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Sports complex proposals under scrutiny By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Two proposals for a Wiregrass Ranch sports complex passed muster with an evaluation committee searching for the right concept to maximize sports tourism in Pasco County. These proposals serve up a buffet line of amenities including large, indoor gymnasiums with multiple playing courts, an amphitheater, a hotel or two, lighted turf fields and some outdoor ball fields. Finalists were Clearwater-based Sports
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Facilities Management and RADD Sports, in partnership with Mainsail Development Group and Municipal Acquisitions LLC. Four companies had submitted proposals. The committee met Sept. 12 and will meet again before either deciding on their recommendation to the Pasco County Commission, or requesting more information. “I’m definitely excited about this,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. The array of indoor sports that will be available, in addition to the traditional baseball fields, is especially important, he said.
“Pasco’s recreational baseball is becoming too saturated,” Moore said. And, whichever proposal is chosen, Moore said, “This is something we don’t have in our market.” In September 2015 a study from Chicago-based Johnson Consulting Co., suggested that Pasco should focus on building a large indoor gymnasium for sports and activities such as basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading and martial arts. While a few outdoor playing fields also should be built, the study found that indoor, See COMPLEX, page 19A
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Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel is expected to have a ground-breaking in early 2017 at the Cypress Creek Town Center.
Hyatt Place to be at Cypress Creek Town Center By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Construction on Hyatt Place Hotel & Conference Center is expected to begin in early 2017, according to a news release from the project’s development team. Impact Properties Inc., Sierra Properties and the Hyatt Hotels Corporation are partnering on the 130-room hotel and conference center on the northern side of State Road 56, across from Tampa Premium Outlets. Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel will be the first Hyatt hotel in Pasco County and the first hotel within the more than 500 acres currently under development at the Cypress Creek Town Center. According to Hyatt’s website, Hyatt Place guests are “mid- to upper-income
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The mixed-use Cypress Creek Town Center is a showcase for growth in the State Road 56 area, located at the Interstate 75 interchange and the juncture of State Road 56 and State Road 54. The center is approved for up to 2 million square feet of retail, hotel, apartments and offices. Along with hotel construction, the first phase of development will include 230 upscale apartments and 10 new restaurants and shops, according to the press release. In front of the outlet mall, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chick-fil-A and Culver’s have opened within past months. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and Longhorn Steakhouse are under construction. As part of Cypress Creek Town Center, Ford’s Garage, Pollo Tropical, Wendy’s and Taco Bell are awaiting permits.
A new fire station is Medical marijuana coming to New Tampa may mean big
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Gen X travelers who expect modern conveniences and product design to accommodate their multi-tasking, 24/7 lifestyle.” Hyatt Place will have 130 rooms, with areas for sleep, work and play, as well as sofa sleepers as an extra feature. There will be free Wi-Fi, a round-theclock “Gallery Menu” with freshly prepared meals any time of day. Free hot breakfasts also will be available daily. A Coffee to Cocktails Bar will feature specialty coffees, premium beers, wines and cocktails. The conference center will have about 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, with state-of-the-art technology. A 24-hour fitness center will feature cardio equipment with LDC screens and free ear buds.
Residents of New Tampa will get a new fire station in 2017, amid a boom in development and population growth. Other proposed capital improvement projects include upgrading playground equipment at New Tampa Recreation Center and installing CCTV cameras along Cross Creek Boulevard to help regulate traffic signals and ease congestion. “The growth here has been tremendous,” said Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione. “Having the fire station will bring comfort to a lot of people that they will have a rescue unit nearby.” The city paid about $1.3 million in 2008 for 2.2 acres of land at County Line Road and Trout Creek Drive anticipating construction on Fire Station No. 23. But, budget cutbacks during the recession delayed several construction projects citywide. The station, at 20777 Trout Creek Drive, will cost about $4.7 million.A construction schedule is not yet available. Another proposed fire station for New Tampa isn’t included in the 2017 budget, but does have design funds for 2019. Fire Station No. 24 in the K-Bar Ranch area, off Morris Bridge Road, will be built “as growth continues to occur,” according to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who presented a nearly $906 million budget to the Tampa City Council in July. Council members approved the budget on Sept. 21.The fiscal year begins Oct. 1. About 2 acres within a proposed 54-acre park in the K-Bar Ranch development are
planned for Fire Station No. 24. Montelione worked with M/I Homes, and Hillsborough County’s parks and recreation department, to secure the land. A mix-up between Pasco and Hillsborough County dispatchers about a 911 call in 2015 drew attention to the need for a station serving New Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch area. Hillsborough will develop the park, while the City of Tampa will build the fire station, Montelione said. Upgrades to playground equipment at New Tampa’s recreation complex also won approval in the final budget. However, area residents still are waiting for an expansion of the existing gymnasium, which has earned a reputation for its high quality, competitive gymnastics program. At least twice in the past five years, funds were withheld, including last year. “I was very upset,” said Montelione. Instead, the budget re-routed capital improvement dollars to other projects, such as the recently completed restoration of the historical Cuscaden swimming pool in V.M. Ybor. Another disappointment this year was lack of funding for New Tampa Nature Park, off Donna Michelle Parkway. More than five years ago, the park’s design included water fountains, restrooms and shaded hospitality areas. “There’s no funds to service this park,” said Montelione during a public hearing on the budget. “It’s not even on anybody’s radar.” Montelione lobbied for the park, as well as additional funds overall for Tampa Fire Rescue for equipment and training.
money in Pasco By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The local debate on how to regulate medical marijuana in Pasco County remains unsettled. But, two Tampa land use attorneys recently briefed county commissioners on the legal difficulties they face, and the vast sums of money at stake as the medical marijuana industry expands. County commissioners also received a recommendation from the county’s legal staff on limiting medical marijuana in Pasco to industrial districts, with conditions. The potential use of some industrial properties for medical marijuana dispensaries didn’t go over well with Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. “I don’t want to take any more industrial off the books,” he said. Currently, a low level form of medical marijuana, known as Charlotte’s web, is legal in Florida for patients with seizure disorders. Terminally ill patients can qualify for stronger potencies of medical marijuana. A Nov. 8 statewide referendum, if approved, would open the door to more dispensaries statewide, while also increasing the number of illnesses that can be treated with medical marijuana. See MARIJUANA, page 19A