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Planning commission recommends R-3 zoning, neighborhood-suburban future land use for 93.45-acre Winter Haven annex
Summary
The Winter Haven Planning Commission on April 1 unanimously recommended approval of two companion requests from Cassidy Land Development LLC to assign neighborhood-suburban future land use and R-3 zoning to four annexed parcels totaling about 93.45 acres; the recommendation moves to the City Commission for final action.
The Winter Haven City Planning Commission voted unanimously April 1 to recommend approval of two companion requests from Cassidy Land Development LLC to assign Neighborhood Suburban future land use and multifamily residential low-density (R-3) zoning to four recently annexed parcels totaling approximately 93.45 acres.
Heather Reiter, senior planner, told commissioners the petitioner proposes single-family residential on the site at roughly 3.87 units per acre, or 362 single-family units in total, and that R-3 zoning in the city's code permits up to 12 units per acre though ‘‘when R-3 development standards, rights of way, stormwater requirements, and floodplain management are considered, it would be unlikely for the subject property to be developed with single family residential at the maximum permitted density,’’ she said. Reiter also noted that because the request includes a large-scale future land use amendment, review by the Florida Department of Commerce and other state and local agencies will be required.
Reiter presented aerial and Google Earth images showing surrounding development and existing zoning. She said the parcels were annexed into the city on January 27, 2025, and that notification requirements for the requests were met. The property lies roughly 1,218 feet north of Old Bartow Lake Wales Road, east of McLean Road and about 1,333 feet west of Gary Street. Adjacent designations include single-family R-2, existing R-3, and planned unit developments to the south; McLean Road is paved partway to the subject property.
A commissioner asked whether the parcels are separate from adjacent developments or would be tied to them; Reiter said the site ‘‘may be an extenuation of Annabella Estates’’ and that the petitioner may request expansion of the community development district (CDD) but that the city had not received a formal submittal since annexation. Another commissioner asked whether a nearby grove was part of the request; staff replied the grove area carries R-2 zoning and was not included in this application.
No members of the public spoke during the public-comment portion of the hearing for this case. After closing public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the requests ‘‘as presented in the fact sheet’’ and another commissioner seconded. The commission chair called for the vote; the motion carried by voice vote with all present voting aye. Nine commissioners were recorded as present at roll call before the meeting, and the planning commission's action is a recommendation that will be forwarded to the Winter Haven City Commission for final action.
The planning staff also briefed commissioners on recent related actions and pending items, including rezoning decisions already advanced to the City Commission and comprehensive-plan transportation-corridor amendments transmitted to the state for review.
