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Commission reviews Harmony-on-Lake-Eloise development requests and Bradco Farms environmental surveys

Winter Haven City Commission · December 4, 2025

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Summary

Staff presented three Harmony-area resolutions: vacating the old Westlake Eloise Drive right-of-way, vacating a 45-foot public utility easement after utilities relocation, and accepting Phase 3a public improvements; separately, task order funding was proposed for endangered-species surveys at Bradco Farms to comply with Section 7 ESA coordination.

City staff asked the commission to consider a package of land-development actions related to the Harmony on Lake Eloise neighborhood and to authorize surveys at the Bradco Farms site.

Harmony requests: staff said the developer (4 Star Real Estate Group) seeks (1) abandonment and vacation of an approximately 3,300-foot remnant of the former Westlake Eloise Drive right-of-way that has been closed since the new alignment opened, (2) vacation and release of a previously granted 45-foot-wide, north-south public utility easement after utilities have been relocated and abandoned, and (3) acceptance of public improvements dedicated on the Harmony on Lake Eloise Phase 3a plat. Staff noted the subdivision is roughly 33.19 acres with five common lots for stormwater and open space and that a $3,380,922.21 performance bond was submitted in August 2024 to guarantee required infrastructure completion; recent inspection found incomplete items are now complete and ready for acceptance. Commissioners asked for confirmation that all utilities had been relocated and for assurance that any abandoned utilities would be removed at the developer's expense; staff said no-objection letters were received from utilities and that removal would be developer responsibility.

Bradco Farms: staff described entering into an interim agreement with RES to perform site reconnaissance and endangered-species surveys required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act in coordination with the Army Corps and US Fish & Wildlife Service. Task Order 3a1 (protected-species surveys and effects determinations) is funded at $36,348; if additional tasks (acoustic survey for the Florida bonneted bat and crested caracara survey) are required, funding exists in the utilities budget but would require prior authorization via change order. Staff recommended authorizing the city manager to enter Task Order 3 and approve associated change orders to allow surveys to begin in early 2026.