Polk Planners OK Change in Growth Plan

BARTOW | The Polk County Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a growth plan amendment that would allow a shopping center on a nine-acre parcel at State Road 60 and Rifle Range Road.

The proposal is a revision of a previous application on the site by Diep Le for a truck stop on the site.

County planner Amee' Nicole Bailey recommended approval, arguing that extending the Wahneta Neighborhood Plan south of State Road 60 justified the project by reducing the standards for the market area the development would serve.

Mike Joachim, the planning consultant presenting the case, said the change was justified by the anticipated growth along the S.R. 60 corridor between Bartow and Lake Wales.

He cited a 940-unit development proposed to the west, Winter Haven's annexation of thousands of acres to the east and the development of the Clear Springs property in Bartow, also to the west.

However, there were questions about access to the property, because it is offset from the intersection and will allow only right turns in and out of the site, which will require customers to make U-turns on a busy highway.

In addition, Commissioner John Langford asked why the applicant can't wait until work is completed on a mini-growth plan for this portion of the S.R. 60 corridor in connection with the planned development of the CSX freight terminal in Winter Haven.

"We have no idea when the study will be funded; it's not in the landowner's interest to delay,'' Joachim said.

The Planning Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the County Commission, which will hear the case on July 9.

A related case, a hearing on a proposed 940-unit residential development proposed for a 330-acre site between S.R. 60 and Gerber Dairy Road was continued to June 10.

[ Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com or 802-863-7535. ]