WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — It's no secret Pasco County is growing, along with various parts of Tampa Bay.
Wesley Chapel has attracted more families throughout the country in recent years for its suburban living mixed with resort-like amenities.
A man-made lagoon fit for families, a popular sports campus, shipping containers turned into restaurants, retail and entertainment — on top of road and housing construction — have contributed to its influx.
“I don't know how to describe it. It's just crazy,” said Diana Marshall, a longtime neighbor and realtor.
An estimated 81,390 people call the area home, according to the American Community Survey's 2022 one-year estimate report. That's compared to 44,092 people counted in the 2010 U.S. Census.
Marshall remembers the area more than 30 years ago differently: One grocery store, no shopping, with more greenery and orange groves.
“You really just, you worked in Tampa,” Marshall said. “Then you come home.”
Marshall said good schools, lower taxes, and safety contributed to buyers looking into the market. Like much of Tampa Bay, the area saw unprecedented growth over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From one bay to another, Celia Gouveia made the move from the San Francisco Bay Area to Wesley Chapel in June.
A few online searches kept putting Wesley Chapel at the top of the list. Two months later, she moved into her new home with her two daughters.
“It's much easier to meet people, it's much easier to explore,” Gouveia said. “You don't need to be in retirement to live in one of these, which is what I traditionally thought and having all these amenities right at my fingertips."
The ability to work remotely, along with safety, education, traffic, weather and nearby family in Orlando contributed to her decision.
“The lagoon and the up-and-coming safe community with good schools sealed the deal for me," she said.
However, Gouveia said she’s also mindful of the growing pains that come with the influx in growth.
Community members are navigating the rapidly changing landscape of Wesley Chapel from increased congestion, overcrowding concerns in schools, along with response times from first responders.
The increased traffic is driving more traffic to the Angel of God Equine Sanctuary in Wesley Chapel.
Life here is rural and quiet. Since the area’s growth in popularity, executive director Dr. Judith Horvath is responding to more clients, which include anyone from veterans being treated for PTSD, children with special needs, along those wanting to host birthday parties.
“From a positive perspective, the growth is helping our organization in getting volunteers to come out here and help support with the horses because we're [a] 100% volunteer organization, 100% nonprofit,” Horvath said.
However, Horvath said she has long-term concerns about all sorts of development around. For instance, the louder environment could disrupt the quiet haven horses thrive on. Too much near what used to be just open land around her could have an impact on her nonprofit's livelihood, she said.
“We've actually been approached by several developers,” she said. “There's concern. Do I lose sleep about it? Not yet. I think as it gets closer, I may.”
David Engel, Pasco County’s economic growth director, said a balance of growth and preserving the area's character is essential.
Engel said the county is working to find ways to have a balanced lifestyle.
For instance, increasing the number of local jobs and construction of mixed-use projects aim to not only build revenue but disperse the amount of traffic happening within the area. Right now, Engel said about 43% of residents in Wesley Chapel head out of the county for work.
“We're giving the people that live locally, the opportunity to work locally,” Engel said.
Residents have also been able to weigh in through the Pasco 2050 initiative, which aims to serve as a roadmap for the county’s vision between 2025 and 2025.
“I realize that many residents may be a little overwhelmed with the rapid changes because the economy just exploded and we had that in-migration of people outside the state wanting to be part of the lifestyle of Florida, but realizing that there is a backdrop, there are responsible professionals and plans in place to catch up and address a lot of the problems that are experiencing today,” Engel said.
More development is coming to the area with housing, jobs and retail.
Ongoing work is happening at Wiregrass Ranch. There's also the upcoming Avalon Park and changes to come to the well-known Saddlebrook Resort.
These days, families can be found at the Epperson Lagoon or the Mirada Lagoon in nearby San Antonio. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus draws athletes from all over. Retail therapy no longer takes a drive south to Tampa with outlets sprawling throughout the suburb.
With Wesley Chapel and nearby communities transforming in the years to come, officials and community members are constantly maneuvering how to make the most of the opportunities without exacerbating the growing pains.