City of Lake Wales Planning and Zoning Board Workshop: September 8, 2026
Meeting Overview
Type: Workshop Meeting, HR Conference Room, City Hall Quorum: Yes ("All board members were present"); alternate board member Ralph Marino also present Duration: Approximately 59 minutes (5:30 p.m. to 6:29 p.m.)
A workshop: the minutes record presentations and discussion, with no motions or votes. The attest lines are unsigned in the posted file. Published agenda: https://www.lakewalesfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09082026-1744
Attendance
- Present: Chairperson Kyra Love, Vice Chair Bud Colburn, Eric Rio, Casey McKibben, Robin Gibson, Scott Blackburn, Mark Bennett; alternate Ralph Marino
- Absent: None recorded
- Staff Present: Autumn Cochella (Growth Management Director), Shannon Hancock (Development Coordinator)
Agenda Items
Item 4: Oakwood Ridge, Future Land Use Map Amendment, Zoning Map Amendment and Preliminary Subdivision Plat
- Type: Comprehensive plan / future land use map amendment, rezoning and plat (the agenda title also lists annexation, ahead of the future land use map amendment, zoning map amendment and preliminary subdivision plat)
- Applicant: Helmut Wyzisk III, Signature H Property Group, authorized agent
- Action: Workshop discussion
- Notable Discussion: Cochella explained "the history of a previous proposed project" and the current proposal, and presented a PowerPoint. Wyzisk "explained how he reached out to key members in the surrounding neighborhoods and got their feedback" and "how he used their feedback to design the layout of preliminary site plan." The minutes give no acreage, location or unit count.
Item 5: 110 State Road 60 W, Boost Mobile, Special Exception Use Permit for the Expansion of a Pre-Existing Legally Nonconforming Use
- Type: Special exception use permit
- Location: 110 State Road 60 W
- Action: Workshop discussion
- Notable Discussion: Hancock "explained the location and purpose of the request," followed by board discussion with staff.
Item 6: 415 N Scenic Hwy, Fluff & Suds, Special Exception Use Permit to Allow Personal Service within the LCI Limited Commercial Industrial Zoning District
- Type: Special exception use permit
- Location: 415 N Scenic Hwy
- Current Zoning: LCI Limited Commercial Industrial
- Request: Allow personal service in the LCI district (the workshop agenda also names kennel: "Special Exception Use Permit To Allow Personal Service And Kennel In The Limited Commercial Industrial Zoning District")
- Action: Workshop discussion
- Notable Discussion: Hancock explained the location and purpose of the request, followed by board discussion with staff.
Public Hearings Summary
A workshop; the agenda lists no public hearing. The agenda's closing item, Communications and Petitions, has no entry in the minutes.
Key Signals
- Oakwood Ridge reaches the Board as a four-part request. The agenda lists annexation, a future land use map amendment, a zoning map amendment and a preliminary subdivision plat; staff explained "the history of a previous proposed project," and the agent reported shaping the layout with feedback from surrounding neighborhoods.
- Two special exception requests on State Road 60 and Scenic Highway were previewed. Boost Mobile at 110 State Road 60 W (expansion of a legally nonconforming use) and Fluff & Suds at 415 N Scenic Hwy (personal service in LCI) were presented by staff and discussed.
- An alternate sits in a day ahead of his appointment. The roll call records "Alternate board member, Ralph Marino" as present. The City Commission adopted Ordinance 2026-27, which reinstates Board alternates, and confirmed Marino's appointment 5-0 the next day, September 9.
Raw Notes
- Minutes item numbering differs from the agenda: the agenda numbers Oakwood Ridge 3, Boost Mobile 4, Fluff & Suds 5; the minutes insert "3. NEW BUSINESS" and number them 4, 5, 6.
- "Ms. Cochella spoke the purpose of this workshop."