Project Site Plan Approval May Be Sign of Resurging Downtown Development

City Council members see Tuesday night's approval of a site plan for Main Street Landing as a signal the project is progressing.

Tuesday’s approval of plans for the Main Street Landing project offers a glimmer that stagnant development in downtown New Port Richey may be starting to move forward. The New Port Richey City Council at its Tuesday night meeting approved a site plan for the mixed residential, retail and dining development that has inched forward in starts and stops for eight years. For most of the time little could be seen except the unfinished shell of Main Street Landing’s first building that will house shops on the ground floor and residences on the upper two stories. “I think all of us are just thrilled to death that the building does not look like some bombed-out wreck,” said Deputy Mayor Rob Marlowe. The plan passed 4-0. Mayor Bob Consalvo was not …

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Council to Review Site Plan for Main Street Landing Project

The proposed plan envisions the project to be done in four phases with the main building and a restaurant in the first two.

The developer of an ambitious downtown residential, commercial and dining project that’s seen fitful progress for eight years is looking for city approval of a site plan and zoning that could move Main Street Landing beyond the three-story shell that’s dominated Main Street. The project started in 2004 and was going to provide a mix of residences along with retail and office space for the New Port Richey downtown. The recession derailed progress in 2007 to the extent New Port Richey threatened to sue the builder in 2008 because nothing was happening. For most of the time only the outer shell of the main building has been visible to residents as workers tried to finish the façade. Work finally got moving again in 2010 with the help of …

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Voters Hit Polls for 2 City Council Seats

Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center. You'll need identification with a photo and signature.

City residents today will pick two City Council members from a field of three candidates in today’s city election when polls open at 7 a.m. Polls close at 7 p.m. but anyone in line at that time will be allowed to vote. Two council seats are up for election and the two candidates with the most votes will be elected to fill the positions. You should cast a vote for two of the three candidates on the ballot. The election is open to all 8,953 New Port Richey city residents registered to vote. There are no party affiliations in the municipal election. Voters should not go to the usual precinct polls they use in general elections. Voting for the city election is at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center at 6630 Van Buren St. The …

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Meet the City Council Candidates: Eric Rhodes

Retired consultant brings long experience working with public agencies to the race.

In advance of the April 10 New Port Richey City Council election, Patch talked with the candidates about their views on issues facing the city. There are two city council seats open and three candidates. The two top vote-getters will each win a seat. Eric Rhodes' Biography in a Nutshell Q: What makes you the best candidate for city council? A:  Rhodes said he’s not only seen the problems of “almost every kind of public agency,” but he’s also solved those problems “Because I’ve successfully solved a bunch of problems, that’s why I’m offering myself here. And I think I can do the job with a lot more background than the other people.” Q: What makes you a good steward of taxpayers' money? A: Rhodes said he’s been a steward of taxpayers’ money …

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Meet the City Council Candidates: Judy DeBella Thomas

Incumbent Councilwoman discusses her views on important issues facing the city

In advance of the April 10 election for the New Port Richey City Council, Patch talked with the candidates for their views on issues facing the city. There are two city council seats open and three candidates. The two top vote-getters will each win a seat. Here's our Q & A with DeBella Thomas. This is a three-part feature. Our profiles with candidates Eric Rhodes and Bill Phillips will appear on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Q:  What makes you the best candidate for this position? A: DeBella Thomas pointed to the four years she has served on the city council and the 34 years she has lived in the city. She also was director of the Main Street program for 10 years after she and her husband had an insurance agency in the city during the 1990s. “All…

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Council Member Faces Balancing Public Office and Private Job

What action do you think a City Council member should take in this situation?

At times balancing private employment and the duties of a city council member become a juggling act. An elected official has to decide where responsibilities to a job end and public obligations begin and balance the two. A zoning issue likely to land before the New Port Richey City Council in the coming months shines a light on this balancing act. The company Councilwoman Judy DeBella Thomas works for is trying to open a clinic in the city at 6716 Congress St. in a building that had been a home for troubled boys. Advanced Research Institute, a firm that runs pharmaceutical trials, needs a zoning change to use its future home, a decision that requires council review and approval. The company is also DeBella Thomas’ employer. That puts the …

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Alex Tiegen

5:05 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2012

There was a typo and missing word in my response to you, Spencer. To clarify, it was supposed to read "I am unsure if the e-mails in question are public record. E-mails sent to or FROM a public official's CITY e-mail account are public record. Requests about public records can be made to the city."   more ›

City Councilwoman Ensnarled in Employer's Zoning Issues

Judy DeBella Thomas' response to a company's zoning issues raises concerns for some.

City Council Candidate Field Drops to 3

Four people filed to run for a city council seat. There will still be an election, but one person won't be on the ballot.

Denise Houston’s name won’t be on the ballot during New Port Richey’s municipal elections in April, according to the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections. Houston, a 20-year resident of New Port Richey, was one of four people who filed to run for city council in the municipal election. On Tuesday, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said the paperwork filed for Houston was missing notarization of her candidate oath. State law requires that candidate oaths be notarized, Corley said. City Manager John Schneiger said Tuesday that staff would discuss Houston’s candidacy Wednesday and seek a resolution. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoon, Corley received an an e-mail from the city indicating that…

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2 City Council Seats Up for Grabs

Qualifying for municipal elections starts at noon Feb. 14.

Want a seat on the New Port Richey City Council? Your chance to try to become one of the elected city officials is approaching. Two council members’ terms expire in April, and city residents can start filing on Feb. 14 to run for their seats in this year’s municipal election. Judy DeBella Thomas and Ginny Miller are the two incumbent city council members for the seats. Thomas said she plans on running to stay on the council, which she has sat on since 2008. Miller, a long-time councilmember, said she has not decided whether she will run for another term. The qualifying period for the city council seats begins at noon on Feb. 14 and ends at noon on Feb. 21. If more than one candidate qualifies for each seat, voters will go to the polls …

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