The LAKER
ee r F
EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
MARCH 11, 2015
County administrators talk growth By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
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The explosion of new development in Pasco and Hillsborough counties is good news for governments that count on robust tax revenues to balance budgets. But, the rooftop subdivisions and shopping malls sprouting along busy highways that link these two prospering counties bring new challenges that likely will require a regional approach to solve. Transportation, including public transit, is among the most critical issues. “Everything is connected, but all roads – no pun intended – lead back to transportation,” said Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill. The recession temporarily slammed the brakes on new investments. But with marketplace confidence in the driver’s seat again, developers are accelerating their pace to build thousands of new homes, malls, hotels and restaurants. In Pasco County, much of the activity is centered on State Road 54, the east-west
development – commercial and residential should go, she said. But she added: “You cannot build your way out of traffic congestion.” During the past two decades, Pasco has seen cow pastures and citrus groves vanish as land is plowed over for subdivisions and shopping centers. Rush hours are a daily ritual — a commuter conga line of motorists leaving and returning to the county’s bedMike Merrill Michele Baker room communities. Density plays a role in deciding which corridor on the county’s southern border. transportation projects should get priority. The heaviest activity on State Road 54 so far “You need a certain amount of congesis at its interchanges at Interstate 75 and the tion before you see people on the bus,” Suncoast Parkway. Baker said. Another Pasco hot spot is U.S. 19, the Baker and Merrill shared their insights on north-south corridor on the county’s west- the future of their counties and of the ern side. Tampa Bay region with about 50 people Both State Road 54 and U.S. 19 are ex- who attended the monthly meeting of the pected to have expanding development and Tampa Bay Builders Association on Feb. 26. concentrations of new residents, according Much of Pasco’s growth emerged from to Pasco County Administrator Michele development along U.S. 19 in Pinellas Baker. County and from I-75 and U.S. 301 in Future growth plans, driven by incenSee GROWTH, page 7A tives, will set the path for where future
Multi-use trail being built on U.S. 301 By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
A resurfacing project will give motorists a smoother ride along a 6-mile stretch of U.S. 301 — one of Dade City’s busiest commercial corridors. But there is a new travel lane opening for pedestrians and bicyclists, too. Work on the $12.5 million project should be finished by spring 2016. As motorists whiz past on the new asphalt, pedestrians and bicyclists can stroll or pedal along a parallel 10-foot wide multi-use trail. Previously, road construction usually meant only new asphalt or more traffic lanes for motorized vehicles. But transportation plans these days often build in multiple modes of travel from Point A to Point B, and places in between. This project is one of several upcoming initiatives to develop master plans to guide new development, transportation, and parks and recreation. Pasco County officials asked the Florida Department of Transportation for the trail. It is more often the case that 5-foot wide sidewalks are installed when roads are repaved, said Allen Howell, a bicycle and pedestrian planner with the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization. The organization reviews and recommends long-range transportation plans for the county. The planning organization has taken note of the uptick in new residential and commercial development between Dade City and Zephyrhills. “We felt there would be more benefit to
KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS
A woman walks her dog on the Hardy Trail in Dade City. The trail eventually could become part of a larger network of multi-use trails including a 10-foot wide segment under construction on U.S. 301.
having a 10-foot trail,” said Howell. “There seems to be more activity going on in the area.” The trail will extend along the west side of U.S. 301 from Kossik Road north to a sidewalk at Dade Avenue. Road paving will cover about 6 miles from Kossik to
Bougainvillea Avenue in Dade City. A new traffic signal also is planned at the junction of U.S. 301 and U.S. 98. The trail eventually will hook up with existing and planned trail segments – See TRAIL, page7A
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel plans big expansion By B.C. Manion
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It’s not even three years old, and the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is already planning a significant expansion that will increase patient rooms, operating rooms and emergency rooms. Hospital officials announced the expansion in a news release on March 6. The $78 million project, expected to begin construction this year, is responding to a demonstrated need. “Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel was originally designed with the ability to grow with the needs of the community,” Dr. Robert Rosequist, chief medical officer Denyse Bales-Chubb of the hospital, said in a release. “Since opening less than three years ago, the hospital has experienced extremely high volumes of patients seeking care,” he added. The 200,000-square-foot hospital opened on Oct. 1, 2012. At that time, it had 83 patient rooms, 18 emergency rooms, a catheterization lab and five operating rooms. It cost $161 million to acquire the land, and build the hospital and
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIDA HOSPITAL WESLEY CHAPEL
This rendering shows what Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will look like after its $78 million expansion is completed.
adjacent medical office building, according to hospital officials. Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of the hospital, said “the community has overwhelmingly shown us both the need for the hospital, and their confidence and appreciation for the high quality care our staff delivers every day.
“We are so blessed by their faith in us,” she said. The hospital knows it needs to grow “to meet both the current demands and future growth of the community,” BalesChubb added, in a release. The expansion calls for three additional See HOSPITAL, page 7A