Resident urges Pasco County Planning Commission to back online bus-pass portal and mixed-use zoning

Lucas Miller, a resident of 1855 Thornhill Road, told the Pasco County Planning Commission that difficulty obtaining transit passes is contributing to traffic in Wesley Chapel and urged officials to make passes available online so riders can scan them on their phones.

"We already have an app, but it'd be a lot easier if we had an online portal for, you to download a pass that you could scan with your phone when you get on the bus," Miller said during the meeting.

Gianna German, of the county's Planning, Development and Economic Growth department, and an unidentified staff member advised Miller that the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the regional body that oversees the transit agency and suggested raising the proposal at the MPO meeting, where transit representatives regularly attend. The staff member said MPO meetings are usually held in Dade City or New Port Richey on Thursday mornings.

Miller also urged the commission to consider creating a dedicated mixed-use zoning category, saying current options (MBUDs or planned developments) make mixed-use and increased density harder to implement. "A dedicated mixed use zone zoning would make it a lot easier to do...mixed use something, like, increased density, which is what the affordable housing commission suggests," he said.

The commission did not take formal action on Miller's proposals during this meeting. Staff recommended the resident pursue the idea at the MPO and follow the county public-comment process for future agenda items.

Next steps: Miller was advised to present the suggestion at the MPO and to pursue formal applications or proposals through county staff so the ideas can be scheduled for future consideration.