On Wednesday, July 29, Visions Golf, the company that owns the two 18-hole golf courses in the Walden Lake community, requested a continuance regarding the rezoning meeting that was scheduled for August 13. Subsequently, the meeting has been cancelled and no new date has been scheduled.
The previously scheduled meeting was to make a recommendation regarding Visions Golf’s plans for rezoning. Visions had proposed to build single and multi-family homes on the closed Hills golf course, as well as an assisted living facility.
On July 1, a letter written by the Hillsborough County Planning Commission to the City of Plant City found that the development plans, specifically those for the multi-family homes and the assisted living facility, were incompatible with the city’s comprehensive plan. Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County also found that the company’s plans for rezoning could cause wetland impacts.
Steve Mercer, the Visions Golf owner, plans to review the statements from the agencies.
“In response to reports from various agencies regarding the proposed rezoning plans, Visions Golf has requested and looks forward to meeting with the City and the Planning Commission to review their comments,” Mercer said in a statement. “Visions Golf’s continued diligence and cooperation to refine the plan based on this recent feedback will help ensure that the agencies will ultimately find the rezoning submittal acceptable.”
A date has not yet been set for another meeting regarding the rezoning recommendation. More updates will be made to this story as it develops.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com