What were the most significant items on the Groveland Planning & Zoning Board agenda for June 2024?

Q: What were the most significant items on the Groveland Planning & Zoning Board agenda for June 2024?

· **South Lake Regional Park annexation (144 acres in the Green Swamp):** The city is annexing a major regional park from Lake County jurisdiction. This is significant because the property sits in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern — one of Florida's most environmentally sensitive areas. Groveland is creating a new FLU category specifically for this park, signaling long-term stewardship intent. · **Avilla variance controversy — build-to-rent grade requirements:** The Avilla project sought a variance to build residential units below the required 24-inch above-grade standard. Staff recommended denial. The board couldn't reach consensus and tabled. This signals tension between developer cost pressures (building up from grade is expensive) and flood/stormwater standards. · **Hub Steel Heavy Industrial request tabled:** The same property approved for Light Industrial in April is now seeking Heavy Industrial zoning. The board's decision to table rather than approve suggests discomfort with industrial intensification, even in the US-27 industrial corridor. · **Green Valley Commercial Center advancing on SR 50:** Final plat approval for commercial development on the SR 50 corridor between Green Valley West and Green Valley Boulevard. Commercial development serving the growing residential communities along SR 50 is a positive signal for area amenities. · **Heaviest agenda of 2024 — 4-hour meeting with 9 action items:** This was the most substantive meeting of the year, reflecting the volume of development activity flowing through Groveland.

Meeting Reading

Groveland Planning & Zoning Board

June 6, 2024

10 items on the agenda

**South Lake Regional Park annexation (144 acres in the Green Swamp):** The city is annexing a major regional park from Lake County jurisdiction. This is significant because the property sits in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern — one of Florida's most environmentally sensitive areas. Groveland is creating a new FLU category specifically for this park, signaling long-term stewardship intent.
**Avilla variance controversy — build-to-rent grade requirements:** The Avilla project sought a variance to build residential units below the required 24-inch above-grade standard. Staff recommended denial. The board couldn't reach consensus and tabled. This signals tension between developer cost pressures (building up from grade is expensive) and flood/stormwater standards.
**Hub Steel Heavy Industrial request tabled:** The same property approved for Light Industrial in April is now seeking Heavy Industrial zoning. The board's decision to table rather than approve suggests discomfort with industrial intensification, even in the US-27 industrial corridor.

On June 6, 2024, City of Groveland's Planning & Zoning Board considered 10 agenda items. **South Lake Regional Park annexation (144 acres in the Green Swamp):** The city is annexing a major regional park from Lake County jurisdiction. This is significant because the property sits in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern — one of Florida's most environmentally sensitive areas. Groveland is creating a new FLU category specifically for this park, signaling long-term stewardship intent. **Avilla variance controversy — build-to-rent grade requirements:** The Avilla project sought a variance to build residential units below the required 24-inch above-grade standard. Staff recommended denial. The board couldn't reach consensus and tabled. This signals tension between developer cost pressures (building up from grade is expensive) and flood/stormwater standards. **Hub Steel Heavy Industrial request tabled:** The same property approved for Light Industrial in April is now seeking Heavy Industrial zoning. The board's decision to table rather than approve suggests discomfort with industrial intensification, even in the US-27 industrial corridor.

CHANGE LENS

THE READINGmeeting record

City of Groveland Planning & Zoning Board — June 6, 2024

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (7 of 9 members present) Duration: Approximately 4 hours (12:04 PM - 4:03 PM)

Attendance

Present: Keith Keogh (Chair), Robert Proper (Vice Chair), Zach Decker, Dominic Cicio, Robin Hoover, Kerry Lambert, Stephen Shylkofski
Absent: Marty Proctor, Bill Mathias
Staff Present: City Attorney Anita Geraci-Carver; Timothy Maslow, Community & Economic Development Director; DeWayne Jones, Planning and Zoning Division Manager; Hannah Forbes, Planner I; Andrew Landis, Conservation & Strategic Initiatives Division Manager; Ciara Bender, Recording Secretary

Agenda Items

Item 1: Consent Agenda — Approval of April 4, 2024 Minutes

Type: Consent
Action: Approved
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)

Item 2: Resolution 2024-58 — Avilla Variance

Type: Variance
Case Number: Resolution 2024-58
Request: Variance from Community Development Code to allow certain residential units to be constructed at less than 24 inches above grade as required
Staff Recommendation: Denial
Action: Tabled
Vote: Motion to deny failed (Hoover motion, Proper second; Shylkofski nay); subsequent motion to table passed unanimously (7-0)
Notable Discussion: Contentious item. Initial motion to deny was made but did not carry cleanly. Board Member Decker then motioned to table, which passed unanimously. This item will return in August.

Item 3: Ordinance 2024-12 — South Lake Regional Park Annexation

Type: Annexation
Case Number: Ordinance 2024-12
Location: Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern
Applicant: City of Groveland
Acreage: 144 acres
Request: Voluntary annexation of South Lake Regional Park property
Action: Approved (recommended to City Council)
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)

Item 4: Ordinance 2024-13 — South Lake Regional Park Comprehensive Plan Amendment

Type: Comp Plan Amendment
Case Number: Ordinance 2024-13
Location: South of SR 50, north and east of Monte Vista Road, west of Max Hooks Road
Applicant: City of Groveland
Acreage: 141.62 acres
Request: Create South Lake Regional Park Future Land Use category; amend FLU from Lake County South Lake Regional Park to City of Groveland South Lake Regional Park
Current FLU: Lake County South Lake Regional Park
Proposed FLU: City of Groveland South Lake Regional Park
Action: Approved (recommended to City Council)
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)
Notable Discussion: Property is within the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, requiring special comprehensive plan provisions.

Item 5: Ordinance 2024-14 — South Lake Regional Park Rezoning

Type: Rezoning
Case Number: Ordinance 2024-14
Location: South of SR 50, north and east of Monte Vista Road, west of Max Hooks Road
Applicant: City of Groveland
Acreage: 141.62 acres
Request: Rezone from Lake County Community Facility District to City of Groveland Parks and Recreation District
Current Zoning: Lake County Community Facility District
Proposed Zoning: Parks and Recreation District
Action: Approved (recommended to City Council)
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)

Item 6: Ordinance 2024-11 — Hub Steel Expansion Rezoning (Heavy Industrial)

Type: Rezoning
Case Number: Ordinance 2024-11
Location: Republic Drive, south of US Highway 27, east of Villa City Road, west of State Road 19
Applicant: Treetops MLS9AC, LLC
Request: Rezone from Lake County Industrial to City of Groveland Heavy Industrial
Current Zoning: Lake County Industrial
Proposed Zoning: Heavy Industrial
Action: Tabled
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)
Notable Discussion: This is a companion to the earlier Hub Steel annexation approved in April (Ordinance 2024-6/7/8), but requesting Heavy Industrial rather than Light Industrial. Board tabled for further review.

Item 7: Ordinance 2024-15 — Cypress Bluff ROW Vacate

Type: ROW Vacate
Case Number: Ordinance 2024-15
Location: Cypress Bluff, southeast of Villa City Road (County Road 564), Section 1, Township 22 South, Range 25 East
Request: Vacate certain rights-of-way in Cypress Bluff shown on the plat of Groveland Farms
Action: Approved (recommended to City Council)
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)

Item 8: Resolution 2024-38 — Green Valley Commercial Final Plat

Type: Final Plat
Case Number: Resolution 2024-38
Location: North side of State Road 50, east of Green Valley West subdivision, west of Green Valley Boulevard
Request: Final plat approval for Green Valley Commercial Center
Action: Approved
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)

Item 9: Resolution 2024-54 — Hidden Ridge Final Plat

Type: Final Plat
Case Number: Resolution 2024-54
Location: West of Wilson Lake Parkway, north of Cherry Lake Road, within the Estates at Cherry Lake project
Request: Final plat approval for Hidden Ridge at Estates at Cherry Lake
Action: Approved
Vote: Unanimous (7-0)

Item 10: Presentations — Agrarian Code Update & Landscaping Code Update

Type: Presentation
Notable Discussion: Staff presented updates on both the Agrarian Code and Landscaping Code revisions.

Public Hearings Summary

Number of speakers: 0
General sentiment: N/A
Key concerns: None raised during public comment periods

Key Signals

South Lake Regional Park annexation (144 acres in the Green Swamp): The city is annexing a major regional park from Lake County jurisdiction. This is significant because the property sits in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern — one of Florida's most environmentally sensitive areas. Groveland is creating a new FLU category specifically for this park, signaling long-term stewardship intent.
Avilla variance controversy — build-to-rent grade requirements: The Avilla project sought a variance to build residential units below the required 24-inch above-grade standard. Staff recommended denial. The board couldn't reach consensus and tabled. This signals tension between developer cost pressures (building up from grade is expensive) and flood/stormwater standards.
Hub Steel Heavy Industrial request tabled: The same property approved for Light Industrial in April is now seeking Heavy Industrial zoning. The board's decision to table rather than approve suggests discomfort with industrial intensification, even in the US-27 industrial corridor.
Green Valley Commercial Center advancing on SR 50: Final plat approval for commercial development on the SR 50 corridor between Green Valley West and Green Valley Boulevard. Commercial development serving the growing residential communities along SR 50 is a positive signal for area amenities.
Heaviest agenda of 2024 — 4-hour meeting with 9 action items: This was the most substantive meeting of the year, reflecting the volume of development activity flowing through Groveland.

Raw Notes

Meeting recess from 3:00 PM to 3:06 PM.
Presentations on Agrarian Code Update and Landscaping Code Update followed the business items.
Meeting adjourned at 4:03 PM.
Note: This meeting was held during daytime hours (12:04 PM start) rather than the typical 5:00 PM start.

[THE READING]meeting record