Growth in county adds staff to division

The 2000-2001 budget includes double the number of planners in Pasco's Growth Management Division.

By JAMES THORNER

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 7, 2000

If you needed proof Pasco County is the fastest growing corner of the Tampa Bay region, train your eyes on the county's Growth Management Division.

Swamped by a constant flood of housing development applications, most proposed for central Pasco, growth management will double its number of planners next year.

Growth management administrator Sam Steffey said the 2000-2001 budget, scheduled for presentation next week, includes salaries for 10 planners in his department, a gain of five staffers over this year.

Steffey's office reviews plans for residential, commercial and industrial development, guaranteeing the projects meet the guidelines of the county's comprehensive land-use plan.

But he said reviews that are supposed to take no longer than 90 days sometimes last as long as 180 days. Developers, most looking for a quick turnaround on their projects, are none too pleased by the delays.

Recently, developers of River Ridge, a New Port Richey subdivision, complained about the sluggish speed of the process.

"We need some help getting the plans through," Steffey said. "We could probably spend 16-hour days and just barely start seeing some daylight."

Pasco led the Tampa Bay area last year with more than 3,000 building permits issued for single-family houses.

And driven by such large developments as Meadow Pointe, Connerton and Oakstead, growth shows no signs of abating.

Steffey said some of his new staffers will help with long-range planning, including developments of regional impact, others with smaller developments that consume less time. He estimates the cost of his new employees at about $150,000.

"That would make my life a whole lot easier," Steffey said. "But nothing is certain until the gavel goes down on the budget."

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