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Winter Haven small‑business owner tells commission permitting rules and contractor requirements delayed restaurant opening
Summary
Local small‑business owner Paula Aariat told the commission her attempts to relocate a long‑standing restaurant have been stalled for months by inconsistent permitting guidance and a newly enforced general‑contractor requirement; city staff promised to follow up and contact her the next day.
At the public‑comment period of the March 23 Winter Haven City Commission meeting, business owner Paula Aariat described months of difficulty obtaining building and permitting approvals after moving her restaurant to a new location.
"I was told that um I had to go through GC contractors and then the GC would hire the subcontractors to do the work," Aariat said, describing conversations with permitting staff about a requirement that a general contractor be used even though the space was previously a restaurant. She said staff later told her she needed a…
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