First Crystal Lagoon Breaks Ground In Wesley Chapel; #2 To Begin Later

You get a lagoon…and you get a lagoon…and you get a lagoon!

While a good many Wesley Chapel and New Tampa-area residents have been eagerly awaiting the prospects of a state-of-the-art Crystal Lagoon being built in our area, a second lagoon also is in the works as Metro Development Group moves to raise the bar on amenities for new housing developments.

Though it was first reported back in 2014, Metro finally is digging the hole on the former Epperson Ranch that will become the much-anticipated, first Crystal Lagoon in the state of Florida. Next year, construction on a second lagoon, located at Mirada on the old Cannon Ranch, will begin as well.

Construction of the 7.5-acre lagoon at Epperson Ranch, located north of the Bridgewater community on Curley Rd. north of S.R. 54., is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

Crystal Lagoons was founded in 2007 by Chilean biochemist-turned real estate developer Fernando Fischmann, who created a system based on pulses and ultra sonic filtration that can take virtually any kind of water and purify and maintain it at a low cost. Crystal Lagoons is the only company in the world with the technology, which is patented in 160 countries, and claims it currently has more than 300 projects in development in 60 countries.

According to Crystal Lagoons, its system is more efficient than a swimming pool, will use 100 times less chemicals and is 50 times more energy efficient, while consuming only 2% of the energy needed by conventional filtration systems.

The lagoon uses 30 times less water than a typical 18-hole golf course, and its clear, blue water will be surrounded by a white, sandy beach.

The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson Ranch will be 4,200 linear feet in circumference (which is almost 1 mile around), according to Metro Development Group president Greg Singleton.

The average depth will be eight feet, with some spots as deep as 10-12 feet. The water is so clear, Singleton adds, it doesn’t refract as much light, so the deeper spots will give it more of a deep blue color.

The lagoon will hold about 14-15 million gallons of water.

Where Metro Development Group is going to get that water created some consternation locally, when it was expected they would pump it in from the local aquifer. Local residents worried that tapping into the aquifer would create sinkholes.

Instead, Metro plans on purchasing water from Pasco County Utilities to fill the lagoon, although the developer does still reserve the right to find another source.

Another cause for the delay in construction was the uniqueness of the project, which created permitting issues for Pasco County and made finding the right people to build it painstaking.

“Being that this is the first Crystal Lagoon in the U.S., it is a unique construction project and we wanted to make sure we found the right partners and contractors for the job, which took more time than we expected,’’ Singleton says. “Also, being the first lagoon in the U.S. to be designed and permitted, we were methodical in our approach to get it right. We also needed to give our approving agencies time to work through their process, as this was also new for them.”

Epperson Ranch, which is part of Metro’s “Connected City” project currently weaving it’s way towards approval from the Pasco Board of County Commissioners, is already preparing to begin selling homes with the flashy amenity as a big draw. The first lot closing was expected to happen by the end of 2016, and model homes will start to be framed by the end of January.

The other Crystal Lagoon in Wesley Chapel also will be in the Connected City, Singleton says, in the Mirada community, which is just south of S.R. 52, a little further up Curley Rd.

“The two Lagoons in Connected City have been planned for at least two years and provide another compelling reason for people to live, work, and play in Connected City,’’ Singleton says.

Development of the Mirada community is expected to begin in the spring of 2017, and Metro is looking to break ground on that second Crystal Lagoon by the end of 2017.

Metro, which also developed the Union Park community in Wesley Chapel, plans to build four Crystal Lagoons in Florida.

Along with the two in Wesley Chapel, the developer intends to break ground on a lagoon in the SouthShore Bay community in South Hillsborough in spring of 2017, and will build another in a Fort Myers community called Brightwater.

For more information about the Crystal Lagoons, visit Crystal-Lagoons.com. To see what else Metro Development Group has going on, check out MetroPlaces.com.

Here’s 5 Things We’re Excited About For 2017

Bye bye, 2016.

Hello, 2017.

For many, there are no sweeter words. We’ll let the historians debate about how bad 2016 really was, but they have plenty of material to study.

Those historians might want to start with an election season that was meaner and nastier than any other. Ever. Considering the New Tampa area seemed firmly in Hillary Clinton’s camp, based on voting results, President Donald Trump will only add to the misery for some in the years to come.

Our country also faced an Ebola outbreak and a Zika outbreak, neither of which seems so bad in a world seemingly bent on destroying itself with hateful attacks leaving scores dead in Brussels, Paris and Instanbul, as well as in Charleston and Orlando…and the list just keeps getting longer with each passing day.

We had a significant hurricane scare (thank you, Matthew) and while the storm season spared New Tampa, thousands in other places in Matthew’s wake weren’t nearly as fortunate.

Muhammad Ali, David Bowie and Prince all died during 2016. Now, we really know what it sounds like when doves cry.

So bye bye, 2016.

Hello, 2017.

We could use some cheering up, so here’s five things we’re looking forward to as the calendar turns, because, really, things have to get better, don’t they?

1. Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) — Of all the things to look forward in the New Tampa-Wesley Chapel area in 2017, the $20-million FHCI (see ad on pg. 47), located along Cypress Ridge Blvd. on the northeast corner of the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange, has to be near the top of the list.

If you haven’t noticed, Tampa Bay has become something of a hockey town, thanks to the success of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. With so many northern transplants in the area, FCHI is sure to be a hit.

The five-rink complex will host corporate events, non-ice events like street and roller hockey, and with just a little configuring, even volleyball and basketball.

But even though the rink will feature the Top Shelf Sports Lounge, the bread and butter of FCHI will be served cold. The 150,500-sq.-ft. facility will have free skating, figure skating, high school hockey, adult hockey leagues, and everything in between. Gordie Zimmermann, who runs the place, has even teased curling leagues for locals. Raise your hand if you’ve watched curling during the Winter Olympics and said, ‘You know, I’d sure like to try that.’

Now you can.

Sometime in January, you’ll even be able to watch your first hockey game at the new FHCI when Wiregrass Ranch High plays. Spectrum Sports also will televise a live high school hockey game from FHCI sometime soon, too. Expect the Lightning to have some sort of a presence in the new joint, starting with clinics for kids.

And, Skate For Hope, which will benefit cancer research and feature many of the world’s top figure skaters, is scheduled for June 17.

2. The Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel — Speaking of FCHI, that brings us to the second thing we are looking forward to in 2017— the Taste of New Tampa, which returns Saturday, March 18, after a four-year hiatus.

You might remember the last Taste, back in 2003, which was foiled by terrible weather.

Well, this year, that won’t be a problem, as FHCI is hosting virtually all of the event inside. So, no rain, no sweating, no sunburn, just cool sub-70-degree weather as you walk around sampling tastes from as many as 50 local restaurants.

The star of the Taste is always the food, but we don’t want to put any pressure on our happy editor Gary Nager, who has been personally involved in almost every Taste to date. But, since he is again responsible for bringing in the best restaurants this year, COME ON MAN! AFTER 2016 THE WHOLE AREA IS RELYING ON A VARIED SELECTION OF DELICIOUS SAMPLES FROM THE BEST RESTAURANTS AROUND OR 2017 WILL BE RUINED!

Okay, so maybe there’s a little pressure.

3. New Restaurants — Speaking of food, we love playing Follow the New Restaurants here in the office. In this regard, 2016 was pretty good to us, with Ginza, Cheddar’s, Culver’s, Chick-Fil-A, B.J.’s Brewhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse and Vuelo all opening their doors.

And, while you may never have eaten at a Ford’s Garage or a Pollo Tropical, both are expected to open in 2017 right across from the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO). Our office will be among the first ones inside.

4. Costco — And, while we’re on the subject of TPO, if you look just a little west of it, the Costco looks ready to open.

We repeat: Costco looks ready to open!

We are now hearing the gas pumps will be open Jan. 9, and the wholesaler will be opening on Feb. 9. 

The mega wholesaler already has a cult following, but the nearest one to New Tampa is in Brandon. The expected February opening in Wesley Chapel will attract many of us, not just for the 200 or so jobs, which pay around an average of $20 an hour, with nice benefits, but also for the food. The Costco warehouse is filled with goodies, and as any veteran member knows, sample time around lunchtime is the cheapest date around.

5. Crystal Lagoons — Speaking of cheap dates, a trip to the beach can’t be beat, but why make that drive if there’s a crystal-clear, hyper-clean lagoon outlined by sandy beaches in your own back yard? Yes, after a delay, the first-ever Crystal Lagoon to be built in the U.S., is actually happening. Day passes will be on our Christmas list next year, for sure. 

We also look forward to seeing how New Tampa’s Luis Viera does as a Tampa City Council member, to the expansion of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, the possible start of construction of the Diverging Diamond Interchange at S.R. 56, the construction of Raymond James Financial, and more!

Dang! Wiregrass Ranch High Alum & Pro Gamer Is The Street Fighter V Champ!

Wiregrass Ranch high grad Du Dang is overcome with emotion after winning the Capcom Cup in Anaheim, CA, earlier this month. The championships were televised on ESPN 2.

Du Dang says he wasn’t the most popular or well-known kid when he lived in Wesley Chapel and went to Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH). But right now, he might just be the most famous graduate of WRH’s 2014 class.

The 20-year-old professional video gamer, who now lives in Tampa and is better known by his gamer tag “NuckleDu,” has won the 2016 Street Fighter V Capcom Cup championship.

In the world of professional video gaming, that’s a big deal. Dang flew out to Anaheim, CA, for the big tournament, and came home $230,000 richer after winning every best-of-5 match by either a 3-1 or 3-0 score. His purse was the largest in the history of fighting games, and his winning performance on Dec. 3 was televised live by ESPN 2.

Not bad for a kid who just five years ago was a reluctant player getting beat on a routine basis by his uncle. Today, he’s one of the top eSports players in the world.

“I was never really a gamer,’’ Dang said. “I hated the concept of fighting games. It was just up-down-left-right. But, I was playing my uncle and he kept beating me, so I started practicing and finally beat him.”

Du Dang

The son of Vietnamese parents, it was expected that Dang would study hard in school and become a doctor or an engineer, he says. His older brother and sister are both nursing students.

“I just wanted to keep getting good and kept playing,’’ Dang says. “It’s hard to convince your mom at age 17 to let you fly to a tournament.”

So hard, in fact, that Dang didn’t tell her he was flying to a tournament in Chicago. When he returned with prize money to help pay the bills, she changed her mind.

Dang has lived in tough places in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi and Jacksonville, FL, and he grew up poor. That is changing now, and he wants to be careful with his newfound wealth.

“The win took away a lot of problems,’’ he says.

He also says that he wanted to invest his Capcom Cup winnings, but not before splurging on an SUV, which would help him get his dogs around town.

The Canada Cup won by Du Dang.

Onyx (a mastiff), Tieu Bach (a chihuahua) and Tofu (a pit bull) are Dang’s escape from the world of eSports. “They are family,’’ he says.

He has to be away from them more than he likes, due to the travel required to stay at the top of his game.

Playing mainly the Mike and Guile characters in Street Fighter V, Dang has no plans for letting up in what is left of the year. He has delivered a diagonal jump heavy kick to 2016, winning almost everything in sight during his breakout year.

After winning roughly $11,500 in prize money from 2012-15, according to esportsearnings.com, Dang has now pocketed more than a quarter of a million dollars in 2016 alone, thanks largely, but not only, to his big Capcom Cup haul.

He was the first American to win a big tournament like that in more than two years, he says. The tournament featured players from Japan, China, Singapore, France, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the U.S., as well as other countries.

That win was his third straight in a big tournament this year, and eighth overall, including a Canada Cup win in October that netted him another $6,900. All told, he has won 13 championships.

It’s definitely not as easy as he has been making it look, he says.

“There are definitely a lot of obstacles,’’ Dang says. “I missed my niece’s first steps. I have missed a lot of birthdays. You have to be willing to make sacrifices, and you have to have a strong head. I thought about quitting many times.”

The eSports genre – which is comprised of quickly growing competitive gaming leagues and tournaments – is  entering the mainstream at a dizzying pace. In 2016, eSports are expected to become a $500-million business, and tournaments and championships are now being broadcast live on channels like ESPN. Your kids are as likely to watch their favorite players compete on Twitch.tv as you were to watch your favorite baseball players growing up.

Dang plays for a team called Team Liquid, which is sponsored by a number of companies, and was recently bought out by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Dang has met all of the Warriors players, and Golden State has been joined by other NBA teams, like the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, in investing in video gaming teams in an effort to reach younger audiences.

“It’s pretty amazing how it has grown,’’ Dang says. “It’s very overwhelming to play video games for a living. It’s pretty awesome.”

Dang hopes to grow along with the eSports industry. He continues to hone his craft on the Street Fighter platform (played on the Sony PlayStation 4), and is looking to continue his winning ways into 2017.

“I didn’t know until last year when I started winning everything that this is what I would be doing,’’ Dang says. “That’s when I started seeing real money. And this year, it’s just blown up.”

‘Connected City’ Makes A Pitch For Impact Fee Credits At BCC Workshop

The Connected City, located at the north end of Wesley Chapel, still has a few hurdles to jump through before it brings thousands of new homes and businesses to the area in purple.

The Connected City project, approved last month by the Pasco County Development Review Committee (DRC), which was comprised of four county administrators and representatives from the Pasco School District’s Economic Development Council (EDC), is now looking towards getting the same support from the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), which will have the ultimate say.

At the first of two scheduled BCC workshops, on Dec. 6, at the Dade City Courthouse, attorney Joel Tew, who is representing the Metro Development Group, and Ernie Monaco, the county’s assistant planning and development administrator, took turns explaining the benefits of the Connected City in an effort to persuade the commissioners to eventually vote for it.

“Let’s capture the opportunity at hand,’’ Monaco pleaded.

That opportunity is to build a Connected City, essentially a new city in eastern Pasco County, even though it won’t have city limits. The project is part of a 10-year pilot program created by a new statute (SB 1216). Adopted in 2015, it allows for an expedited planning and approval process for creating city-connected corridors. For the length of the pilot program, there will be no state oversight, although there will be two-year reviews.

The Connected City — a 7,800-acre area running north from Overpass Rd. in Wesley Chapel to S.R. 52 in San Antonio, and west from I-75 to Curley Rd. — is touted by developers and planners as being the first-ever gigabit community built from the ground up. A first-of-its-kind high-tech community, developers say the Connected City will promote major job creation, alternative transportation along integrated roadways, two first-in-the-country, man-made crystal lagoons and a detailed 50-year plan.

Metro has taken the lead in the project.

“The county has zero risk,’’ Tew said. “The risk of failure is truly on the private partner.” Metro owns 35 percent of the property within the Connected City area and has been the primary developer in the process. It is looking to build communities at Epperson Ranch South, EpcoRanch North, Ashley Groves and Mirada (formerly Cannon Ranch).

One of the sticking points in the process revolves around Metro receiving transportation mobility fee credits from the county for building the primary roads in exchange for setting aside 72 acres of site-ready employment centers with necessary infrastructure in place and government permits in hand.

Tew argued that Metro deserves the credits. While many areas of the country that have tried similar projects have had to rely on a big company coming in, like Google, to foot the bill, or money from a local governmental entity, Metro has assumed all of the financial responsibility for the project so far.

“We decided to put our money where our mouth is,’’ Tew said. “The hope is that one day we can use ‘paper’ credits, and not have to wallpaper the office with them.”

Tew said that the Villages of Pasadena Hills, the county’s largest development land-wise (22,000 acres) which is located immediately west of the Connected City site, received similar credits for building roads and had to do a lot less.

“We don’t get credit for the roadways if we don’t do about 6-8 more things that are very specific, very onerous,’’ Tew said, citing the requirement that Metro provide 7.2 million sq.-ft. of employment-use property, meaning commercial/residential uses.

Tew estimates there could be another $318-million investment in infrastructure improvements by Metro, including roadways to accommodate the employment uses.

“It’s simple math,’’ he said. “For the county (giving) $92-million worth of credits, the county is getting (almost a) 4-to-1 return on infrastructure provided, when compared with the credits given.”

“With all respect,” Tew added, “we are going to get credit for building those additional roads that you are requiring us to build for these employment uses. The deal has to make economic sense.”

The additional credits, however, could leave Pasco with a $43-million shortfall for its other road projects.

That concerned new BCC chairman MIke Moore, since three of the road projects suggested for potential postponement are in his district.

“There are going to be impacts of giving credits,’’ Monaco said. “That’s the reality here.” But, he added, another reality is the thousands of jobs that the Connected City will attract to the area, as well as the millions of additional tax dollars from new residents. A University of Florida Bureau of Business & Economic Research study says Pasco County could have 250,000 new residents by 2040.

Monaco says that the Connected City’s liberal home occupation development code, surcharges being imposed to fund start-ups and having service-ready business sites ready will attract companies to the area.

Tew said he already has met with various school officials about building new schools in the Connected City, including a high school with a special high-tech program. He said in order to attract the best businesses, the area needs the best schools for workers to send their kids to, “Or else we’re dead in the water.”

Pat Gassaway of Heidt Design said that if you include the five-mile radius around the Connected City, the development plans could consist of 12 new schools — six elementary, three combined K-8 schools and three additional high schools. He said a surcharge of $579 per unit would be imposed to fund that part of the project.

There are two more hearings scheduled for Tuesday, January 17 & Tuesday, January 24. The official vote is expected to take place sometime in March of 2017.

Monaco said that if the Connected City fails, land reserved to produce a state-of-the-art community that provides jobs and additional lustre to the county — and the growing Wesley Chapel area — will instead become just another series of typical developments.

“We want a premier county,’’ Monaco said. “This is what has motivated us to work really hard on this deal.”

“We have an amazing comprehensive plan,’’ Monaco added. “There are measurements every two years. There is land development code (in the Connected City plan) other counties will copy, I am sure of it. This has never been done before.”

For more information about the Connected City, visit PascoCountyFL.net/index.aspx?NID=2319.

Wawa Opens On S.R. 56


As pieces of the building were put together on S.R. 56 just east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., the anticipation built.

The gas pumps went in, the convenience store took shape. The signs were put up, and turned on.

When it will open? How will it open?

Answer: Quietly.

Just like that, on Nov. 28, Wesley Chapel’s first-ever Wawa was open.

No pomp. No circumstance. Just cheap gas, free coffee and deals on the chain’s famous tasty sandwiches.

“Man, I just went to the bank this morning, and the teller asked me if I knew Wawa was open today,’’ said Juan De La Torres, a retired first responder who lives in Seven Oaks. “I was like, ‘What?’” I had just driven by, I didn’t even notice. So, I rushed right over here.”

Juan De La Torres holds up his free Wawa shirt that he snagged after hearing the store on S.R. 56 had finally opened on Nov. 28.

For many like De La Torres, the opening of the Wesley Chapel Wawa was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. While certainly one of those places with a cultish following like Chick-Fil-A and Costco, this Wawa location eschewed the normal fan-friendly grand opening and chose instead to let local residents be surprised.

“I’m just glad they are finally open,’’ said De La Torres, who snagged himself a free blue Wawa tee-shirt, and then stuck around for the opening ceremonies and a few free samples of things like a ham sub sandwich, peppermint iced coffee and cinnamon oatmeal. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”

Wawa was open for business at 8 a.m., but at 10 a.m., area manager Rich Morton and Wally Goose, the Wawa mascot, welcomed a quickly growing crowd to Wesley Chapel’s newest hot spot.

Two firefighters from Pasco Fire Station 13 in Meadow Pointe, Frank Torres and Bobby LaBella, took on some  of the store’s staffers in a sandwich-making contest — when they weren’t throwing handfuls of shredded lettuce at each other and into the crowd. Torres and LaBella won the contest, earning a big trophy and a couple of $1,000 checks from Wawa to benefit the Firefighters Charities of Pasco.

Everyone posed for pictures. Then, they cut a ribbon. That made it official.

For Morton, it was a big moment. Though he manages a number of Wawas from northern Hillsborough County throughout all of Pasco and Hernando counties, the idea of a new store right across the street from where he lives was exciting.

Firefighters Frank Torres (left) & Bobby LaBella pose with checks for the Firefighters Charities of Pasco & Wally Goose.

“Very cool,” Morton said. “I’ve been waiting since I first moved down here four-and-a-half years ago. We bought a home right in (Seven Oaks) right away, and I’ve been waiting for a store close to home.”

Morton had nothing to do with the site selection, but he jokes that he hasn’t been shy about making suggestions as he’s been driving around Wesley Chapel.

“The real estate guys are real frustrated with me, because I’m like ‘Look at this site, look at this site, look at this site,’’’ he said, chuckling.

Morton thinks the current location is perfect, catching a lot of the eastbound traffic between the Tampa Premium Outlets and the Shops at Wiregrass malls. He says this won’t be the last Wawa we see here locally. “We’re definitely opening here again,’’ he said.

A Little History…

Formerly a dairy company, Wawa opened its first food market in Folsom, PA, in 1964. It has expanded to many areas in the mid-Atlantic region, but didn’t come to Florida until one opened in Orlando in 2012. The Wesley Chapel location is the 102nd Wawa store to open in the state since then.

Wawa has succeeded by taking the convenience store concept to another level with competitively-priced gas, fresh drinks and expertly-prepared sandwiches and other quality food items that can be ordered right off an in-store computer touch screen.

“Ninety percent of the time, I just come for the food,’’ said De La Torres.

Wawa’s employees start at $10 per hour, above the minimum wage, and because of the friendly benefits, often stick around for years, if not decades, which has helped the company develop. “You don’t see a lot of companies doing health benefits for part-time employees,’’ Morton said. Taking care of his employees, he adds, trickles down to the customer service, which is often lauded in surveys.

Denise Bee, who lives in Meadow Pointe III, said she was just driving by Monday morning on her way home from a doctor’s appointment when she noticed people walking in and out. Like everyone else, she was surprised that Wawa had finally opened.

And pleased, too.

“It’s about time,’’ said Bee. “I’ve been driving by and watching it go up little by little, wondering if it was close. Now I don’t have to drive all the way to Bearss Ave. to get gas…and hot chocolate.”

Wawa is located at 27866 S.R. 56, across from Sam’s Club, just west of BBD. For more information, visit Wawa.com, or call (302) 758-6873.