Local Residents Raise Concerns about Potential Traffic Issue with Proposal to Build 100 Residential Units along Havendale Boulevard
by James Coulter
Nearly 100 multi-family residential units have been proposed for a vacant 13-acre parcel located at 800 Havendale Boulevard with a commercial shopping center and associated parking. However, many residents have raised concerns that the proposed development may exacerbate traffic issues in that area.
At their regular meeting on Mon. June 24, Winter Haven City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a request by a local developer to amend a portion of Planned Unit Development PUD Ordinance to help facilitate the proposed development at 800 Havendale Boulevard.
Landmark Investments, Inc. had petitioned the request to amend the PUD as, according to the city staff memo, the current PUD “does not allow multi-family residential.” Currently, the northern portion of the parcel “is designated as Commercial- Highway (C-3) zoning district.”
“The current PUD Ordinance is 35-years-old, contains references to obsolete zoning districts pertaining to permitted uses, and does not provide development standards,” the memo states. “Staff proposes to provide updated permitted uses and development standards for the existing developed commercial portion to align with current standards and zoning districts.”
However, many residents spoke against the proposal, claiming that the development could further exacerbate traffic issues, specifically at the intersection of Havendale Boulevard and US Highway 17.
Mary Maravich, a former public employee, claimed that the staff’s recommendation was based on outdated traffic data that no longer reflects the traffic activity and issues within that area. As such, she implored the city to consider conducting another traffic study.
She mentioned how a previous study claimed the area would be “a high crash area” and “a safety concern.” Since then, the renovations there have “created more traffic.”
“They closed the median at the intersection at MLK and 6th Steet,” she explained. “So, it is now forcing everyone in condos and the Winter Haven Harbor Condos to utilize US 17. So, I think is good to have a traffic study today, as [traffic] has increased.”
Another resident, Betty Hoffman, mentioned how the intersection at Havendale Boulevard and US Highway 17 is constantly congested, to the point where she often cannot even get into her condominium at certain times of the day. She even went so far as to personally invite the city commissioners to her apartment to see how bad the traffic is there.
“I have a beautiful view going into that mall off of US 17, and I would like to invite you all,” she said. “I invite you to come to my place and get a beautiful view of how much traffic is on there and how many cars go into the center lane going north at certain times of the day…I invite you and will serve you lunch, whatever it takes for you to come to my house and see the traffic…Whatever it takes.”
