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Townhomes get tentative approval

The New Port Richey City Council gives its initial nod to two projects that would generate new tax revenue.

By PHIL DAVIS
Published June 9, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - City leaders say a little bigger is a bit better in the gateway to tropical Florida.

City Council members on Tuesday night voted unanimously to give preliminary approval to two planned developments that would add about 12 acres and 105 homes to the city, bringing a $300,000 boost to the city's tax coffers each year.

Because the two properties are additions to the city, city officials can count the new taxes as new revenue, not redevelopment funds.

"It's a real nice boost to our general fund when something like that happens," Mayor Dan Tipton said Wednesday. "And the general fund is where we've been hurting, so that's why we get a little excited when we bring new property into the city."

The first site is 2.79 acres on an undeveloped property on the south side of Massachusetts Avenue east of Congress Street. A developer plans to put 32 to 34 two-story townhomes on the property. The two- and three-bedroom homes would sell for $139,000 to $145,000, a city report said.

The second development would replace the Deep Lagoon Mobile Home Park at the corner of Green Key Road and Manor Beach Road. A developer wants to put 72 townhomes on the 9.12-acre property. The high-end townhomes in the gated community would be between 2,400 and 3,100 square feet. Prices would run from $340,000 to $530,000, the report said.

Both developments would use city utilities.

"The developers that are coming in want to use our water, our sewer and the infrastructure we already have in place," Tipton said. "They want to be part of our city."

--Phil Davis can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is pdavis@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 01:18:10]