PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The Pasco County Local Planning Agency on Sept. 4 reviewed Pasco 2050’s economic development chapter, titled “Pasco Works,” and asked staff to clarify several policies after extended discussion about delegating duties to an economic development organization, preserving employment lands, and coordinating utilities and workforce programs.

The presentation by Victoria Espritos, Planning Development & Economic Growth Department staff, summarized the draft: "Today's local planning agency comprehensive plan update session will focus on the PASCO 20 50 chapter of PASCO Works, which is the economic development element of the comprehensive plan." She noted the chapter was reorganized to one goal, eight objectives (one new) and 30 policies (three new), and that the draft aligns with the county’s 2024 economic growth program strategy study.

Why it matters: The chapter frames long-range county policy on business recruitment, workforce development, infrastructure and public–private partnerships. Commissioners said wording and attachments could create unintended legal or operational obligations for outside entities and for the county’s ability to manage infrastructure and incentives.

What happened at the workshop

Staff overview — Hai Mazile, senior planner and project manager, walked commissioners through the chapter’s major additions: stronger language adopting the 2024 economic growth program study as a blueprint (Policy works 1.1.05), new entrepreneurship and small-business support policies (Policy 1.3.5), and a focus on a Pasco Ready Sites program to identify industrial parcels with necessary zoning, permitting and infrastructure (Policy works 1.4.1504).

Sunshine law and delegation concerns — Several commissioners questioned policies that name or delegate duties to an economic development organization (EDO). A planning commissioner said the concern was procedural: "if we're delegating our duties to the EDO, arguably it triggers Sunshine Law, Public Records issues for PDC." Staff and Bill Cronin of the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDO) responded that the county’s MOU/funding agreement already designates the Pasco EDO as the county’s official economic development organization, and that many confidentiality protections and public disclosure provisions are handled through separate agreements.

Bill Cronin, speaking for the EDO, said part of the practical issue is confidentiality in competitive recruitment: "The sunshine piece of where we become competitive are the conversations with the individual companies that we're looking to recruit or working with their businesses." He also explained that being plainly identified in the plan can support the EDO’s nonprofit standing if it performs duties as an extension of the county.

Staff legal and policy clarifications — County staff and the county attorney’s office advised that the comprehensive plan should avoid creating unintended regulatory duties. Commissioners asked staff to either pair EDO-specific policies with county-language (e.g., "Pasco County and the county-designated EDO") or make clear which activities will be subject to public-record and sunshine requirements via separate agreements. Staff said those delegations are usually spelled out in the MOU/funding agreement and other implementation documents.

Infrastructure and utilities — Commissioners pressed staff to restore or add language ensuring public-utility and roadway coordination for priority employment sites. One commissioner said striking the word "infrastructure" from a policy left the county without a clear statement that roads and utilities should be planned or prioritized to serve identified employment locations. Staff agreed to add a companion policy on public infrastructure and utility coordination (to be drafted as Policy works 1.5.7) to clarify coordination without obligating county funding for every private infrastructure need.

Preserving employment lands and definitions — Commissioners asked staff to clarify which future land‑use categories count as "employment-generating" and whether retail, supporting retail or only target/office/industrial uses are included in protections against conversion to residential. Staff agreed to revise language to list the specific future land‑use categories the county intends to preserve rather than the more generic phrasing.

Target industries and incentives — Commissioners and EDO staff discussed the definitions of "primary industry" (51% or more sales outside county boundaries) and "target industry." Staff and Bill Cronin said Pasco’s target/primary industry lists are updated annually by the EDO and the county and recommended referring to the EDO’s published target list rather than embedding a static, detailed list in the comp plan. Commissioners also noted incentive eligibility and wage thresholds are handled in separate incentive ordinances and program documents.

Workforce and entrepreneurship emphasis — Both staff and EDO representatives emphasized two new focal areas in Pasco Works: workforce development and entrepreneurship. David Engle, Director of Planning, Development & Economic Growth, and Bill Cronin said the chapter increases support for workforce training programs, apprenticeships and local certification pathways and clarifies support for entrepreneurial programs and small-business services. Local education and workforce programs were referenced repeatedly during the discussion, including partnerships with high schools and a Bloomberg‑AdventHealth grant to expand medical academies and training pathways.

Next steps and schedule — Staff said they will:
- Revise chapter language to clarify delegation to the county versus a county‑designated EDO, and cross‑reference the MOU/funding agreement where appropriate.
- Add a new policy on public infrastructure and utility coordination for employment sites (proposed Policy works 1.5.7).
- Replace generic "employment-generating" phrasing with a specific list of future land‑use categories to be preserved.
- Refer to the EDO’s annually updated target industry list rather than embedding a static list in the comp plan.

There were no formal votes or ordinance actions at the workshop. Staff also said the comprehensive plan chapter review will pause briefly while staff compiles edits and completes related studies; chapter reviews are expected to resume in October. Staff noted that special planning areas such as Connected City and the VOPH financial plan will be updated after currently pending studies finish.

Public engagement and redevelopment items — Staff confirmed that future area plans referenced in the chapter — including the Greater Lecuiche (Trilby/Lecanto) update — will include community outreach and public hearings as part of their implementation. The workshop included public comment from a Trilby resident asking about outreach for the Greater Lecuiche plan; staff said the area plan will include updated engagement.

What was not decided

The commission did not adopt formal policy changes at the workshop. The meeting was a review and direction session; commissioners instructed staff to return with revised language and clarifications rather than adopting final text.

Ending note

Staff and the EDO agreed on the chapter’s policy intent — to strengthen business retention and recruitment while expanding workforce and entrepreneurship supports — but commissioners required clearer, implementable language on delegation, infrastructure coordination, land‑use protections, and references to incentive eligibility before recommending the chapter for adoption.