So, it seems that the change in format has thrown some of our usual voters for a loop, but here’s the bottom line: There’s only about two months left for you to submit your votes for your Favorite Restaurants in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel — and to win up to $200 in FREE dining to the restaurant of your choice!
If you click HERE, you’ll find lists of every local and small chain restaurant in a number of categories in both Wesley Chapel and New Tampa). We’re asking you to name your favorites in each category. You can skip as many categories as you like, but we’re grouping the lists of restaurants by type. Here are those categories:
1) Your Five Favorite (overall) Restaurants in Wesley Chapel (WC)
2) Your Favorite American Restaurant in Wesley Chapel
3) Your Favorite Pizza Place in WC
These same categories also appear on the New Tampa ballot. Both entry forms also include lists of places that ask you to pick your Favorite places in New Tampa (NT) AND Wesley Chapel (WC). Here are those other categories:
1) You Favorite Mexican Place in NT/ WC
2) Your Favorite Latin (but not Mexican) Restaurant in NT/WC
3) Your Favorite Chinese Place in NT/WC
4) Your Favorite Japanese/Sushi Restaurant in NT & WC
5) Your Favorite Thai or Korean Restaurant in NT/WC
6) Your Favorite Italian Food in NT/WC
7) Your Favorite Greek or Mediterranean Restaurant in NT/WC
8) Your Favorite Indian Place in NT/WC
9) Your Favorite Breakfast Place in NT/WC
9) Your Favorite Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt or Gelato Place in NT/WC
10) Your Favorite Bakery in NT/WC
11) Your Favorite Coffee Shop in NT/WC
We’re providing the lists of places — although we’ve left out the large national and regional chains (with more than 50-60 total locations), because you still have to type in the names of your favorites in the spaces provided and we’re pretty sure you know those chains if they’re your favorite in a category — and yes, you can still include them (we just wish you would focus more on local).
Fill out as many categories as you like, but please don’t put the same name in every category, because those votes won’t be counted. And, if a restaurant is on our Wesley Chapel list, your vote won’t count if you write the name of that restaurant in any New Tampa-only spaces and vice-versa. You can submit both New Tampa & Wesley Chapel ballots without being DQed.
We have upped the prizes for this year — the Grand Prize is now $200, plus prizes of $100 and $50, chosen at random from among all correctly-filled-out entries received by email or on our NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net website (Note-no U.S. Mail entries will be accepted for this year’s contest!) by Friday, October 18.
Although some folks online will try to convince you that it’s going to be a different restaurant, I can say with full confidence that the building directly west (southwest?) of The Palms Car Wash will indeed be a Steak ‘n Shake.
Owner Todd Webb and general manager Jason Good were hoping to have the new restaurant open at 5542 Post Oak Blvd. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd.) by the time this issue reached your mailbox, but Todd says he is now hoping to open sometime around the first or second week of September.
“It’s definitely been tough,” he says. “But we are confident we will get this place done and open, hopefully soon!”
Todd, who also owns the adjacent Palms Car Wash (5550 Post Oak Blvd.), says that in addition to Grand Opening specials at Steak ‘n Shake, he plans to do cross-promotions between the two businesses.
(L.-r.) General manager Jason Good and owner Todd Webb’s sons Wyatt and J.R. can’t wait until the Wesley Chapel Steak ‘n Shake opens on Post Oak Blvd.
“We do full detailing at The Palms Car Wash,” he says, “so while your car is being detailed, you can go next door and enjoy a Steak & Shake burger, those famous fries and a milk shake. And, we will have promotions like buy a car wash membership, get a coupon for Steak ‘n Shake.”
He says he and Jason also plan to do kids specials on Thursdays afternoons at Steak ‘n Shake.
“On Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., we’ll have a balloon artist and face painter. We’ll also do a Facebook Live from Steak ‘n Shake every week, with drawings for about 10 prizes, like a $30 gift certificate for The Palms for a free Car Wash Club, free value meals at the restaurant and more.”
Todd, who has owned more than 30 different businesses, says he is as excited about Steak ‘n Shake as he has ever been about any previous business.
“I just want to get it open,” he says.
For more information about The Palms Car Wash, go get your car washed or visit ThePalmsCarWash.com. Until the Wesley Chapel location actually opens, visit the Steak ‘n Shake at 17509 N. Palms Village Pl. in New Tampa or SteaknShake.com.
New Food & Beverages At The Mall
If you’ve been hoping for some new food and beverage options to open in our area, the Shops at Wiregrass is getting ready to welcome two new places to replace two that closed.
The first is The Alley Tea • Café • Life (photo right) at 28211 Paseo Dr., Suite 180, in the former location of PhoLicious. But, where PhoLicious was more of a fast casual restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine, The Alley is strictly a place for a variety of boba (bubble) tea drinks (although some locations of the 17-store West Coast-based chain do list desserts on their menu, too). The Alley is expected to open on or around Aug. 15.
Speaking of beverages, the former location of Clean Juice (and a previous juice/smoothie place) at 28216 Paseo Dr., Suite 170, in the mall is getting ready to reopen as 3 Natives Açai & Juicery, which is a Florida-based chain with more than 30 current locations. What appears to be promising about 3 Natives is that in addition to the usual pressed juices and açai bowls, the online menu also includes nice-looking wrap and pressed sandwiches, as well as salads (photo below).
According to 3Natives.com: “We source the finest and freshest ingredients possible for all of our menu items…Whether you’re on a lunch break, looking for a quick snack, or just in the mood for sweet and healthy — we’ve got you. Our diverse, fresh and extremely delicious menu items are made to order and hand-crafted to satisfy.”
3 Natives also is expected to open later this month but also is looking for members to join the team.
There’s a sign out in front of the place with a QR code to scan if you’re interested.
But of course, the new restaurant many people are excited about is Bosphorous, the Turkish cuisine eatery with six existing locations (including one expected to open soon at 714 S. Howard Ave. in Tampa). Unfortunately, according to a spokesperson for the mall, Bosphorous isn’t likely to open much before the end of this year.
We also hope to have an announcement about the replacement for Irish 31 soon.— GN
No matter which party or candidate you support, there can be little doubt that U.S. Vice President’s Kamala Harris suddenly seeming to be the new Democratic candidate for president has made the Presidential Election on Tuesday, November 5, at least more interesting, as well as more controversial.
To be honest, right now I’m much more interested in what happens with our local and state elections — both on Nov. 5 and on Tuesday, August 20 — also known as Primary Election Day.
No, the ballots aren’t nearly as full as they will be for the General Election and there’s no State Constitutional or local Amendments on the Aug. 20 ballot (something else to be thankful for), but there are several important local and two national offices being contested on Primary Day.
For example, incumbent U.S. Senator (and former Florida Governor) Rick Scott faces two Republican challengers — John S. Columbus and Keith Gross — in the primary, with the winner squaring off against the winner of the four-way Democratic primary between Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Brian Rush.
Meanwhile, incumbent District 15 U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, who has an office in Tampa Palms, is facing two Republican opponents on Aug. 20 — Jennifer Barbosa and James Judge. The winner of the Primary will face outgoing Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp, who is finishing the second of two four-year terms on the Commission, on Nov. 5. Kemp does not face a Primary opponent.
Primary day will include races for two Pasco County Commission seats and one seat on the Pasco School Board (where Dist. 4 incumbent Alison Crumbley faces history teacher Jessica Wright).
Dist. 1 and 2 commissioners Ron Oakley and Seth Weightman — the two districts that include Wesley Chapel — do not face primary challenges and Weightman isn’t on the ballot in November, either. Oakley will face Lisa Moretti, who lists Dade City as her address (as does Oakley), on Nov. 5. Moretti has no party affiliation.
In District 5, which mainly includes Port Richey and Hudson, incumbent Jack Mariano faces Spring Hill resident Gina Finocchiaro on Aug. 20, and the winner will still face opposition in November from Hudson resident Thomas A. Celotto, who is running with no party affiliation.
The most interesting local race on Aug. 20 is between former Commissioner Christina “Fitzy” Fitzpatrick, current Commissioner Lisa Yeager (who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the seat vacated after the passing of Comm. Gary Bradford in May of this year) and the county’s former community services director Gabriel “Gabe” Popadopoulos. The most curious thing about this race is that the winner will serve only a two-year term (as there is no Democratic or other candidate), since Bradford would not have faced a challenge for his now-vacant seat until 2026.
Please also note that all Pasco residents are able to cast ballots in all County Commission and School Board races, regardless of which of the five districts the candidates represent.
Dr. Nicole Mitchell-Toth of Blue Water Dental in the Pebble Creek Collection is an experienced family, implant and cosmetic dentist who has been practicing in New Tampa for 18 years. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Dr. Nicole Mitchell-Toth, a highly skilled, caring and dedicated dentist, has been practicing in the New Tampa area since 2006. She offers family, implant and cosmetic dentistry, with an extensive array of dental services — and has the experience and background to match.
Dr. Mitchell (which is what she says her staff and patients call her, despite her recent married name) graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she received her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry. She earned her Doctor of Medical Dentistry (D.M.D.) degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville.
After graduation, Dr. Mitchell served in the United States Army, where she was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, and completed her residency in AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry), as well as the “Spear Curriculum” in advanced comprehensive dentistry. She earned the rank of Major before leaving the Army.
Dr. Mitchell has received implant training from implant educators and has averaged about 100 hours of continuing education per year for the last 20 years. She also completed the Executive Practice Management Curriculum through the University of Florida.
She opened her first private practice office 18 years ago in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza before moving to her current location in the Pebble Creek Collection in New Tampa in 2020.
Having moved just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Dr. Mitchell calls the move, “perfect timing. We were able to complete everything before building materials became scarce,” she says. “I was very fortunate to be a dentist in Florida, since the relatively lenient restrictions here allowed us to resume seeing patients after only six weeks,” which was a small amount of time compared to the six months some states shut down their dental offices.
Using AI Technology
During the pandemic, Dr. Mitchell says she was introduced to new technologies that continue to benefit her patients, including both hardware and software that utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI). For example, she has a device that attaches to a smartphone camera, enabling patients to take and then transmit pictures of their teeth to the office for evaluation, eliminating the need for some (but not all) in-person visits.
“It’s not just what we see but also what the AI technology analyzes.” Dr. Mitchell explains.
In the office, she adds, AI technology enhances dental care by identifying problem areas in photos and X-rays. “The AI can detect early signs of cavities, allowing me to prescribe medication before they become serious,” she says. This tech also allows her to create 3D models of a patient’s teeth, which can reveal changes over time, such as gum recession or wear and tear.
Dr. Mitchell uses AI technology to show patients where they have problems with their teeth.
“We can use these images overlaid to show the patient how and why things have changed and what they can do to improve.”
For more than a year, Dr. Mitchell also has been using AI software to analyze X-rays.
“The software highlights problem areas in different colors (see photo left), making it easier to explain to patients what they need,” she says. “This visual aid helps patients understand their dental health and the necessary treatments.”
Dr. Mitchell’s approach to dentistry is grounded in honesty and openness. She ensures that each patient is fully informed about treatment options and costs, empowering them to make the best decisions for their dental health.
She also emphasizes the importance of education in maintaining oral health. New patients fill out detailed questionnaires about diet and lifestyle to identify potential causes of dental issues.
“You may not realize it, but what you eat or drink can affect your teeth,” she says.
The Blue Water Dental team includes three dental hygienists, four dental assistants, three administrative staff members and therapy dogs Max and Mandi.
“In January of 2016,” says Dr. Mitchell, “we welcomed to the office these two nine-week-old Maltese-Shih Tzu mix pups, who we named after the Maxillary and Mandibular jaws. These therapy dogs were trained for the purpose of providing comfort and kindness to our patients.”
The hypoallergenic pups enjoy roaming the office, “but mostly they enjoy sitting on the laps of patients and getting a good belly rub” says Dr. Mitchell, who adds that most patients find Max and Mandy to be very calming and comforting.
Implant & Cosmetic Services
In addition to general/family dentistry, Dr. Mitchell specializes in cosmetic dentistry and dental implants.
“Creating new smiles is a favorite part of my job,” she says. Her practice offers a number of cosmetic procedures, including veneers, crowns and teeth whitening. She provides comprehensive assessments and multiple treatment options, ensuring that patients can choose the best solutions for their individual needs.
When it comes to implants, Dr. Mitchell handles everything from individual teeth to complete replacements.
“Replacing teeth can significantly improve a person’s appearance and confidence,” she says. “Depending upon what the patient wants or needs, the implant process can take from four months to a year.”
Mandi is one of two hypoallergenic therapy dogs in Dr. Mitchell’s office.
Cosmetic services include single-visit permanent crowns, customized cosmetic veneers, specialty orthodontic care with virtual checkups, dental implants and same-day emergency appointments.
Giving back to the community also is important to Dr. Mitchell. She volunteers with Missions Smiles, a program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Mission Tampa that provides dental care via a mobile unit to underserved areas.
“We offer care once or twice a month, and sometimes we see patients in the office as well,” she says. “This program also assists survivors of human trafficking.”
Another volunteer effort is with “Operation Stand Down,” presented by the Chapters Health Valor Program of HPH Hospice in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This annual event provides comprehensive services to veterans, “many of whom are homeless and haven’t had dental care in years,” Dr. Mitchell explains. The event offers a range of services and accommodations, creating a supportive environment for these veterans in need.
Dr. Mitchell has built long-term relationships with her patients, some of whom she has cared for since they were school aged and are now married with children. She takes pride in building these relationships and doing her absolute best to cater to every patient’s needs
For more info about Blue Water Dental, the Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry office of Dr. Nicole Mitchell-Toth (19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite A-1), call (813) 957-5887 or visit NicoleMitchellDMD.com to request an appointment. The office is open Mon.- Thur., 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fri.
The Road Connecting Wesley Chapel To San Antonio Is Rapidly Becoming A Unique Destination Of Its Own
The map shows the portion of Curley Rd. from S.R. 54 on the southern end to where the northern portion meets S.R. 52. The numbers on the map correspond to the numbers in the story on pgs. 9-12. (Source: Google map modified by Neighborhood News; numeric locations on the map are approximate & map is not to scale)
While growth is inevitable when you’re anywhere along the outside edge of Tampa (the third largest city in Florida), the explosive growth in Wesley Chapel has been pretty much unfathomable, and northern Wesley Chapel (along Curley Road) has been no exception.
In fact, the area near Watergrass and the Epperson Crystal Lagoon (see map) has already grown so much, and so quickly, that the state and county realized a new interstate interchange was needed at I-75 and Overpass Rd. to handle all the current and future traffic this area will produce.
To give an example of the amount of growth we’ve seen, two years ago, Pasco County finally surpassed Hillsborough County in the total number of development permits requiring state approval. In 2013, there were just a handful of these new developmental permits, but each year since then, the number grew almost exponentially, and anyone who’s been here that long (or longer) has been able to see it with their own eyes. Even someone who moved here just three years ago could easily see massive changes around them — and not everyone is a fan of it.
If you go back 20 years or so, Curley Rd. featured unobstructed rolling hills, green pastures (many with cows) and spectacular countryside. There was a sense of calm and serenity many couldn’t find anywhere else. Curley Rd. was like a gateway to peace and freedom. Today, when you turn off S.R. 54 heading north on Curley, things have changed quite a bit.
First, the road itself needed to change. A number of roundabouts were added, and Curley Rd. was redesigned to be easily expandable to a 4-lane divided roadway in the future, without much reconfiguration. Eventually, the road also will be realigned at its south end through the Chapel Crossings community, where it meets up with Meadow Pointe Blvd. (as we’ve reported before).
But, if you drive in the new neighborhoods, past the houses on the western edge of Epperson, you can still catch glimpses of sprawling vistas between houses, especially near King Lake, which is visible from a section of recently completed M/I Homes. Those few lucky home owners now get to enjoy those million-dollar views for far less. But, long before now, this part of Wesley Chapel has been growing new communities to take advantage of this beautiful landscape.
Along Curley Rd. itself, Bridgewater was the last community that was completed during the pre-recession boom. Watergrass was started soon after, before the Great Recession of 2008-09, but sat stalled for nearly six years, before finally picking up steam again. Then came Epperson. Then came the Sentosa Epperson Apartments, literally centered on the area. Then came the pressing need for more “stuff.”
With the growth in population inevitably comes the need for support businesses like grocery stores, gas stations, medical offices, restaurants and schools. Some of these have already been added along Curley Rd. — such as the new Publix with its drive-through pharmacy and sit-down bar, Starbucks, Circle K and Florida Medical Clinic — and are a joy for most local residents. For entertainment and relaxing, the Epperson Lagoon and the even larger Mirada Crystal Lagoon (just north of Wesley Chapel) have proven to be very popular.
Note – Each of the developments mentioned on pages 9-12 corresponds to a number on this map.
The sign shows the location of the wooded 26-acre lot (one acre is for the access road) where a mixed-use apartment & office/retail development is proposed north of S.R. 54, on the west side of Curley Rd. (#1 on map) (Photo: Joel Provenzano)
1. Apartments and Commercial — On the northwest corner of the signal at S.R. 54 and Curley Rd. is a 26-acre wooded site (adjacent to the community of Pine Ridge; photo) that has caused quite a stir for both the county and residents alike, for a few different reasons.
In the fall of 2021, the first proposed mixed-use development at this site, called “Oakview,” was submitted by Heidt Design for a pre-application meeting with the county, but after many delays, Heidt contacted the county and canceled the meeting and the project itself. Oakview would have included an adjacent parcel (for a total of 42 acres) and would have required a county plan amendment to make it work.
The next proposal came in early 2023, for a corner medical facility with garden apartments in the back. This development also required a plan amendment and the county issued comments, but no further action was taken. The thing that made many local residents excited (except for the county and the state) was the proposal that came less than one month later (in March of 2023), this time for a Lowe’s Home Improvement store with a gas station in front and multiple other commercial outparcels. The announcement caused quite a stir in local social media communities, with many excited for the possibility of a Lowe’s being built.
But, this was only a concept proposal and both the county and state were very hesitant about it, due to the Lowe’s causing major traffic concerns, as the property didn’t have the appropriate access to handle the heavy traffic a Lowe’s and additional outparcels would generate. The pre-application meeting with Pasco ended up being canceled by the developer a month later (in Apr. 2023), but people were so excited that they didn’t realize the plan was withdrawn, and the story about Lowe’s kept getting shared on social media well into the beginning of 2024, causing a little confusion, because the next development proposal for apartments came in Aug. 2023. It’s unknown if a Lowe’s is planning to build anywhere else in Wesley Chapel.
As we reported in our Dec. 26, 2023, issue, the “Woods at Wesley Chapel” ended up proposing apartments for the entire 26-acre parcel (with one acre for an access road), which lessened the major traffic concerns (as apartments are much lower traffic generators than a major commercial development), but ended up creating new concerns for the county.
Pasco still wanted to see at least a lower intensity commercial use on the property — like medical/dentist offices or something similar — for job creation and to keep the land use diverse (not all residential), but the developer strictly wanted apartments, and even invoked the recently created “Live Local Act” (a state mandate that allowed “workforce” apartments on land not necessarily set aside or zoned specifically for that purpose, as long as it met certain affordable housing requirements).
Well, as we reported in that June 11, 2024, issue, the county has since opted out of the “Live Local Act,” which required the developer to go back to the drawing board, and they did. The most recent proposal (submitted on July 17) for a new pre-app meeting has now integrated commercial and retail in a very unique and slightly odd way, by “vertically integrating” and setting aside the ground floor of the apartment buildings facing S.R. 54 entirely to commercial use, and also have two traditional commercial outparcels on the east and west corners of the development (totaling 2.5 acres).
The vertical integration is what’s also being proposed for the apartments next to Sam’s Club on S.R. 56, again to appease the county’s desires for land to be used for jobs and businesses. When it’s all said and done, these “Woods at Wesley Chapel” apartments on Curley Rd. and S.R. 54 will have a total of 51,600 sq. ft. of commercial space. There will be eight apartment buildings of four stories each, with ten units per story, for a total of 300 units. Remember that for two of those buildings, the bottom floor will be entirely commercial (what would have previously been 20 additional residential units). Of the 300 units, 90 would have just one bedroom, 150 would be two-bedroom and 60 would be three-bedroom rental apartments.
There’s a proposed connection to Rotella Dr. in Pine Ridge which will give users of this site access to Curley Rd. It’s unknown when the developer for this current plan will be meeting with the county, but we’ll keep an eye on the status and see what the county decides.
2. Gas Station & Small Grocery Store — On the opposite side of Curley Rd. from the proposed Woods apartments, on the northeast corner of the signal at S.R. 54 and Curley Rd., are five connected parcels totaling about five acres that are currently sitting with just a couple of older houses on them.
Back in June of 2023, Solid Rock Property Group submitted a preliminary concept plan for a pre-app meeting (covering these five parcels) that proposed a 6,000-sq.-ft. gas station with 18 fueling positions and an adjacent 20,000-sq.-ft. small grocery store, consistent with something like an Aldi or even (but don’t even think it!) a Trader Joe’s?
Comments were submitted by the county in Aug. 2023, but no further action has been taken, no site plans or other documents have been resubmitted by that developer or any other, so it’s still up in the air what development will be on this property.
3. Storage Facility — Immediately north of the proposed gas station (on the east side of Curley Rd.), on a 4.5-acre lot, is a proposed two-story self-storage facility, totaling approximately 110,000 sq. ft. Plans for this facility started back in spring of 2023, but a rezoning of the property was required, and the plan ended up changing from three stories to only two, but still retaining the same total square footage. In addition, the original two driveways were reduced to only one, to satisfy access management requirements.
The developer (Public Storage) is still actively working on getting this facility approved. The most recent plans were submitted in June, but those were denied on a really odd technicality — due to the developer already having plans submitted only a month earlier in May that hadn’t been fully reviewed yet. And, since those plans were still active (not yet withdrawn), the county, according to its staff’s notes, must finish its review on the earlier plans first before starting review on the second set. The first plans (from May) show a minor widening of Curley Rd. to allow for a left turn lane into the driveway. The newer plans were not yet viewable in the county’s system.
4. Townhomes — Immediately to the north of the proposed storage facility (on the east side of Curley Rd.) was a planned 87-unit townhome project (by Resibuilt Homes) on a 13-acre lot, but that plan was withdrawn in Apr. 2022 before the developer even met with the county. It’s likely that the developer was just doing preliminary due diligence as the property has not been purchased yet and is still with the owner from that time (MRM Family Trust). No other plans have been submitted to the county since then, but the property is currently listed for sale by Doyle & McGrath for $13 million.
Vida’s Way (#5 below & on map) is a new single-family development that will be built on the eastward extension of Wells Rd. from Curley Rd. (Photo by Joel Provenzano)
5. Single Family (Depue Ranch/Vida’s Way) — Immediately to the north of the proposed townhome site (still on the east side of Curley Rd.) and extending north past Wells Rd. to the southern edges of the Bridgewater and Watergrass communities is the massive Depue Ranch Master-Planned Unit Development (MPUD), which encompasses approximately 930 acres. The first community being built in Depue Ranch is Vida’s Way, a 332-acre single-family-home community by Pulte Homes.
One of the most noticeable parts of this community for Curley Rd. will be the eastward extension of Wells Rd., which is a Pasco Vision Road. Today, Wells Rd. serves primarily the Wesley Chapel school complex, which consists of Wesley Chapel Elementary, Thomas Weightman Middle School and Wesley Chapel High, although there also is an entrance to Bridgewater from the already-built portion of Wells Rd.
There’s currently a signal at the T-intersection with Curley Rd., where (at some point) Wells Rd. will be extended to the east for almost four miles, to eventually connect with Eiland Blvd., providing residents another way to get to Zephyrhills. Along the route, Wells Rd. will pass through and intersect the Watergrass Pkwy. extension (which currently is under construction) and the future Zephyrhills Bypass extension. The developers along this route will be responsible for building their respective sections of Wells Rd. and then conveying it to the county.
6. Standalone Emergency Room in Epperson — On May 13 of this year, Epperson submitted a zoning verification letter request to Pasco, stating, “I hereby request a zoning verification letter that a Free-Standing Emergency Department is a permitted medical office use in the Epperson Ranch CC-MPUD and is a permissible use in the Service Ready Site Acreage portion of the MPUD. The proposed FSED will NOT allow for overnight stays. See LDC Section 522.9.I.4.c(1). Parcel ID Nos. 34-25-20-0000-00100-0012 and 35-25-20-0000- 00300-0020.”
The two parcels mentioned in this request (totalling 35 acres) make up the entire (and currently vacant) southwest corner of the signal for Curley Rd. at Overpass Rd., across Overpass Rd. from the new Publix. A freestanding emergency room would only take up a small portion of the 35 acres, but this is the very first hint at what might be coming to this corner.
Rave Commercial’s future medical & retail site (#7 on map)
7. Retail & Medical Offices — Immediately to the north of the existing Florida Medical Clinic office building on the east side of Curley Rd. (photo, near right) lies an empty grass field of approximately 2.4 acres, where a single sign installed by the developer, Rave Commercial, currently says “Medical Office Retail For Lease.” This is where a proposed two-story retail and medical office building, totaling 28,000 sq. ft., is going to be built. The site plan received approval on Feb. 12 of this year and the developer has since requested additional development documents to get started with construction, so the moving of dirt may begin soon.
8. Nail Salon — Noire Nail Bar is planning to develop 2,100 sq. ft. of space next to the new Publix in Epperson, as part of the Epperson Commercial-Phase 1 plan, which was started in 2022. Leaders Construction Inc. has been planning the build-out, and has been busy securing all necessary permits, appearing to have received final plan approval on July 24. Noire Nail Bar currently has 180 locations in Florida, including one next to the Mellow Mushroom on S.R. 56. Keep an eye out for it, as it was announced it will be opening with a staff of 20 in the fourth quarter of this year.
The site that could include a future Chick-fil-A.
9. Dentist, Veterinarian, Spa, Car Wash & Chick-fil-A? — Immediately south of the new Circle K gas station (on the east side of Curley Rd.), lies roughly 4.5 acres of land that are currently being developed with five potential different uses (three of which are under the same roof). The most recent was a permit taken out last month for the build-out of the 4,137-sq.-ft. Heartland Dental. The Goodvets and Ann’s Spa & Nails would occupy the remainder of this 9,220-sq.- ft. building (although the exact size of each business was unknown) that’s currently under construction.
The most exciting part of this land for most local residents was the Chick-fil-A that was reported to be coming as early as last year. Well, Chick-fil-A did submit a preliminary site plan on Oct. 25 (SITEPLN-2023-00234) for a pre-app meeting and the chicken sandwich chain also submitted a plan for permit approval of a 5,333-sq.-ft. restaurant on Feb. 28 of this year, which appears to have extra-long dual drive-through lanes. Time will tell if and when the Chick-fil-A might be built, as no sign announcing its arrival was yet on the property at our press time for this issue.
What was on the sign out front was “Clean Freak Car Wash Powered by Circle K” which is assumed to go next to the 9,220-sq.-ft. Promenade Retail building. Unfortunately, plan specifics for the car wash were not viewable on the county’s permitting site.
10. Wendy’s, Bank & Drug Store — Just north of the new Starbucks (on the east side of Curley Rd.), at the northwest corner of the roundabout with Victory Crossing, sits an empty parcel that is just under four acres. There are a few things in the conceptual planning stage for this parcel. Closest to the Starbucks is a 3,000-sq.-ft. bank that just came in for a pre-app meeting with the county on July 8. Pasco staffers seemed generally favorable but listed a number of requirements for developments in this area to achieve the specific look the county wants.
Immediately north of the bank, on the same parcel, a new 2,239-sq.-ft. Wendy’s is being proposed. Preliminary plans were submitted on July 9 for the county’s consideration. North of the Wendy’s, a new 10,000-sq.-ft. Walgreens Pharmacy has been proposed, but the meeting for Walgreens was back in Oct. of 2023 and nothing additional has been submitted to the county since then.
Many more “support” businesses along the Curley Rd. corridor are currently under construction, in the planning stages, on hold, or may not be coming at all. We listened to the rumors and investigated the facts and will try to continue to bring you more answers about all of these in the future.
The Kirkland Ranch K-8 Magnet School (#11 on map)
11. Education Facilities — But, “more” is definitely still coming, as would be expected with an area of so many residents. Two that are opening now are thankfully education and child-care related.
On July 25, the Amazing Explorers Academy held the Grand Opening of a new 12,110-sq.-ft. building, located on the southeast corner of Curley Rd. at Overpass Rd. The preschool’s sign says that Amazing Explorers caters to “Infants, Preschool, & After School,” while offering ‘a “STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) Investigations Curriculum.”
The other new educational facility — which is expected to open in time for the fast-approaching 2024-25 school year — is the brand new Kirkland Ranch K-8 dedicated magnet school (photo above). Located behind the existing Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, the Pasco School District’s website says that the new K-8 school will be focusing on world languages and entrepreneurship.
Considering how much more of Curley Rd. there is extending north into San Antonio, all of these new and proposed uses are probably only the beginning. Of course, we’ll keep you posted as additional retail, restaurant, office, residential and other uses are announced and opened.
