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Planning commission recommends rezoning of Lake May marina site to allow restaurant, boat club and entertainment uses
Summary
The Winter Haven Planning Commission voted July 9 to recommend approval of a rezoning that would allow the Lake May marina at 717 6th Street SW to be redeveloped as a planned unit development with parking, a boat club, food trucks, outdoor entertainment and a restaurant; staff said the proposal is consistent with the city's land-use designations.
The Winter Haven Planning Commission on July 9 recommended approval of a rezoning request for six parcels at 717 6th Street Southwest that would allow the existing Lake May marina to be redeveloped as a planned unit development.
Senior Planner Heather Reuter told commissioners the proposal from Lake May District JV LLC would rezone roughly 4.24 acres from Commercial Heavy (C-4) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) and would allow the property to retain and enhance the marina while adding complimentary uses. "Staff does recommend that the planning commission recommend approval of this request along with the PUD conditions that are in the published agenda packet, and it's forwarding to the city commission for final action," Reuter said.
Jeff Donaldson, who identified himself as a representative of the ownership group, said on the record that the applicant does not intend to build condos. "We're not gonna do that," Donaldson said, adding the owner's objective is to "use what we have, keep the marina in place, maintain that, but create other amenities around the marina" including dock repairs, a boardwalk-style dock system and new activity to draw people back to the Chain of Lakes.
Other public commenters supported redevelopment. Property owner Philip Van Winkle raised questions about the boundaries of the rezoning and an adjacent two-acre parcel he said had been illegally filled; a local restaurant owner urged the city to help market the Chain of Lakes to bring tourists from Orlando and Tampa. Resident Chip Smith described the current site as an "eyesore" and encouraged redevelopment.
Commissioners moved to approve the PUD rezoning request. The transcript records a motion to approve and a second; the recorded voice vote produced no spoken opposition. Staff had placed newly appointed commissioner Laura Leese on the record as abstaining from votes at this meeting because she had not completed orientation.
The commission's recommendation forwards the application and the staff-proposed PUD conditions to the Winter Haven City Commission, which will make a final decision at a later meeting.
