by James Coulter
Along Kissimmee Avenue stands a two-story quadplex. The structure was built in compliance with regulations at the time, but as regulations have changed since then, the structure is considered “nonconforming.” It now stands vacant and has become a “blighted property” due to wear and tear.
Autumn Cochella, Growth Management Consultant, has seen that property change hands many times, yet none of its owners have been able to make any renovations due to the new “red tape” in place.
“This one [unit] drives me crazy,” she said. “Somebody buys it and see an opportunity to have a multi-family unit…[but] they are hit by a lot of red tape by the city…[and] move on and sell to someone else.”
Fortunately, proposed revisions to the city’s land development regulations could help facilitate such “nonconforming” structures and lots if the City of Lake Wales approves an ordinance.
At their workshop on Wed. Nov. 13, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners reviewed an ordinance with a proposed amendment to land development regulations pertaining to “nonconforming” uses.
If approved, this ordinance would amend the City Code of Ordinances, permitting “nonconforming uses, lots, and structures” to “keep their nonconforming conditions” and thus “exempting them from losing their legal nonconformity after the use has been discontinued or in case the structure is damaged more than 50 percent of its just market value.”
“In order to encourage the redevelopment of vacant and blighted residential properties, and to encourage a mix of housing type opportunities within the core areas of Lake Wales, staff proposed amendments to the City’s non-conforming regulations which may be inhibiting these efforts,” Cochella wrote in the city agenda memo.
As such, as the memo further elucidates: “Current code prohibits the re-establishment of any nonconforming non-residential use once that use has been discontinued for a year or more.”
Under the proposed amendment, such nonconforming structures would be permitted “within the Core Improvement Area and Community Redevelopment Areas.”
Lake Wales City Commissioners will vote on this ordinance at their next regular meeting on Tues. Nov. 19 at 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall.
