City Commission Approves Commercial Use for South 11th Street

A "Neighborhood Activity Center" along South 11th Street at Hunt Brothers Road moved a major step toward reality this week as the Lake Wales City Commission unanimously approved changing land use on the 13.66 acre parcel at the northwest corner of the intersection. The property now has a zoning designation of C-4. .

The property, owned by the McKenna family, has long been in citrus, as has more than a thousand acres of surrounding lands now slated for future housing development. The commercial center is intended to provide handy services for those future residential neighborhoods, expected to host thousands of houses and townhomes.

Approximately 10 acres of additional.land along Passion Play Road, also owned by the McKennas, will have a zoning designation R-1A, allowing for single family homes The portion zoned for residential is "compatible with the existing homes along Hunt Brothers Road and the lands zoned residential to the north," according to a report given to the commissioners by Development Services staff.

"Neighborhood commercial uses at the corner of 11th Street South and Hunt Brothers Road provides a transition from the existing residential homes on the west from the industrial lands to the east," the report stated. "It will also provide support commercial uses for the growing residential communities in the surrounding areas north of the site."

Neighborhood "Activity centers" are intended to host services such as convenience stores and personal services. Rarely are they able to accommodate larger grocery outlets or more intense commercial uses