City assigns Future Land Use and Zoning to a recently annexed 19 Acre Parcel
by James Coulter
A maximum of 231 new residential units may be constructed, subject to site plan approval and infrastructure concurrency determinations, after the city assigned the zoning and future land use designations for more than 19 acres of land in southeastWinter Haven. The assigned zoning and future land use designations are consistent with designations to the north, east, and northwest of the site.
City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the second reading of two ordinances that will assign the 19-acre parcel with Neighborhood Suburban Future Land Use and Multi-Family Residential-Low Density (R-3) zoning.
The parcel in question is located southwest of the intersection of Old Bartow Lake Wales Road and Waters Road. It was recently annexed into the city last November. Prior to its annexation by the city, the parcel had been designated as Agriculture/Residential Rural (A/RR). Currently, the property consists of citrus groves.
Shelton Rice petitioned and requested to assign the zoning and future land use designations to facilitate a future development, which, according to the city memo, would consist of “…residential, but a specific product mix and units has not been determined at this time.”
However, “at the maximum density of 12 dwelling units per acre”, as permitted by the new zoning and future land use designations, a maximum of 231 units may be developed on the property. The parcel is located southeast of the Peace Creek Reserve subdivision, currently under construction with single family homes and where 120 townhomes are planned.
Shelton Rice addressed the city commission concerning comments made in a previous meeting by commissioners about traffic and concurrency.
Rice mentioned that a traffic study is currently being conducted. While no results have thus far been produced, he assured commissioners that he will address them during the development review process.
In terms of concurrency and workforce housing, he mentioned that the proposed development is similar to a subdivision located north of it. That subdivision offers residential units for first time homeowners with a $2,000 mortgage payment with some additional costs not counting homeowner assessment dues.
As such, the downpayment would amount to an $1,700 obligation at 20 percent down. Such a payment appears affordable, Rice claimed, when compared to the 72,000 annual income as estimated by local census data.
“I am no economist. This is kind of back of the napkin math. Wages have increased over a few years. But this is very close if not within range of the definition of workforce housing,” he said. “We think this is somewhat affordable even though the costs are really high right now.”
Commissioner Brian Yates said he appreciated the effort to estimate the affordability of workforce housing, and he felt that such a provision could be provided with the proposed development.
“You know that currently our area is experiencing a challenge for a lot of people trying to afford housing in Winter Haven. We are making an effort to try to do our better to make it available as much as possible,” he said. “People are relocating to the area.We are happy to see the expansion and growth. But we are concerned about the people who are here and would like to have a decent place to live.”