Commercial Development Could Be Headed To Tampa Palms Area 3

If approved by the Tampa City Council, commercial development could be coming to the parcels labeled on this map of Tampa Palms Area 3
If approved by the Tampa City Council, commercial development could be coming to the parcels labeled on this map of Tampa Palms Area 3

By Matt Wiley

Restaurants and other potential development are on the horizon in Tampa Palms Area 3, as several parcels are headed to a public hearing for rezoning approval.

If approved at the Thursday, October 10 public hearing before the Tampa City Council, the proposed zoning change hopefully will bring more restaurants and other potential commercial development to parcels in the are

a of the Market Square shopping plaza, located at Commerce Palms Dr. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and anchored by B.J.’s Wholesale Club and Bed, Bath & Beyond, as well as to two parcels adjacent to, and across the street from, the Chase Bank at BBD and Cypress Preserve Dr. and one just south of Lowe’s Home Improvement.Continue reading

Suspect Tries To Steal ATM With Forklift

By Matt Wiley,

TD Bank’s surveillance camera caught this image of the forklift that was used in an attempted burglary on Oct. 5.
TD Bank’s surveillance camera caught this image of the forklift that was used in an attempted burglary on Oct. 5.

The plan to rob a bank using a forklift probably looked better on paper.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), at around 12:05 a.m. on October 5, an unknown suspect attempted to remove an ATM machine from the TD Bank branch at the intersection of S.R. 56 and Silver Maple Pkwy. in Wesley Chapel. When deputies arrived, the suspect had already fled and there was structural damage to the building.

However, the suspect failed to steal any money or gain access to the bank, PCSO reports. The forklift itself was left at the scene.

“This is the first time this kind of incident has happened in our jurisdiction,” says PCSO spokesman Kevin Doll.

No additional information was available at our press time.

 

Florida's New Texting Ban Now In Effect, But With Exceptions

Florida's texting while driving ban is in effect as of Oct. 1.
Florida’s texting while driving ban is in effect as of Oct. 1.

By Matt Wiley

If you’re on Wesley Chapel roads, or any Florida road for that matter, stay off your phone. Or, off of the keyboard, at least, as Florida’s texting and driving ban has gone into effect. However, there are some exceptions.

On October 1, Florida became the 41st state to actively ban texting while driving. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), 3,400 crashes resulted from distraction by an electronic device in the state last year, 24 of which resulted in fatalities.

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