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State Drops Objections To Wiregrass' Impact

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - The state officially dropped its challenges to the Wiregrass Ranch development Wednesday, allowing plans for future residential phases to proceed.

The state Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission dismissed an appeal of the project's development order a day after the state Department of Community Affairs formally dropped its objections. A development order spells out a developer's commitments for offsetting construction effects.

The Department of Community Affairs, Wiregrass Ranch and Pasco officials reached a settlement two weeks ago after Wiregrass and county officials specified which roads will be improved to compensate for increased traffic from developments at the property, off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The Wiregrass project, which includes a mall, thousands of houses and office space, is considered a Development of Regional Impact, meaning it will create demands on roads, the water supply and other resources beyond Pasco's borders. County officials committed to improvements along Interstate 75 and State Road 54 in the second and third phases of the project, which are to be mostly residential.

Officials from Hillsborough County, who have no legal standing to appeal the order, urged the state to order Pasco and Wiregrass officials to pay $28 million for improvements to Bruce B. Downs, but their objections were not the basis of the appeal. Hillsborough officials say the developments will create significant new demands on a strained road.

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