Planning commission approves comp-plan amendment to map potential Central Polk Parkway East corridors

The Winter Haven Planning Commission voted to forward to the City Commission an administrative amendment to the 2035 comprehensive plan that adds policy language and map updates to reflect potential alignments for the proposed Central Polk Parkway East.

A staff presenter described the amendment as a targeted revision to the comprehensive plan's future land use and transportation elements intended to preserve potential corridors for future roadway projects. The changes include a new policy requiring the city to consider future transportation corridors when amending the future land use map and map-series updates to show corridors under consideration in the Florida Department of Transportation's alternative corridor evaluation study.

The presenter said the Central Polk Parkway East study considers four possible corridors that would cross U.S. 27 south of Eagle Ridge Mall and generally head southwest toward State Road 60, with only one corridor ultimately selected for development. The portion of the study area that lies inside Winter Haven affects a small, undeveloped area at the extreme southeastern corner of the city near Old Bartow Lake Wales Road. Staff said depicting the corridor on the map series will assist efforts to secure rights-of-way and coordinate with developers and FDOT.

Staff recommended approval and noted that comprehensive plan text revisions are periodically necessary to address evolving transportation needs. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period on this item.

After discussion, the commission moved, seconded and approved the administrative amendment by voice vote. The amendment will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action.