The LAKER
ee r F
WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS
F E B RUA RY 2 4 , 2 0 2 1
Grove Theater now open in Wesley Chapel
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Streaming movies from the comfort of home has undoubtedly surged in recent years — and only ramped up more in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, at least one local movie theater is trying to change this behavioral shift, by cultivating unique entertainment experiences not found from your sofa.
After a six-monthlong makeover totaling upwards of $6 million, Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment is ready for action — reopening with 50% capacity on Feb. 19, at 6333 Wesley Chapel Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Billed as a movie theater of the future, the two-story, 85,000-square-foot complex takes a swiss army knife approach to amusement. Formerly called the Cobb Grove 16 Theatre, the newly updated space has a little
bit of everything. Anchored by 12 movie theaters (some with fully reclining seats), the complex also features the following amenities: • Upscale bistro restaurant and bar with in-movie dining • Sushi bar • Spin bike room • Comedy club See GROVE, page 9A
LAW FIRM, P.L. HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY 813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights” 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
Walk-Ins Welcome WE’RE THE TEAM YOU CAN COUNT ON COURTESY OF MGOLDPROPERTIES
cornerstonepros.com
The renovated Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment in Wesley Chapel is now open on weekends with limited capacity. The two-story, 85,000-square-foot complex is billed as a movie theater of the future — featuring 12 movie theaters with fully reclining seats, an upscale bistro restaurant and bar with in-movie dining, sushi bar, spin bike room, comedy club, acting studio, 40-plus game arcade and kid’s birthday party room.
CAC1816647 & CFC1428982 • EC0001103
TUNE-UPS FOR AC/HEATING
$19.95 Valid for new customers only. Not valid on pre-purchased plans. Exp 3/31/21.
MAINTENANCE PLANS BEGINNING AT
$9.95
FOR FIRST-TIME CUSTOMERS
Valid for new customers only. Not valid on pre-purchased plans. Exp 3/31/21.
COURTESY OF MGOLDPROPERTIES COURTESY OF MGOLDPROPERTIES
Same-Day Service Free 2nd Opinion* Free Estimates** 24/7 Emergency **Free estimates for new A/C, water heater, water treatment, whole home generators, whole home repipe and electrical panel upgrade. *Free second opinion with written diagnosis from another company.
813-990-0561 20122019
New fire truck welcomed with a ‘push-in’ ceremony The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report
Fire Station 38, in Wesley Chapel, now has a ladder truck. Its arrival was celebrated with a “pushin” ceremony — a tradition among firefighters that symbolizes the days before motorized fire trucks, when hand-drawn carts or horse-drawn wagons were used to carry the water to fight a fire, and then the apparatus was pushed back into its place. In this case, a firefighter was in the truck — and the truck was put into reverse — to make it easier to push and to make sure everything went smoothly. Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, who participated in the event, briefed commissioners on the ceremony during the board’s Feb. 9 meeting. Ladder 38, a 100-foot E-One HR100 ladder truck, can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute and can carry 500 gallons of water on board, according to See CEREMONY, page 9A
There’s
no place
like
SPECIAL SECTION inside this week
Fully reclining seats and an in-theater dining service are just some of the many features at the renovated Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment in Wesley Chapel. Private theater rentals also are available.
Spin bike classes take place in one of the former first-floor theaters, where exercisers get the benefit of surround sound, projector screen and stadium experience. There are options for a live instructor, virtual reality settings and even full-length feature films while spinning.
KEVIN WEISS
In addition to seeing a movie, comedy show or play, Grove Theater offers a 40-plus game arcade space for children and adults, housed in the first-floor lobby.
Pasco board looks to put pause on multifamily development By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County Commission is considering a temporary pause on multifamily development in the central part of the county. The board has directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit new applications for multifamily to be considered in an area bounded by State Road 54/State Road 56 on the south; State Road 52 on the north; U.S. 41 (Land O’ Lakes Boulevard) on the west; and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and on the east. The moratorium would take effect beginning on the date of the first public hearing — which has not been determined yet. The idea is to give county staff time to research the number of existing entitlements for multifamily development and to report back to the board. Once the board has that information, it can decide how to proceed. Board members voted 3-2 to support pursuing the temporary moratorium. Commissioners Mike Moore, Christina Fitzpatrick and Jack Mariano voted yes; Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley voted no. The vote came after extensive discussion, including analysis of Pasco County’s Class A market demand provided by Lesley Deutch, managing principal with John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Deutch, who appeared on behalf of land use attorneys Joel Tew and Barbara Wilhite, told commissioners that demand for Class A apartments in Pasco County is expected to grow by about 5,380 over the next five years. She characterized that projection as a “conservative” estimate. Nectarios Pittos, the county’s planning director, provided a presentation that reviewed the county’s policies regarding multifamily development. “The compact nature of development requires less infrastructure; it’s less land, and so you are making use of existing infrastructure as much as possible,” Pittos said. Commissioner Starkey cautioned against becoming too restrictive regarding the development of multifamily housing.
B.C. MANION
This 262-unit apartment development is being built off State Road 54, at Oak Grove Boulevard. The Pasco County Commission is pursuing a temporary moratorium on new multifamily development in the central part of Pasco County, to give commissioners a chance to get a better handle on how much of this type of development is already entitled in existing zonings.
“We need to have some workforce housing,” Starkey said. “I am really getting concerned that we don’t pay enough attention to this part of our society, and they need to be integrated into all of our communities.” Commissioner Moore said his district is becoming too saturated with multifamily development. He has repeatedly warned against the long-range potential of having large apartment complexes that become less competitive over time wind up with high vacancy rates and ultimately fall into disrepair. Commissioner Fitzpatrick has similar concerns. “What’s going to happen 30 years from now?” Fitzpatrick asked, expressing worries about the prospect for crime. But, Starkey said multifamily is needed to address today’s demand. She said young professionals aren’t buying; they want to rent. Starkey also noted: “There is a rise in trend of apartment dwellers being higher-income brackets.” Noting that Pasco is an attractive area, Deutch said, “there’s a lot of growth in Pasco. Unless you want it to stop, you have to have housing.” Like Starkey, Deutch said that renting has become a much more popular choice than it was in the past.
Chairman Oakley said Deutch’s report was informative. “I don’t see we’re overrun with apartments,” Oakley said. But, Moore persisted: “We continue to change zoning on parcels, when we already have the inventory to meet the demand. “The parcels are there, ready to be developed tomorrow.These guys already have the entitlements,” Moore said. “Did you look at all of the parcels that have the entitlements for the future, when you did your study?” Moore asked Deutch. Deutch responded: “No, I did not. That wasn’t part of the study.” Starkey noted that it can take decades for a property with an entitlement to actually be developed. Attorney Tew raised this issue with the board:“I’m concerned that the commission will get into picking winners and losers in the marketplace.That is not what the government is supposed to do.” He also told board members:“I think this is very treacherous ground and really uncharted territory for this commission.” The prospect of a moratorium, according to Tew, “will be an immediate buzz kill to your potential employers.” But, Moore cited a number of other places — such as Illinois, Massachusetts, See MULTIFAMILY, page 9A