What were the most significant items on the Groveland Planning & Zoning Board agenda for October 2025?

Q: What were the most significant items on the Groveland Planning & Zoning Board agenda for October 2025?

· **Groveland codifying agrarian identity into zoning law:** The new Section 5.6 formalizes agricultural uses across zoning districts, including the environmentally sensitive Green Swamp area. This is a distinctive policy move — most Central Florida municipalities are removing agricultural zoning, not adding it. Groveland is deliberately preserving and encouraging agrarian character as a growth management strategy. · **State preemption shaping local code:** The board's condition to remove apiaries from the use table due to state preemption of beekeeping regulation demonstrates how state law directly constrains local zoning authority. This joins SB 180 (mentioned in August) as another dimension of state-local tension in Groveland's code development. · **EAR process launching with public engagement:** The Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR) is advancing with scheduled public engagement meetings. This is Groveland's opportunity to reshape its comprehensive plan — the outcomes will determine the city's growth trajectory for the next planning horizon. · **Board members advocating for architectural quality:** Board Member Lambert expressed interest in incorporating more architectural design standards, building on a pattern of board members pushing for higher development quality beyond minimum code requirements. · **Groveland's Lake County delegation letter well-received:** Chairman Decker reported that a letter he and Tim Maslow presented to the Lake County delegation was accepted well, signaling productive intergovernmental coordination on growth management issues.

Meeting Reading

Groveland Planning & Zoning Board

October 2, 2025

2 items on the agenda

**Groveland codifying agrarian identity into zoning law:** The new Section 5.6 formalizes agricultural uses across zoning districts, including the environmentally sensitive Green Swamp area. This is a distinctive policy move — most Central Florida municipalities are removing agricultural zoning, not adding it. Groveland is deliberately preserving and encouraging agrarian character as a growth management strategy.
**State preemption shaping local code:** The board's condition to remove apiaries from the use table due to state preemption of beekeeping regulation demonstrates how state law directly constrains local zoning authority. This joins SB 180 (mentioned in August) as another dimension of state-local tension in Groveland's code development.
**EAR process launching with public engagement:** The Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR) is advancing with scheduled public engagement meetings. This is Groveland's opportunity to reshape its comprehensive plan — the outcomes will determine the city's growth trajectory for the next planning horizon.

On October 2, 2025, City of Groveland's Planning & Zoning Board considered 2 agenda items. **Groveland codifying agrarian identity into zoning law:** The new Section 5.6 formalizes agricultural uses across zoning districts, including the environmentally sensitive Green Swamp area. This is a distinctive policy move — most Central Florida municipalities are removing agricultural zoning, not adding it. Groveland is deliberately preserving and encouraging agrarian character as a growth management strategy. **State preemption shaping local code:** The board's condition to remove apiaries from the use table due to state preemption of beekeeping regulation demonstrates how state law directly constrains local zoning authority. This joins SB 180 (mentioned in August) as another dimension of state-local tension in Groveland's code development. **EAR process launching with public engagement:** The Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR) is advancing with scheduled public engagement meetings. This is Groveland's opportunity to reshape its comprehensive plan — the outcomes will determine the city's growth trajectory for the next planning horizon.

CHANGE LENS

THE READINGmeeting record

City of Groveland Planning & Zoning Board — October 2, 2025

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (5 of 8 members present) Duration: Approximately 59 minutes (5:03 PM - 6:02 PM)

Attendance

Present: Zach Decker (Chair), Robin Hoover (Vice Chair), Kerry Lambert, Alisha Kissee-Garcia, Lindsay Crum
Absent: Mike Archer, Stephen Shylkofski, 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

Agenda Items

Item 0: Consent Agenda — Approval of August 7, 2025 Minutes

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

Item 1: Ordinance 2025-25 — Agrarian Code

Type: Code Amendment
Case Number: Ordinance 2025-25
Request: Add new Section 5.6 to the Community Development Code to allow agrarian uses within certain zoning districts, including districts in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern; provide definitions and standards supporting agriculture, local food systems, and sustainable land practices consistent with the Comprehensive Plan
Action: Approved with condition (recommended to City Council)
Vote: Unanimous (5-0)
Conditions: Remove apiary from Table A1 Uses per Zone due to state preemption (state law supersedes city ordinance on beekeeping regulation)
Notable Discussion:
- Tim Maslow shared a video titled "A Modern Utopia" to frame the agrarian vision
- DeWayne Jones presented the Eco-Agrarian concept and noted the Local Farmer Forum met on March 4, 2025; distributed a copy of the Beekeeper Compliance Agreement to each board member
- Resident Marty Proctor advised watching the line between retention and side water
- Vice Chair Hoover requested adding Groveland's community garden picture to the Code, recommended capping rainwater allowance, and praised the updated code
- Board Members Crum, Kissee-Garcia, and Lambert expressed general support with no objections

Public Hearings Summary

Number of speakers: 1
General sentiment: Supportive
Key concerns:
- Water management — Marty Proctor advised attention to retention and side water boundaries

Key Signals

Groveland codifying agrarian identity into zoning law: The new Section 5.6 formalizes agricultural uses across zoning districts, including the environmentally sensitive Green Swamp area. This is a distinctive policy move — most Central Florida municipalities are removing agricultural zoning, not adding it. Groveland is deliberately preserving and encouraging agrarian character as a growth management strategy.
State preemption shaping local code: The board's condition to remove apiaries from the use table due to state preemption of beekeeping regulation demonstrates how state law directly constrains local zoning authority. This joins SB 180 (mentioned in August) as another dimension of state-local tension in Groveland's code development.
EAR process launching with public engagement: The Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR) is advancing with scheduled public engagement meetings. This is Groveland's opportunity to reshape its comprehensive plan — the outcomes will determine the city's growth trajectory for the next planning horizon.
Board members advocating for architectural quality: Board Member Lambert expressed interest in incorporating more architectural design standards, building on a pattern of board members pushing for higher development quality beyond minimum code requirements.
Groveland's Lake County delegation letter well-received: Chairman Decker reported that a letter he and Tim Maslow presented to the Lake County delegation was accepted well, signaling productive intergovernmental coordination on growth management issues.

Raw Notes

DeWayne Jones provided an update on the EAR's overall project goals and distributed flyers for scheduled public engagement meetings, encouraging board members to share with community, schools, and churches.
Board Member Crum shared she attended a conference in Plant City about keeping and revitalizing downtown areas.
City Attorney Geraci-Carver stated she will continue monitoring SB 180 development.
Only 5 members present — minimum quorum; 3 members absent (Archer, Shylkofski, Mathias).