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Commission approves special exception to allow warehouse storage of wholesale fiberglass at Garza Road site with conditions
Summary
The board approved a special exception for a former Orange Enterprises site on Garza Road to allow limited warehouse storage of wholesale fiberglass products, adding a condition that substantial operational changes must undergo planning review and site-development approval.
The Hardee County board voted unanimously to grant a special exception allowing the use of existing structures at 2798 Garza Road for limited warehouse storage of wholesale fiberglass septic tanks and related products.
Staff said the site lies in an agricultural zoning district and was formerly used as a produce-processing facility; the current property owner is negotiating a sale to a business that seeks to store wholesale fiberglass items and operate with a small number of on-site employees. Planning staff recommended approval after concluding the proposed limited-use operations met criteria in the county land‑use code and the comprehensive plan policy cited in the packet; the staff report said the proposed operation would be limited to daytime work and minimal deliveries and that the approval did not authorize new development beyond the existing structures.
Board action and conditions: The board’s approval added a clarifying condition that "any substantial changes to the use or operations shall be reviewed by the county planning and zoning department and, if necessary, require site development plan approval." The board removed a strict 40-hour work-week and a fixed 2–4 employee limit from the recommended conditions and instead adopted the planning-department review trigger to address any material expansions.
Why it matters: The change allows a dormant industrial site to return to commercial use while preserving planning oversight. Commissioners voiced concern about potential late-night deliveries, increased traffic and nuisance impacts; the adopted conditions give staff a mechanism to require additional review if activity increases materially.
Operational details presented at the hearing: Staff described anticipated operations as primarily indoor storage for wholesale fiberglass tanks, with routine deliveries by small trucks and a typical daytime schedule; staff emphasized the applicant did not propose outside storage and would be subject to site-development review if new construction or expanded operations are proposed.
Vote and next steps: The motion to approve Special Exception 25-63 (T and G property owner) passed unanimously; staff and the applicant were authorized to finalize any documents required to implement the approval. Any material operational change that substantially increases traffic, employee counts or outside storage will trigger a planning and site‑development review.
Ending: The approval permits a reuse of existing buildings for wholesale storage under county supervision; the planning department will monitor compliance and require additional approvals if operations grow beyond the scope approved at this hearing.
