Pasco County Tells Wesley Chapel & Lutz/LOL Groups: No Borders

Border Wars WEB 2

After weeks of research by the Wesley Chapel and Central Pasco Chambers of Commerce to help Pasco County staffers determine the borders of Wesley Chapel and Lutz/Land O’Lakes — which included bringing in local historians and combing through old newspaper archives — both organizations found out recently it was a wasted effort.

Bottom line? Barring a successful effort to incorporate either area, there will be no defined borders for Wesley Chapel or Lutz/Land O’Lakes.

Border Wars WEB1
Are the two intersections shown above in Wesley Chapel or Lutz/Land O’Lakes? Pasco County: ‘We won’t define a border.’

In fact, new Pasco Planning & Development administrator Kristen Hughes said defined borders were never going to happen, because that is not the job of the county.

But, that was news to the WCCC and CPCC, as the leaders of both Chambers were left scratching their heads.

“Each group had an opportunity to present their side and their information,’’ said WCCC CEO Hope Allen, after getting the bad news. “We were all under the impression there would be a resolution and the county would be the deciding factor and we would live with whatever the county decided. Toward the end, the county said that wasn’t going to be the case.”

Pasco County planner Matt Armstrong met with both sides in February and said in March he was still collecting data and that, “Ultimately, we will be bringing a report to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with a recommendation on what we think the boundaries (should) be.”

But, between then and our press time, Pasco County attorneys stepped in and said defining borders to settle the dispute was not the job of the county.

The border decision, which had been expected for more than a month to be voted on by the BCC at their April 26 meeting, never made it onto the agenda.

“Yeah, I was surprised,’’ said Allen. “It would have been nice to know that. We spent lot of time on this. We were following the lead of the county.”

Calls to Armstrong were returned by Hughes, who said, “We are not going to define a border.’’

Hughes also was critical of local reporting on this issue, claiming that of all things he has read, half were wrong. He also claimed defined borders were never on the table, even though the WCCC and CPCC were working specifically on that issue. “But, that was our impression,’’ Allen says.

The debate over what area defined Wesley Chapel and what area defined Lutz-Land O’Lakes was sparked in January by a request to the BCC from the CPCC to rename the southern end of Wesley Chapel Blvd. as it crossed southbound over S.R. 56, to be more representative of the Lutz-Land O’Lakes area.

That debate over renaming the road was tabled until the BCC could research the issue. Board members decided that defining the borders between the two unincorporated Census Designated Places (CDPs) — Lutz/Land O’Lakes and Wesley Chapel — needed to be settled first, setting off the fact-finding missions by all involved.

Representatives of Lutz/Land O’Lakes believe their border extends west to I-75. The Wesley Chapel side thinks its western border extends to Wesley Chapel Blvd. So, the area between S.R. 54/Wesley Chapel Blvd. and I-75, which currently have Lutz (33559) and Land O’Lakes (34639) addresses, has been at the heart of the dispute.

Both areas are unincorporated, meaning neither is governed by a local municipal corporation, but rather, in this case, by the county. Hughes cited poet Robert Frost in saying, “Good fences make good neighbors,” saying the solution lies in resolving the differences between the two Chambers.

“Our objectives are, one, we really are about getting people to hold hands and work together to achieve a common goal,’’ Hughes says. “And second, helping communities find their hearts. Where is their center, what is their identity, and how do you want to build that out?”

Pasco County currently only has six incorporated areas — the cities of Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, Port Richey and New Port Richey, and the incorporated town of Saint Leo.

The rest of the county is comprised of unincorporated CDPs like Wesley Chapel, Land O’Lakes/Lutz, Trinity and Hudson, to name a few. Armstrong said that 450,000 of the 490,000 people living in Pasco today reside in those currently unincorporated areas, with only 40,000 residing in the municipalities.

Hughes said he has heard there is a group looking into incorporating Wesley Chapel, in which case a discussion and vote on the requested borders would be taken. But, there hasn’t been any official action that he knows of…yet.

“It is my understanding (that there are people looking into it),’’ Allen said. “I don’t know if there’s a collective group, per se, but it is being discussed in different conversations. But, our Chamber has not taken a position on it.”

Some of the same concerns remain, but the entire debate seems to be back where it started — Wesley Chapel Blvd.

“We were opposed to the renaming of the southern portion of Wesley Chapel Blvd., and we are still opposed to that renaming,’’ Allen said.

Allen said the WCCC has reached out to the CPCC and asked that the leadership from both organizations sit down and look for resolutions to some of the issues between them.

Which, Hughes would say, beats drawing borders any day.

PHSC Conference Teaches Students What Businesses Are Looking To Find

PHSC13WEB
(Above, l.-r.) Wesley Chapel Chamber CEO Hope Allen, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel marketing director Tracy Clouser, The Shops at Wiregrass mall general manager Greg Lenners and new Pasco Hernando State College-Porter Campus Provost Dr. Bonnie Clark were among the panelists during a PHSC conference on April 5 which addressed what businesses in the area are looking for in a good employee. The program was part of the pre-inauguration festivities for when Dr. Timothy Beard (below) is officially inaugurated as PHSC’s fourth president on May 6.

If students planning to graduate from Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) want to find their way to success, then immersing themselves in the community, developing leadership skills and gaining experience while in school might be the most important ways to move forward.

What businesses are looking for was the main theme on April 5 at the “Defeating the Odds…Achieving The Dream” panel discussion held at the PHSC Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

The event, which focused on leadership development and community engagement, was part of a series of events leading up to this month’s inauguration of Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., as PHSC’s fourth president.

The panel featured local business leaders, such as Shops at Wiregrass mall general manager Greg Lenners, Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) CEO Hope Allen, and Tracy Clouser, the director of marketing for Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC).

The panel, moderated by new PHSC- Porter Campus Provost Bonnie Clark, Ph.D., also included educators Carin Hetzler-Nettles, the principal at Wesley Chapel High, and assistant humanities professor Dennis Feltwell, Ph.D., as well as current PHSC student Denise Saviolis.

Dr. Beard was the keynote speaker, and he talked about PHSC’s vision of student success and innovative teaching, which he says go hand in hand if the school is to achieve its mission of, “Imagine, Believe and Achieve.”

“We want students who are globally astute and are able to think outside the box,’’ Dr. Beard said.

Those students will be the ones most desirable to future employers, the panel agreed. By increasing college completion rates, joining forces with K-12 educators to make sure students are college-ready and collaborating with private institutions in the hopes of developing strong advocates in the community, Beard hopes to have students more prepared for their futures.

The discussion centered around PHSC itself and its plans to always meet the needs of employer expectations, and what those employers are looking for, especially in any management-level hire.

“We look a lot at culture,’’ Clouser said, when it comes to hiring well-rounded employees. “There are a lot of studies that show that highly-engaged employees deliver better results. In healthcare, that means better outcomes for our patients.”

PHSC Beard WEB
Dr. Timothy Beard

Others on the panel suggested developing passion, a capacity to connect to others, as well as resilience, while debating whether such things can be taught.

“Grit and perseverance, which in my mind can get you through anything,’’ said Hetzler-Nettles. “I think it can be taught to both adults and children.”

Those in hiring positions, though, are not only looking for engaging personalities and leadership, they most often require experience. By engaging the community and developing relationships in the private sector, PHSC leaders hope to help create those bridge opportunities for students.

“We are really trying to connect those students from Day One with employers,’’ Dr. Beard said.

Those who have completed internships, mentorship programs and worked full- or part-time with companies in their field of study will have a leg up on the competition, the panelists agreed.

“A key is getting students out to experiences,’’ Hetzler-Nettles said, which she said will result in referrals and references. “It’s all about making connections. We all need cheerleaders and champions.”

Those new to the workforce also need to “manage expectations,’’ Allen said, adding that sometimes, that high-paying job isn’t there right away. But, it should not dissuade employees from working their way through a company. “It’s okay to start at the bottom.”

The panel also discussed how social media can both assist and be a detriment to students and graduates looking to enter the workforce. On the one hand, Facebook, Twitter, et al., can sharpen a person’s “brand,” but executed poorly, can depreciate it as well.

“It’s a double-edged sword,’’ Lenners said. “(Social media) can be your friend and/or your enemy.”

Clouser also noted that social media is an extension of one’s brand, but if that consists of photos of prospective employees, “wearing low-cut clothing or drinking and smoking at a party,” it can sink many employment opportunities. “We will look (at social media),’’ Clouser said.

Dr. Feltwell offered some of the best, and simplest advice — stressing caution.

“Make sure it (your social media) says what you want it to say,’’ he said.

Dr. Beard’s inauguration ceremony will be held on Friday, May 6 at the PHSC West Campus in New Port Richey.

For additional information about Pasco Hernando State College, visit PHSC.edu.

Wharton student stabbed multiple times at school

knifeA Paul R. Wharton High student was stabbed several times by another student Thursday afternoon, suffering non-life threatening injuries.

According to the Hillsborough County’s Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), at approximately 2 p.m., two students got into a verbal confrontation which soon escalated into a physical fight. A 15-year-old student armed himself with a steak knife he had on his person — approximately eight inches in total length with a 4-inch serrated blade — and he stabbed the 14-year-old victim multiple times.

The 15-year-old then hid the knife in the nearby boys bathroom trash can, but it was recovered at the scene.

The 14-year-old victim was transported from the New Tampa school to Tampa General Hospital.

The suspect in the attack has been arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Tampering with Evidence and Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds.

 

Wiregrass Ranch Prepped For Major Projects

Wiregrass Ranch Map
(Map by Blake Beatty)

West Palm Beach-based commercial developer John Dowd played a pivotal role in the development of the Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch area near S.R. 56 when, with the stalwart help of JCPenney as the lead anchor, he helped spearhead the birth of The Shops at Wiregrass mall.

Dowd admitted that it wasn’t easy. Right before the mall finished, the economy started to slow. Had it been six months later, Dowd doesn’t think the mall would have ever been built. “We had tenants come to us who had literally just signed leases and wanted out,’’ he said. “Everybody was so afraid of what was going to happen to the world.”

But, thankfully, the world did survive. And, so did the mall.

Wiregrass Ranch DRI
John Dowd shows a map of the Wiregrass Ranch DRI and where some of the planned construction will take place.

Dowd is back in the area, and is again teaming up with local landowner/developer JD Porter to help give the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) another economic shot in the arm.
At the Wesley Chapel Economic Development meeting at Mulligans (inside New Tampa’s Pebble Creek Golf Club) on April 28, Dowd and Porter regaled a crowd of more than 100 local business leaders with tales from the past, but mostly of a future they see as bright and bustling.

The Wiregrass mall, which Dowd said didn’t have the start everyone had hoped when it opened in 2008, is now enjoying the kind of success that was expected. That is triggering further development in the area, as the Porter family carefully and judiciously parcels out its land to businesses and developers who fit into their long-range plans.

Dowd said he was attracted to working with the Porter family because of the family’s deliberate style. Unlike many landowners, JD Porter said he is no rush to sell to the highest bidder and turn an instant profit. Instead, the Wiregrass Ranch DRI continues to only greenlight projects the Porter feel add value to the entire area.

Wiregrass Ranch Set To Expand

Here’s some of those plans Porter and Dowd shared at the Economic Development meeting:

1. On S.R. 54, just down the road from Walmart, the first project between Dowd and Porter will be a 12,600-sq.-ft. strip center, with two nicely designed buildings. Two restaurants are already signed up, with two more close to coming aboard as well. The project will feature a typical mix, including a cell phone store, nail and hair salons, restaurants and “good neighborhood use” businesses.

“We already have more interested tenants than we have space for,’’ Dowd said.

2. On S.R. 56, east of the Wiregrass Mall expansion (which will include restaurants, a movie theater and a grocery store), Porter and Dowd are doing is having site work done at another shopping center, to be called Wiregrass Commons at 56, which will include a “green” or specialty grocery store.

Nothing has been signed yet, Dowd said, and “we’re not doing any of the small stuff until we get an anchor signed up. Once that happens, that will be a 50,000-60,000-sq.-ft. project in total and a nice addition to the area.

3. Porter also said a hotel would be finalizing a deal within 30 days, and that is expected to also immediately east of the Wiregrass Commons at 56 project. He did not say which hotel, but we have heard rumors it will be a Marriott Fairfield Inn.

4. Even further east on S.R. 56, the long-awaited Raymond James Financial campus is close to officially announcing its arrival.

No, seriously.

JD Porter says big things are coming.
JD Porter (left) says big things are coming to Wiregrass Ranch, including Raymond James.

Porter joked that he was sick and tired of talking about the long-rumored project, which some had begun to doubt. But doubt no more.

“We got good news (April 27) and I truly believe within the next 2-3 weeks we’ll have a permit,’’ Porter said. “Having that permit triggers the closing. Having that closing means the other two or three office users, which we are we are talking to right now — anywhere from 600,000 square feet to another 1.2-million-sq.-ft., Fortune 50 companies — they close, and I would suspect we’re going to see movement within the next 4-6 months after that.”

Porter said Raymond James will add between 4,000-6,000 jobs, and that you can double that total to 8,000-12,000 jobs with the other unnamed businesses set to follow.

That will also begin to create some of the day traffic that Dowd says is necessary if the area is going to attract more quality restaurants, as well.

5. Porter said they will be closing on an assisted living facility, “in the next 45-60 days”. Porter didn’t disclose any other information, but the facility will be called Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch Assisted Living & Memory Care, which is owned by the Prevarian Companies.

The facility will be multiple stories when completed next to North Tampa Behavorial Health, which also is expanding and will be adding 48 rooms by the end of the year.

6. As part of trying to force vertical integration into the development plan, Porter said that in 30-45 days construction also should begin on a condo project, called Altis at Wiregrass, which will be located directly north of Wiregrass Commons at 56.

“If I would’ve said condos in Pasco County 3-4 years ago, you probably would have told me to get the hell out of here,’’ Porter said. “Well, it happened.”

Porter hinted at four-story structures, with rooftop pools and verandas. “Something typical of Hyde Park and South Tampa,’’ he said. “But not typical Pasco County.”

The condos, which according to site plans will include 394 multi-family dwellings in 15 separate buildings, are part of Porter’s plan to build new and different projects in the area. “If you wanna play in the sandbox, you have to step it up,’’ he said. “We are very fortunate to be in the right area. If people want to be here, bring something new to the table.”

Just The Beginning Of New Phase For Wiregrass Ranch

Porter promised other major announcements concerning major retailers still to come. But for now, he is pleased with the area’s progress, citing the proximity of an expanding hospital, a state college with room to grow into a full-fledged university and more retail in the area. He also expects an increase in new homes as well, and once the residential areas mature a mixed-use town center can be developed.

DonPorterWEB
Members of the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce Board, including past President Jeff Novotny (holding plaque) were honored to present the plaque that will adorn the boardroom at the WCCC office in The Grove named for the late Don Porter to Don’s son JD and daughter Quinn (center), during the Chamber’s Economic Development briefing at which JD and commercial developer John Dowd spoke about Wiregrass Ranch.

Porter also said his family is rethinking its commitment of donating 120-acres to the county to build a park in the area. A tennis center fell through more than a decade ago, as did a proposed baseball complex on the site last year. In November the county announced it would be seeking partners in a public-private relationship to build an indoor facility on land that also would include outdoor fields.

But Porter, frustrated with the county’s inability to move forward on donated land, says he may take back some of it back by the end of the year and build the park privately, as part of his long-range plan to provide the area with “synergy”.

“We are looking to create something we can be proud of out here not just tomorrow, but 10-50 years down the road,’’ he said.

Look for more updates on this area at WCNeighborhoodNews.com.