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New High School Approved For Hudson Area, Construction Could Begin In 3 Months

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2008

HUDSON - Pasco County officials today approved construction plans for a controversial new high school near the junction of State Road 52 and Chicago Avenue in Hudson.
The approval of construction plans was required under the conditions of county commissioners' approval of the project in March 2007. Work on the school could begin within the next 90 days.
The high school, now know as High School "EEE," drew renewed objections from nearby residents, who said it violated the county's long-range planning strategy and would damage wells.
The Development Review Committee disputed both of those claims. The 41-acre site is smaller than the 70 acres school officials typically choose – a factor that school officials said reflects their option to accept smaller-than-normal sites. The school will use county water, not wells, causing no impact of local drinking wells, DRC officials said.
Responding to neighbors' earlier objections about traffic impacts, school officials say the traffic flow in an out of the school site will bring schools and buses into the school at Chicago and S.R. 52. Students will come to the school using Cricket Lane, a road the school district will build between the northwest corner of the school site and Little Road.
School officials expect to pay for road improvements around the school with $10 million in state funds.
Also Thursday, DRC members approved several changes to the Geraci family's Long Lake Range development on the south side of State Road 54 at Sunlake Boulevard.
The changes drop plans for a regional mall and replace that space with 1.3 million square feet of office space for a future employment center.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com.

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