Planning Commission · Jan. 7, 2026
Meeting date: Jan. 7, 2026Summarized 2026-09-01 17:16
## Polk County Planning Commission — January 7, 2026 Regular Planning Meeting
**Format:** Agenda workshop called to order 8:50 a.m.; public hearing at 9:00 a.m., Chair Merle Bishop presiding, County Commission Boardroom, Administration Building.
**Attendance:** Present — Vice Chair Mike Hickman, Robert Beltran, Chair Merle Bishop, Kevin Updike (alternate), Brooke Agnini, Secretary Cyndi Jantomaso, Angelic Sims, and Julie Jackson (recorded in the aye votes). Absent — Adam Bass. Staff included Sandra Howard (Deputy County Attorney) and Land Development staff (Ziskal, Peterson, Bennett, Bolton, Rogus, Grohowski, Nance), plus recording secretary Lyndsay Yannone.
**Continuances / deferrals:**
- **LDCPAS-2025-32 (Kathleen and Duff NAC CPA)** — continued to February 4, 2026.
- **LDCU-2025-25 (Hudson MH)** — continued to February 4, 2026 (no hearing held).
**Cases heard and outcomes — all approved unanimously (7 ayes: Hickman, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Jantomaso, Sims, Jackson):**
| Item | Request | Mover / Seconder |
|---|---|---|
| LDCU-2025-24 (Alexander MH) | Conditional use for a mobile home on ±0.13 acres, 717 Henry Street; heard as a "motion to expedite" | Beltran / Hickman |
| LDCU-2025-28 (Pine Street Retail) | Conditional use for 10,640 sq. ft. commercial retail (referenced as a Dollar General, alternate prototype) on 1.58± acres, Lake Marion Creek Drive | Jantomaso / Beltran |
| LDCU-2025-33 (CU 00-27M Modification) | Major modification to expand non-phosphate mining on ±70 acres: increased mining depth, hydraulic dredging, and a sand processing plant with ancillary infrastructure | Jantomaso / Hickman |
| LDCU-2025-21 (Stericycle CU) | Expansion of a non-conforming Solid Waste Management Facility (new operations building, added parcels), 4235 & 4245 Maine Avenue | Sims / Hickman |
| LDPD-2025-5 (Osprey Creek PD Modification) | Increase single-family detached units from 909 to 949, with 40-ft-wide lots and setbacks, on ~404.48 acres | Beltran / Hickman |
| LDCPAS-2025-34 (CR 546 Map Correction) | Comprehensive Plan amendment redesignating 9.7± acres from A/RR (Rural Development Area) to Residential Suburban (Suburban Development Area) | Hickman / Beltran |
**Public participation:** Staff reported no public response to notices on all items. The only member of the public speaking in opposition was **Ed Dickinson** on LDCU-2025-33, who raised concern about the setback ("concern for the 200-foot setback and his concern for only having 100-foot setback"). Applicant representative Bart Allen responded and submitted an environmental analysis into the record; staff (Kyle Rogus) stated there would be no restrictions on Mr. Dickinson's property. On LDCPAS-2025-34, James Mock stated he owns five parcels in the application. Applicants for the retail, Stericycle, and Osprey Creek items stated agreement with staff.
**Notable / unusual:** No split votes — every recorded vote was 7-0. Two items were pulled to February 4, 2026. No dollar amounts, contracts, or expenditures appear in this record; the Planning Commission's actions are land-use recommendations. Two items were noted as proceeding to the Board of County Commissioners: Stericycle (1/20/2026) and CR 546 Map Correction (2/17/2026).
**Minor record irregularities:** The item-1 caption records the mover as "Belton" in the narrative while the vote block lists Robert Beltran. The minutes list a "Comprehensive Plan update" agenda line with no recorded discussion, and the adjournment vote block is oddly labeled "RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL" (Hickman/Beltran, 7 ayes). Approval of the October 1, November 5, and December 3, 2025 minutes is listed on the agenda but no vote on those minutes is recorded.