Page 79 - FDI Alliance International Magazine, July 2019 Interactive Issue_Neat

A CLOUD LOOMS OVER THE LAGOON

Epperson Lagoon has not been without some “Of course we want the development to proceed been given limited access, but the bars remain
controversy – not in the overall plan, but in the and be prosperous. It’s good for the county, but closed. On a recent tour our guide stated, “…
execution of the project. The County of Pasco, we have to ensure the individuals using that area we plan on opening to the public on the first –
eager to support the project gave their blessing are safe,’’ said Anthony Mastracchio, Pasco’s which month? - we are not sure!”
back in 2014 to resurrect an earlier plan that had deputy building official.
been moth-balled due to the recession of 2008.
The amenities appear on the county-approved
The developers moved ahead with construction site plan, said Greg Singleton, president of
gaining momentum in 2017, including the Metro Development Group. “It wasn’t like we
amenities at the main entrance to the lagoon secretly built stuff in the middle of the night,’’
– public washrooms, tiki “swim-up” bar, stage said Singleton. For more information on the
for music and events, a café and retail shop, a Epperson community go to
separate private area and bar for adults to get Nonetheless, Metro Development Group was www.epperson.metroplaces.com.
away from the kids. Under great fan-fare the responsible for obtaining the appropriate
lagoon scheduled its grand opening for April permits, Mastracchio said. Paul Willies is a regular contributor to
of 2017 – with none other than Olympic Gold FDI Alliance Magazine, a commercial
Medalist Swimmer Michael Phelps as its global The construction escaped county attention real estate appraiser based in Tampa,
ambassador opening the lagoon and other because Metro used private, third-party
top political dignitaries from the county. While inspectors to oversee the work, as state law Florida, and the owner of Appraisal
the initial event went ahead, earlier the county allows. That meant county inspectors were never Development International, Inc.
fire-marshal was dispatched to give his blessing on site. Private building officials, however, are (www.appraisaldevelopment.co), and
before the opening, only to announce that the prohibited from conducting fire inspections, can be reached at
buildings had not been signed off by the county which prompted the May 10 visit by the county paul@appraisaldevelopment.com
building inspector – issuing a stop-work order fire inspector.
on the 11 buildings and eight cabanas that for
all intense and purposes were built – pushing As of January, the project still is waiting on permits
back the grand-opening to the general public. to open to the public. Residents of Epperson have

FDI ALLIANCE | JULY ISSUE 2019 79