Lake Wales updates land‑use table to allow townhomes by right in several single‑family districts

The City Commission approved Ordinance 2025‑07 to amend Chapter 23 (zoning, land use and development regulations) and specifically to update Table 23‑4‑22(a) so dimensional and area standards reflect that single‑family attached dwellings (townhomes) are permitted by right in several residential zoning districts.

Why it matters: The amendment corrects the zoning table to match earlier ordinance changes that made single‑family attached (townhome) product permitted in districts including R‑1 variants. Staff described the change as a technical correction to remove the need for waivers or planned developments when townhomes are proposed in those districts.

What staff said Autumn Kuchelet, planning staff, summarized the item as “housekeeping in nature” and said the proposal was recommended for approval by staff and had received a Planning & Zoning Board recommendation on May 1. Kuchelet said the earlier ordinances had allowed townhomes by right but the dimensional table had not been updated to reflect that; the amendment aligns the table with current permitted uses.

Action and outcome A motion to approve the ordinance passed on a roll call with unanimous support from commissioners present.

Implementation The zoning table amendment takes effect as provided in the ordinance; future townhome projects in the affected districts will no longer require separate waivers or planing approvals solely to address the dimensional standards that the amendment fixes.

Ending Council approved a technical amendment intended to remove an inconsistency between permitted uses and supporting dimensional standards in the land‑development code.