The Winter Haven Planning Commission on Dec. 1 approved two separate special-use requests to formalize downtown parking lots, actions staff said will support a new Millennium Physician Group medical office and broader downtown business growth.

Heather Reuter, senior planner, told commissioners that case PD-25-07-S at 129 Bates Avenue Southwest covers about 0.66 acres and would convert an existing 43-space paved area plus 38 additional paved spaces — for a total of 81 spaces — to a permitted standalone parking lot to serve the nearby medical office. Reuter said the unimproved portion of the parcel has been used for parking prior to receiving special-use approval and is subject to a code compliance case opened 04/04/2025; staff recommended approval subject to conditions in the agenda packet.

The commission voted by voice to recommend approval of PD-25-07-S with the conditions in the packet. No public speakers addressed that case.

Shortly afterward the panel considered PD-25-10-S, a roughly 0.23-acre parcel on the south side of Bates Avenue SW about 115 feet west of 1st Street South. Reuter said that site is an unstriped hard-surface lot that has been used for parking and that the petitioner seeks special-use approval so the lot can lawfully support the new Millennium Physicians Group office about 155 feet to the west. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions and noted that if special-use approval is granted the property must go through site-plan review before construction of improvements.

During public comment Elizabeth Davis, a nearby property owner, said she uses her driveway for business parking and that installing a required sidewalk would remove parking used by her clients. "I don't wanna lose my parking for my clients," Davis said, adding she can currently park four vehicles at her property and expects to lose two spaces if the sidewalk is installed. Reuter responded that much of the area Davis described lies in the city's right-of-way and that "the sidewalk will be created within the right of way" and will cross the driveway apron in the right-of-way rather than encroaching on Davis's private property.

Commissioners and staff reviewed aerial imagery and measurements during the exchange, discussing how a continuous 5-foot sidewalk (one of the conditions described by staff) would traverse driveway aprons, possible vehicle stacking behind hedges and whether typical vehicles would be able to park without overhanging the new sidewalk. Staff noted on-street parking remains allowed in the area and said sidewalk installation is part of a city goal to provide safe pedestrian connections where gaps exist.

After the discussion the commission moved and approved PD-25-10-S by voice vote with the staff-recommended conditions. Both approved lots were described by staff as private lots intended to serve nearby businesses; site-plan approval will be required before any construction.

The planning commission's approvals carry conditions described in the agenda packet and do not, by themselves, authorize construction; staff said any required site-plan and stormwater work will be addressed during subsequent reviews.