Plant City grows by more than 217 acres and a Planned Development comes one step closer to breaking ground.
Plant City’s boundaries have expanded again when Plant City’s City Commission voted to annex 22 parcels totaling approximately 217 acres into the city limits. The approved annexation also means that a proposed residential development project in Plant City is one step closer to fruition.
More than 118 acres of the annexed land, located on the south side of Trapnell Road and east of James L. Redman Parkway, is slated for the Southwind Planned Development District. At the same meeting, a Future Land Use Amendment was requested, and approved, to change the land use from Hillsborough County- Residential 1 (one housing unit per acre) to City of Plant City Residential-4 (up to 4 housing units per acre.) The developer and builder, Cardel Homes, plans to build up to 249 homes on the property, which would mean a gross density of 2.1 housing units per acre.
Agents for the developer displayed a site plan that featured 75’ wide x 150’ deep lots, or .26 acres each, on the east and south boundaries to help mitigate the impact to its large-lot neighbors. Each of these homes will feature a 50’ rear setback making for large backyards with a 30’ enhanced buffer which will create a distance of 80’ between the home and adjacent property. The developer has also committed to installing a fence as quickly as possible and preserving a number of trees on the site. Clustered interior lots will be 60’ wide x 120’ deep.
Several exterior home renderings were also displayed and the developer agreed to offering plenty of facade options to avoid a cookie-cutter looking community.
“We believe that this development serves as a great transition from the intense gateway of Plant City to more rural county properties and is consistent with the Imagine 2040: Plant City Comprehensive Plan,” said planning and zoning coordinator Robyn Baker.
Plant City resident Corky Findley was the lone dissenter, citing traffic concerns. “It just doesn’t make sense, the new development on the west side of James L. Redman Parkway and now a development on the east side as well,” said Findley. “Traffic is getting so bad.”
City manager Bill McDaniel said the city’s not growing as quickly as some others in Florida. He’s good with that.
“The commission has constantly repeated that we care more about quality than quantity,” said McDaniel. “People are moving to Florida whether we like it or not but we’re proactively trying to manage that growth.”
People will be drawn to Plant City because of its quality of life and well-designed communities.
“A home is the biggest investment most people will make in their lives so they want a well-constructed home in a good neighborhood to raise their families,” he said. “Plant City supports that high quality of life.”
Several industrial parcels in the I-4 Business Center corridor were also discussed.
Next month’s commission meeting will be held on Monday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. Several additional amendment and rezoning requests will be considered at that time.
More information about commission meetings can be found at www.plantcitygov.com.
