Road development, personally, on the business side. I don’t see any demand for industrial development in that corridor. I haven’t got one question for it. Not one phone call. It’s all retail.”

The planning board chairman also noted there are a number of other nearby commercial uses.

The recommendation for denial, Grey said, “seems very subjective to me.”

Attorney Steve Booth, representing the applicant, told the planning board: “We have to look at the forest, rather than the trees, on this. Everything around there is commercial.

“The frontage, right on Ridge Road, is really only appropriate for commercial,” Booth said.

“Quite frankly, with due respect to staff, it’s laughable when we talk about economic issues with two small lots,” Booth added.

With the current industrial designation, support commercial uses would be possible, but the list of potential uses in that category doesn’t mesh with the demand, Booth said.

“I would respectfully request that you look closely at the map we have here, that shows the actual uses of property surrounding it, and would say it’s totally appropriate for these two lots.”

His client wants to be able to market it to get something that’s more reasonable, Booth said.

Moody also noted that before the meeting began, he checked to see how much activity was happening in the area.

“There’s only one active permit application and it’s by the applicant himself,” Moody said.

“I can tell you as a practicing engineer in the area, I’ve done a dozen layouts in that center and none of them have come to fruition yet. So, right now, the center’s not generating any jobs,” he said.

Pasco working to preserve industrial land
Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, said an analysis on industrial land by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council has identified sites of 20 acres or more as a good size to target for industrial uses.

“To parcel them off, well, that’s what Pasco County has done in the past. And that’s what we’ve been directed not to continue doing,” Pittos said.

The county board wants to preserve sites that are deemed for employment-generating uses, such as light industrial, heavy industrial and employment centers, Pittos said.

In this case, though, no one on the planning board stepped forward to support the planners’ position.

About 3.47 acres of land at Galen Wilson Boulevard and Ridge Road in Port Richey has been designated for industrial use and is located across the street from Chasco Elementary and Chasco Middle. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

“Personally, I think the location just makes sense for commercial uses, especially for a parcel this size,” said planning board member Jaime Girardi.

Peter Hanzel, also on the planning board agreed: “Ridge Road is a major road. I can’t see why those two lots can’t be commercial. In fact, that’s what they should be. You’re on a major road.”

But Pittos countered: “Pasco is seeing a higher interest in industrial land development. We recently completed the Ridge Road connection to the Suncoast Parkway, and I would say in a number of years, there will be a connection all of the way to U.S. 41, so Ridge Road is going to connect with the strategic intermodal system for Florida. And so, when we have established LI (light industrial) … the default position that we’re going to take is to preserve them.”

Pittos also noted the current plan says that this particular segment of Ridge Road should be an employment-generating area.

David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, also told Moody the issue isn’t just the quantity of jobs.

“As a general rule, industrial (jobs) are higher-paying jobs than a Publix,” the attorney said.

Goldstein also noted that the county’s comprehensive plan considers not only current circumstances, but future need, as well.

Goldstein said the planning board cannot approve a request that is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan’s policies. However, he said the board could approve it, if it determined the request is consistent.

Ultimately, the board members passed a motion declaring the request does not violate the county’s policies, and voted to recommend approval.

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

Published September 14, 2022

Massive Pasco Town Center project gets OK

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The Pasco County Commission has given a greenlight to a rezoning that clears the way for the Pasco Town Center — a development planned on 997 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

Project plans call for 4 million square feet of industrial space; 725,000 square feet of office space; 3,500 housing units, 400,000 square feet of retail and 300 hotel rooms.

The development has been the topic of numerous discussions during the past several months, with conditions and details being worked out at meetings.

The Pasco County Commission voted 5-0 to approve the rezoning, at its Aug. 24 meeting.

During that session, Rob Park, who lives on Ehren Cutoff, raised concerns about how the project’s traffic on State Road 52 will be addressed.

Joel Tew, an attorney whose client owns the property, told the county board that extensive efforts have been underway to work out plans for his client’s property and adjacent properties to gain access on and off State Road 52, at the I-75 interchange.

“Everyone is collaborating. They’ve formed basically a task force to try to get DOT (Department of Transportation) to approve a better way of access on and off of (State Road) 52, east of that interchange.

“We think it’s very close to being resolved. The good news is thanks to the input of your county administration and all of the different stakeholders, it seems to be headed in what all of the parties think is the right direction, at DOT,” Tew said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley wanted to make sure there are no plans to change the name of McKendree Road to Boyette Road, as has been shown on some plans.

Tew assured Oakley: “Pasco Town Center was not trying to rename McKendree to Boyette.

“We received an edict from the county administrator’s office that that (McKendree Road) will continue to be McKendree Road, so we stated that on the record (at the Pasco County Planning Commission meeting).

“Obviously, we’re going to call it what the county tells us to call it. And, we’ve been told to call it McKendree. We love McKendree. We’re going to call it McKendree,” Tew said.

Oakley responded: “Well, that will make my citizens very happy.”

The board previously approved an economic incentive deal related to Pasco Town Center with Columnar Holdings.

Terms of the agreement, approved on June 7, provide a $55.8 million package for Columnar, funded mostly through property tax rebates, as specific milestones are met.

The development company also will install key roads and utility connections beyond the Pasco Town Center Property – providing $70.1 million in public infrastructure, with no direct cost to taxpayers, David Engel, the county’s director of the office of economic growth, said the day the agreement was approved.

Published August 31, 2022