The city of New Port Richey has taken the next steps to help the Villa del Sol housing project move forward.
At its May 5 meeting, City Council members approved four ordinances — three vacation of public right-of-way requests and a small city-owned surplus property transfer request on Grand Boulevard. The three public right-of-way vacation requests are High Street between Grand Boulevard and Aspen Street, a section of the east side of Grand Boulevard, and Water Street between Grand Boulevard and High Street.
In exchange for transferring the small city-owned parcel of land along Grand Boulevard to the developer, the city will acquire a separate parcel just south of the new fire station No. 2.
Dale Hall, the city’s development director, told council members that the parcels are part of an approved plan submitted with the Zoning Department, and the approvals were needed for the developer to begin the replat process, create a cohesive site and to begin the site construction permit drawings.
There are conditions the developer must meet, Hall says, including “vertical construction” — utilities and foundations installed — within 36 months.
City Manager Debbie Manns said the city has been working with developers of the $150 million Villa del Sol project for about four years. The roughly 300 apartments and 153 residential single-family homes will be built on a 24-acre site located on Grand Boulevard at the former Community Hospital site that was abandoned in 2012.
“It will be a complement to the housing stock in the city,” Manns said. “We’re quite proud of the project.”
Council member Bertell Butler expressed concern about how the project could impact water drainage into areas northeast of the site. While the developers are responsible for ensuring proper drainage from the site, Butler said more information is needed to ensure steps are taken to prevent improper drainage.
Butler voted against the public right-of-way vacation request for the High Street section but voted in favor of the others.
“My reservations for the northeast corner don’t take away from the great way that’s being done,” he said.
In other news
The city also voted to adopt a resolution that amends regular and special meeting agendas to include a “council comments” section after Vox Pop. Vox Pop is a public comment portion of the meeting where residents can address the council on city-related matters, but currently, council members cannot immediately respond to these issues during the session.
Manns noted that the comment period would allow council members to make brief statements and that the mayor has the discretion to limit discussion that doesn’t honor the intent of the resolution.
“I think this is a great idea,” Deputy Mayor Brian Jonas said. “The whole premise was to give everybody some clarity on some items.”
The council also voted to appoint Sue Grassin to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for a term of three years, as well as to provide a 50% discount on the city’s recreation camp registration fees for all city employees during school breaks. Council members approved a summer membership sale for the Recreation and Aquatic Center that will take place from early May to early June.