Planning Commission · Jan. 8, 2025
Meeting date: Jan. 8, 2025Summarized 2026-09-01 18:03
## Polk County Planning Commission — January 8, 2025 Regular Planning Meeting
**Format:** Workshop called to order 8:50 a.m.; public hearing called to order 9:00 a.m. by Chair Robert Beltran in the County Commission Boardroom, Administration Building. Members present: Beltran (Chair), David Dalton (Vice Chair), Merle Bishop (Secretary), Mike Hickman, Mike Schmidt, Adam Bass, Brooke Agnini. Excused: Rennie Heath, Linda Schultz, Kevin Updike. Alternates Updike and Schultz were listed as present at the workshop but recorded as excused at roll call. The meeting went into recess and reconvened three times.
**No dollar amounts, contracts, or purchases appear anywhere in the agenda or minutes.** This is a land-use hearing body; all items are zoning/comprehensive-plan matters.
### Votes and outcomes
| Item | Result | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes (Dec. 4, 2024) / General Procedures — moved Dalton, sec. Bishop | Approved | 7–0 |
| **1. LDPVAR-2024-1** — Lakeland Regional ER sign variance: increase freestanding ER monument sign height by 2 ft to 7 ft total, 2.18± acres at 6150 S Florida Ave. Moved Dalton, sec. Bishop. Staff (Kyle Rogus) recommended approval with a condition; no public response to 14 mailers. | Approved | 7–0 |
| **2. LDCU-2024-36** — Rodriguez Rights Restoration, ABC Road: Conditional Use recognizing former legal non-conforming use of three dwelling units on one 0.7± acre parcel, 9000 Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff Rd. Moved Schmidt, sec. Bishop. Staff (Erik Peterson) recommended approval with a condition; no public response. | Approved | 7–0 |
| **3. LDCPAS-2024-27** — LaRoche Road CPA: Future Land Use Map change on 18.35± of 23.78 acres from Employment Center (ECX) to Residential Medium (RMX), north of Davenport city limits. Moved Dalton, sec. Bishop. Staff (Johnathan Sims) recommended approval with a condition; no public response. | Approved | **6–1 (Bass dissenting)** |
| **4. LDCT-2024-22** — LaRoche Road Text Amendment: adds development conditions to Appendix E for the LDCPAS-2024-27 property. Moved Dalton, sec. Bishop. | Approved | **6–1 (Bass dissenting)** |
| **5. LDCPAL-2024-9** — Deen Still Road COREX: large-scale Future Land Use change from Conservation-COREX (Rural Development Area / Rural SPA) to Business Park Center-X (BPCX) in the TSDA, Ridge SPA and Ronald Reagan Selected Area Plan; south/west of US 27, north of Deen Still Road. Applicant Wilson McDowell, Park Industrial LLC; owner Deen Still Properties LLC. Moved Bishop, sec. Dalton. Staff (Chanda Bennett) recommended approval with a condition. **Two emails received in opposition.** | Approved | **4–3 — Aye: Dalton, Hickman, Beltran, Bishop; Nay: Schmidt, Bass, Agnini** |
| **6. LDCPAL-2024-15** — Indian Lake Estates Comp Plan Text CPA: amend Policy 2.130-B3.3 to allow duplexes in Office Center-X on Deland Avenue and Policy 2.130-B3.4 to exempt sewer connection. Staff recommended approval with a condition. **No mover or seconder recorded in the minutes.** | **DENIED** | **1–6 — Aye: Dalton; Nay: Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, Agnini** |
| **7. LDCT-2024-24** — Indian Lake Estates Text Amendment: amend LDC Chapter 4, Section 402.C to add a use table for Indian Lake Estates (Pre-DRI #2). Staff recommended approval with a condition. **No mover or seconder recorded.** | **DENIED** | **1–6 — Aye: Dalton; Nay: Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, Agnini** |
| **8. LDCT-2024-21** — Accessory Structures LDC Text Amendment: would limit ADUs to no more than 1,000 sq ft; add aesthetic standards for cargo containers in residential areas; increase shed setbacks; add exceptions for accessory structures on lakefront properties; amend fence and wall standards; add definitions in Chapter 10. Moved Dalton, sec. Bishop. Staff (Ian Nance) recommended approval with a condition. | **CONTINUED** | 7–0 |
| Adjournment — moved Hickman, sec. Dalton | Approved | 7–0 |
### Notable points
- **Two staff-recommended items were denied outright**, both concerning Indian Lake Estates (Items 6 and 7), each on identical 1–6 votes with only Vice Chair Dalton in favor — against staff recommendations of approval. The minutes record **no mover or seconder** for either denial motion.
- **Item 5 (Deen Still Road) passed on a 4–3 split**, the closest vote of the meeting, and was the only item drawing written public opposition (two emails). It converts land from a Conservation designation to Business Park Center.
- **Items 3 and 4 (LaRoche Road) each passed 6–1** with Bass as the lone dissent on both.
- **Item 8 (Accessory Structures)** — the broadest code change on the agenda — was continued unanimously rather than voted on the merits; the minutes give no stated reason.
- No items were withdrawn or deferred at the reordering stage, and there was no recorded public comment or opposition on Items 1–4.