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Board transmits Holly Hill Groves 2 CPA amendment despite an emailed opposition citing traffic and school capacity
Summary
Staff recommended and the board approved transmitting a comprehensive plan amendment (LDC PAL 2025‑1) to the Florida Department of Commerce to change ~14.6 acres from employment center to high‑density residential; planning commission recommended approval and one emailed opposition raised traffic and school capacity concerns.
Ben Sisco, Polk County's land development director, presented an expedited comprehensive plan amendment (LDC PAL 2025‑1, Holly Hill Groves 2) to change approximately 14.6 acres from 'employment center' to 'residential high' by combining three parcels.
Sisco said the proposal is consistent with adjacent properties and that the Planning Commission recommended approval. When asked about opposition, Sisco summarized the one emailed comment as raising traffic and school‑capacity concerns: "I believe that was traffic based and and also school based changing from commercial to residential. There was concerns about the capacity of schools and traffic." The board opened the public hearing; no one spoke in person during the expedited public hearing.
A commissioner moved to approve transmission to the Florida Department of Commerce; after a brief question about the single email, the board approved the transmittal by voice vote ('Opposed? Motion carries'). Staff characterized this hearing as a transmittal hearing for the large‑scale comprehensive plan amendment.
Clarifying details: the subject site is an L‑shaped property containing three parcels between Holly Hillgroves Road 2 and Holly Hillgrove Road 1, in the Green Swamp area of critical state concern. Staff noted nearby commercial development is proposed to the east, and access and right‑of‑way issues were discussed. The emailed opposition was summarized as traffic and school capacity concerns; commissioners asked staff to note those concerns for any future detailed review.
