by James Coulter
Nearly three acres of land along Harding Avenue in Lake Wales will be developed into a mixed-use development with commercial and residential property now that the City of Lake Wales has given preliminary approval to four ordinances.
At their regular meeting on Mon. Nov. 19, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of four ordinances concerning the annexation, zoning and land use designation change, and special permit of 2.75 acres of land on Harding Avenue.
These ordinances would annex the subject property into city limits, amend its Future Land Use designation of NAC Neighborhood Activity Center, amend its Zoning designation of C-5 Village Center, and approve a Special Exception Use Permit to allow a Mixed-Use Planned Development Project (PDP).
The proposed development would include, according to the city memo, “two, two-story mixed-use buildings to include 15,098 square feet of ground-level commercial and 14 market-rate apartments on the second floor.” It would also include outdoor patio space and a reduced front setback to hide the parking behind the building, “creating a better building-to-street relationship along US Highway 27.”
The owner, Lino Cervino, had been contemplating plans for the property for several years. Originally, he had intended to develop it for commercial use; however, after discussion with the city’s planning staff and “considering the ambitions of Lake Wales Envisioned”, he opted for a mixed-use development.
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson praised the project, claiming it would help with infill, collect as much of the population in the city limits, and save the countryside as much as possible.
One resident, Charlene Bennett, likewise praised the project, claiming that it was preferable to another project approved earlier that evening concerning 558 acres outside the city limits.
“Unlike that annexation, which was growth for growth’s sake,”she said. “It [helps alleviate] urban sprawl.”
