The May Lakeland Board of Commissioners (BOC) work session will be held this evening, Thursday, May 5th at City Hall. The start time is scheduled for 5:30 pm. The agenda for the meeting includes several controversial topics and a crowd is expected to attend and take advantage of the time allotted for public comments.
Here’s a brief overview of the topics from tonight’s agenda which can be found here.
Approving an outline plan for Ashmont Planned Development.
The planned development, which is right off I-40, is approximately 100 acres and is currently owned by the Hyneman family. The Lakeland Municipal Planning Commission considered this item at its April 21, 2022, meeting and voted 5-1 to send the item forward to the Board of Commissioners. The Planning Commission sent the item to the BOC with a few recommendations, including the removal of a convenience store and fuel pumps from the original plan. Among other concerns with the Hyneman owned property was the number of small homes which range in size from 2,200 square feet to 2,700 square feet. The plan includes 129 single-family detached residential lots; 18 single-family attached residential lots; a senior care facility; and 15 commercial or office outparcels. More about that development can be read here https://lakelandcurrents.com/hyneman-planned-development-still-being-pursued/
Discussion on the sketch plan for Taylor Farms Planned Development.
Another controversial topic, a sketch plan for Taylor Farms, a proposed residential Planned Development in Lakeland will be discussed. The 76 acre project is located along the north side of Maple Walk Drive, south of Memphis-Arlington Road, east of Maple Forest Drive, and west of Chambers Chapel Road. If approved it will include 126 lots for single-family detached dwellings. That includes 63 R-1 lots, 38 R-2 lots, and 25 R-3 lots. More info can be found at https://lakelandcurrents.com/new-neighborhood-taylor-farms-looking-unlikely/
Approving signage in the public right-of-way along Canada Road for The Lake District Planned Development.
The Lakeland Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) approved an amendment to the approved sign plan package for The Lake District Planned Development at its April 21, 2022 meeting. According to documents the amendment included adjustments to the locations, dimensions, and designs of four ground signs along Canada Road. The approved amendment to the Sign includes four signs, all at ground level, on Canada Road. The Board of Commissioners will be asked to officially approve the placement of these signs.
Appointing Michael Walker as interim City Manager
The BOC will consider a resolution to appoint Mr. Michael Walker as the interim City Manager. Mr. Walker is currently the Finance & Human Resources Director for the City of Lakeland and if approved his interim position would become effective on June 11, 2022. He will be filling the role of city manager once Shane Horn, the current city manager, fulfills his duty in early June. Mr. Horn recently submitted his resignation after taking a city manager position in Petoskey, Michigan. That job will take Mr. Horn back to his longtime home of Michigan and will get him and his wife closer to family.
