Connected City plans taking shape By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Metro Development Group is finalizing its team of partners for what is billed as “the city of the future.” Florida Hospital and Tampa General will be setting up a new medical partnership in the Connected City called West Florida Health. Meridian Autonomous Systems will be providing self-driving and electrical vehicles. And, Saint Leo University will be creating a new education center. Connected City is a master-planned community in eastern Pasco County that promises the fastest Internet and WiFi speeds in the nation. Over a year and a half, Metro developers and Pasco County have fashioned a public/private partnership for a 10-year pilot project, authorized by state law. It sweeps in about 7,800 acres bordered by Interstate 75, State Road 52, State Road 54 and Curley and Overpass roads. Metro controls about 35 percent of land targeted for development. On Jan. 17, Metro put its partners on display at a workshop for Pasco County commissioners. Six speakers outlined plans to embed state-of-the-art technology into every feature of Metro’s initial development within Connected City. “It’s all about trying to encourage entrepreneurship in the field of technology, and high-wage jobs in Pasco County,” said Kris
COURTESY RICHARD K. RILEY
Kris Hughes, Pasco County’s planning and development administrator (standing), addressed county commissioners during workshop on Connected City.
Hughes, the county’s planning and development administrator. During the presentation, both Metro and county officials acknowledged some details on the oversight of Connected City remain a work-in-progress. County commissioners agreed to jettison a proposed special management committee. Its seven members, including three people appointed by Metro, would have replaced the usual pre-approval route through the county’s development review committee and planning commission. “I didn’t really like that setup,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.“I think it’s probably good for us not having the committee.” Pasco County Chairman Mike Moore suggested a future workshop to reconsider how
to make the review process work fairly for everyone. However, land use attorney Joel Tew noted that the state, in crafting the pilot program, had mandated an expedited review process for Connected City. “I do think we’ll get in trouble if we don’t set up a new development review board,” Tew said. The first public hearing for Connected City was scheduled for Jan. 24, after The Laker/Lutz News press deadline. The final public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7. Metro currently is constructing its first community within Connected City at Epperson Ranch, at Overpass and Curley roads. A 7-acre, manmade Crystal Lagoon will be
built there, along with thousands of homes, a town center, offices and retail. Plans for the wellness district, operated by Florida Hospital and Tampa General, include advanced research facilities, an innovation center, and a medical hospital with a med-spa and a health and performance institute, according to details included in a news release. Details and a name for the health care campus will be released at a later date. “Our goal is to change the way we deliver care,” said Gino Casanova, director of administrative and governmental affairs at Florida Hospital. Other Connected City partners include The Broadband Group and the nonprofit US Ignite. “We’re looking forward to the growth and development of this project,” said Ed Dadez, vice president of continuing education and student services at Saint Leo University. The university already operates about 40 education centers in seven states, Dadez said. “An education center is like a small college,” he said.“Saint Leo would be the anchor institution on site (at Connected City).” Matthew Lesh, Meridian’s chief commercial officer, said his company focuses on high-tech solutions for the development of self-driving and electrical vehicles, as well as robotics and automation. For instance, Meridian did programming for Olli, a self-driving shuttle from Local Motors. Asked if Meridian would bring manufacturing jobs to Pasco, Lesh said,“I think we’re wide open to that.”
Smithsonian exhibit comes to Pioneer Florida Museum By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The working life of Americans from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century will be explored in a traveling Smithsonian exhibition that will make its first stop in Florida at The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. The exhibit – “The Way We Worked” – is part of the Museum on Main Street, which is a national, state and local effort to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. The Florida Humanities Council selected the Pioneer museum as a host site. Visitors to the Pioneer museum, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, can view the exhibit from Jan. 28 through March 18. A series of local speakers will bring in-
sight into Pasco County’s contributions to the nation’s work history. There also will be field trips, special programs, lunch and learn events, and tours. The Pioneer museum released details on the exhibit in a news release.The museum is seeking corporate sponsors, speakers and docents for additional programming. “This is the first time a Smithsonian exhibition will be in East Pasco County,” said Stephanie Black, the museum’s executive director. “It allows us the opportunity to explore this fascinating aspect of our own region’s history, and we hope that it will inspire many to become even more involved in the cultural life in our community.” The exhibit tells the story of working America through 86 black-and-white, and color, photographs. The photographs explain where Americans worked, how they worked, who
they were and why they worked. The traveling exhibit is an adaptation of an original exhibition by the National Archives and Records Administration, which explores the connections between work and American culture. It is a look at the past 150 years at influences on the workforce and its environment, including the growth of manufacturing and the rise of technology. Five other communities in the state also will host the exhibit in coming months, including the Polk County History Center in Bartow. For information or to volunteer, COURTESY OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES, RECORDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org. Two girls deliver ice in 1918. This photo is part of a Additional information also can Smithsonian exhibition on Americans’ work history that be found at FloridaHumanities.org. is coming to The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village.
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January 25, 2017
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