PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — One of Pasco County’s largest development plans is beginning to move forward, with thousands of new homes, schools, and roads set to reshape the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills area.

The Villages of Pasadena Hills (VOPH) covers more than 20,000 acres between Curley Road and U.S. 301. First approved in 2009, the plan allows up to 41,987 homes, 2.26 million square feet of commercial space, and 500,000 square feet of office space over the coming decades. About one-third of the land—more than 7,000 acres—is designated to remain rural.

Population growth

If fully built, VOPH could eventually bring nearly 100,000 new residents to eastern Pasco, based on common planning estimates of 2.3–2.8 people per household. Even near-term projects are expected to have a noticeable impact.

Developments already approved will add about 2,100 homes within the next several years. That translates to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 additional residents in the Watergrass, Handcart Road, and Kiefer Road areas.

Schools under pressure

Population growth will directly affect local schools. Existing campuses already serving the area include Watergrass Elementary, Innovation Preparatory Academy (K-8), Kirkland Ranch K-8, and Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation high school.

Planning documents call for as many as seven school sites within the Villages of Pasadena Hills boundaries, though only one new location has been identified by the Pasco County School District this year—at the north end of Village B near S.R. 52.

Based on typical student-generation rates, the first 2,100 homes alone could bring 800 to 1,000 new students into the school system, underscoring the need for new campuses or boundary changes in the coming years.

Traffic and road expansions

Transportation is another major concern. Residents in Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills already face heavy congestion on Curley Road, Overpass Road, and S.R. 54. The VOPH master plan anticipates this growth and lays out a long-term network of widened corridors and new connectors.

Key projects include:

• Expanding Curley Road, Overpass Road, U.S. 301, and S.R. 52 to six lanes.

• Extending and widening Handcart Road, connecting Prospect Road north to S.R. 52.

• Four-lane upgrades to Kiefer Road, New River Boulevard, and the Zephyrhills Bypass extension.

• Dozens of internal two-lane roads built by developers to link neighborhoods.

Those upgrades are laid out in county transportation maps through 2065, meaning full relief is years away. In the meantime, new development is expected to add thousands of daily vehicle trips. The first wave of homes could generate 18,000–20,000 daily car trips, according to standard transportation estimates.

A generational shift

The Villages of Pasadena Hills represents one of the most ambitious growth plans in Pasco County history. While its full buildout will take decades, the effects will be felt much sooner. More residents, more students, and more traffic are already on the way.

County officials say the project was designed to encourage “smart growth,” blending neighborhoods with shops, parks, and schools while reserving large areas of open land. Whether the long-term vision can keep pace with rapid growth remains to be seen.

For continuing updates on Wesley Chapel and east Pasco development, visit WesleyChapelCommunity.com and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.