In the end board members voted by a slim margin to find the proposal inconsistent with the comprehensive plan.
A deeply divided Planning Board on Wednesday voted four to three to deny a proposal to rezone land in Walden Lake to make way for 550 new single-family homes, townhomes and villas. The vote ran counter to the recommendations by city staff that said the proposal was compatible with the comprehensive plan. Board members cited concerns about the project’s density and traffic conditions.
Board member Jeremy Burris made the motions to deny the application, PB-2020-17, finding the entire project inconsistent with the Plant City Comprehensive Plan. The motion was seconded by board member Douglas Driggers. Board members who voted ‘yes’ voters included: Driggers, Burris, Arthur Wood and LaNae Luttrell while Nicholas Thurston, John Haney and Matthew Stone voted ‘no.’
The ‘no’ vote came following accolades offered by planning board members because of the applicant’s willingness to modify their plan based on city staff, resident and board feedback. It’s most recent 12 revisions were a result of feedback received at the last meeting and included adding additional buffering including where fencing and buffering will be placed, adding language to clarify monotony control issues and a commitment to submit a construction traffic circulation plan along with construction plans. They also committed that villas will be one-story and townhomes limited to two stories.
In the end, it wasn’t enough to sway board members.
“I found myself aligning with Ms. Marino’s comments,” said Wood. Marino owns a planning advisory company. “We’re a very established master plan community and the developer’s plan fell short of those rigorous standards.”
“All four of my kids have lived in Walden lake and I believe the applicant has done a great job,” said Burris. “I think about the reason why I live in Walden Lake and they’re all custom homes, I’m struggling with this and don’t think it’s compatible with our comprehensive plan.”
Haney, a Realtor, was a dissenter. “I recognize the concern for the neighborhood and quite frankly grew up beside Walden Lake and realize how special it is,” he said. “Nonetheless, this really comes down to me of private property rights, there are certain property rights that go along with ownership of a property.”
Haney said he’s sold a lot of golf course properties. “What’s the difference between a golf course and a cow pasture,” he joked. “About three weeks.”
Stone chastened some Walden Lake residents who used heavy-handed tactics to strong arm residents who approved of the project. “I was extremely discouraged at the conduct of some of the people of Walden Lake after hearing stories of people getting chased down the aisles of Publix,” he said. “Guys, we’re better than that.”
The city attorney will prepare the board’s findings and written recommendation which will be submitted to the planning board at its next regularly scheduled meeting for review and approval.
Carmine Zayoun, the developer, isn’t deterred. “We’ve consistently taken feedback and tried to incorporate that feedback into the plan,” he said. “We’re in this for the long haul and our intention is to stick around.”
