Commissioners approve Artrex at Plantation mixed-use plan development with industrial and residential options

Lee County commissioners on July 21 approved rezoning 37.7 acres along Plantation south of the high school to a Mixed Use Plan Development for Artrex at Plantation, allowing a set of alternative development programs that include industrial and residential options.

County staff described the request as a rezoning from Industrial Plan Development (IPD) and Residential Plan Development (PD) to Mixed Use Plan Development for 37.7 acres. The approved master concept plan allows either up to 510,000 square feet of industrial space, 5,000 square feet of medical use and 105,000 square feet of general office, or alternatively up to 464 multifamily residential units (including 168 bonus-density units) and 30,000 square feet of retail commercial. The hearing examiner recommended approval and there were no participants of record.

Richard Aiken, speaking for the applicant, told commissioners he would answer questions if needed: "I'd hear if you have questions, but I don't need to say anything unless you have questions." Staff noted the southern portion of the property is already used by Artrex Logistics and the applicant has purchased the property to the north. The plan concept shown to the board depicted access points and building locations; staff noted the site lies within the mixed-use overlay and intensive development future-land-use designation for portions of the site.

A commissioner moved to approve the hearing-examiner recommendation; a second was recorded and the motion carried. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The approval establishes the plan-development framework; specific site plans, permits, and any required infrastructure or impact-mitigation measures will be addressed in subsequent county reviews.