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THE READINGmeeting record

City of Groveland Planning & Zoning Board — January 4, 2024

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (4 of 7 members present) Duration: Approximately 1 hour 47 minutes (5:07 PM - 6:54 PM)

Attendance

  • Present: Keith Keogh (Chair), Robert Proper, Zach Decker, Dominic Cicio
  • Absent: Robin Hoover, Marty Proctor, Kerry Lambert
  • Staff Present: City Attorney Anita Geraci-Carver; Hannah Forbes, Planner I; DeWayne Jones, Planning and Zoning Division Manager

Agenda Items

Item 1: Resolution 2023-110 — Brighthill Preliminary Plat

  • Type: Preliminary Plat
  • Case Number: Resolution 2023-110
  • Location: West of State Road 19, east and south of O'Brien Road, north of the Florida Turnpike
  • Request: Preliminary plat approval for Brighthill subdivision
  • Staff Recommendation: Approval
  • Action: Approved
  • Vote: 3-1 (Keogh, Proper, Decker aye; Cicio nay)
  • Notable Discussion: Board Member Cicio voted against, citing uncertainty about the commercial businesses that will develop in the Village Core zoning area.

Item 2: Presentation — Agrarian Code Update

  • Type: Presentation
  • Presenter: Hannah Forbes, Planner I
  • Notable Discussion:
    • Introductory presentation on the Agrarian Code Update, aligning with Groveland's Eco-Agrarian Lifestyle vision from the Strategic Plan
    • Staff outlined what the update will look like in the Community Development Code and a rough timeline for adoption
    • Chair Keogh thanked staff for the work on the code update

Public Hearings Summary

  • Number of speakers: 0
  • General sentiment: N/A
  • Key concerns: None raised

Key Signals

  • Brighthill subdivision advancing near Florida Turnpike interchange: Preliminary plat approval for a project between SR 19 and the Florida Turnpike indicates continued residential growth pressure along Groveland's key transportation corridors. The 3-1 vote signals some board concern about the pace of residential without commercial development.
  • Agrarian Code Update signals identity-defining regulation: Groveland is codifying its "Eco-Agrarian Lifestyle" vision into development code. This is a distinctive approach among fast-growing Central Florida cities — embedding agricultural character into zoning rather than letting suburban development erase it entirely.
  • Village Core commercial uncertainty: Board Member Cicio's nay vote highlights a recurring tension: residential plats are advancing faster than the commercial/mixed-use cores that are supposed to serve them. Future residents should watch whether commercial amenities materialize.
  • Bare-minimum quorum meeting: Only 4 of 7 members present, suggesting either transition period or scheduling challenges for the board. This is the first meeting of the year.

Raw Notes

  • Board Member Cicio stated his reasoning for voting nay on Brighthill was uncertainty about commercial businesses in the Village Core zoning.
  • Chair Keogh thanked all for the work on the code update.
  • Meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.