Board approves special exception and variance for 190-foot Charlotte County water tower in Burnt Store corridor

The Charlotte County Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 8 approved two applications from Charlotte County Utilities (CCU): a special exception to allow an essential service (an elevated water storage tank) and a variance to increase the maximum building height in RE‑1 zoning from 38 feet to 190 feet for a tower at 27544 Green Gulf Boulevard in Punta Gorda.

Elizabeth Nocek, AICP, senior planner for Charlotte County’s Community Development Department, told the board the proposed steel-and-concrete elevated tank is designed to store roughly 2,000,000 gallons of potable water and to support system pressure for the rapidly growing Burnt Store corridor. Nocek said staff found the project consistent with the Charlotte 2050 comprehensive plan and the Burnt Store area plan policies and recommended conditions addressing setbacks, landscaping, security fencing and a 10‑year term for both approvals.

Project representatives described the functional need for height and storage. Jesse Cummins, the project engineer for the elevated storage tank, said the facility will provide emergency water during power loss at the Burnt Store Water Treatment Plant, stabilize zone pressures during peak use and fire…