It was a packed agenda for City Commissioners on Monday, April 25.
After debating the necessity for immediate regulations regarding the production and sale of medical marijuana in Plant City, City Commissioners voted to cancel a second public hearing related to the matter. The canceled public hearing was originally slated for the next City Commission meeting on Monday, May 9.
Currently, medical marijuana is prohibited by state and federal law. If federal law were to approve it, Plant City would allow medical marijuana to be produced and sold in pre-approved areas. Specifically, medicinal marijuana would be sold in the C1-B district, which is near South Florida Baptist Hospital. If federal law changes, the growing and processing of marijuana could be approved in the M-1 and M-1A Light Industrial Districts.
City Attorney Ken Buchman initially brought the issue to the City Commission. The now-cancelled ordinance was initially reviewed by the Plant City Planning Board on Thursday, March 17, and was unanimously approved.
A motion similar to the Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative will be on the ballot in the upcoming November election. The initiative was on the ballot in 2014. If approved, the measure would have legalized medical marijuana for individuals with medical conditions. The measure received 57.62% of the 60% needed for the vote, which defeated the measure.
Buchman will compose an ordinance to be read at the May 9 meeting, and the City Commission will vote on the issue at a later date.
North Park Isles
The City Commission approved modifications to the North Park Isles Planned Development District, formerly the North Park Isles Community Unit District, at the Monday meeting. Commissioners approved increasing the number of dwelling units in the community from 947 units to 1,219 units, and decreasing the number of setbacks.
The Commission approved the proposed modifications with a vote of 3 to 1. City Commissioner Mike Sparkman was absent from the meeting, and Vice Mayor Bill Dodson voiced his opposition to both the smaller lot lengths and what he considered to be a lack of specificity in the developer's plans.
"I don't feel comfortable with the way this has been presented," Dodson said. "I would like more specificity. I think we, as a community, could look for a little better. I was hoping for more."
Mayor Rick Lott said that the City Commission only approved the modifications, and that the layout of the neighborhood will be approved at a later date.
The North Park Isles community was first approved in 2006.
James L. Redman Parkway
The City Commission denied an ordinance proposing a rezoning of a 0.7 acre lot at 1510 James L. Redman Parkway from R-1A Single Family Dwelling District to R-2 Multiple-Family Dwelling District. The denial was met by the cheers of residents who opposed the rezoning.
The rezone applicant, Trace Hall, wanted to build two duplex units on the site, located south of east Roseland Avenue.
At a March 17 Planning Board meeting, Hall said that one driveway will be added to the site, with parking units on each side. The two duplexes will both be one-story units, with two bedrooms and one bathroom per unit.
City of Plant City Principal Planner Phillip Scearce added that, if desired, the duplexes could be two stories.
Many residents who live in nearby Roseland Park voiced their opposition to the rezoning prior to the City Commission's vote, including former Mayor Terry Ballard.
The Commission denied the rezoning with a vote of 4 to 0.
"Roseland Park is a beautiful neighborhood," Lott said. "Changing the rezoning doesn't fit. It's unfair to citizens that have spent their lives there to have us change the zoning that would change the character of the community."
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.