73-Lot Hickory Ridge Subdivision Receives Preliminary Approval for Zoning and Land Use Change
by James Coulter
Nearly 73 single-family homes are one step closer to being built in a new Lake Wales subdivision after city commissioners approved changes to the property’s zoning and future land-use designation.
At their regular meeting on Tues. June 16, 2026, the Lake Wales City Commission voted unanimously to approve the first reading of two ordinances related to the proposed Hickory Ridge subdivision west of the city.
Both ordinances would change the subject property’s future land use designation to Low-Density Residential and its zoning designation to Residential to accommodate the proposed subdivision.
Located west of Capps Road, the proposed Hickory Ridge subdivision will develop approximately 47 acres into a 73-lot single-family residential neighborhood.
In August 2021, Garden Street Communities sought annexation of the property into the city to extend municipal water service to the development. The property has since been annexed and become contiguous to the city limits in July 2025.
City planning staff recommended approval of the changes, finding them to be “compatible with the platted neighborhood and surrounding area” and “consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulations,” wrote Growth Management Director Autumn Cochella.
Both the future land use and zoning designations are being updated to accommodate the project, bringing the property into compliance with city planning regulations following annexation.
The Low-Density Residential future land use designation allows traditional single-family neighborhoods at a density of up to five homes per acre. Meanwhile, the Residential zoning designation regulates lot sizes, setbacks, and building types.
Although the subdivision’s lots will be connected to the city’s water system, they have been designed to use septic tanks because sewer service is not yet available to the project, Cochella wrote.
Here are a few other items that were reviewed and approved at this week’s city commission meeting:
Library Impact Fees. The first reading of an ordinance was approved unanimously, amending the definition of “infrastructure” to include library collection materials such as books and other items. Previously, the city’s code did not classify library collection materials as infrastructure, preventing library impact fees from being used to purchase books and other collection items.
Non-ad valorem assessment. Commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing a uniform process for collecting non-ad valorem special assessments associated with service liens.
This method is intended “to collect service liens that are the result of services provided by the City to clean properties, repair or demolish buildings and the like, such services being a special benefit to the property owner,” according to Fany Lozano, Code Compliance Administrator.
Hunts Brothers Complex lighting. Commissioners unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included $200,000 in funding for lighting improvements at the Hunt Brothers Complex. The project will be funded through a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant, with the city providing matching funds.
