By James Coulter
More than 29 acres of land could be annexed into the Lake Wales city limits, and more than 79 acres could have their zoning and future land use designations changed to accommodate industrial development.
At their workshop on Wed. Sept. 11, Lake Wales city commissioners considered three ordinances about the annexation of 29 acres of land and changes to the zoning and future land use designation of 79 acres.
The properties in question are located south of Hunt Brothers Road, west of Scenic Highway South, and east of US Highway 27. Of this land, 29 acres are located in the county and have been requested to be annexed, while the 47 acres already located in the city limits are currently designated with a Business Park Center land use designation and Business Park zoning.
While no current development plans for the properties have been submitted at this time, Corby Myers, authorized agent for the land owner, had submitted a request to annex the 29 acres of land into the city and to change the land use and zoning of the entire 79 acres to Industrial.
City staff had recommended that the city commission approve the three approved ordinances.
Lake Wales Mayor, Jack Hilligoss, says the creation of local jobs is an important byproduct of annexing and rezoning tracks of land in Lake Wales.
“A leading priority of both our Lake Wales Envisioned strategy and Polk Vision is economic development and job creation so actions like this make sense. We want to have great jobs that are local, great homes that are attainable, and great businesses that are contributing to the overall well-being of our community. In interacting with our EDC/Chamber, we have learned tracts of land like this are indispensable to creating those things.”
Autumn Cochella, Growth Management Director, mentioned how the city had been working with the Lake Wales Economic Development Council (EDC) to bring industry to these sites. However, the current Business Park land use designation is not “marketing very well” to people who are looking to bring employment and industry into Lake Wales, she said.
When inquired about potential buyers Cochella replied that “they need a lot more land that what is available there.” She said that buyers are looking for land that has already been annexed with the proper titles in place like with zoning and land use. She also mentioned how Hunt Bros. Road is “attractive” to potential buyers because “it checks off a lot of boxes” in terms of its access to Highway 27 and to the newly-built roundabout.
City Commissioner Keith Thompson considered the prospect “exciting” as the city desperately needs industrial to help spur economic development in Lake Wales.
“This is exciting to see and hear about,” he said. “These are the kind of moves that are critical for us to draw manufacturing jobs here, better paying jobs for the people to improve quality of life for the city and those with disposable income. These are the moves we need to make.”
Commissioner Robin Gibson mentioned that the property being adjacent to residential areas could prove beneficial, as new residents and workers could easily “walk to work.”
Cochella mentioned how “there is an idea that residential and industry cannot be good neighbors, but they can be;” Gibson replied, “it depends on the industry.”
The three ordinances will be considered at the next city commission meeting, scheduled for Tues. Sept. 17 at 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall.
