[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6171984,"mediaKeyId","5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb","parentId",5393233,"title","Pasco County approves $15 million incentive package for Evans employment center, bars housing for 30 years","audioSeconds",1151,"startMs",5007000,"endMs",6158000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb&start=5007&end=6158","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb/thumbnail_5007000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6171984/Pasco-County/Florida/Pasco-County-approves-15-million-incentive-package-for-Evans-employment-center-bars-housing-for-30-years","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171984-832d04ce8c49b3645e3915361ba8b994/orig.mp4?Expires=1770656602&Signature=V7xQhH69c1xuKypGe7A0wq1XHaeAvB~RbCp8LjuzXCw3mVS0nGJHv4TIdFxUg2Vy4UFhSN0cq1riT4iVGiRQwEr9~TnVIWNCN7xtzAo33viFp90x2BXmIGTRx-Sl0RXdBElJCPJtfGBpL49u0M4m284tVwiWEHfU5OPo5Q8oPB36krC0AaHduWtno4QbYvKae3pD1ehzoTyHfBTP76FH1wf0TbgAcUlwsCnQotGTR-LJ0DFT1oLDFf~5qj~RHM7swGc33lKOWuw296kjn6Y3a6KkIrYprXT6eaENvtUx9r-kjKzqXPN3JBtwzAyBKh4jpJ3oREOPIjxos7GJN0V~RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pasco County, FL ","date","2025-07-15T16:20:45Z","article","Pasco County commissioners voted July 15 to approve a cooperative economic development agreement aimed at converting an approximately 80-acre parcel near the I-75/Lake Iola Road interchange into a business park and light-industrial employment center.

Planning and Economic Development Director David Engel said the project's developer revised an earlier proposal to emphasize employment uses and reduce residential density. The agreement approved by the board includes reimbursable incentives totaling $15,000,000: $12,000,000 in ad valorem tax rebates and $3,000,000 sourced from the county's penny-for-Pasco program. County staff said reimbursements will be made only after required infrastructure improvements are completed and documented by receipts.

Under the project plan, the developer agreed to a mix of uses focused on employment: up to 1,000,000 square feet of high-employment-generating light industrial and up to a total of 1.5 million square feet of industrial/office uses in the revised plan. Commercial-support uses are capped at 100,000 square feet, and distribution uses are capped at 500,000 square feet. Staff estimated the project would generate approximately 700 full-time jobs and produce a net $40,000,000 to the county general fund over a 30-year analysis window; staff also projected an annual property tax base contribution of about $78,000,000 at full build-out.

The development agreement prioritizes roadway and utility investments required to make the site pad-ready: first Lake Iola Road improvements, then utilities, internal roadways and mass grading for phase one nonresidential pads. Engel described the work as site-preparation and said the developer must complete eligible infrastructure work before receiving reimbursement.

On the record, the applicant's land-use consultant and representative for Evans Properties told the board the property currently carries an agricultural designation and that prior legal agreements had allowed residential uses in the past. As part of the negotiated deal, the applicant agreed to a contractual moratorium that prevents residential development on the parcel for the 30-year life of the development agreement and the MPUD zoning; the agreement also includes a significant financial clawback if the owner later seeks residential development within that period.

Commissioners said the incentive package is designed to create an employment hub in the Northeast part of the county and to avoid the large-scale multifamily residential proposals that had been considered in earlier versions of the application. Commissioner comments praised the negotiated architectural standards, buffers, and preservation of existing hardwood in the northern buffer. Staff also noted enhanced façade and design treatments for buildings facing scenic Lake Iola Road and a requirement to preserve scenic roadway character.

The board approved the cooperative economic development agreement, including the $15 million reimbursable incentive package and the 30-year restriction on residential development, by recorded motion. Staff will return in the afternoon meeting on the MPUD zoning item to align the zoning document with the 30-year restriction and other conditions adopted by the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7.15.25 Pasco Board of County Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Pasco County commissioners voted July 15 to approve a $15 million cooperative economic-development package to prepare an 80-acre employment center near the I-75/Lake Iola Road interchange and to bar residential development on the site for 30 years.","taxTitle","Pasco County, Florida","taxId",12581,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171990,"Pasco County hikes tree-mitigation fee, restricts fund uses and limits administrator spending",2015,2949000,4964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb&start=2949&end=4964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb/thumbnail_2949000.jpg","/articles/6171990/Pasco-County/Florida/Pasco-County-hikes-tree-mitigation-fee-restricts-fund-uses-and-limits-administrator-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171990-a51cee2efd1887a6546c7caefdc1f9c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770656602&Signature=DdsEbPl8cf7aVmGnYBg0n3ofoeqVGWP3Z7h9czjDCrc549lncxzbvg5KlM6bdGVXbGs3ea0D5Rrj242ao9TiSzDuuZhMRQ7FxlG7J92qKkKQc0BtTPLkEQeR8jWLUQjetYunGeXmENG79LG~N3xvkqeZtEyA1lZbHP5F3Jv-oh2I8fZ1udYOGQVLmjBkeSAVwkZOolgxAdCKY4Pwm~tCNnbnDs1zSx3ToojE96SuEkgkUjh-sk2wQRo~g61faOep10fwhyzrQlJ7Fwg~g~NkAu-4v-bhArjg9GbqWI-Zf~UOhcb5iBu3P7SjMiFk6WEOOnwMPgJ5B0HJIMdJAi0UEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pasco County commissioners voted July 15 to raise the rates paid into the county's tree mitigation fund, expand where mitigation money may be used and add new controls on how the county administrator may spend the money. The board approved the measure after several hours of presentation and debate by planning staff and commissioners.

County planning officials said the fund, which was established decades ago and last adjusted by resolution in 2005 and 2008, has not kept pace with current planting costs and canopy needs. Planning and Economic Development Director David Engel told the board the resolution is one phase of a two-part effort; staff will return with a tree preservation ordinance this fall. Principal planner Amanda Hill summarized the staff proposal to remove several project-type discounts and raise the base contribution.

Under the adopted resolution, the standard contribution rate rises from $50 per inch of trunk diameter to $75 per inch for most trees. A new higher rate of $150 per inch will apply to trees designated as \"heritage\" trees: the resolution defines heritage trees as live oaks 34 inches or larger and southern magnolias 24 inches or larger with a condition rating of \"good or better\" using the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) rating system. Staff said heritage designations and the ISA rating will be used to determine eligibility.

The resolution also specifies how mitigation dollars may be spent: on tree plantings on land owned or controlled by the county; on homeowner and affordable-housing projects that serve households at or below 80% area median income (AMI); on the county's commercial landscape and economic growth landscaping program; on school-board plantings; and to support county tree-management planning such as inventories and canopy studies. Staff emphasized that reimbursements authorized by the resolution are limited to the vegetative materials themselves (for example drought-tolerant trees and plants) and \"is not to be construed\" to include irrigation, mulch, hardscape, design, or labor costs.

Commissioners debated how much unilateral spending authority to give the county administrator. The draft resolution initially delegated authority to the county administrator or designee to release up to $200,000 per request from the fund without board approval. Commissioner Waitman raised concerns that repeated $200,000 disbursements could deplete the fund without board oversight; he asked whether the board should instead create budgeted programs and appropriate specific amounts. County Administrator Mike Carballa told commissioners such program-level appropriations could be set in the annual budget process so the board would retain a spending ceiling for each program. County staff reported the tree mitigation fund balance at about $9,400,000.

County Attorney's office staff told the board the code includes fee caps set elsewhere in the land development code, and that changing those caps likely requires an amendment to the land development code (an ordinance change). The board adopted the resolution with three specific conditions requested on the record: (1) the newly raised fee schedule will not become effective until any necessary amendment to the land development code has been completed (county attorney to confirm and implement), (2) funds will be restricted to canopy trees (oaks, magnolias and similar shade/canopy species; commissioners added general allowance for palms but excluded certain species called out on the record), and (3) staff will provide quarterly progress reports to the board on fund disbursements and projects. With those conditions in place the motion passed.

Commissioners and staff repeatedly framed the change as a way to replace lost canopy that had been removed over past decades and to prioritize large canopy species rather than shrubs. Commissioner Oakley and others said they want the money used quickly for county-owned rights of way, parks and other public property where trees were previously removed. Commissioner Mariano asked staff to allow the tree fund to be applied to county projects to avoid drawing down general road and bridge dollars when work could be supported by mitigation funds.

What the action does not change: staff emphasized that the resolution itself expands authorized uses and sets the new rates but that fee increases will not take effect until the county's code review confirms the appropriate ordinance changes. Staff also said the tree-preservation ordinance (phase two) is planned for a September public hearing and will address preservation rules separate from the mitigation fund rate.

The measure repealed prior 2005 and 2008 resolutions that set earlier administration rules for the fund. Staff said the county has already used mitigation money for a commercial landscaping grant program that delivered about $1.8 million in landscape grants in recent years primarily in the West Market area.

The board's action sets an administrative path for faster plantings on county-owned property while preserving board-level budget oversight for larger or non-routine projects.","On July 15 the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution raising contributions to the county's tree mitigation fund, authorized new permitted uses that prioritize county-owned property and affordable housing, and restricted administrator spending with reporting conditions and an ordinance contingency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171978,"Pasco County lobbyists review 2025 Florida session: permitting deadlines, post-storm rules and property-tax debates loom",2074,6427000,8501000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb&start=6427&end=8501","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5393233-542dead1886dab8d26a8ca83f91a6bcb/thumbnail_6427000.jpg","/articles/6171978/Pasco-County/Florida/Pasco-County-lobbyists-review-2025-Florida-session-permitting-deadlines-post-storm-rules-and-property-tax-debates-loom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171978-4abf4bbaaff640ca841866d4635257ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770656602&Signature=GwQwsDczgsvaXiGbgk1bB6hqA2FArU8jaHoDu72HUh7VwvTsxR~G3zFUbJ67bpP-ukTyIpYPFJ65WDwSktWN52LyuZGyOEHAFLpUfLlGK99X3-8PHywzefb2FEnKSt4c1AD5~SsmUspPsNJ9NVi~j~nDpQaqJ0OLPT7JpVK2iFMGksgTyvJ5ZEPmRxv0rdTLVC8HzIF8x3X9MfxSL39c9ULLE6Gnfp6djU2beIFsM3bxr6037DLplgxwPGjv2HSBjvpPAL00hku~OlYJUz5827uTBg6VO5wnZ7P8KwkkoocnjziGJJnONmRwZFtSNGCWWCUe-YpT2E6070IDXvbXUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pasco County's state lobbyists briefed the Board of County Commissioners on the 2025 Florida legislative session July 15 and identified a series of bills the county will need to implement or monitor moving forward.

Sean Foster, Mike Moore and Steve Shale (agency representatives working on behalf of the county) summarized the session's fiscal and policy outcomes and described bills affecting local permitting, utilities, emergency management and tax policy. Commissioners directed staff to coordinate follow-up workshops to translate the new state requirements into local implementation steps.

Lobbyists flagged a group of bills that will require operational changes at county departments. Those include new statutory deadlines for local review: for certain development permits the law now requires local governments to review an application for completeness within 30 days of submittal and to approve, conditionally approve, or deny applications that do not require a public hearing within 120 days after completeness is established. For applications requiring a quasi-judicial or public hearing, final action must occur within 180 days of the deemed-complete date under the new rules reported by lobbyists, unless the applicant agrees to extend the timeline in writing.

A separate package of post-storm and disaster-response provisions imposes expedited post-storm permitting plans, stronger debris-site authorization and tighter rules on vendor performance for debris removal, and it includes limits on imposing new local fees for permits in a post-disaster context. Lobbyists said the legislation restricts moratoria and other ordinance changes that would make local land-use rules more restrictive after a qualifying storm event and includes fee-protection provisions for building inspection fees for a set period after specified storm events.

Other changes discussed include administrative plat approvals (a statutory change that moves many plat approvals to administrative review rather than requiring a board legislative vote), new requirements for utility-relocation cost treatment (the law establishes grant programs and clarifies that relocation costs cannot be shifted to local governments), and reforms to the petition and constitutional-amendment process that will require additional checks on petitioners and impose notice requirements directed at signers.

Foster and Moore also summarized appropriations that benefitted Pasco County during the session, including funding for Trinity Boulevard multimodal investment and local road and safety projects; they noted some county priorities were vetoed and will be pursued again next year, including a county emergency shelter appropriation.

Speakers emphasized that the state's revenue outlook is softer going into 2026, which increases uncertainty for local governments that rely on state grants or budgeted projects. The county's lobbyists recommended an early planning workshop in September to prioritize Pasco requests for the 2026 session and to map local implementation timelines for bills that create statutory deadlines or new reporting responsibilities.","Lobbyists for Pasco County summarized key outcomes from the 2025 Florida legislative session on July 15, highlighting new statutory deadlines for local permitting, post-storm permitting and debris rules, proposed changes to plat approval and a continuing push over property-tax reform and tourist development tax proposals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pasco County approves $15 million incentive package for Evans employment center, bars housing for 30 years

Pasco County hikes tree-mitigation fee, restricts fund uses and limits administrator spending

Pasco County lobbyists review 2025 Florida session: permitting deadlines, post-storm rules and property-tax debates loom