Plant City commissioners approved July 28, a rezone request they believe will add more opportunities for potential job and economic growth.
The commission voted unanimously to rezone the 65-acre Clairmore Estates CU district, located on South Frontage Road about one-quarter-mile east of Son Keen Road, from single-family residential use to the new McMullen Corporate Park Plant Development District, a “bubble” plan that allows 1,095,543 square feet of development for a variety of industries.
Those include: professional, scientific and technical services; bioscience and research facilities; manufacturing and associated distribution; finance and insurance services; management services; and administrative support services.
Under the Clairmore Estates CU, the zoning allowed for up to 130 homes on 6,600-square-foot lots.
Neighboring parcels include the Sun Landings CU to the west, Eastland Industrial CU to the southeast and three residential lots to the east. Senior Planner Phillip Scearce said the plan includes a 50-foot buffer between the new McMullen Corporate Park.
CELL-TOWER RESTRICTIONS
City commissioners also hosted the first of two public hearings regarding stricter guidelines regarding telecommunication towers and antennas within Plant City.
Under the new guidelines, towers would be capped to a maximum 200 feet in height; must be located to the side or rear of the parcel’s primary building; must be 250 feet away from any residential district; must be 750 feet away from existing towers; and would be subject to structural inspections.
The guidelines also would allow for “stealth” towers all commercial districts, including Historic Downtown Plant City and Midtown. “Stealth” towers include those that are hidden within the architecture of a building.
ELLIS-METHVIN PARK
The commission approved three more projects, totaling 230,581.50, at Ellis-Methvin Park.
The most expensive of those is a retaining wall to avoid future erosion issues in the parking lot area along Cherry Street and bordering Hillsborough Community College. Antioch Contracting LLC will complete the work for $109,995.
The second project is a bathroom facility, to be built by Magnolia Construction and Real Estate Inc. for $73,390. The project includes a single-story, 690-square-foot building with both male and female bathroom facilities. The building will be located along the west side of the facility to service the six soccer fields currently under construction.
MIDTOWN
Commissioners also approved two projects, totaling $228,875, for Midtown Park.
The projects include the construction and installation of the park’s centerpiece fountain. WESCO Fountains Inc. will complete the work for $129,421.
WESCO Fountains was one of only two vendors who had experience with fountains of this size and design.
The commission awarded the second project, a $99,454 bid to complete the park’s sidewalks and other ancillary work, to Antioch Contracting LLC.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
Fierce Athletics amendment will take several months
The Comprehensive Plan amendment required to allow Fierce Athletics to operate won’t be complete until next year, Interim City Manager David Sollenberger said.
Fierce Athletics owner Lindsey Hoover, who seeks to operate her gym at a location within one of the city’s industrial areas, said her students’ training requires space only available in larger buildings in industrial areas. Currently, Plant City’s Comprehensive Plan does not allow for recreational uses within industrial districts.
According to Sollenberger, the timeline for change is as follows:
• July 14: Text amendment initiated by the City Commission
• July/August: Staff research and development of language for the text amendment to the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Plant City (Future Land Use Element)
• September: Transmit text amendment to required review agencies; develop staff report, executive summaries, resolutions and ordinances; place three legal advertisements; produce meeting packets; place on Planning Commission website with link to Plant City
• Oct. 9: Plant City Planning Board Public Hearing
• Nov. 10: Planning Commission Public Hearing and first reading setting the transmittal public hearing with the City Commission
• Nov. 24: City Commission Transmittal Hearing to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
• December: Review by DEO
• Dec. 8: First reading setting the adoption public hearing with the City Commission
• Jan. 12, 2015: City Commission Adoption Hearing