Planning Commission approves annexation and C3 zoning for 0.11‑acre parcel south of Dundee Road

The Winter Haven Planning Commission on Jan. 7 approved a request by Regional Real Estate Management LLC to assign a Neighborhood Support future land use designation and Commercial Highway (C‑3) zoning to a 0.11‑acre parcel annexed into the city. The parcel is generally located south of Dundee Road, about 1,748 feet east of Overlook Drive Southeast and roughly 108 feet north of Highway 550.

Staff presented aerial maps and the future land use map, noting the parcel is vacant and was annexed into the city on May 22, 2023. Heather Reuter (staff member) said the petitioner intends to develop a small business office for a lawn‑care business and that a small‑scale future land use amendment review by the Florida Department of Commerce and other state agencies is not required for this request. Reuter said the assignment of Neighborhood Support and C‑3 is consistent with the parcel’s location along an arterial highway corridor and with adjacent developed uses; staff also concluded there is sufficient public capacity to support the maximum theoretical development under C‑3.

During the public portion, resident David Dougal of 500 Island Way asked whether the unimproved adjacent right‑of‑way would be paved. Reuter replied that “upon development and through the site plan process, they would have to have improved right of way to lead to access to their property.” No other public comments were recorded.

After discussion closed, the commission voted to approve case numbers P‑25‑01 and P‑25‑02. The motion text on the record requested assignment of Neighborhood Support future land use and Commercial Highway C‑3 zoning to the annexed parcel as presented in the city fact sheet. The approval was taken by voice vote; no opposing voices were recorded on the transcript.

Why it matters: the land‑use and zoning changes permit commercial development on a parcel that was previously unincorporated Polk County land, enabling the property owner to move forward with plans for a small business office subject to subsequent site‑plan review and any required infrastructure improvements.

Next steps: the planning commission’s action on this case was approval at the Jan. 7 hearing; the record includes staff’s recommendation and the commission vote. Further review and conditions related to development access and right‑of‑way improvements will occur during the site‑plan and permitting process if an application is submitted.