Developers seek annexation and master plan for 1,287‑acre mixed‑use/industrial project near Lake Wales airport

An attorney for the project team presented a request to the City Commission to annex roughly 1,287 acres south of State Road 60, adopt mixed‑use future land‑use and PDMU zoning, and approve a Master Development Plan (MDP) that would allow industrial, commercial, residential and public uses adjacent to the Lake Wales municipal airport.

Shelton Rice of the law firm Peterson & Myers said the proposal is “a companion project to Lake Wales Commons” and described its principal goals as job creation and mixed‑use development. Rice told the commission the MDP calls for up to about 4,000,000 square feet of industrial space, roughly 410,000 square feet of mixed‑use commercial/industrial, a 200,000‑square‑foot cap on commercial, up to 60,000 square feet of office, about 2,950 residential units and about 71 acres designated for public use such as parks or government facilities.

The team said the property is adjacent to two rail lines (Midland and CSX) and State Road 60 and noted the site’s proximity to the municipal airport as a component that makes the tract attractive for logistics and distribution uses. Rice displayed conceptual renderings that show large distribution facilities north of a rail corridor and residential and public‑use areas to the south; he said design directives and residential standards mirror those used for the nearby Lake Wales Commons project.

Staff advised the commission that the item will be considered as a package of ordinances and a master plan and that public hearings are scheduled for the next regular meeting. Autumn Coachella, city planner, said the Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval on May 1 subject to conditions of approval and design directives intended to ensure transitions between industrial and residential areas and to require buffers and landscaping along major corridors.

Commission discussion highlighted a split in views. Some commissioners urged timely approval, citing the project’s potential to provide employment and diversify the local economy beyond legacy industries. Others, including one commissioner who requested more time, said the materials were provided too recently for meaningful public review and expressed concern about approving a project of this scale without fuller public notice and engagement. Several commissioners asked staff to ensure the commission packet contains the detailed maps, MDP text and design directives ahead of the scheduled vote.

No formal vote on annexation, zoning or the MDP occurred at the work session. Staff confirmed the item will appear on the full commission agenda the following Tuesday for multiple public hearings and votes if the commission proceeds.

The developer and staff emphasized that the MDP includes design and buffering requirements intended to limit visual and operational impacts of industrial sites on adjacent residential areas. The project team said it is coordinating with local economic development partners and anticipates ongoing outreach and market outreach to recruit potential industrial tenants.