by James Coulter
A scrivener’s error was recently corrected on an ordinance annexing 558 acres for a proposed mixed-use development.
At their meeting on Tues. Oct. 8, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to apply a curative modification to another ordinance concerning the annexation of land for a proposed development.
Last year, on Nov. 19, 2024, city commissioners approved an ordinance annexing 558 acres of land west of the city for the proposed Lake Wales Commons development.
Lake Wales Commons is anticipated to provide 3,200 new residential homes and more than a million square feet of light industrial and commercial space.
However, a scrivener’s error concerning the legal descriptions of the annexed properties was discovered, which required a curative modification to the ordinance.
“According to the City’s special legal counsel for land use matters, Tom Cloud, the City has effectively annexed the property,” wrote Autumn Cochella, Director of Growth Management.
“However, adoption of this curative ordinance is required to correct the descriptions of the land annexed to avoid the unintentional involuntary annexation of property not authorized by the owners,” she continued.
