Growth on U.S. 19 must be controlled

Editor: Growth management needs serious review here in Pasco County - in particular the issue of retail commercial development in west Pasco, and its impact on U.S. 19 and the safety of our citizens.

Representatives of the Wal-Mart organization recently told Beacon Woods residents that they will build the Bayonet Point supercenter regardless of the community's public safety concerns. They also stated that this new store will have little impact on traffic in the Bayonet Point area based on their own studies. We were also told that Wal-Mart's business plans call for supercenter format stores every 3 to 5 miles in our county. Each of these sites are projected to have 10,000 to 30,000 trips per day from their parking lots directed onto U.S. 19 and our county roads.

Pasco County and local communities now have firsthand experience regarding the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Port Richey, and we know that traffic accidents have increased 65 percent at Ridge Road and U.S. 19 attributed to the concentration of traffic from one Wal-Mart site.

Commercial growth management in our county, specifically on U.S. 19, must be controlled, and this is the responsibility of our Pasco County government. I commend the Pasco County Commissioners for getting the U.S. 19 Task Force to look at U.S. 19 road conditions to improve traffic flow; but the intelligent traffic systems and lane changes will not solve the serious problems that new commercial development, specifically the concentration of traffic from supercenter format stores, will have on U.S. 19.

I would like to encourage residents of Pasco County to respectfully petition the Pasco County Board of Commissioners to task Pasco County Growth Management Division to schedule planning meetings to receive public opinion on this issue. The best solution now would be to enact a moratoriumon any new large-scale commercial development on U.S. 19, one of the most dangerous roads in this country until such time as road improvements have been implemented and county officials have verified that we can safely resume commercial development.

Pasco residents, I encourage you to get involved! There is no more important issue in this county than public safety.

West Pasco needs airport, train station, VA hospital

Editor: There is no Amtrak station in Port Richey or New Port Richey. A train station, airport, federal buildings, and VA hospital are needed here. It's a hardship for seniors and people of all ages to commute to Tampa in order to travel by train or airplane. Also, industries and businesses would be attracted here with these facilities in this area. The increasing population warrants such facilities here.
Kristine A. Cimmy, New Port Richey

Now is the time to declare worldwide war on pollution

Editor: A major threat to the human race has recently appeared in the form of SARS, which seems to be spreading rapidly. Is it possible that this new health hazard is related to the ever-growing pollution of our planet?

In the past month our country has shown its capability to rid the world of a menacing political regime. Is it now time to accept our responsibility for the custodial care of our environment and correct the problems, which have been ongoing for decades? The health and well being of our great-grandchildren may depend on our actions now.

Has the time come to declare war on pollution and save our planet before it is too late?

Bus bench advertising has opposite of intended effect

Re: Bus bench advertising

Editor: My house is located on Sea Forest Drive on waterfront property zoned R-1. About 8 feet south of my property line, a bus stop sign was placed a few months ago. Then a bench was placed behind the bus stop sign. Now a real estate agent's advertisement has been affixed to the bench.

I purchased property in an area that is rural with more than 40 mature trees. The natural rural waterfront ambiance of my property has been ruined.

What justifies placement of billboard signs in rural residential areas? If the signs are allowed by ordinance, how do the sign companies exceed the bench back areas and place such large ads? What appeal procedure does a property owner have?

I do know one thing. When I see any company advertisement on a bench sign, I buy nothing from that company!

- Editor's Note: Pasco County allows benches only on the right of way at stops for its public bus system. A portion of the advertising proceeds is earmarked for charity.

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