Polk County Planning Commission  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
December 03, 2025 Regular Planning Meeting  
Call Agenda Workshop to Order 8:50 a.m.  
Minutes: The workshop of the Polk County Planning Commission was called to order at 8:50  
a.m. by the Chair, Merle Bishop, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in the County  
Commission Boardroom, Administration Building. In attendance were the following members:  
Michael Schmidt, Mike Hickman, Angel Sims, Cyndi Jantomaso, Brooke Agnini and Robert  
Beltran. Also, Linda Schultz and Kevin Updike Planning Commission alternate. Also, present  
were Sandra Howard, Deputy County Attorney, Erik Peterson, Chanda Bennett, Robert Bolton,  
Kyle Rogus, Andrew Grohowski and Ian Nance of Land Development, and Lyndsay Yannone,  
recording secretary.  
Call Public Hearing to Order 9:00 a.m. Or as soon thereafter as the particular case may  
be heard 9:00 a.m.  
Minutes: The workshop of the Polk County Planning Commission was called to order at 9:00  
a.m. by the Chair, Merle Bishop, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in the County  
Commission Boardroom, Administration Building. In attendance were the following members:  
Michael Schmidt, Mike Hickman, Angel Sims, Cyndi Jantomaso, Brooke Agnini and Robert  
Beltran. Also, Linda Schultz and Kevin Updike Planning Commission alternate. Also, present  
were Sandra Howard, Deputy County Attorney, Erik Peterson, Chanda Bennett, Robert Bolton,  
Kyle Rogus, Andrew Grohowski and Ian Nance of Land Development, and Lyndsay Yannone,  
recording secretary.  
Roll Call / Attendance  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Jantomaso, and  
Sims  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Jantomaso, and  
AYE:  
Sims  
Schultz, Bass, and Updike  
Excused:  
Excused:  
Schultz, Bass, and Updike  
Pledge of Allegiance  
Approve Minutes  
Meeting Minutes October 1, 2025  
Continued  
Meeting Minutes November 5, 2025  
Continued  
Reordering of the Agenda - Prior to beginning the Business of the Planning  
Commission, the Commission may reorder the Agenda.  
1) Reorder Agenda  
a) At the discretion of the Planning Commission members, a lunch break may be  
called if the hearing of cases goes beyond 12:00 p.m.  
2) Considerations of items to be withdrawn, deferred, or continued.  
Explanation of General Procedures  
Voir Dire of Expert Witnesses  
Staff Resumes  
Agenda Item  
Explanation of Quasi-Judicial Proceedings  
Roll Call / Attendance  
New Business  
1.  
LDCU-2025-32 (Colonial Avenue Duplex)  
Minutes: Antonio Ramon Araque, applicant and Mexvez LLC., owner, are requesting  
Conditional Use approval for a duplex in a Residential Low-1 future land use designation on  
approximately 0.33 +/- acre within the Transit Supportive Development Area (TSDA). The  
subject site is located at 2345 Colonial Avenue, west of South Combee Road, east of  
Longfellow Boulevard, south of East Main Street, east of Lakeland in Section 21, Township 28,  
Range 24.  
Ian Nance, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 94 mailers sent to area  
property owners on November 19, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on November 18,  
2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19, 2025. No  
response from the public.  
Ian Nance, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a recommendation  
of approval.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Robert Beltran  
Angelic Sims  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
2.  
LDCU-2025-30 (Hardin Combee Church)  
Minutes: Tom Wodrich, applicant and Iglesia Oasis Casa De Adoracion INC., owner, are  
requesting Conditional Use approval for a Religious Institution to be located in the Residential  
Low-3 land use district and a reduction in primary structure right of way setback from 35 feet to  
15 feet on approximately 1.00 +/- acre within the Transit Supportive Development Area  
(TSDA). The subject site is located at 2729 Hardin Combee Road, north of the Polk Parkway,  
south of US Highway 92, east of Lake Parker Avenue, west of Combee Road in Section 15,  
Township 28, Range 24.  
Kyle Rogus, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 86 mailers sent to area  
property owners on November 19, 2025, two (2) signs posted on the property on November  
18, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19, 2025. No  
response from the public.  
Kyle Rogus, Land Development, presented  
recommendation of approval.  
a
Power Point presentation with  
a
Tom Woodrich, applicant spoke and answered any questions.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
Someone from the public spoke against due to flooding issues.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Robert Beltran  
Mike Hickman  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
3.  
LDCU-2025-31 (Old Hwy 37 CU)  
Minutes: Tom Wodrich, applicant, Mims/Alafia LLC., owner, are requesting Conditional Use  
approval for a concrete batch plant (aggregate storage and processing) on approximately  
16.06 +/- acres to be located in the Industrial (IND) land use district within the Rural  
Development Area (RDA). The subject site is located south of Old Hwy 37, north of Jamison  
Road, west of the City of Mulberry in Section 35, Township 30, Range 23.  
Aleya Inglima, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 14 mailers sent to area  
property owners on November 19, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on November 18,  
2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19, 2025. No  
response from the public.  
Aleya Inglima, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a  
recommendation of approval.  
Tom Woodrich, applicant spoke and presented a power point.  
Owner spoke on how this will have little to no noise. 65 decimals/ 50 feet setback.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Angelic Sims  
Cyndi Jantomaso  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
4.  
LDCD-2025-10 (Poinciana-Bayberry St PPP Sub-District Change)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding the  
adoption of LDCD-2025-10, an amendment to the Polk County Comprehensive Plan,  
Ordinance 92-36, as amended, to change the Sub-District designation on 72.27 +/- acres from  
Institutional (INST-1) to Institutional (INST-2) in the Utility Enclave Area (UEA), located south of  
Bayberry Street, west of Lake Hatchineha, east of Marigold Avenue, and north of County Road  
542 (Lake Hatchineha Road), in the Poinciana Master Plan, east of the city limits of Haines  
City, in Section 14, Township 28, Range 28; providing for severability; and providing for an  
effective date.  
JP Sims, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 103 mailers sent to area  
property owners on November 19, 2025, two (2) signs posted on the property on November  
18, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19, 2025. No  
response from the public.  
JP Sims, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a recommendation of  
approval.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
No one from the public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Angelic Sims  
Mike Hickman  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
5.  
LDCPAS-2025-30 (Lake Gibson Estates CPA)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding the  
adoption of LDCPAS-2025-30, an amendment to the Polk County Comprehensive Plan,  
Ordinance 92-36, as amended, to change the Future Land Use Map designation on 2.52 +/-  
acres from Residential Low (RL) to Residential Medium (RM) and a Comprehensive Plan text  
amendment to Section 2.135 Parcel Specific Future Land Use Map Amendments With  
Conditions. The subject site is located south of Marcum Road, east of US Highway 98, west of  
Norton Road, and north of Daughtery Road, east of the city limits of Lakeland, in Section 24,  
Township 27, Range 23; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.  
JP Sims, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 58 mailers sent to area  
property owners on November 19, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on November 18,  
2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19, 2025. No  
response from the public.  
JP Sims, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a recommendation of  
approval.  
Sarah Case, applicant spoke and spoke more on the application.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
No one from the public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Mr. Bishop asked a question about density.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Robert Beltran  
Cyndi Jantomaso  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
6.  
LDCT-2025-21 (Lake Gibson Estates LDC Text Amendment)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding Land  
Development Code amendment LDCT-2025-21, amending Ordinance No. 00-09, as amended,  
the Polk County Land Development Code to amend Appendix E Parcel Specific  
Comprehensive Plan Amendments with Conditions to add standards for development on  
property subject to LDCPAS-2025-30 and located south of Marcum Road, east of US Highway  
98, west of Norton Road, and north of Daughtery Road, east of the city limits of Lakeland, in  
Section 24, Township 27, Range 23; providing for severability; and providing for an effective  
date.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Robert Beltran  
Angelic Sims  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
7.  
LDSPD-2025-7 (Skyview Drive SPD)  
Minutes: Matthew Johnson, applicant, and Jolly A. Babu, owner, are Proposing a Suburban  
Planned Development to develop sixty single family lots on approximately 20 acres in the  
Suburban Development Area (SDA) located in the Residential Suburban (RS). The subject  
property is located south of Skyview Drive, west of Reynolds Road, east of the city of Lakeland  
in Section 27, Township 28, Range 24.  
Aleya Inglima, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 87 mailers sent to area  
property owners on November 19, 2025, two (2) sign posted on the property on September  
16, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19, 2025. 1  
email in opposition and 58 signatures in opposition.  
Aleya Inglima, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a  
recommendation of approval.  
Mr. Chair asked about the lots close to the manmade lake.  
Matthew Johnson, applicant, spoke and answered questions.  
Cyndi asked about the buffer.  
Mr. Beltran asked about the lake and the culver.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
Mrs. Everett spoke and stated she is for the project but has questions.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Matthew Johnson spoke and answered questions.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Mike Hickman  
Robert Beltran  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
8.  
LDCU-2025-29 (Mammoth Grove Mine)  
Minutes: Dick Crockett, applicant and PH Citrus LLC, owner, are requesting a Conditional  
Use approval for a Non-Phosphate Mining (Borrow Pit) on approximately 855 +/- acres within  
an Agricultural/Residential Rural (A/RR) and Industrial (IND) land use district. The subject site  
is located north and south of State Road 60, south of Camp Mack Road, east and west of  
Mammoth Grove Road, north of Griffith Road, east of Dude Ranch Road, west of Saddlebag  
Lake Road, east of the City of Lake Wales in Sections 1, 2, 11, 12 & 35, Townships 30 & 29,  
Range 28.  
Andrew Grohowski, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 246 mailers sent to  
area property owners on November 19, 2025, twenty-six (26) signs posted on the property on  
November 18, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Polk Sun on November 19,  
2025. 71 emails in opposition and 12 phone calls in opposition.  
Andrew Grohowski, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a  
recommendation of approval.  
Bart Allen, Petterson and Myers, representing applicant, David Crockett spoke and presented  
a power point. Mr. Allen provided resumes for this expert witness.  
Mr. Chair opened public portion.  
Many residents from Saddleback spoke in opposition. A 3-minute video was played. Many to  
all public comments were about the traffic, lighting, habitat. Flooding is a concern. Saddleback  
does not find this to be comparable to their neighborhood.  
Concern about air quality and asking to concerning denying this application.  
Danny has concerns about sediment ponds, where the water was going to go. Will it be  
pumped back into the creek. How will the heavy equipment be handled on the roads?  
Concerning the 1267 residents on protection when the 20 employees will be required to wear  
PPE equipment. Concerned about silica dust and how it travels. Stated without air quality  
analysis, their application would be incomplete.  
It was brought to attention that a lawyer was hired and wrote a statement.  
Health concerns are a big issue from the public. Concerned about property values.  
Mr. Bart Allen spoke and answered many questions from the public. Provided a traffic study.  
Mrs. Sims spoke and asked about the dialogue between landowners and developers.  
Mr. Chair closed public portion.  
Mr. Beltran asked if Lake Wales was in contact with Land Development.  
Andrew made a statement that there is a condition on number 2 if staff report to maintain the  
roadways.  
Denied  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
DENIED  
Angelic Sims  
Cyndi Jantomaso  
Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and Jantomaso  
Hickman  
NAY:  
9.  
LDCT-2025-24 (Powerline Landscaping Buffers)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding Land  
Development Code Amendment LDCT-2025-24, amending Ordinance No. 00-09, as amended,  
the Polk County Land Development Code; amending Chapter 3, Section 303, Solar  
Electric-power Generation Facility, to modify landscaping requirements; amending Chapter 7,  
Section 720, Landscaping and Buffering, to include a Utility Buffer; amending Chapter 9,  
Section 932, Waiver to Technical Standards, to modify for the proposed amendments;  
providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Mike Schmidt  
Angelic Sims  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
10.  
LDCT-2025-23 (Alcohol Separation Requirements & Hours)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding Land  
Development Code Amendment LDCT-2025-23, amending Ordinance No. 00-09, as amended,  
the Polk County Land Development Code; amending Chapter 2, Section 224, Alcohol Sales to  
amend  
separation distance measurements from property/lease line to shortest legal  
pedestrian route; to reduce distance separations for 1COP, 2COP, 4COP, and 3PS licenses;  
and to allow package sales on Sundays and adjust COP Sunday hours; amending Chapter 10  
to add definitions as needed; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Cyndi Jantomaso  
Angelic Sims  
Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bishop, Agnini, Sims, and  
Jantomaso  
Schultz, Bass, and Updike  
Excused:  
Comprehensive Plan update  
Adjournment