WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. -- There's good news and bad news with the recent stoppage of construction on the massive crystal lagoon project in Pasco County.
- Construction interrupted on crystal lagoon in Pasco
- New community being built in Wesley Chapel
- Centerpiece is 7.5 acre lagoon
- Epperson community
The bad news is construction has been stopped on the much-anticipated project. The good news is, there isn't a problem with the actual pool.
Scheduled to open on May 19, an inspection uncovered 19 structures in the project that were not in the original plan. That included tiki huts, cabanas and bath houses - as well as a shop and pool treatment plant.
Since none of those buildings had been permitted by the county, construction was halted.
The massive, seven-acre water attraction has been hailed as the first-of-its kind in the U.S. The pool, located at the new Epperson development in Wesley Chapel, features a pool about the size of 10 football fields with a beach, cabanas, swim-up bars, kayaking, paddleboarding, a tidal pool and a restaurant and recreation space.
The Metro Development group was fined $9,518.
Proper permitting is underway and officials said the project's remaining construction should resume soon.
"The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson unfortunately did not open as we all hoped on May 19," Metro Development released in a statement. "This is the first-ever Crystal Lagoon in the United States, and while exciting, that means the review processes are all new, and that is requiring more certifications.
"We know this is disappointing, and we apologize. We are working closely with our Pasco County partners, and we appreciate their diligence. Meanwhile, we are doing everything we can to welcome everyone to the lagoon as soon as possible."