‘Fields At Wiregrass’ Deal Still Being Negotiated, Not ‘In Trouble’

Soon, Wesley Chapel residents will have a bustling youth sports complex in the area for the sports stars of tomorrow to hone their talents.

As reported in our last issue, the Pasco County Commission unanimously agreed in a vote on April 24 to set aside $14 million for the project that would be the first sports complex of its kind in the Wesley Chapel area.

However, it was recently reported in another publication that the negotiations between the County and the Porter family, the owners of Wiregrass Ranch, had hit some snags.

According to a spokesman for the Porter family, this is not the case and some information may have been taken out of context.

“Every commissioner we have talked to didn’t see any issues,” says J.D. Porter. “As far as our discussions with the County Commission, we are still on the same page as we were a few weeks ago.”

And that page is potentially 90 days long, as the Porters and the County have 60 days to iron out the details of the park deal, specifically an operations and maintenance agreement, with an option for a 30-day extension if needed.

“We are continuing to have discussions with Wiregrass,” says Pasco County Commisioner Ted Schrader. “We’re currently working on a timing and phasing analysis of the transportation (impacts).”

The 200-acre sports complex will be the latest in a series of major developments inside the DRI, where Porter also hopes to soon begin developing 2,000 single-family homes.

“We just want access now so we can develop,” says Porter.

Schrader says that the County is concerned with a “concurrency issue” with off-site improvements, such as roads that will be affected by the development, including S.R. 56 and the nearby I-75 interchange.

“We are still working through any concerns and issues,” Schrader says.

Once the deal is finalized, construction can begin on the complex that is expected to be a major tourism boost for the area. The complex will be in close proximity to the Shops at Wiregrass, another plus for the Wesley Chapel tourism industry.