Pasco County Government Wins One Bay Award
March 24, 2011
Pasco County’s Board of County Commissioners, County Administration and the Growth Management Department accepted the award amid great fanfare at the 19th Annual Future Regions Award ceremony in Tampa. The One Bay Award is new this year and is the capstone award of the competition.
Pasco’s "New Smart Pasco Market Area Plan and Transit Oriented Development Amendments," a multi-pronged transformational planning program, began in 2008 when the Pasco Economic Development Council initiated an agreement with the County to bring in an advisory panel from the Urban Land Institute. Pasco Economic Development Council continues to be the County’s private sector partner in implementing the ULI and related programs.
"This is a huge validation of the work that Pasco County has completed over the past three years to increase its competitiveness and improve quality of life for residents," said John Hagen, Pasco EDC President/CEO. "The County really deserved this award. It will encourage everyone to take their efforts up another level."
The market area concept was recommended by the Urban Land Institute Study as a way to bring focus to Pasco County planning. This amendment incorporates the One Bay Vision by creating five market areas and establishes a specific vision, mission and set of implementation policies for each market area. The general direction of the plan is to concentrate development in the SR 54 and US 19 Corridors and preserve the northern areas of the county for green space and agriculture.
This provides planning and regulation tools to meet the specific needs of different areas of the County to achieve sustainability. Future development in both Transit Emphasis Corridors will follow Transit Oriented Design principles and guidelines. The Design Principles will create a sustainable environment which includes enhanced mixed use neighborhoods allowing for better connectivity, public realm improvements and site development standards.
TBRPC exemplifies the significance of innovative planning and provides honor and recognition for notable achievement in resource planning and management in the Tampa Bay Area. Forty-four applications were received covering the following categories: Community Service, Cultural/Sports/Recreation, Development/Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Environment, Going Green!, and Public Education. An Independent Awards Jury reviewed each entry on the following criteria: Regional quality of life benefit, Benefit to environment, Innovation, Cost effectiveness, Capacity for continuing impact, and Regional benefit.
Morton Plant North Bay Hospital received recognition with Second Place – Community Service for its Starkey Medical Tower expansion which doubled the size of the New Port Richey facility.
Pasco County government also received recognition with Second Place – Going Green! for its Master Reuse System that conserves over 7 billion gallons of potable water every year. In addition, Pasco County received a Certificate of Nomination for its "Bringing Opportunities Home" promotion. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is the regional expert when it comes to land planning. On March 18, it awarded Pasco County the first ever One Bay Award, effectively elevating the county to elite status among Tampa Bay communities.