Planning Commission · May 6, 2026
Meeting date: May 6, 2026Summarized 2026-09-01 17:26
## Polk County Planning Commission — May 6, 2026 Regular Planning Meeting
**Attendance:** Chair Merle Bishop, Vice Chair Mike Hickman, Robert Beltran, Kevin Updike, Secretary Cyndi Jantomaso, Angelic Sims, Linda Schultz present (7). Brooke Agnini and Julie Jackson absent. Workshop convened 8:50 a.m.; public hearing 9:00 a.m.
### Notable outcome — one split vote and a denial
**Item 12, LDCPAS-2026-11 (Medulla Road RL CPA) — DENIED on a 4–3 vote.** Moved by Robert Beltran, seconded by Linda Schultz. AYE (to deny): Beltran, Bishop, Jantomaso, Schultz. NAY: Hickman, Updike, Sims. This was the only item not approved and the only non-unanimous vote of the meeting. The minutes contain no case description, staff presentation, or discussion notes for this item.
### Withdrawals, continuances, deferrals (approved as a block; moved by Updike, seconded by Hickman, 7–0)
- **LDCU-2025-25 (Hudson MH)** — Withdrawn
- **LDCU-2026-3 (Agricola Firearm Range)** — Continued to June 3, 2026
- **LDCPAS-2025-36 (IT Land Investments CPA)** — Continued to June 3, 2026
- **LDCPAL-2026-3 (Socrum Loop W LCC CPA)** — Continued to July 8, 2026
### Items approved unanimously (7–0)
| Item | Movers |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2026 minutes | Updike / Sims |
| Voir dire of expert witnesses | Updike / Beltran |
| 1. LDCU-2025-37 (Tempe Circle Duplex Final Order) | Hickman / Sims |
| 2. LDCU-2026-6 (Northeast PRWC Receiving Facility) | Updike / Hickman |
| 3. LDCPAS-2025-12 (Keller Road PM to A/RR CPA) | Beltran / Hickman |
| 4. LDCPAS-2025-13 (Mt. Pisgah Road PM to A/RR CPA) | Beltran / Hickman |
| 5. LDCPAS-2026-4 (Fort Groves CPA) | Beltran / Updike |
| 6. LDCPAS-2026-7 (Premier Parking CPA) | Updike / Beltran |
| 7. LDCPAS-2026-3 (Sumner Cozart Road CPA) | Beltran / Jantomaso |
| 8. LDCPAL-2026-2 (Main Street Corridor Comp Plan Text) | Beltran / **no seconder recorded** |
| 9. LDCD-2026-2 (Avenue Q Autobody District Change) | Updike / Sims |
| 10. LDCT-2026-3 (Firearms Range Access) | Beltran / Sims |
| 11. LDCU-2026-4 (Highland City ECX Cap) | Beltran / Updike |
| 13. LDPD-2026-2 (Crews Lake Subdivision) | Updike / Beltran |
| 14. LDCT-2026-8 (Stand-alone ATMs & Vending Machines) | Schultz / Jantomaso |
### Case details recorded in the minutes
- **LDCU-2026-6 (Northeast PRWC Receiving Facility):** Polk County Utilities applicant, Polk County owner. Conditional use for a Class III Utility for potable water production, treatment, storage and distribution, including a **1.25-million-gallon ground storage tank** in the Urban Growth Area, Section 32/T26/R27. 140 mailers, 1 sign, legal ad in Polk Sun. No public response or comment.
- **LDCPAS-2025-12 (Keller Road):** County-initiated small-scale map amendment, Phosphate Mining to Agricultural/Residential Rural, **19.47± acres**, Rural Development Area, southeast of Fort Meade. 16 mailers, 3 signs. Chair Bishop asked whether this was correcting a map error. Owner Tim Keller spoke, asking "why now" on the county-initiated change and what the outcome would be, seeking assurance "nothing will go on property."
- **LDCPAS-2025-13 (Mt. Pisgah Road):** PM to A/RR, **2.0± acres**, Section 02/T32/R25. 16 mailers, 1 sign. No public speakers.
- **LDCPAS-2026-4 (Fort Groves CPA):** *Note — the minutes reproduce the identical case description as Item 4 (same owners, same 2.0± acres, same Mt. Pisgah Road location), which appears to be a transcription duplication.* Staff reported 13 mailers and 3 signs. No public comment.
- **LDCPAS-2026-7 (Premier Parking CPA):** Zachary Thornton applicant, Premier Parking US LLC owner. Future Land Use Map change from Business Park Center-2 to Industrial, south of Auburndale. 13 mailers, 3 signs. Bishop asked whether Auburndale had an issue. Applicant agreed with staff. A member of the public voiced "opposition for parking," wanted lanes widened, citing a busy highway. Beltran asked staff whether there is a traffic study in Level 2. Approved 7–0 despite the opposition.
- **LDCPAS-2026-3 (Sumner Cozart Road CPA):** Steve Sloan, P.E., applicant; David and Cathy Sumner owners. **25.8± acres** from Business Park Center to Industrial, south of Mulberry. 14 mailers, 1 sign. No public speakers.
### Other observations
- **No dollar amounts, contracts, or purchases** appear anywhere in this agenda or minutes — this is a land-use/zoning body, and all business consisted of comprehensive plan amendments, conditional uses, district changes, and text amendments.
- Items 1 and 8–14 contain **vote records only, with no minutes text** — no staff presentation, notice details, applicant description, or public comment is recorded for those seven items, including the denied Medulla Road case.
- Item 8 records a mover but **no seconder**, though a full 7–0 vote is recorded.
- A "Comprehensive Plan update" was listed before adjournment; no content or action is recorded.