It’s been almost one month since the City of Plant City’s Planning Board decided not to make a recommendation on the proposed golf course rezoning in the Walden Lake community. The board will revisit the topic at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at the John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College.
The City of Plant City’s Planning and Zoning Division recommended approval of the proposed rezone, filed by golf course owner Visions Golf, June 10. If ultimately approved by the City Commission, the rezone would allow development of a portion of the golf course’s closed holes.
The proposed development includes up to 146 single-family dwelling units, up to 216 multi-family dwelling units and a park.
The multi-family units in the complex would be limited to two stories and additionally limited to groupings of three or four.
Walden Lake residents have been divided by proposed rezoning and outspoken about either their support or opposition to the proposed rezoning.
Against
Harley Herman, the attorney for the Walden Lake Community Association, said he was pleased by the number of people who came out to oppose the rezoning at the first Planning Board meeting in June. The WLCA has taken a stance of opposition to the rezoning.
“The community and residents presented a plausible and credible set of reasons of why the rezoning should not be approved,” Herman said. “We would like to see the Planning Board reject the proposal.”
Herman hopes another case that came before the City Commission in April will set a precedence against the rezoning.
In April, the City Commission denied the proposal for a multiple-family dwelling district off of James L. Redman Parkway because the zoning change would alter the character of the community in the nearby Roseland Park neighborhood.
“The objective … is to see that it’s rejected,” Herman said. “But we would still talk to Visions after that. We would continue to have discussions. The discussion continues, and nobody’s closed the door. From my standpoint, trying to get something worked out is always a worthwhile endeavor.”
Herman was disappointed, but not surprised, when the Planning Board decided not to make a recommendation last month.
“It’s not unusual for them to want to take some time,” Herman said.
For
Visions chose not to provide additional comments when contacted, instead redirecting to the closing arguments given to the Planning Board in June.
Visions stated that the board should recommend approval of the rezone because “Visions has met its burden of showing with competent substantial, evidence that the application is consistent with the Plant City Comprehensive Plan.”
Visions also said the board should recommend approval because reviewing agencies, including the Hillsborough County Planning Commission and the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection did not have objections to the proposed rezoning.
In the closing arguments, Visions stated, “Neither the intervenors nor the general public have submitted any competent substantial evidence satisfying their legal burden of demonstrating that the existing zoning classification is the most appropriate use of the property.”
Visions stated that the application also fell into compliance with the planned development district standards at the rezoning stage.
“In general, the ‘evidence’ that was offered tended to focus on future permitting issues and other issues that would be inappropriate for the Planning Board to consider because they do not concern the specific criteria in the Comprehensive Plan and the Code,” the closing arguments read. “Even the experts that were offered either did not qualify to offer their opinions or offered only conclusory opinions that this board cannot rely upon.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.