Polk County Zoning Decisions: July 2026

In July 2026, Polk County held 4 public meetings covering zoning matters. 21 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 17 approved (94% approval rate), 1 denied, 3 deferred. Activity was down 36% compared to June (590 activity items across 4 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Limedale Accessory Variance at 2111 Limedale Road

Deferred.

LDL VAR-2026-29: Andrew Pring requesting a 2,400 square foot accessory structure (pole barn, open storage) that is 208% larger than the primary structure in a residential suburban land use district on approximately 1.15 acres at 2111 Limedale Road, northwest of the City of Lakeland. Property is within the Green Swamp area of critical state concern; associated with code violation CMA 2026 and building permit BR 2026-2604. Several neighbors (Sarah Weichand, Travis Hicks, Sabrina Cruz, Janice Hicks) spoke in opposition citing wood pile blocking water flow, traffic, and after-the-fact construction. Staff recommends approval. A related commercial-vehicle parking matter continued to August 27, 2026. Hearing officer will issue written decision within 14 days; no vote taken.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Planned development LDPD 2026-4 for 170 units near Polk Parkway (motion to approve failed)

Denied.

Planned development request for 170 dwelling units of single-family detached and townhome lots on approximately 17 upland acres, east of Polk Parkway, west of Berkeley Road, south of Berkeley Knights Drive, north of Pace Road, near Auburndale. Reduced lot sizes to 2,850 sq ft, side setbacks to 2.5 feet, rear setbacks to 10 feet, up to six units per townhome structure, ~10 du/acre. Applicant offered to increase setbacks but no revised plan available. Motion to approve failed (only Hickman and Updike for; Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, Jackson against).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Schoolhouse Road PD LDPD 2026-8 for 92 units

Approved.

Planned development for 92 multifamily and single-family units on 14.83 acres at 940 Schoolhouse Road, north of Yule Road, west of South Florida Avenue, south of Lakeland; ~8 du/acre in RL3/TSDA with TCCO overlay and wetland density transfer. Adjacent to Medulla Elementary School. Reduced lot sizes and setbacks. Approved (Agnini and Jackson against) with condition of 10-foot total side setback.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Future land use change from residential suburban to industrial at Highway 60 west of Mulberry

Approved.

Board approved future land use map designation change from residential suburban to industrial on approximately 3.81 acres on the south side of Highway 60, west of the Willow Oak community and west of Mulberry. Pulley Creek forms a natural buffer from residential to west. Applicant seeks a less-intense industrial user; companion item N4 voluntarily restricts uses. Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Goldenrod Lane RL1 to RL4 sub-district change

Approved.

Board approved a sub-district map change from residential low 1 to residential low 4 on approximately 17.1 acres at Goldenrod Lane, surrounded by quarter-acre residential lots. Change allows subdivision into approximately quarter-acre sites (RL1 default requires ~40,000 sq ft). Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

LDC text amendment adding vehicle service mechanical as conditional use in US-27 SAP

Approved.

Applicant-initiated LDC text amendment to add vehicle service mechanical as a C1 conditional use in Regional Activity Center land use districts within the U.S. 27 Selected Area Plan (~4,900 acres). Level four review with board hearings August 4th and 18th. Approved unanimously (7-0).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Future land use map amendment on 1.49 acres near US-98 and Socrum Loop

Approved.

Map amendment from Residential Low 4X to Linear Commercial Corridor X on approximately 1.49 acres, ~200 feet east of US-98 on Socrum Loop West, north of Lakeland. Level four review; BoCC transmittal August 18th, adoption October 20th. Property owner Soaking Room 7 LLC. Approved unanimously.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

US 98 and Peace River PM to ARR future land use amendment on 116.5 acres

Approved.

County-initiated future land use designation change from Phosphate Mining to Agricultural Residential Rural on approximately 116.5 acres. Site has 20 lots of record, 14 developed with residential dwellings dating to the 1960s. Level four review; BoCC transmittal August 18th, adoption October 6th. Approved unanimously.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 21 recorded zoning decisions. See all Polk County meetings →

Zoning Changes

• Zoning change, 3.87 acres at East side of Highway 37, just south of Shimmering Drive
• Zoning change, 3.81 acres at South side of Highway 60, west of Willow Oak community, west of Mulberry
• Zoning change, 17.1 acres at Goldenrod Lane, Polk County
• Zoning change, 1.49 acres at ~200 feet east of US-98 on Socrum Loop West, north of Lakeland (Soaking Room 7 LLC)
• Zoning change, 116.5 acres at US 98 and Peace River area (Polk County)
• Zoning change, 66.5 acres at Parrish and Keller area (Polk County)
• Zoning change, 29.62 acres at Kathleen Road, Kathleen area (Polk County)

Top Keywords This Month

• residential: 69 instances
• land use: 65 instances
• commercial: 31 instances
• setback: 24 instances
• density: 23 instances

What to Watch

• Setback mentions were up 71% from June.

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