Commissioners deny special-use permit for proposed 'Fantasy Island' drinking establishment

Winter Haven City commissioners voted to deny a special-use approval sought for a proposed large-scale drinking establishment at a corner on 4th Street, concluding the application did not meet zoning and neighborhood-safety expectations.

A commissioner who supported denial said the residential character of the area and recurring events at bars elsewhere convinced him the use would bring loitering and parking problems. “You don’t have clean hands. You don’t deserve this permit,” the commissioner said, summarizing his view that repeated compliance problems weighed against approval.

City planning staff and legal counsel told the commission that state alcohol licenses require a local zoning-approval letter and that planning staff could not sign off on an alcohol-license application without special-use approval. The city clarified it does not grant liquor licenses; it can only issue a zoning determination for the state process.

An agency official told the commission that, within the last year, the location generated 29 complaints, mostly noise, and cited an underage-drinking call on 04/03/2026. That record was used by several commissioners and residents as evidence the corner was not suitable for a large-scale drinking designation.

A commissioner moved to uphold the planning commission’s recommendation and deny the applicant’s request; the motion carried on a voice vote. The commission recessed for five minutes after the vote before continuing other business.

The applicant, who spoke during the meeting, said securing a state liquor license would also require a signature from a third party and said he believed that without that signature he could not complete the license acquisition. City staff described that as a separate state licensing process that hinges on local zoning approval.