Polk County Planning Commission  
Meeting Minutes - Final-revised  
October 01, 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, Robert Beltran, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in the  
County Commission Boardroom, Administration Building. In attendance were the  
following members: Michael Schmidt, Mike Hickman, Cyndi Jantomaso, Brooke Agnini,  
Adam Bass, and Rennie Heath. Also, Kevin Updike, Planning Commission alternate.  
Also, present were Sandra Howard, Deputy County Attorney, Erik Peterson, Chanda  
Bennett, Robert Bolton, JP Sims, Kyle Rogus, Andrew Grohowski and Ian Nance of  
Land Development, and Margo White, 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. a.m. by the Chair, Robert Beltran, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in the  
County Commission Boardroom, Administration Building. In attendance were the  
following members: Michael Schmidt, Mike Hickman, Cyndi Jantomaso, Brooke Agnini,  
Adam Bass, and Rennie Heath. Also, Kevin Updike, Planning Commission alternate.  
Also, present were Sandra Howard, Deputy County Attorney, Erik Peterson, Chanda  
Bennett, Robert Bolton, JP Sims, Kyle Rogus, Andrew Grohowski and Ian Nance of  
Land Development, and Margo White, recording secretary.  
Roll Call / Attendance  
Vice Chair Mike Hickman, Mike Schmidt, Robert Beltran, Adam  
Bass, Brooke Agnini, and Cyndi Jantomaso  
Present  
Linda Schultz, Chair Merle Bishop, and Kevin Updike  
Excused  
Pledge of Allegiance  
Approve Minutes  
Meeting Minutes - September 10, 2025  
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2) Considerations of items to be withdrawn, deferred, or continued.  
LDCPAS-2025-16 - Osprey Creek CPA - Continued to November  
LDCU-2025-27 (PRWC Wells #9 and #14) - Continued to November  
LDSPD-2025-7 (Skyview Drive SPD) - Continued to November  
Explanation of General Procedures  
Voir Dire of Expert Witnesses  
Staff Resumes  
Agenda Item  
Explanation of Quasi-Judicial Proceedings  
Explanation of Quasi-Judicial Proceedings  
New Business  
1.  
LDCU-2025-17 (Sunrise Day Care CU)  
Minutes: Martha Ponguta, applicant, Combee LLC., owner, is requesting a Conditional Use  
approval for an adult day care for aging adults and individuals with disabilities within an existing  
building on 1.57 +/- acres within a Residential Low-1 (RL-1) land use district. The subject site is  
located at 1140 Combee Road North, north of Jungle Street, west of Combee Road, south of  
Tanglewood Street, east of Lake Parker Drive East, east of the City of Lakeland in Section 09,  
Township 28, Range 24.  
Andrew Grohowski, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 64 mailers sent to  
area property owners on September 16, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on  
September 16, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Lakeland and Winter Haven  
Sun on September 17, 2025. One phone call in opposition.  
Andrew Grohowski, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a  
recommendation of approval.  
Mr. Chair opened the public hearing  
No one from public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed the public hearing.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rennie Heath  
Adam Bass  
Heath, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, and Agnini  
Schultz, Bishop, and Updike  
Excused:  
2.  
LDWA-2025-31 (Bear Oak Ranch Waiver)  
Minutes: Joanna Smith, applicant, Bear Oak Ranch LLC, owner, are requesting a Waiver to  
Section 705.B to approval for a residential lot with access through a private road easement  
accessed by more than four lots on 33.23 +/- acres within an Agriculture/Residential Rural  
(A/RR) future land use district. The subject site is located at 3890 Wolfolk Road, east of  
Highway 27, west of Lake Buffum Road East, north of Buffum Lake Trail, south of Lake Buffum  
Road North, northwest of the City of Frostproof in Section 09, Township 31, Range 27.  
Andrew Grohowski, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 15 mailers sent to  
area property owners on September 16, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on  
September 16, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Lakeland and Winter Haven  
Sun on September 17, 2025. One phone call in opposition.  
Andrew Grohowski, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a  
recommendation of approval.  
Mr. Chair opened the public hearing  
No one from public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed the public hearing.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rennie Heath  
Mike Hickman  
Heath, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, and Agnini  
Schultz, Bishop, and Updike  
Excused:  
3.  
LDWA-2025-29 (McStuckers Ranch Access Waiver)  
Minutes: Charles Brooker, applicant, McStuckers Ranch LLC, owner, are requesting a Waiver  
to Section 705.B for up to 10 single family lots to have access via an existing shared access  
easement ±157.84 acres within an Agriculture/Residential Rural (A/RR) future land use district.  
The subject site is located at 6472 Cox Road, north of Alturas Babson Park Cutoff, south of  
State Road 60, east of US Highway 17, west of US Highway 27, east of Bartow, Florida in  
Section 08, Township 30, Range 26.  
Kyle Rogus, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 44 mailers sent to area  
property owners on September 16, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on September  
16, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Lakeland and Winter Haven Sun on  
September 17, 2025. One phone call in opposition.  
Kyle Rogus, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a recommendation  
of approval.  
Mr. Chair opened the public hearing  
No one from public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed the public hearing.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Mike Schmidt  
Mike Hickman  
Schultz, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, and Agnini  
Heath, and Updike  
Excused:  
4.  
LDCPAS-2025-21 (Old Tampa Hwy IND CPA)  
Minutes:  
AN ORDINANCE OF THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY  
COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT LDCPAS-2025-21; AN  
AMENDMENT TO THE POLK COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; ORDINANCE 92-36, AS  
AMENDED TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION ON +/- 2.5 ACRES OF A  
2.87 ACRES PARCEL FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW (RL) TO INDUSTRIAL (IND), IN THE  
TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE DEVELOPMENT AREA (TSDA). THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED  
SOUTH OF NEW TAMPA HIGHWAY, EAST OF AIRPORT ROAD, WEST OF WABASH  
AVENUE, NORTH OF WILKINSON ROAD, AND SOUTH OF THE CITY LIMITS OF  
LAKELAND, IN SECTION 21, TOWNSHIP 28, RANGE 23, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;  
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.  
JP Sims, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 13 mailers sent to area  
property owners on September 16, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on September  
16, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Lakeland and Winter Haven Sun on  
September 17, 2025. One phone call in opposition.  
JP Sims, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a recommendation of  
approval.  
Mr. Chair opened the public hearing  
No one from public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed the public hearing.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rennie Heath  
Mike Hickman  
Schultz, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, and Agnini  
Heath, and Updike  
Excused:  
5.  
LDCPAS-2025-22 (Motor Vault East CPA)  
Minutes:  
AN ORDINANCE OF THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY  
COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT LDCPAS-2025-22; AN  
AMENDMENT TO THE POLK COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; ORDINANCE 92-36, AS  
AMENDED TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION ON +/- 2.28 ACRES  
FROM RESIDENTIAL LOW (RL) TO INSTITUTIONAL (INST), IN THE TRANSIT  
SUPPORTIVE DEVELOPMENT AREA (TSDA). THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED SOUTH  
OF ALAMO DRIVE, EAST OF HARDEN BOULEVARD, WEST OF STATE ROAD 37  
(FLORIDA AVENUE SOUTH), NORTH OF PIPKIN ROAD, AND SOUTH OF THE CITY LIMITS  
OF LAKELAND, IN SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 29, RANGE 23, PROVIDING FOR  
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.  
JP Sims, Land Development, introduced the case and reported 50 mailers sent to area  
property owners on September 16, 2025, one (1) sign posted on the property on September  
16, 2025, and a legal advertisement was published in Lakeland and Winter Haven Sun on  
September 17, 2025. One phone call in opposition.  
JP Sims, Land Development, presented a Power Point presentation with a recommendation of  
approval.  
Mr. Chair opened the public hearing  
No one from public spoke.  
Mr. Chair closed the public hearing.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rennie Heath  
Mike Hickman  
Schultz, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, and Agnini  
Heath, and Updike  
Excused:  
6.  
LDCT-2025-7 (Cargo Containers LDC Text Amendment)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding Land  
Development Code amendment LDCT-2025-7, amending Ordinance No. 00-09, as amended,  
the Polk County Land Development Code, Chapter 2, Section 206.K, Cargo Containers for  
Permanent Storage, to remove prohibitions on cargo containers for storage in residential future  
land use designations; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Mike Schmidt  
Mike Hickman  
Schultz, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, and Agnini  
Heath, and Updike  
Excused:  
7.  
LDCT-2025-8 (Pool Safety Text Amendment)  
Minutes: An Ordinance of The Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding Land  
Development Code Amendment LDCT-2025-8, amending Ordinance No. 00-09, as amended,  
the Polk County Land Development Code; amending Chapter 2, Section 211, Pools and  
Screen Enclosures, to refer to Florida Building Code and Florida Statutes for consistency with  
above ground pool safety measures; providing for severability; and providing for an effective  
date.  
Approved  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rennie Heath  
Mike Hickman  
Schultz, Hickman, Schmidt, Beltran, Bass, Bishop, and Agnini  
Heath, and Updike  
Excused:  
8.  
LDCT-2025-9 (SE Polk Mobile Homes)  
Minutes: An ordinance of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners regarding Land  
Development Code amendment LDCT-2025-9, amending Ordinance No. 00-09, as amended,  
the Polk County Land Development Code, Chapter 4, Section 401.08, to remove conditional  
use standards for Individual Mobile Homes within the Southeast Polk Selected Area Plan to  
conform with the rest of the County; providing for severability; and providing for an effective  
date.  
Approved  
Comprehensive Plan Update  
Election of Officers  
Minutes: New officers elected for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary.  
New Chair: Merle Bishop  
New Vice Chair: Mike Hickman  
New Secretary: Cyndi Jantomaso  
Approved  
Adjournment