LAKE WALES, Fla. – As concerns about growth continue to dominate conversations in Lake Wales, city officials say there is an important distinction between homes that are approved and homes that are actually built.
The topic resurfaced during discussions surrounding a recently approved residential development near Hunt Brothers Road, where commissioners considered a proposal that could eventually bring 722 housing units to approximately 164 acres east of Hunt Brothers Road and south of State Road 60.
However, the most notable takeaway from the discussion was not the size of the proposed development. Instead, it was a statistic presented by Growth Management Director Autumn Cochella that provided broader context about development throughout the city.
According to Cochella, Lake Wales has approved 21,883 residential dwelling units over the past five to six years. Yet only about 6.5% of those units have actually been built.
The figure means that while thousands of homes may appear in development plans, the vast majority never reach construction, at least not immediately.
Cochella explained that this is a normal part of the development process. Many projects encounter challenges during the expensive civil engineering, infrastructure, permitting, financing, and concurrency review stages. Some projects are delayed for years, while others never move forward at all.
The discussion came as commissioners considered a request from property owners along Hunt Brothers Road to annex approximately 164 acres into the city and approve a Residential Planned Development. The property is currently an active orange grove located less than a half-mile south of State Road 60 and just south of Walmart.
The approved plan includes a mix of housing types and uses, including 366 single-family lots, 80 townhomes, and 276 multifamily units, along with neighborhood parks and amenities, mini-storage, and a future commercial outparcel.
Commissioner Carol Gillespie expressed concern that the city may be approving too much residential development and questioned whether continued growth could negatively impact the community’s character and quality of life.
During earlier discussions on the project, Gillespie noted that residents frequently express concerns about the number of proposed developments coming before the commission.
Other commissioners emphasized that property owners have the right to pursue development within the rules established by the city.
Commissioner Keith Thompson argued that market conditions ultimately determine what gets built and what does not, while Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson said the city’s role is to ensure quality development standards rather than prevent private property owners from developing their land.
City officials also noted that annexation and development approvals do not guarantee construction. Projects must still navigate multiple phases of engineering, permitting, infrastructure planning, and economic feasibility before any homes are built.
For residents concerned about growth, the city’s numbers offer an important perspective. While Lake Wales has approved nearly 22,000 housing units in recent years, more than 93% of those units have not yet been constructed.
As a result, officials say development approvals should not necessarily be viewed as an immediate indicator of how many homes will ultimately be built within the city.
