Polk County Zoning Decisions: October 2026

In October 2026, Polk County held 4 public meetings covering zoning matters. 23 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 20 approved (95% approval rate), 1 denied, 2 deferred. Activity was down 8% compared to September (534 activity items across 6 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Innovation Environmental Park Expansion large-scale CPA transmittal

Approved.

Transmittal to Florida Department of Commerce of future land use change on ~531 acres west side of Highway 37 south of Mulberry from Phosphate Mining to Institutional, expanding adjacent 808-acre approved solid waste management facility to house recycling operations with direct access to SR 37. Applicant Tom Mims. Bradley Junction residents opposed (odor, groundwater, environmental justice). Voice vote carried with at least one 'no' heard. Adoption, Institutional 1 to Institutional 2 sub-district change and conditional use modification return December 15.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Mulberry Construction Aggregate Processing Facility at 4435 Highway 60

Denied.

Conditional use request for construction aggregate (crushed concrete recycling) processing on approximately 8.04 acres in the Industrial district at an existing auto salvage yard. The site abuts the Ramblewood subdivision, with about 200 feet of separation. Commissioners cited incompatibility, storage piles up to 75 feet high, dust, and the lack of a traffic study. The applicant was absent; staff offered to continue the case, but the commission denied it on roll call.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Lucerne Park Event Facility at 5713 Lucerne Park Road

Approved.

Conditional use for an event facility with a 10,000 sq ft reception hall and a 4,000 sq ft chapel on about 19.39 acres in the Residential Suburban district. Applicants and operators Derek Epperly and his wife accepted the seven conditions. Neighbor Donna Pyne raised concerns about use of the easement. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

MIMS Crossing large-scale comprehensive plan amendment (transmittal)

Approved.

Transmittal hearing for case LDC PAL 25-7, MIMS Crossing, a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment to change 1,261 acres from phosphate mining to industrial, located south of Mulberry at the northwest quadrant of State Road 37 and County Road 640 (near Anderson Road). Originally proposed ~5,400 acres with 18,000 residential units; reduced to 2,475 acres; then on August 20 modified to industrial only. Planning Commission recommended approval and staff recommended approval. Public response: four emails and one petition (527 signatures) in opposition, one email in support. If approved, goes to Florida Department of Commerce; adoption hearing December 15.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Second Street Duplex at 119 2nd Street

Approved.

Conditional use for an approximately 1,790 sq ft duplex on 0.15 acres in the RL-4 district in the Eloise area. The owner is Salt Properties LLC and the site is on city sewer. Approved.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Juanita Neighborhood Plan text amendment to allow gas stations

Approved.

Applicant-initiated text amendment to add gas stations as a conditional use in the High Impact Commercial Center district within the Juanita Neighborhood Plan, intended for a proposed Wawa near State Road 60 and Rifle Range Road. Applicant from Right Work Real Estate. Approved. Board transmittal is November 3 and adoption December 1.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Knight Station CPA – Residential Low to Commercial Enclave

Approved.

~0.5 acre with existing ~2,400 sf retail building (operating since 1974, now a coffee shop) changed from Residential Low to Commercial Enclave to correct 1991 mapping error. Owner David Wilcox, represented by Tom Woodridge of TDW Land Planning. Approved without fee refund (~$4,000).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Large-scale comp plan amendment, 118 acres Phosphate Mining to Industrial (Mosaic)

Approved.

Future land use change on 118 acres from Phosphate Mining to Industrial on the east side of State Road 37, about 14 miles southwest of Fort Meade. Mosaic plans an HDPE pipe extrusion plant with three production trains and about 25 employees. The land was mined, reclaimed and released by the state. Approved; this is a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 23 recorded zoning decisions. See all Polk County meetings →

Zoning Changes

• Zoning change, 531 acres at West side of Highway 37, south of Mulberry (Tom Mims)
• DRI, 45.23 acres at Shores of Lake Marion, Poinciana (Association of Poinciana Villages)
• Zoning change, 118 acres at East side of State Road 37, southwest Polk County
• RAC → BPC, 24 acres at Northeast of I-4 off Highway 27
• INST → RS at Glisson Drive west of Kathleen Road, Kathleen area (James Burke)
• Zoning change, 116.5 acres at Due east of Fort Meade
• Zoning change, 66.5 acres at Parrish and Keller ARR
• Zoning change, 71 acres at West of U.S. 17 southeast of Bartow, access from Austin Phillips Lane

Top Keywords This Month

• land use: 82 instances
• residential: 63 instances
• industrial: 60 instances
• commercial: 38 instances
• comprehensive plan: 26 instances

Stay on Top of Polk County Meetings

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