Home Care In Odessa, FL

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Gerald Speer has lived in his Odessa home for almost 20 years, but now the 70 year old is worried about his future with new development planned all around him.

“I thought I could live here for the rest of my life. I thought it was a perfect location,” he said. “They can do what they want here. Just let me move somewhere where I’m going to have 1,800 square feet and an area that I’m as happy as I am in this area. That’s all I want."

The project is near the intersection of Gunn Highway and State Road 54, which is already booming with hundreds of new homes and businesses.

The plan, known as the Odessa Town Centre, is divided into three separate areas.

Officials said they are trying to get away from the usual strip malls. Instead, they said this will be a village atmosphere with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial, all connected by roads and trails, where people can easily walk from their homes to work, eat, shop, and more.

There are also plans to tear down a rundown flea market and build a Lowe’s.

“It’s an up-and-coming area. It’s a good place for families,” said Paula Wasserman, the owner of CPR Construction Cleaning Tampa Bay. “This is going to be great for us because we own a family business. It’s a construction cleaning company. So what better time to have all of this around our neighborhood.”

County officials said they hope to help guide property owners in selling to the developers.

Gerald is willing to sell but is worried because his property is smaller than his neighbors.

“I know there’s going to be change and I know I have to accept it. And I have no problem accepting it. But I don’t want to, basically what I told them, move into a trailer. Leave this 1,800-square-foot home. A little over. And move into a trailer to make everybody happy," said Speer.

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People are moving to Florida in record numbers. According to the US Census Bureau, Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation.

As people continue to move to the state, more housing developments are popping up – including one in Keystone, Odessa.

It’s known for its tranquil landscape of winding roads and horse farms. Keystone, Odessa is a dream for those looking for a quiet, rural lifestyle.

It's why Vivian Vetere and her husband moved there. They have six acres on Patterson Road.

"Life as we know it is not going to be the same," explained Vetere.

They’ve got plenty of room for their two horses Red and Saucy to run free, but about a year ago, the quiet was cut by the sharp sounds of development.

"We just love the area, and we are absolutely devastated to find out about this," Vetere said. "There was no warning, nothing. Somebody approached me at my mailbox and said how are you going to like to see 196 houses come up across the street from you and I said what? I had no idea."

Missy Nordbeck lives here too and is among more than a dozen neighbors suing Hillsborough County to stop the development of the 200-acre plot on Patterson Road.

"We can complain about anything we can think of to complain about to just slow it down, be a speed bump until we can get into court," explained Nordbeck.

It's owned by national home builder Taylor Morrison, who has plans for a 194-home development.

"It’s going to be a nightmare," said Vetere. "They’re going to have to put a light I heard they can’t widen this road there's going to be roughly 200 houses, so there's going to be at least 400 cars coming in and out of here, I mean this road can't manage that, the whole area can't manage that."

Nordbeck said development started without warning using an outdated zoning approval from 31 years ago.

"Yes there was a zoning approval for this site plan back in 1991," said Nordbeck. "They found it, they unearthed it, and they just started building."

The county passed a Comprehensive Protection Plan in 2001, which states only one home can be built per five acres.

"All were asking for is Taylor Morrison to have to abide by the county’s own rules," Nordbeck said. "I know that sounds crazy, were not asking for a dime we just want them to revoke the development order and start the process over using todays rules and regulations."

The county did issue a stop work order for Taylor Morrison once back in April 2022 along with a $310,000 fine for illegally removing trees without the proper permit.

Vetere remembers the day the trees came down, "There was a line of those very old, some of them hundreds of years old, there was a line of them all the way down the road, and they cut them down that’s illegal they dug up gopher tortoises by hand."

A spokesperson for Taylor Morrison released the following statement to FOX 13:

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FOX 13 reached out to the Hillsborough County Commission for comment and were told by Chief Assistant County Attorney Robert Brazel that, "We have a longstanding policy in our office of not commenting on pending litigation, and we advise our commissioners and staff to do the same. We find it preferable to make our position known through our court filings and arguments to the court."

Until that day in court, this group of neighbors continues its fight to protect their rural community.

"We’ve done everything we can to prepare for this emergency hearing, and it is our first time in front of the judge, the first time in court to have our side heard by someone who can actually help us," Nordbeck said.

Taylor Morrison did submit traffic and school studies to the county in 2020 showing that the area could absorb the new development.

The emergency hearing will take place January 18th.

Starkey Ranch is a Tampa area master-planned community in Odessa, FL.

This new residential development has homes for purchase with prices from the $400k's to over $900,000 and offers lots of amenities like a community pool, clubhouse and walking trails.

In 2020, Starkey Ranch sold 535 new homes, landing them at #35 on the list of best-selling master-planned communities in the country.

This video provides a pretty good overview:

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As you can maybe tell from that video, Starkey Ranch is a multi-generational community, but, there is a neighborhood geared towards retirees and active adults.

Homes at Starkey Ranch

Like most master-planned communities here in Florida, Starkey Ranch is comprised of several different neighborhoods, and there are a few different builders building homes here, including Taylor Morrison, M/I Homes, and Homes by West Bay.

As mentioned above, homes start in the $400k's and stretch into the $800-$900k range.

Most appealing to retiring baby boomers will probably be Esplanade at Starkey Ranch being developed by Taylor Morrison.

“Esplanade” is Taylor Morrison's brand of active adult communities, and they're developing them in many parts of the state.

Here's a list of homes currently on the market in Starkey Ranch:

Where is Starkey Ranch?

Starkey Ranch is located in Pasco County, which offers easy access to some of the world's best beaches, year-round activities for fun and relaxation, and of course a warm, sunny climate.

Starkey Ranch is just 25 minutes from Tampa International Airport and an easy drive to downtown Tampa. With its close proximity to Tampa and other areas, Starkey Ranch is a great place for retirees looking to stay close to the city.

Starkey Ranch spans approximately 2,400 acres, half of which are devoted to lakes, ponds, wetlands and parks. It’s home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, ospreys, hawks and migratory birds.

What Makes Starkey Ranch Unique?

Starkey Ranch places a big emphasis on blending in and preserving the local environment.

The 18,000-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve borders Starkey Ranch to the north and east, making the community feel more like a bird sanctuary than a residential development.

Reclaimed water is used for irrigation in parks, common areas and in individual yards and Starkey Ranch uses leading-edge stormwater management techniques to protect the quality of their ground water.

Starkey Ranch Amenities

Today there are more than 12 miles of wide paved trails, part of the planned 20-mile trail system within the community. Soon these trails will connect with the nature trails in the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve as well as its 6.7-mile paved trail that connects to the 42-mile Suncoast Trail.

Starkey Ranch is home to several parks, including four dog parks.

The Starkey Ranch Town Square includes Publix, shops, restaurants and apartments. The Starkey Ranch Business Park has sites for Class A and medical offices, hotels and support retail.

Starkey Ranch Fees and Dues

Most communities here in Florida are pretty tight-lipped when it comes to divulging all of the fees and dues you'll be required to pay, they want you to call and talk to a salesperson before they provide that information.

But that's not the case at Starkey Ranch, where you'll find HOA dues, master association fees, and CDD fees spelled out right on their website.

Everyone living in Starkey Ranch pays a $75 fee to the Master Association each year. This covers architectural control and deed restriction enforcement.

Next up, some neighborhoods within Starkey Ranch have monthly or quarterly association dues that range from $167/month to more than $1,000/quarter.

The scope of services those fees get you varies, but in the instance of Esplanade at Starkey Ranch where the fee is currently $1,050.50 per quarter, you get all of your lawn/landscape maintenance and common area maintenance covered.

Plus, Esplanade has private amenities solely for their residents and the use/upkeep of those are included in this fee.

Last but not least, Starkey Ranch is part of the TSR Community Development District (CDD), a special purpose form of local government created to serve the long-term specific needs of the community.

The CDD’s main powers are planning, financing (by issuing tax-exempt bonds), constructing, operating and maintaining various public improvements and community facilities within Starkey Ranch.

The CDD makes it possible for Starkey Ranch to offer the most desirable elements of a master-planned community. Residents enjoy high-quality facilities and services with the assurance that the standards of the community will be maintained even after the developer has finished the community.

The CDD fees you will pay range from about $2,300 to $3,400 per year, depending where in the community you end up.

Just so you know, these CDD fees are added to your tax bill.

Want More Information?

If you'd like more information on Starkey Ranch and other communities in this area, just fill out this form:

WOB Bar & Kitchen, the original purveyor of the craft beer experience, is proud to announce the opening of its much-anticipated location in Odessa, Florida. The newest restaurant, slated to open on April 2^nd, 2024, will join the company’s existing locations in the Tampa area, totaling to the fifth WOB Bar & Kitchens in the region.

The newest WOB Bar & Kitchen will be located at 13430 Pine Gap Spur, Odessa, FL 33556 , in the heart of Starkey Ranch, one of the fastest growing communities in the area. Set to employ approximately 60 WOB*Stars, the 4,935-square -foot restaurant and bar includes seating for approximately 145, including an airy 780-square-foot outdoor patio, where pets are always welcome, with ample TVs, relaxing furniture and fun activities, such as corn hole and giant Jenga.

"After finding the perfect location, we are very excited to bring WOB Bar & Kitchen to the Odessa community,” said Lynette Debauche, Managing Partner at WOB Bar & Kitchen Odessa. “Between our bar and food menu, and outdoor patio, we offer an unparalleled experience to our guests. Combined with the shared anticipation and the amazing outreach from the residents of Odessa, we are confident we will see nothing but success when entering this market.”

Beer Selection

Rivaling any competitor around, each WOB Bar & Kitchen location boasts an unparalleled collection of 300 different and unique beers in massive floor-to-ceiling coolers and 40 rotating taps, offering guests the best in local and international beers.

Menu Offerings

In addition to its homage to beer, the Bar & Kitchen serves lunch and dinner daily and offers a perfectly beer-paired menu with modern twists on classics, such as signature items like the Black n’ Blue Burger, a blackened Angus beef burger loaded with Danish blue cheese; and the Cali Bowl, a choice of protein, grape tomatoes, shredded carrots, cucumber, drizzled with Siracha-Lime Aioli and topped with fresh avocado, toasted sesame seeds and scallions; as well as the famous life-sized German Pretzel and the award-winning Mac & Cheese Bites; and so much more.

Pets on the Patio Always Welcome

Additionally, WOB caters to everyone of all ages, both human and animal, on its airy outdoor patio. Each WOB Bar & Kitchen boasts an outdoor patio, where pet parents can enjoy a nice drink and a meal with their favorite fur babies, whether dog, cat, rabbit, bird or even a llama from time to time! WOB is famous for hosting regular Pets on the Patio events, offering special menus and drinks just for wining-and-dining pets, often benefitting a local animal organization.

About WOB Bar & Kitchen

WOB Bar & Kitchen was founded in 2007 by two best friends in Tampa, Fla. who wanted to create a welcoming place where friends could gather, drink, eat and explore. WOB, the original craft beer bar, boasts hundreds of beers and rotating taps at each location along with signature food menus specifically designed to enhance the flavor of beers including WOBs proprietary beer, Secret Llama. Secret Llamas Blueberry Wheat Ale was amply named as Untapped’s “2023 #1 Fruited Wheat Beer- Florida.” WOB has grown to a global franchise with 40+ locations in the United States. For more information, visit www.worldofbeer.com.

Positions available in Central and Southwest Florida

CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST, FL — The U.S. Postal Service is looking to hire new employees for delivery and retail positions at post offices in Central and Southwest Florida.

As part of its 10-year-plan, “Delivering for America,” the U.S. Postal Service is focused on building a more stable and empowered workforce. Employees are its greatest asset, and the organization is investing in new employees by providing robust training and on-the-the support.

USPS offers competitive wages and benefits, and career advancement opportunities. Accepting a position with the Postal Service is the first step to starting a long, fulfilling career with a dynamic, forward-thinking organization committed to delivering for the American people.

Current job openings include:

Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) Salary: $19.06 per hour

An RCA will have a continuous, part-time job. This on-call position could be ideal if one is retired, self-employed, an at-home parent, an educator, night student, or if employed on an evening shift schedule. An RCA serves families and businesses in rural and suburban areas. This employee is responsible for the delivery and collection of mail, working part-time when regular carriers have scheduled days off or vacation days. An RCA also sells stamps, supplied, and money orders. An applicant must have a valid state driver’s license and demonstrate and maintain a safe driving record. A personal vehicle may be required. Becoming an RCA is the first step to becoming a full-time, regular rural carrier with full benefits. RCA positions are currently available in these locations:

Astatula, FL Auburndale, FL Bokeelia, FL Bradenton, FL Fellsmere, FL Grant, FL Lakeland, FL Palmetto, FL Plant City, FL Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte, FL Riverview, FL Sanibel, FL Tampa, FL Valrico, FL Wauchula, FL Wimauma, FL Zephyrhills, FL

Assistant Rural Carrier (ARC) Salary: $19.06 per hour

This employee will deliver and collect packages along routes in rural areas and will provide a variety of services to customers along an assigned route. The successful applicant may be required to provide their own vehicle for transportation. As an ARC, you may opt to provide service to your community on weekends and holidays or up to seven days each week; whichever suits your lifestyle. If you enjoy working outdoors, while keeping your week free, this position may be a great fit for you. ARC positions are currently available in these locations:

Auburndale, FL Odessa, FL Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte, FL Wimauma, FL

City Carrier Assistant (CCA) Salary: $18.92 per hour

A CCA delivers mail and packages on a varied schedule that may include weekends and holidays. The position requires a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record, and experience with a passenger car or larger. A CCA is scheduled to work based on service needs. CCA positions are currently available in these locations:

Auburndale, FL Clearwater, FL Ellenton, FL Lakeland, FL Largo, FL Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte, FL

Postal Support Employee (PSE) Salary: $18.96 per hour

A PSE serves customers at the retail counter and distributes mail and packages for postal personnel to deliver. The position is intended to be very flexible; an employee can be scheduled any hours and days, including weekends and holidays. PSE positions are currently available in these locations:

Haines City, FL Safety Harbor, FL

Job seekers may apply for these positions at www.usps.com/careers through July 24, 2022.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

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