Polk Land Stewardship Program The Polk Long Range Planning Division is managing a consultant study in cooperation with and on behalf of, the Polk Land Stewardship Alliance. The purpose of this study is to identify recommended options for the implementation of a Polk Land Stewardship Program. The goal is to provide incentives that would strongly encourage the conservation of agricultural lands, wildlife habitat and corridors and would be self initiating. The study will culminate in the development of a Conservation Strategy and Business Plan for the Polk Land Stewardship Program.
DRAFT Technical Memorandum #1 DRAFT Technical Memorandum #2
Integrated Logistics Center (ILC) Report The purpose of this report is to identify the issues and opportunities associated with the development of the CSX Integrated Logistics Center (ILC) in south Winter Haven. This report will provide a basis for future joint planning between the City of Winter Haven and Polk County to maximize the ILC's potential as a community and economic asset. It will also frame he issues to be addressed as part of future regional and local reviews of the ILC project.
Final ILC Report ILC Presentation
Polk Consolidated Transit Development Plan (TDP) Update The Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is managing a consultant study to update the Consolidated Transit Development Plan (TDP). The purpose of this study is to evaluate existing and proposed transit services for the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (Citrus Connection), Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT) and the Polk County Transit Services Division. The study will update the transit service recommendations and associated financial analysis documented in the TPO's Polk County Public Transportation System Analysis, otherwise known as the "2003 Countywide Transit Study." The newly created Polk Transit Authority will consider the recommended transit services for implementation.
Haines City
City View Selected Area Plan (SAP)
Polk County is reviewing a new land use plan. This Plan, produced by Haines City, is for the unincorporated area of Polk County around Haines City. You are invited to attend a public workshop on March 25, 2008, to review and discuss this Plan with County and City staff. County staff will use the information gathered at this workshop to develop a set of recommendations on this Plan to the Board of County Commissioners. This process may result in amendments to Polk County's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. Comments from the Public Meeting held on 3/25/08 are posted below as well as the Comprehensive Plan policies and land use map recommended by Haines City.
Comments from Public Meeting 3/25/08
Recommended Comprehensive Plan Policies and Land Use Map
East Polk Selected Area Study (SAS)
The County in conjunction with the City of Dundee has initiated a land use study for the area east of Dundee to Lake Pierce called the East Polk Selected Area Study (SAS). With the assistance of a consultant, please see the link below to the DRAFT Existing Conditions Profile. This Profile includes Environmental, Land Use, and Transportation data including a draft set of Guiding Principles to help direct growth.
DRAFT Existing Conditions Profile (Updated 1/8/08)
A public meeting is being held to gain input on the Profile on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 6:00 pm at the Dundee Community Center at 603 East Main Street, Dundee. A workshop will be held from 6:00 to 6:30 followed by a presentation and question and answer session. Please note that the Existing Conditions Profile is a draft document and is anticipated to be updated as more information is gathered. Please use the link below to access the public meeting agenda and comment form.
January 17, 2008 Public Meeting Agenda and Comment Form
Please feel free to fill out the Comment Form and send to the following address:
East Polk SAS
Long Range Planning
Post Office Box 9005
Drawer TS05
Bartow, Florida 33831-9005
This is the beginning of an inclusive process. The first phase is to gather existing data including input at the public meeting, develop a Vision Plan, and finally, prepare a land use plan to direct growth based on existing conditions and infrastructure as well as planned infrastructure. During the meeting, we will ask for volunteers for our focus group for this Study. The focus group will be required attending meetings between 8:00 and 5:00 somewhere near Dundee; input will require reviewing draft documents and giving feedback to County staff on presented proposals. Our goal is to gain consensus of the focus group prior to taking the Study and/or Plan before the Board of County Commissioners. The final list of Focus Group Members will be developed after all names have been received.
CPA 08A-14 (Grenelefe)
The County has teamed with Feltrim Developer US, Inc., to establish meaningful land use (zoning) districts for the property within Grenelefe and to the south. Feltrim has an option to purchase Grenelefe from the existing property owner. Grenelefe is an existing development that includes various housing types, golf course, and the main conference center. It was first approved in the early 1970's as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI). DRI is a state mandated process for developments of a certain size. The DRI obligation has been met. However, the zoning designation of "DRI" has remained and is outdated. The "DRI" designation does not provide specifics for how any redevelopment or new development will occur.
The proposed designations will be more consistent with the County's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code and permit more clarification to staff and property owners as to what development options are available for property within Grenelefe. In addition the establishing meaningful land use districts for the property within Grenelefe, Feltrim is requesting to include a parcel to the south. The current designation of this included parcel is Agricultural Residential Rural (A/RR). Below, please see links to the Aerial, Existing Land Use Map, the Proposed Land Use Map as well as the Proposed Text. The text will be a guiding factor for how new or redevelopment is constructed.
These documents will be the subject of the public meeting scheduled for December 13, 2007, at 6:00 p.m., at the Grenelefe Conference Center 3200 SR 546, Dover Meeting Rooms 1, 2, and 3. The County would like to solicit your thoughts and comments on the proposed changes prior to the hearings. The proposal will be presented to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., and before the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, and again in June 2008.
Aerial (Proposed boundaries include Grenelefe and properties to the south)
Existing Land Use Map Proposed Land Use Map
Proposed Text CPA 08A 14 Staff Report
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Based on Kathleen Road Realignment (CPA 08A-08)
The Polk County Long Range Planning Division is initiating a Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment (CPA) on several parcels at the intersection of Kathleen Road and Galloway Road totaling approximately 130 acres. This request is made necessary by the recent realignment of Kathleen Road. Since the realignment, some of the future land use designations at the former intersection no longer meet the established Neighborhood Activity Center (NAC) criteria established by the Polk County Comprehensive Plan.
Based on the realignment of Kathleen Road, a more appropriate location for an NAC in this area is at the new intersection of Kathleen Road and Galloway Road located approximately mile north of the former intersection. Long Range Planning staff is working with the City of Lakeland to create a new NAC at this intersection and change future land use designations on all parcels within the existing NAC to land uses that are consistent with the existing uses and the Comprehensive Plan, and more indicative of the character of the area.
A follow up public meeting will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2007, at the Fellowship Church from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All concerned stakeholders will be notified via a public meeting notice scheduled to be mailed on November 14, 2007. Staff intends to bring CPA 08A-08 before the Planning Commission on January 8, 2008. Below you will find the current future land uses and the proposed future land uses of the affected area.
Current Future Land Use Map Proposed Future Land Use Map
Polk Commerce Centre Development of Regional Impact (DRI)
I‑4 NE Selected Area Plan (SAP)
Amendments and Workshop
The Polk Commerce Centre Development of Regional Impact (DRI) was first approved in 2000 after the I-4 NE SAP was approved in 1991. Please see the table below to view the existing approved land use (zoning) map for the I‑4 NE SAP The SAP is a special plan for the area north of Auburndale along the Polk Parkway, and between Berkley and SR 559 and between I‑4 and CR 559A. This special plan or SAP was developed to prepare for employment centers with professional jobs along with related development such as retail, multi and single family units, and other office uses. In addition, the SAP provides standards for higher quality development. The DRI was first created and approved in 2000 to plan for several large size. The Polk Commerce Centre DRI was limited to development within Phase I‑A which is east of Berkley Road, south of I‑4, west of SR 559, and north of CR 559A. Please see the table below to view the existing approved map and proposed map for the Polk Commerce Centre DRI.
Funding for the transportation impacts necessitated from the impact of the expected development is anticipated to come from the Polk Commerce Centre Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). A CRA receives revenues from the increase is property values over an established base year. Please click this link to review the anticipated transportation improvements to be funded by this CRA http://www.polk-county.net/county_offices/long_range_planning/plans.aspx.
The SAP and the DRI are being amended to provide the right incentives and appropriate development standards for a high quality mix of uses. The County documents proposed to be amended include the DRI Development Order and Master Development Plan, the land use map (zoning) for the I‑4 NE SAP within the Comprehensive Plan as well as the text, and the text of the Land Development Code (LDC) for this SAP.
A workshop was held on Thursday, March 8, 2006, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Berkley Charter Elementary School at 5240 Berkley Road, Auburndale, Florida. The Planning Commission Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA 07DRI-01) was held on May 8, 2007 and the Board approved the transmittal of the amendment to the I-4 NE Selected Area Plan to the Florida Department of Community Affairs on June 6, 2007. The Board will conduct an adoption hearing on October 31, 2007. Below is a link to the staff report for CPA 07DRI-01.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment CPA 07DRI-01 Staff Report
The Board will also be conducting an adoption hearing for the changes proposed to the Polk Commerce Centre Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Development Order on October 31, 2007 at 1:30. Below is a link to the Polk Commerce Centre DRI Notice of Proposed Change Please click here to view the staff report
Polk Commerce Centre DRI NOPC Staff Report
CPA 08A-07 (The SR 17 Scenic Highway)
The Ridge Scenic Highway (SR 17) extends approximately 39 miles from its intersection with US 27 south of Frostproof to its intersection with US 17/92 in Haines City. This highway was designated a State Scenic Highway in February 2005 by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Ridge Scenic Highway Map and Vision
After the Governor and Polk County Commissioners designated SR 17 a State Scenic Highway, the Polk County Long Range Planning Division created the Scenic Highway Focus Group. This advisory committee is comprised of land owners, members of active community organizations such as the Polk County Farm Bureau, Audubon Society, and Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity, consulting land planners, realtors, developers, and city officials from municipalities along the 39 mile highway. After more than a dozen public meetings spanning over a year and a half, the SR 17 Focus Group put together a vision for how they would like to see growth occur along this corridor.
A Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) is the first step in implementing this community vision. The CPA includes a map of the boundaries of, and guiding policy language for, the Scenic Highway. Later, a Land Development Code text amendment will be necessary to establish the technical standards (landscaping, building setbacks, development bonuses in exchange for scenic vista conservation, etc.) to further implement this vision.
The purpose of CPA 08A-07 is to identify the SR 17 Scenic Highway as a Resource Protection Overlay District and to illustrate the boundaries of the district on top of an aerial photograph so that the public can determine what land is included in the district. This CPA also includes text that describes SR 17 Scenic Highway and emphasizes the importance of protecting and enhancing its key community assets of scenic, environmental, historic and archeological importance. For more information on this CPA, please click the links below.
This request was originally heard by the Planning Commission as CPA 07B-14 at a public hearing on July 10, 2007. During the hearing, the public and Planning Commissioners discussed the proposed development density bonuses and how much density could be achieved through them. At a subsequent committee (Scenic Highway Focus Group) meeting, it was decided that the issues would need more time to resolve and that the CPA should be delayed until the next round (08A-Round). The issues have been resolved and the findings and proposed text of this CPA application remain the same. Staff has added an illustrated SR 17 Scenic Highway highlight to the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) for ease of use and public information.
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment Text (CPA08A-07)
Resource Protection Map
SR 17 on Future Land Use Map