The proposal would have small projects pay a fee for highway improvements. Larger ones would have to fix the sections they affect.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published February 25, 2004
DADE CITY - The ever-evolving U.S. 19 concurrency ordinance is taking final shape.
The County Commission pieced together a proposal Tuesday that would require the developers of smaller projects along U.S. 19 to pay a "fair share fee" into a fund for highway improvements.
But the larger projects, defined as anything adding more than 2,500 trips a day to U.S. 19, would have to fix the sections of highway they would affect or hold off on construction until the county finishes an 18-month study of the road. The study would outline the needed improvements to U.S. 19 and the county's plan to pay for them.
Commissioner Steve Simon likened U.S. 19 to a leaking boat: The proposed ordinance might plug some leaks and remove some of the water, he said, but it won't make the boat dry.
"I opt for not sinking," Simon said at the commission's meeting at the Dade City Historic Courthouse.
The proposed U.S. 19 ordinance will come back to commissioners March 10 for a final hearing and a vote.
A developer could build a 94,000-square-foot store or a 534-home community without adding 2,500 trips on U.S. 19.
"It's not going to be so restrictive that it's a straitjacket," Simon said.
The ordinance would not apply to the 7-mile stretch of U.S. 19 within the city limits of Port Richey and New Port Richey. Nor would it affect old buildings that are being redeveloped, as those projects are vested for a certain number of car trips.
The proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter near Beacon Woods, for example, is vested for the number of trips allowed at the old Bayonet Point Mall, County Attorney Robert Sumner said. If it generates less than 2,500 trips beyond the vested amount, it would simply pay its "fair share fee" under this proposal.
- Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is hall@sptimes.com
