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THE READINGmeeting record

City of Groveland Planning & Zoning Board — June 5, 2025

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (5 of 8 members present) Duration: Approximately 39 minutes (5:05 PM - 5:44 PM)

Attendance

  • Present: Zach Decker (Chair), Robin Hoover (Vice Chair), Kerry Lambert, Alisha Kissee-Garcia, Lindsay Crum
  • Absent: Stephen Shylkofski, Mike Archer, Bill Mathias
  • Staff Present: City Attorney Anita Geraci-Carver; Timothy Maslow, Community & Economic Development Department Director; DeWayne Jones, Planning and Zoning Manager; Alan Booker, Senior Planner; Maria Ramirez, Recording Secretary
  • Guest Presenter: Kelly Randall, Executive Director of Facilities & Planning, Lake County Public Schools

Agenda Items

Item 1: Consent Agenda — Approval of Amended February 6, 2025 and May 1, 2025 Minutes

  • Type: Consent
  • Action: Approved
  • Vote: Unanimous (5-0)

Item 2: Presentation — Lake County Public Schools Update

  • Type: Presentation
  • Presenter: Kelly Randall, Executive Director of Facilities & Planning, Lake County Public Schools
  • Notable Discussion:
    • Groveland Elementary School replacing playground with safety improvements
    • Restroom updates for student convenience and proximity to adult supervision
    • Lake County Public Schools does not yet have Cherry Lake Preparatory Academy's fall enrollment count for the upcoming school year
    • South Lake High School receiving new baseball field, restrooms, and tennis court
    • Board Member Hoover raised concern about high traffic volume at the high school; Kelly Randall stated no short-term solution exists but they will continue working with schools

Item 3: Ordinance 2025-5 — Galassi Comprehensive Plan Amendment

  • Type: Comp Plan Amendment
  • Case Number: Ordinance 2025-5
  • Location: 14925 Timber Village Road area (west of Timber Village Road, north of SR 50, east of Sampey Road, south of Ed Douglas Road)
  • Applicant: Treetops MLS9AC, LLC (Dennis Galassi, property owner)
  • Acreage: 2.98+/- acres
  • Request: Amend Future Land Use designation from Agriculture to Employment Center
  • Current FLU: Agriculture
  • Proposed FLU: Employment Center
  • Action: Approved with condition (recommended to City Council)
  • Vote: Unanimous (5-0)
  • Conditions: Parcel A must return through the public hearing process to be approved concurrently with Ordinance 2025-5 and Ordinance 2025-6
  • Notable Discussion: Board Member Crum asked if Parcel B is already Employment Center — Senior Planner confirmed both parcels will conform. Density is 4 units per acre.

Item 4: Ordinance 2025-6 — Galassi Rezoning

  • Type: Rezoning
  • Case Number: Ordinance 2025-6
  • Location: 14925 Timber Village Road, Groveland (west of Timber Village Road, north of SR 50, east of Sampey Road, south of Ed Douglas Road)
  • Applicant: Treetops MLS9AC, LLC (Dennis Galassi, property owner)
  • Request: Rezone property from Agriculture to Light Industrial
  • Current Zoning: Agriculture
  • Proposed Zoning: Light Industrial
  • Action: Approved with condition (recommended to City Council)
  • Vote: Unanimous (5-0)
  • Conditions: Parcel A must return through the public hearing process to be approved concurrently with Ordinance 2025-5 and Ordinance 2025-6
  • Notable Discussion: Board Member Crum asked about buffer between Parcels A and B. Property owner Dennis Galassi stated he has lived on the property for over 50 years, has no plans for Parcel A (will remain agriculture), and is only complying with city requirements.

Public Hearings Summary

  • Number of speakers: 1
  • General sentiment: Neutral
  • Key concerns:
    • Allen Joyce addressed the board regarding Palisades ($48.00 correction — continued follow-up from prior meeting)

Key Signals

  • Agriculture-to-Employment Center/Light Industrial conversion on SR 50 corridor: The Galassi property rezoning from Agriculture to Light Industrial along State Road 50 signals economic diversification. The SR 50 corridor between Groveland and Clermont is a key commercial/industrial growth axis. Even a 3-acre parcel conversion reflects the broader trend of agricultural land transitioning to employment uses.
  • Long-term landowner compliance-driven rezoning: Dennis Galassi, a 50+ year property owner with no development plans, is rezoning to comply with city direction. This pattern — where the city is proactively aligning zoning with future land use rather than responding to developer proposals — suggests strategic planning for the SR 50 corridor.
  • School infrastructure struggling to keep pace with growth: Lake County Public Schools has no short-term traffic solution for South Lake High School and cannot yet project Cherry Lake Preparatory Academy enrollment. School capacity and transportation are lagging indicators of Groveland's rapid growth.
  • JPA approved by Lake County; Wildan contract advancing: The Joint Planning Agreement with Lake County was approved, and the Wildan consulting contract is heading to City Council. These signal increased coordination between Groveland and Lake County on growth management.
  • July P&Z meeting to be rescheduled: Staff announced the July meeting will be moved, suggesting schedule flexibility as the code update and development review pipeline evolves.

Raw Notes

  • Vice Chair Robin Hoover suggested inviting different entities (e.g., wildlife organizations) to present at future P&Z meetings.
  • Chairman Decker reminded the board that workshops are available if needed.
  • Tim Maslow encouraged board members to email recommendations to DeWayne Jones separately.
  • Tim Maslow will be out of office June 9-13; contacts are Maria Ramirez, Andrew Landis, or DeWayne Jones.
  • Chairman Decker thanked staff for providing Staff Reports to the board.
  • Shortest meeting of the 2025 series at under 40 minutes.