The updated site plan submitted to Pasco County for a five-building commercial plaza in the Meadow Pointe area of Wesley Chapel that is expected to include a Whole Foods market. (Source: Pasco County)
Whole Foods Moving Forward?
In mid-February, updated plans were submitted to Pasco County for a high-end retail center on the long-vacant land north of Aronwood Blvd. and east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel that previously was announced as having both a Whole Foods grocery store and a Life Time Fitness center. Those original plans, filed in March of 2024, were withdrawn two days later.
The new plans — submitted by privately held commercial developer SJC Ventures — do not mention any of the proposed tenants, but they look similar enough to the former site plan that did include Whole Foods and Life Time for some local news media to assume that those major tenants are likely still part of the new five-building (totalling 160,468 sq. ft.) plans (see site plan, above).
The new plan calls for “Major Tenant A,” believed to be Whole Foods, occupying a 35,518-sq.-ft. building, with “Major Tenant B,” believed to be Life Time Fitness, in the site’s easternmost 84,500-sq.-ft. building. Other buildings included in the new site plan are a 10,416-sq. ft. “Shops” building adjacent to Major Tenant A, and two additional “Shops” buildings of 16,017 and 14,017 sq. ft. at the southwest corner of the site.
If ultimately approved by Pasco, which is expected, the new plaza likely won’t be ready to open until 2027.
Tampa Palms Joann Fabrics Closing?
Also in mid-February, a judge approved the second declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Joann Fabrics & Crafts that will allow the retailer to close 500 of its 800 U.S. stores.
Among the locations already holding a “Going Out of Business” sale is the Joann’s located at 6234 Commerce Palms Blvd., in the Market Square at Tampa Palms plaza (photo left).
“Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for Joann,” the company said in a prepared news release on Feb. 14. “We anticipate the store closures to occur over the next few months, although some stores may close within a shorter or longer time period.” We had not heard at our press time when the Tampa Palms Joann’s will actually close.
For more information, call (813) 910-8996 or visit Joann.com.
New Tampa Winn-Dixie Will Become An Aldi!
We reported a couple of issues ago that the Winn-Dixie supermarket located at 6425 County Line Rd. had closed and was being converted to an Aldi market, since Aldi had purchased all of the remaining links in the Winn-Dixie chain.
However, Aldi sold 170 of its Winn-Dixie stores to a private consortium of investors in Feb. However, we now have it on good authority from another tenant in the same plaza that Aldi has, in fact, signed a long-term lease for the former New Tampa Winn-Dixie.
We did not know at our press time, however, when the conversion will be completed or when the third Aldi in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area is expected to open.
Nothing Bundt Cakes Is Open!
If your sweet tooth has been acting up, local residents can now get their fix of Nothing Bundt Cakes, which opened in mid-February in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center at 16047 Tampa Palms Blvd. W (right photo).
The new store — the second in our distribution areas (the other is in the Shops at Wiregrass mall) — features the same delicious bundt cakes in a variety of sizes and flavors (with that delectable icing) as the chain’s 600+ other stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Founded in Las Vegas in 1997 by Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz, Nothing Bundt Cakes has been named the #1 Favorite Brand in America, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
I got to sample the new Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor on my first visit to the new bakery. I’ll definitely be visiting again soon!
Local Business Community Begins Investigating The Possibility Of Incorporation; Feasibility & Boundaries Will Be Determined By Studies
The last time we posted a map of Wesley Chapel on our front cover, back in Oct. of 2023, it was pretty obvious that a lot of people didn’t know what the boundaries of the fastest-growing community in the state of Florida actually were.
And, even though a small group of local business leaders is now talking about incorporating Wesley Chapel as its own municipality again, where to draw the boundaries of the proposed new city is still a work in progress.
What is clear, however, at least according to Jamie Hess (at right in photo), the owner of the Computer Emergency Room locations on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel and on County Line Rd. in Lutz, is that the time for Wesley Chapel to become a city is now.
“We already have almost everything we need here, other than maybe a true city center and a post office,” Hess told me during an exclusive interview at the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) office, along with NTBC president and chief executive officer Hope Kennedy (left in photo). Hess has been an NTBC Board member for several years and he and his fellow Board members gave Kennedy the O.K. to at least look into what an incorporated Wesley Chapel would look like, and what areas it would include. For right now, the group is using the zip codes currently called “Wesley Chapel” — 33543, 33544 and 33545 — as the boundaries, but Hess and Kennedy acknowledge that “fixing” those boundaries is a long way off.
With her Board’s directive in place, Kennedy already has a proposal from a company in Texas to conduct two studies that she says would both have to have favorable results before the subject of incorporation can gather any real momentum.
How It All Began
But speaking of momentum, Hess said that the catalyst for the NTBC Board to begin seriously considering the possibility began with a seemingly innocent comment made at an NTBC Coffee event in Oct. of 2024, where District 20 State Senator Danny Burgess, himself at one time the youngest-ever Mayor of Zephyrhills, said that the one goal he had before he retired from government service was, “For Wesley Chapel to become its own city.”
That got the wheels turning for Hess, who was sitting in the front row (with yours truly) that day. “I kept asking myself, ‘Why not? Why can’t we?,’” Hess told me. “Wesley Chapel is basically a cash machine for Pasco County, so it would be great for us to keep our tax dollars right here.” Kennedy added, “Right after that meeting, our Board came together and said to me, ‘Make it happen.’”
The Op-Ed Piece
Right before sitting down with me, the following Op-Ed piece by Hess appeared in the Tampa Bay Business Journal on March 7:
The Time is Now: Why Wesley Chapel Must Take Control Of Its Future
Wesley Chapel is no longer just a suburb — it’s a thriving economic powerhouse. Yet, despite our rapid growth, we remain unincorporated, with no direct control over how our tax dollars are spent. We generate millions in revenue, yet much of it is allocated to projects outside our community. It’s time to consider incorporation to ensure our tax dollars are reinvested where they belong — right here in Wesley Chapel.
Once a rural town, Wesley Chapel has evolved into one of Florida’s fastest-growing areas. We have top-tier healthcare, strong schools, and a booming business community, yet we lack a local government to advocate for our needs.
Currently, all decisions affecting our growth — zoning, infrastructure, business regulations — are made at the county level. Incorporation would allow us to shape policies that align with our community’s unique needs and priorities. Incorporation would allow us to establish a true city center — a place where businesses thrive, government services are easily accessible, and residents can engage with their local leaders. A true city center would create a hub for commerce, government services, and civic engagement. A dedicated city hall would bring the government closer to the people, offering a place for public meetings, business licensing, municipal planning, and other vital functions. A local post office would provide more convenient service, rather than relying on locations serving multiple communities. Wesley Chapel is large enough to sustain these services, it’s time we took ownership of them.
For businesses, incorporation means stability and efficiency. Permitting, zoning, and economic incentives would be handled locally, reducing delays and creating a business-friendly environment. With direct control over tax revenue, we could fund infrastructure improvements, support local businesses, and attract new industries. Instead of waiting for county-wide initiatives, we could take immediate action to enhance our economic future.
Traffic congestion on S.R. 54 and I-75 is a growing issue, yet local infrastructure projects often take a backseat to county-wide priorities. As an incorporated city, we could direct funding toward much-needed road improvements and explore expanded transit options. Public safety is another pressing concern. Wesley Chapel relies on county services spread thin across a vast area. Incorporation would allow us to create a dedicated police and fire department, ensuring faster response times and better community-focused safety measures.
Before moving forward, we need a comprehensive economic impact study to assess the feasibility of incorporation. This study will provide critical data on how incorporation would affect residents, businesses, and public services. With clear financial insights, we can make informed decisions about our community’s future.
Wesley Chapel has outgrown its unincorporated status. Our businesses and residents deserve a government that prioritizes local needs, reinvests tax dollars into our own infrastructure, and fosters economic growth. The time has come to take control of our destiny and build a Wesley Chapel that works for us.
The future is ours—let’s take the next step. — Reprinted from the Tampa Bay Business Journal
The Game Plan
Hess and Kennedy assured me that the process currently being undertaken has been a “very thoughtful one,” according to Kennedy. “It’s going to be very much data-driven.”
“We’re starting by raising money for an economic impact study,” Hess added. “That’s the first step.”
At our press time, the NTBC Board had not yet ratified the decision to officially retain a neutral third party — Austin, TX-based Angelou Economics — to conduct the economic impact study, at a cost of $75,000. But, Hess was confident that the Board would approve Kennedy’s recommendation at the Board meeting on Mar. 11.
“My initial conversation with [Angelou] was so extraordinary,” Kennedy said. “They said, ‘This situation (the possibility of incorporating Wesley Chapel) is incredible.”
If and when that economic impact study comes back with a positive result, as Hess and Kennedy expect, another $75,000 would be needed to fund a second study — an actual incorporation feasibility study — that also would be conducted by Angelou.
“Right now, we only need $75,000,” Hess said. “If the economic impact study doesn’t come back favorable, we’re probably not going to need that other $75,000. There would be no need to raise money for a feasibility study. But, we’re confident that both studies are going to end up giving us the green light to move forward.”
Kennedy added, “We’re actually planning to try to raise a total of $200,000, because we estimate that we’re also going to need about $50,000 for community engagement and marketing. But, we believe that doing it incrementally is a good idea. Angelou isn’t going to require us to pay for the second study until the first one comes back positive. This way, we won’t be on the hook for the whole $200,000. Yes, we are currently raising capital, but we haven’t made an official ‘ask’ yet and we’re not ready to announce any major donors at this time.”
Hess added, however, “That a lot of people have already told us they want to help, but until enough people actually write a check, we’ll still be in fund-raising mode.” He noted that even small amounts contributing to the fund-raising campaign, as a couple of local business owners have offered, “will definitely be accepted.”
Hess and Kennedy said they are thankful to former Florida House Speaker (and Wesley Chapel resident) Will Weatherford, who got legislation passed before he left the house in 2014 that said a community wanting to incorporate did not need to get permission from the county in which it is located. “It will be a referendum for those impacted,” Kennedy said, “and we believe that 50% + 1 vote of the registered voters who show up to the polls for the referendum from the area proposing incorporation will have to vote in favor of it for it to pass.”
Kennedy also acknowledged that this is not the first time incorporating Wesley Chapel has been considered. “But, the last time, around 2016 or so, a group of Wesley Chapel residents came to the Chamber and said, ‘We want to incorporate,’ which gave us quite a lift, but it fell apart for two main reasons — arguing over what the boundaries should be and the lack of involvement from the business community.”
Of course, there are dozens more large-scale businesses located within what could become the City of Wesley Chapel now than there were ten (or even five) years ago, and. Kennedy said, “Because we’re starting with the business community and the studies, we feel confident there will be more momentum for it this time around.”
She also noted, however, that the Chamber has its own 501(c)(3) foundation that the funds for the studies could flow through, “because it’s in our Foundation bylaws that we can use Foundation funds for ‘Studies of Community Impact.’ So, any donations to this cause would be tax deductible because you’d be funding a study.”
Igniting The Spark
“Senator Danny Burgess (photo left, with Kennedy) essentially lit this idea on fire,” Kennedy said of the Oct. 2024 Chamber Coffee event. “Our Board came back to me after that meeting and said, ‘Go ahead. Make it happen.’ And, I’ve been working on this ever since.”
One of the first things Kennedy and Hess had to look into was law enforcement.
“We approached (Pasco) Sheriff Chris Nocco’s office about establishing a police presence in Wesley Chapel,” Kennedy said. “They have told us that, ‘[PCSO’s] official position is that we will support whatever the citizens of Wesley Chapel decide for their future.”
That could mean hiring additional Pasco Sheriff’s deputies just for Wesley Chapel or establishing a municipal police force (as in the cities of Dade City and Zephyrhills). Either way, police protection would be paid by the residents of the new City of Wesley Chapel.
“The only thing we have out here in terms of services that’s doing O.K. is fire,” Hess added. “The fire [and emergency medical] services are pretty good, but police is way behind. Plus, we can’t seem to get a post office and we have no municipal buildings of any kind.”
So, the fund raising is beginning in earnest now and Hess is quick to point out that the group is not looking for one or two sweetheart donors to fund the whole $75,000 starting cost.
“We’re looking for local business people and residents who want to donate anything from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to get the ball rolling,” he said. “We don’t want anyone thinking that because they funded most or all of it, that they have control over how we proceed.”
Kennedy also has made an initial inquiry with Pasco supervisor of elections Brian Corley, who said he would have to look into how it would work to set up an initial municipal election and how potential voters would be notified.
“Brian said, I’ve never done this before, so I will have to get back to you. But this is exciting!”
Thankfully, Hess noted, “There are a lot of examples over the last 10 years or so of communities in Florida incorporating, so at least we have some examples to study.”
The most recent such example is Westlake, which became the 411th municipality in Florida on June 22, 2016. Of course, the master-planned unit development known as Westlake only had about 900 residents when it incorporated (it’s up to about 6,000 today), vs. anywhere from about 60,000 to more than 100,000 residents of what would be the City of Wesley Chapel, depending upon whose population estimates you use and where the boundaries would be set.
“As far as places our size in Florida, there’s only a handful that aren’t incorporated,” Hess said. “We would definitely be a city, because of the size, not an incorporated town or village.”
Kennedy and Hess also discussed the type of municipal government that might be set up in the City of Wesley Chapel.
The current cities in Pasco County — Dade City, Zephyrhills, San Antonio, New Port Richey and Port Richey (St. Leo is an incorporated town)— are all run by City Councils, with mayors selected from the Council members.
But, Kennedy said that because Wesley Chapel is so much bigger, the government could be set up as a strong mayoral form of government, with City Council members representing the districts in which they live. “All of that needs to be figured out in the future,” she said.
They both said that if the studies come back favorable, the goal is to get the proposed city charter written in time for consideration by the 2026 State Legislative session. If approved, the governor could then select a charter mayor, and there could be municipal elections sometime during the following election cycle. As for who might be interested in serving as (or running for) the Mayor of Wesley Chapel, neither of them wanted to speculate. “It’s just so early in the process,” Hess said.
So, What About Those Boundaries?
As mentioned above, for now, the “working” boundaries for the proposed city are the three Wesley Chapel zip codes (33543, 33544 & 33545 on the map), but that could change.
As we reported in Oct. 2023, Kennedy would prefer to use the Census Designated Places (CDP) map, which uses natural boundaries for CDP boundaries, which would move the boundary of Wesley Chapel well west of I-75, to Cypress Creek. This would allow Wesley Chapel to also include the Tampa Premium Outlets, but using the CDP map also would mean that places like Watergrass, the northern half of Epperson and other parts of the so-called “Connected City” would not be included in the city limits.
No matter which boundaries end up being used, the City of Wesley Chapel would include all three local hospitals, plus Pasco Fire Rescue Station Nos. 13 (on Old Pasco Rd.) and 26 (in Meadow Pointe) and could include No. 38 in Watergrass.
Hess said that until the economic impact study comes back, there’s no reason to try to set the boundaries.
“The main thing for me,” he said, “is that if our taxes would have to go up significantly to make this happen, I couldn’t support it.”
For more info about the City of Wesley Chapel, email Jamie Hess at jamie.hess@computeremergencyroom.com.
The new Hooters, which is expected to begin building next to the Wesley Chapel Harley-Davidson dealership at 25245 Wesley Chapel Blvd. later this summer, has had a sign (above) visible for several months now, since shortly after HMC Hospitality Group signed its lease with the Harley dealership for property adjacent to the retail motorcycle shop.
HMC, whose LinkedIn.compage says it is owned by, “the founders of the world famous Original Hooters, a renowned name in the hospitality industry, with our presence in Tampa Bay, Chicago and Las Vegas.” It is not the same company that reportedly is getting ready to declare bankruptcy and shutter some Hooters locations. That company, Hooters of America, LLC, is not involved in the Wesley Chapel Hooters plans.
And, although OriginalHooters.comsays the Lutz/Wesley Chapel location is “Coming Summer 2025,” that is actually the expected start date for the restaurant to begin building, at least according to a spokesperson who asked to not be identified at the Harley dealership.
In other words, the new Hooters probably can’t open much before the end of 2025. — GN
Benjamin Burkhalter, the franchise owner of Everbowl Craft Superfood in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza at 19036 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (at New Tampa Blvd.), may look a little young to be an entrepreneur, but he says he recognized a good product when he saw one.
“I’ve been into eating healthy and working out since my teens,” Benjamin says. “But, when I visited my brother, who was stationed in San Diego (where Everbowl started), I met (founder and CEO) Jeff Fenster and sampled a lot of his healthy menu, so I decided to open a franchise here in Florida.”
The only other Florida Everbowl of the chain’s 100+ open and coming-soon locations is near the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando and Benjamin says a lot of the existing locations are near or on college campuses — and he is looking to open others in his Tampa Bay-area territory.
“I liked the look of the stores and the fact that everything is super-fresh and that we have so many different bases for our bowls and smoothies,” Benjamin says. “I just feel like if people try us, they’re going to love it!”
Photographer Charmaine George (who took the photos on this page) and I sampled a few menu items on our first visit and we enjoyed everything.
Charmaine absolutely loved her PB Everbowl, which included an açai base, with granola, fresh bananas, strawberries and blueberries with a peanut butter drizzle. We each also tasted a spoonful of other bases, including “Coco Love,” Blue and Mango Majic, Cacao Wow and vanilla. They reminded us of fresh fruit sorbets and frozen yogurts.
I was in the mood for a post-workout smoothie, so I ordered the PB Cacao Dream, which uses the chocolatey Cacao Wow base, blended with bananas, cacao nibs, peanut butter and almond milk, and Benjamin added a scoop of protein powder. I finished the entire large-size smoothie while I interviewed him.
Assistant manager Abby Roneker (at right in photo, right) also made us my surprise favorite menu item, the Bruschetta Avocado Toast, which is a thick slice of tasty toasted rustic artisan bread topped with house-made (and truly fresh) avocado spread, marinated tomatoes, basil and a zesty balsamic drizzle. I’m not as big an avocado fan as Charmaine is, but we both loved it!
Everbowl also offers a variety of lemonades and fruit teas with unique flavors like dragon fruit, strawberry basil and more. For more info or to order online, visit Everbowl.com and please tell Benjamin and Abby I sent you! — GN
Luis Viera, the New Tampa resident who has served for more than eight years in New Tampa’s District 7 on the Tampa City Council, says he has hosted about 85 town hall meetings during his tenure on the Council. And, even though not all of those town hall events have been located in — or focused on — New Tampa, Viera has made his home zip code of 33647 a top priority, especially over the past year or so, when there has been an increase in headline-grabbing homicides in our area.
Viera’s most recent town hall, held on March 3 at the Compton Park at Tampa Palms clubhouse, was again attended by nearly 50 local residents, as Viera brought Tampa Police Department (TPD) Capt. Benjamin Brown and two TPD sergeants to discuss public safety, as well as Viera’s plans for his future (as we reported in our March 4 New Tampa issue).
Among the topics Viera discussed:
Politics – “I am not rot running for Mayor. Running for that office is a full-time job and I have a full-time job as an attorney, so this is not my time. But, I certainly am going to be running for something else, which will likely be County Commissioner or State Representative. My friend, State Rep. Fentrice Driskell is term-limited in 2026, so that is likely where I’ll be running, but an announcement will be forthcoming.”
Overview of what he’s been working on in City Council –
Hurricane Relief – “I got $3.5 million for North Tampa for hurricane relief, hoping for $1 million more from City Council.”
All For Transportation (AFT) sales tax money that was being held by the State Legislature — “It’s going to be released shortly. We’re inquiring about what the City will do with its share of the funds. I would like to see some of it go to two things — New Tampa Blvd. and finishing up Tampa Palms (TP) Blvd. We got the $3-$4 mill investment for the first half of TP Blvd. 3-4 years ago. Now we have to finish what we started. I’ve also heard that the county will use AFT funds for Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Fowler Ave. to Bearss Ave.”
Parks – “I got $1 million for the design of the park at K-Bar funded with Community Investment Tax (CIT) funds. I’m also not going to be here after 2027, maybe even 2026, so whoever is in this position after me will need to get the funding in the budget to build that park. A big part of that will be a cricket field, something important to the large Indian -American population in New Tampa. I’m very proud to have gotten over the last eight years almost $10 mill in new city parks funded — including expanding the New Tampa Rec Ctr, adding Tampa’s first All Abilities Park (the first city-funded park that caters to people with disabilities — autism, intellectual & physical), plus the additional expansion of the courts at Liberty Middle School (a joint project between the Hillsborough School Board and the city).”
Harrison Boonstoppel – “I made a motion at City Council to have the All Abilities Park renamed for 20-year-old Harrison Boonstoppel, who was killed in Oct. 2023 by the crossfire of rival gangs shooting at each other in Ybor City. Haarrison had some physical and mental disabilities but he was the type of young man, with the help of his family, who really maximized all of his potential. He was a special human being. And, with the support of the neighborhoods, including Tampa Palms, New Tampa, as well as Pepin Academies (where he went to school) and different special needs advocates, we’re trying to see if we can have that park named after Harrison because his life, God rest his soul, really reflects what that park is all about.”
Stafford Park, Tampa Palms – “There’s about five acres that was originally supposed to be the location of the All-Abilities Park, but the park got moved because it was very near the interstate, which would not be good for a sensory park. I’m trying to see if we can get design money in the next budget for a soft, neighborhood ‘pocket park’ at that location. Just making sure that before they sell that property to Walmart or whoever, that we look into using it for a city use.”
Penguin Project – “I got the city to give $150,000 for this arts program for people with intellectual disabilities to be able to do plays and arts. another way to promote New Tampa. It’s funny that I get tagged as being anti-arts because I voted against giving $25 million to the Straz Center and $25 million for the Tampa Museum of Art, because I thought that kind of money could be used elsewhere, but the Penguin Project is the kind of arts funding that I can support.”
Fire Rescue – “One of the big things that I really always try to fight for on Tampa City Council is public safety. In 2017, I got Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 23 in Grand Hampton funded, and then Station No. 25 in North Tampa to help out with Station 13, and recently, we were able to fund Station No. 24 on Whiteway near Temple Terrace. I still really want to fix response times in K-Bar Ranch. I’ve been having a disagreement with the administration on K-Bar Ranch response times and I’ve been trying to figure out how to remedy that. Chief Tripp says she’s going to put an additional vehicle out at Station No. 22 in Cross Creek. We build and build and build but you have to have corresponding infrastructure, mobility & public safety to go along with that. It’s just common sense.”
Capt. Brown, who is with TPD’s Special Operations Division downtown, said his division handles “traffic, traffic homicide, the motor unit, the SWAT (Special Weapons & Tactics) team, bomb squad, helicopters, dogs, horses, boats — anything that’s not normal patrol.” Here are some of the items he discussed:
Speeding on Tampa Palms Blvd. —“I was told to talk about speeding on Tampa Palms Blvd., but as Councilman Viera said, there are things our mobility department can do to reduce speeding, but speeding is an epidemic, not just on Tampa Palms Blvd. or in New Tampa, but everywhere. I live up here too, so it’s a big concern of mine. I see this problem all the time — to work, home from work…and it leads to everything from fights to road rage to shootings. We obviously don’t want that in our neighborhoods. But, stopping people, writing tickets, deters some people but not everyone. In February alone, in zip code 33647, there were over 700 traffic stops. You can imagine the amount of manpower and time that takes to work in [those stops] with calls for service…people who need help. With those traffic stops, some were citations, some were arrests, some were warnings, but the fact of it is the motor squad, the patrol units, they do a lot of traffic stops up here and we still have the problems we have. ‘Environmental’ changes we can make — include creating speed zones, traffic circles, reduced speed limits. Those are some of the things that can be done to slow down traffic.”
Capt. Brown also discussed some different vehicles that are definitely growing in popularity, not just in New Tampa, but all over.
Ebikes & Scooters – “I was asked to talk about the laws when it comes to ebikes, scooters, mopeds, those kinds of things. For ebikes , the legislation and laws haven’t really caught up with that yet. You do not need a license or registration to drive an ebike, which is a bicycle that has motor of some sort on it. It can be completely propelled by the motor or kick started by pedal power. There’s three classes — Class 1 is a pedal assist only and can only go up to 20 mph. Class 2 is a throttle assist, no pedaling. You just pull a throttle and it goes, and those are only supposed to go up to 20 mph. Class 3 is a pedal assist that can go up to 28 mph. These ebikes still must adhere to whatever the speed limits are on the street they’re on. Helmets are mandatory for anyone under age16 and they must adhere to all rules of the roadway just like a bicycle. They can be on the sidewalks, but pedestrians always have the right of way on sidewalks.”
Golf Carts & Low-Speed Vehicles – “We’re all aware of the trend in certain neighborhoods where golf carts have gotten very popular. They are easy to charge and easy to get around the neighborhood. There’s three classes of these, too. There are golf carts, which go less than 20 mph; low-speed vehicles, which go 20-25 mph, and are basically a hybrid between cars & golf carts; and there are regular cars. Low-speed vehicles look like golf carts but are capable of higher speeds. They can be registered, and they have to adhere to safety protocols that cars have — stop lamps, turn signals, head lamps, tail lamps, parking brakes, seat belts, etc. You can get tags for these vehicles and they can be driven on the streets, but then, they must be registered and you must carry insurance for them. Those aren’t something we’re going to go out & attack if they’re being safe, when we have speeders and people being reckless. Low-speed vehicles can be driven on the street as long as the road speed limit is no higher than 35 mph and the vehicle is capable of going at least 20 mph. If they’re registered and you’re a licensed driver, you can drive those on the streets. Golf carts & low-speed vehicles can not go on sidewalks unless they’re designated paths/cart-ways. There will be signs if a sidewalk is designated for that.”
Electric Scooters – “These are the ones that the kids are riding, but you actually have to be 16 or older to drive one of those. I’ll admit, though, that I am in violation of that. My daughter, I’m trying to convince her to get off the road and on the sidewalk and, like many parents, I am in violation of that. But, the scooters can’t be on the street, and they can not be registered, but they can go on sidewalks & designated pathways, but not on streets.”
School Bus Info – Capt. Brown also said he was asked to discuss school bus rules. “If the school bus is stopped with its ‘arms’ out and there is no median or a very thin median, cars in both directions have to stop. The only time you don’t have to stop is when there is at least a six-foot-wide raised median,. Then, the oncoming traffic does not have to stop. But obviously, everybody wants to use caution. We’re going to start implementing a school speed safety program. No schools in this area are listed yet but I’m expecting this program to expand and what it does is put cameras in the school zones that are going to pick up those speeding through it . Whether your view of camera-enforced traffic is positive or negative, I don’t think anyone could argue that protecting those school zones and our children is a paramount thing that we should be doing. That should be coming out in August of next year.”
Some of the questions the officers and Viera answered following their presentations will be included when this story appears in the April 1 edition of New Tampa Neighborhood News.
