By Matt Wiley | June 8
Despite the recent widening of S.R. 54 between I-75 and Curley Rd., traversing S.R. 54 can be a challenge once the busy roadway slims down to two lanes east of Curley Rd. However, what poses an even greater challenge right now is widening the two-lane portion of 54 to a four-lane divided highway, while appeasing public opinion in communities where access could potentially be restricted by medians.
By Matt Wiley | June 8
On the constantly expanding S.R. 56 corridor in Wesley Chapel, another development has broken ground and soon will offer even more homes to area in a community called Arbor Woods.
Located on the south side of S.R. 56 at Arrowgrass Dr., between Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and I-75, Arbor Woods is set to bring 222 single-family homes to the already-developed Northwood Master Planned Unit Developemtn (MPUD). Arbor Woods is being developed by Scottsdale, AZ-based Taylor Morrison. The national home builder has developed communities in five states and is no stranger to the area, having already developed Tuscany at Tampa Palms, as well as several other communities in nearby Lutz and Land O’Lakes.
Arbor Woods, which has not yet begun home sales, or released any home sizes or floor plans on its website, will be a gated community on 423 acres of land south of S.R. 56, 338 acres of which will be conservation land that will include parks and walking trails for future residents to enjoy.
For more information, please visit TaylorMorrison.com and search “Arbor Woods.” — MW
By Matt Wiley | June 8
Congratulations to Stacie Lenners, the Suncoast Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2013 “Woman of the Year!”
Each year, to help raise funds for research, the many chapters of the LLS across the U.S. and Canada hold a 10-week contest to see who can raise the most money, crowning the victors during a ritzy grand finale.
On May 18, during the contest’s grand finale at the downtown Tampa Hilton, in front of a crowd of 600 people, Lenners was crowned “Woman of the Year,” after raising nearly $38,000 for LLS.Continue reading
By Matt Wiley | June 8
The debate is over and the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has chosen a replacement for retiring administrator John Gallagher: Tomas “Tommy” Gonzalez, who currently is the city manager of Irving, TX (near Dallas). Current Pasco chief assistant county administrator Michele Baker is serving as interim administrator until a contract is negotiated with Gonzalez.
On May 28, the BOCC met for a special meeting in Dade City with one order of business to discuss: replacing Gallagher, who has been Pasco’s county administrator for the last 31 years. A list of more than 60 applicants had been narrowed down to four, each of whom interviewed individually with the BOCC on May 25.Continue reading
By Matt Wiley
In an effort to improve recycling participation in Pasco County, including in Wesley Chapel, residents are being offered an alternative to the decades-old “Blue Bag” system.
Wesley Chapel residents probably noticed some mail from Pasco County in the past few weeks, specifically from the county’s Solid Waste department. Included in the envelope was a reflective sticker, along with a letter, detailing the county’s new “Choose & Use Your Own Container” program.Continue reading