by James Coulter and Maria Iannucci

A proposed mixed-use development, located on 558 acres of land west of Lake Wales, may have received approval from the city, but it has many residents saying, “Not in my backyard!”

At their regular meeting on Tues. Nov. 19, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the second reading of three ordinances about a proposed mixed-use development.

The development, which has been deemed “the gateway to the city”, has been proposed on approximately 558 acres of land located north of SR 60 on the western edge of the city and 12 miles east of Bartow.

The proposed development would include a mix of commercial and residential properties, including an eclectic variety of residential units from townhouses to cottages.

Now approved, these three ordinances would annex the 558 acres of land into the city limits, and amend the zoning map and the City of Lake Wales Comprehensive Plan to accommodate the development.

Shelton Rice, the attorney representing the person spearheading the development, claimed this project has been in the works for many years. He mentioned how the variety of different housing options would help attract new residents and businesses to the area.

“We are excited about it, and we hope the city is excited about it,” he said.

However, while the three ordinances received unanimous approval from the city commissioners, residents feel less than enthused about the overall project, with many claiming it would only bring growing pains to the city.

“They’re going to make little Lake Wales look like New York,” one Facebook comment bemoaned.

“Even though we don’t want it it’s our money that’s paying for it all,” another comment said.

“Why don’t the people of Lake Wales have an actual voice in any of this stupid development that nobody ever needed or wanted?” one person asked in a comment. 

At the meeting, one resident, Janine Montgomery, took to the podium to speak out against the development. She claimed it was “literally pricing out” young families out of home ownership.

“What I see here are a lot of businesses and leasers,” she said. “I see a lot of development going on, and I see more rental signs than ownership.”

Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson insisted that the development was “magnificently planned” and offered flexibility in different markets. He claimed the city, according to current demographics, had the lowest median income in Polk County. As such, a project like this was required to draw economic development into the city.

“We need jobs and opportunity for these folks to earn a decent wage so that they can afford housing,” he said. “To do that, you need to attract employers, and they are often attracted by high-end housing, which we do not have.”

Commissioner Carol Gillespie admired the initiative the city has in obtaining this land before any other city or the county itself “snagged it” for themselves.

“There are other cities waiting to snap up this land we are looking to annex,” she said. “There are other cities that would grab this property if we didn’t. And it’s good that we are [obtaining it].”

While Lake Wales Mayor Jack Hiligoss did not attend last night’s meeting, he does offer his perspective of how this approval of what’s known as Lake Wales Commons will ultimately benefit the citizens of Lake Wales.

“Growth is not our choice, it is our reality,” says Hiligoss. “It will either be a reality that happens to us or works for us. The staff and Commission of Lake Wales has planned and prepared to make sure the growth works FOR our citizens and this development is an example.

“Years ago, we established a 180 Utility service area that determines where we will consider annexation by setting the footprint we desire for our city. We followed that with a land use plan determining what uses we would prioritize on those pieces of land we did accept for annexation. This property owner and developer asked for annexation. The land is within our footprint and the land uses proposed met our planning criteria.

“I agree with Commissioner Gibson’s statements. This property will attract the sorts of job and housing opportunities our citizens need and we need to provide if we hope to maintain a good quality of life for them.  

“I also agree with Commissioner Gillespie. If we refuse their request for annexation, they will simply go elsewhere. The City of Winter Haven has already annexed and is developing very close this property. What will happen then is our roads, schools, and other infrastructure will bear the impacts of increased use but gain none of the financial benefits needed for us to maintain services. It is easy to cry, “Stop the growth” but it is unrealistic and it would be detrimental to our citizens if we assumed that as a policy.”