The Plant City City Commission has approved the Lantana Grove Final Plat – a new subdivision that will run off of James L. Redman Parkway at the Trapnell Planned Development District and the Alaventa Planned Development District.
The 103-lot single-family residential neighborhood will be located near the northwest corner of Trapnell Road and James L. Redman Parkway.
On Feb. 23, the Planning Board found the Lantana Grove subdivision plat consistent with the Plant City Zoning Ordinance and the Imagine 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
They approved the proposal by a 7-0 vote.
Lantana Grove is a combination of two subdivisions previously approved as Bonsilva and Alaventa, and is approximately 32 acres.
The building setbacks are consistent with the R-1 zoning district:
• Front yard – 20’
• Side yard – 10’
• Side yard abutting right of way – 15’
• Rear yard – 30’
• Rear yard abutting pond – 15’
The density of the subdivision will be 3.24 dwelling units per acre and there are no wetlands on-site, according to the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).
The developer will be responsible for extending any water to the site and the cost of extending water and sewer lines.
Five-foot-wide sidewalks will be required within the subdivision and on the north side of W. Trapnell Road.
The developer will have a 10-foot-wide landscape easement buffer on the final plat, there will be adequate fire and police services, and the Hillsborough County 9-1-1 Administration has approved the street names for the subdivision.
This comes as the proposed Gateway District along Redman Parkway is seeking approval from the city commission. It would be used for civic, commercial, and workplace purposes as well as single and multi-family houses. Civic uses include public schools, colleges, public hospitals, community centers, libraries, museums, fire and police stations, and courthouses.
It would also be comprised of two or more climate-controlled, mini-storage units.
Each structure would be subject to having at least two purposes, however, residences wouldn’t be able to exceed 80% of a structure. A buffer of at least 500 feet must be between Redman Parkway and the residential developments in lieu of the 300-foot buffer that was initially suggested. Enhanced landscaping along Redman Parkway would be required to have one tree every 25 feet. Trees would be required to be in two rows and there must be a continuous row of hedges.
The proposed code language for the Gateway states that, “These supplemental regulations are intended to regulate those developments within the Gateway District to create a “sense of place” through architecturally appealing design, require the interconnection of uses, protect, and enhance the pedestrian environment and allow for a mix of land uses which will strengthen opportunities for economic vitality and diverse housing opportunities within the Gateway District.”
To meet code the development:
• Has a minimum lot area of 75 feet wide and 7,500 square feet
• Establishes setback standards for multi-use buildings, basing setbacks on the use residing on the first floor
• Has a building next to, across from, or diagonal to another building that doesn’t share the same color, model or architectural features
• Building elevations for all types of development are required
The maximum height of a building would be four stories or 60 feet and allows residences to be located above nonresidential establishments. Nonresidential buildings would have tri-partite type architecture so that each has a distinct base, middle and top. Buildings under 25,000 square feet, must provide vertical and horizontal articulations in the form of indentions and components that relate to human scale.
To steer away from having a mundane appearance, buildings will be required to have more than one color. They cannot be predominantly black or neon or florescent colors.
Structures will also have to have diverse architecture from windows, doors, awnings, canopies, offsets, column reveals, and projecting ribs at least every 30 feet.
Only monument signs identifying an establishment can be erected and cannot exceed 10 feet.
Buildings located at the main entrance of a development or major intersection are required to have landmark features such as towers, cupolas, porta cocheres, gabled roofs or artwork. Flat roofs have to have a cornice treatment or a parapet that is 2 feet high. Visible roofs should be light colored or green.
Street walls would be permitted as a means to screen parking spaces or to frame public spaces like courtyards or outdoor dining.
The walls are required to be made of brick masonry, wrought iron, stone or other decorative materials that complement the building, but no chain links, wire, or PVC fences. They would be the only type of screening along roadways and could span anywhere from 3 feet to 5 feet tall.
The development should have minimal entryways onto and off Redman Parkway and has an interconnection for vehicular and pedestrian linkages.
Parking would have to be limited to the side or rear of the proposed structures, and 15% of parking will be reduced to better accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians.
There has not been a final vote for this particular project, but one may occur as early as October.