AGENDA REPORT
DATE: February 24, 2025
TO: City Commission
FROM: Bill McDaniel, City Manager
SUBJECT: Quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone 26.78± to the Lake Walden Square Planned Development (PD) District, located on the North and South sides of West Alexander Street, West of James L. Redman Parkway (PB-2024-34).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The request is for a rezoning of approximately 26.78± acres to combine the Plant City Junction Community Unit (CU) District and the Lake Walden Square Unit 1 CU District creating the Lake Walden Square Planned Development (PD) District, located on the North and South sides of West Alexander Street, west of James L. Redman Parkway.
The applicant proposes the following:
• Merging the Plant City Junction CU District and the Lake Walden Square Unit 1 CU District.
• Increasing the total entitlements from 263,601 square feet (.21 Floor Area Ratio, F.A.R.) to 400,482 square feet (.32 FAR), a difference of 136,881 square feet, to accommodate the addition of a 126,000 square foot self-storage facility on Outparcel Area 4.
• Revising the PD Site Plan to reflect the F.A.R. allowance on individual parcels.
• Adding 1.25± acres along the southern boundary of the PD to include property that is part of the existing shopping plaza but is not currently part of the PD Site Plan.
In conjunction with this rezoning, the applicant is requesting the following specific approvals:
• Relief from Section 102-1421 to allow for a reduction of the required parking spaces by 107 spaces.
• Relief from Section 102-1371 to allow for a reduction of the required buffer from 10 feet to 5 feet to bring a non-conforming buffer into compliance.
On January 22, 2025, staff presented a recommendation of approval for the rezoning and associated specific approvals to the Planning Board. The Planning Board voted (5-1) with conditions finding the proposed rezoning and specific approval requests consistent with Chapter 102 - Zoning, Plant City Code of Ordinances and the Imagine 2040: Plant City Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Board voted to forward the request to the City Commission with a recommendation of Approval, subject to the following Conditions:
1. Limit the hours of operation to 6am-11pm daily.
2. Commitment to lighting standards to protect the residential development to the north.
3. No lit signs on the north wall facing residential.
Since the Planning Board meeting the applicant has made the following changes to the site plan to address the concerns of staff and the Planning Board.
• Amendment of note 2 clarifying uses and allowed square footage.
• Addition of note 3 establishing the hours of operation of 6am to 11pm.
• Addition of note 4 describing lighting requirements.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Commission adopt an ordinance approving a rezoning and associated specific approvals for Lake Walden Square Planned Development District (PB-2024-34).
FISCAL IMPACT
Potential increase of 136,881 square feet of commercial uses.
Prepared by: Robyn Baker, AICP, Director of Planning and Zoning