Category: Wesley Chapel

Toll Study Approved For Proposed Elevated Lanes Along S.R. 54/56 Corridor

By Matt Wiley

A study will soon be under way to determine how much funding could be generated using tolls for the potential future construction of elevated lanes above the S.R. 54/56 corridor (which we have reported about previously), stretching from U.S. 19 in New Port Richey to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel (see map).

During the July 9 Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meet- ing, commissioners unanimously approved the $218,785 study, which is being funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and carried out by the URS (United Research Services) Corp. The study is expected to take about eight months to complete.

“They (URS) are experts in toll facilities,” says Richard Gehring, planning and development administrator for Pasco.

Elevated toll lanes could span the S.R. 54/56 corridor in the future. Bonded toll revenue could help fund the project. Photo: TBARTA

“They’re going to study what the toll (revenue) projections are going to be. How much revenue will the tolls produce? How long will it take (toll road usage) to ramp up? When you put a toll facility in place, people have to sort of learn how to use it. They don’t initially want to pay to go from point A to B.”

Editorial – Honoring Another Local Media Mogul

An editorial by Gary Nager

Although we always try to give proper attribution when we use information or photos from another source other than our own staff in these pages (or on WCNeighborhoodNews.com), long-time readers of the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News surely must recognize that we don’t do a whole lot of promoting of other local media companies, online or in our publications.
But, every once in a great while, someone comes along who, by virtue of the respect he or she has earned not only from me, but also the entire community they serve, who merits special mention on this page.
One such person is Tony Masella, the owner, chief photographer and all-around great guy at OurTownFla.com.

Former local newspaper columnist Charlie Reese (left) emceed the “Toast” of Tony Masella of OurTownFla.com on July 18.

Tony was deservedly honored on July 18 at the “Pasco Toast for Tony” at the Copperstone Executive Suites on Land O’Lakes Blvd. (U.S. 41). At the “Toast,” which was emceed to perfection by Charlie Reese (a former columnist at yet another local media outlet who now co-owns JC Audiology & Hearing Aids with his wife Dr. Judith Reese, Ph.D.), I was among somewhere between 70-100 people who were on hand to give Tony his just due. Continue reading

North Tampa Behavioral Health To Open To Patients In October

By Matt Wiley

North Tampa Behavioral Health (NTBH) is slated to open its doors on S.R. 56 in early October about one year after the opening of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC). However, instead of a facility devoted to physical wellness, NTBH will focus on the well-being of the mind for its patients. There will be an added benefit of increased prosperity for the local community, eventually creating more than 200 jobs.

Ten Broeck Wesley Chapel 7-15-13 01 — North Tampa Behavioral Health, a psychiatric health facility, located on S.R. 56 east of the Shops at Wiregrass, will open to patients in October.

This summer NTBH bought the facility (located just east of Mansfield Blvd. on the south side of S.R. 56 in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact, or DRI) from United Medical Corp. NTBH was impressively constructed, in form and function, by DeAngelis Diamond Healthcare Group, LLC, to withstand Category 5 storms. DeAngelis is a Naples-based, nationally reputed construction company that specializes in building medical facilities.

NTBH will be both the newest and one of the most secure psychiatric hospitals in the Tampa Bay area when it opens in early October, says NTBH chief executive officer Jim Harris, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the mental health field since 1990. Surrounded by 14-foot-tall fences, the 53,000-sq.-ft., 75-bed facility sits on 16.46 acres of land on an outparcel of the Wiregrass Ranch DRI, but is surrounded almost entirely by conservation land. Construction began last November. The center is centrally located to serve several hospitals without psychiatric units, including FHWC, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and Bayfront Dade City (Pasco Regional).

Michele Baker Accepts County Administrator Job

Michele Baker has officially become the first new Pasco County administrator in more than 30 years, succeeding her previous boss, long-time administrator John Gallagher.

The Pasco Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 on July 9 to approve a two-year contract for Baker that would pay her $170,000 per year with the option for a raise, pending an evaluation after one year. The job was originally offered to current Irving, TX, city manager Tommy Gonzalez on May 28, who turned down the county’s offer on June 22.

The BOCC then voted to offer the job to Baker on June 25.

“Michele has been an outstanding assistant and will do a great job as administrator,” Gallagher told the Wesley Chapel Rotary club on July 24.

FHP Seeks Witnesses In July 4 Crash

A fatal traffic crash early on July 4 has left one Wesley Chapel man dead and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) searching for witnesses.

According to FHP, at 12:20 a.m. on July 4, Terry A. Carver, 53, of Wesley Chapel, was parked at the Cumberland Farms gas station at Morris Bridge Rd and S.R. 54, when he shifted his Ford F-150 into reverse and slammed into a Dodge Durango being driven by Kyle Thompson, 28, of Zephyrhills. Following the collision, Carver fled the scene.

The report states that a short time later, Carver was stopped by a PCSO deputy on S.R. 56, west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Carver was discovered to be suffering from an undisclosed emergency medical condition and was transported to nearby Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), where he later died.

An alcohol test was pending at our press time and the case is still under investigation. FHP is seeking anyone who may have witnessed the accident. If you, or anyone you know, have information about the case, please contact FHP by calling 631-4020.