Public hearing held on Hawkins Avenue rezoning to allow Metal Impressions expansion

The Lee County Board of Commissioners opened and closed a public hearing on a request to rezone 0.24 acres of a 5-acre tract at 3313 Hawkins Avenue from residential-agricultural (RA) to highway commercial (HC) to permit expansion of Metal Impressions Incorporated.

Planning staff explained the 0.24-acre portion was recombined with the adjoining lot in 2024 and is owned by Hawkins of Sanford LLC, the owner of Metal Impressions. Staff said the broader tract and surrounding parcels already include highway commercial and industrial zoning, noted the site has public water on Hawkins Avenue but no public sanitary sewer (Metal Impressions currently uses a private septic system), and told the board the county land-use plan designates the area as “countryside,” which is not supportive of commercial land uses although nearby zoning already allows commercial and industrial uses.

Renee Sweely, who identified herself as the owner of Hawkins of Sanford and Metal Impressions, spoke in favor and said the company plans to construct a contractor’s office/warehouse and that the rezoning would "clean up the zoning on this lot" and allow the small business to expand. She said, “we are going to construct a beautiful building that you will be very impressed with.” Commissioners had no follow-up questions, the public hearing was closed, and the planning board was signaled to convene for their portion of the process. The transcript does not record a final vote by the Board of Commissioners on the rezoning within this meeting.

Staff emphasized any future redevelopment would be required to meet the county’s Unified Development Ordinance development standards if rezoned.

The staff report, maps and traffic counts presented to the board are included in the commissioners’ agenda packet.