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IDA withdraws Barkdoll LOI and reallocates funding to Bay Street residential project
Summary
On a motion approved by the board, the IDA will withdraw a $600,000 letter of intent for the Barkdoll project and instruct staff to reissue a $460,000 LOI for the Bay Street residential development; staff will return next month with a proposed contract.
The Hardee County Industrial Development Authority voted to withdraw its existing $600,000 letter of intent for the Barkdoll (Parkdoll/Barkdoll) Estates project and to reallocate funds to the Bay Street residential project.
Mr. Michael moved the action and Mr. Cherry seconded the motion. The motion directs staff to prepare a new letter of intent for the Bay Street developers at $460,000 and return a contract for board approval next month.
Developers John Raymond and Sergio Jimenez presented the Bay Street plan: a 15-acre site at U.S. 17 and Bay Street with site-plan approval from the City of Wauchula, infrastructure work with the CRA on First Avenue, dedication of land to the city, and a proposed mix of about 42 single-family homes and 16 townhomes. The developers said townhomes will include garages and private driveways and the project is on track to break ground in the first quarter of 2026, noting a lower cost per unit than the previously proposed Parkdoll Estates because Bay Street ties into existing gravity sewer and does not require a lift station.
Staff and the board discussed the timing and legal/budget implications of reallocating the LOI. County staff said no formal budget amendment is needed because the housing dollars remain in the same line item; the recommendation was to assign the requested $460,000 and return remaining funds to the housing allocation line.
Public commenters and board members asked detailed implementation questions, including neighbor outreach, parking and pedestrian connections, floodplain acreage on the southern grove (developers said they recently acquired the 19-acre parcel and about 10 acres are in floodplain), and the dependency of some developments on a planned regional lift station for sewer.
The motion to withdraw the Barkdoll LOI and allocate $460,000 to Bay Street passed on a board voice vote; staff will draft a contract and present it next month.
