All Aboard! City Commission Approves Inter-modal Terminal Development Agreement

Meeting in special session, Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong, convened a special meeting of the Winter Haven City Commission for the purpose of holding the final public hearing on the development order for the Evansville Western inter-modal rail terminal to be built on 318 acres of land south of Winter Haven and north of Highway 60. Commissioners held a public hearing taking input from the municipalities of Lakeland and Lake Wales, Polk County Commission, Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and interested citizens. 

The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. and just prior to 11 a.m. Commissioners voted unanimous approval for the development order for the project. 

The Commission then entertained a motion to approve a development agreement with Evansville Western to begin the project. A public hearing was held with no public comment presented regarding the development agreement. The public hearing was then closed and the Commission unanimously approve the motion.

The approval will now be forwarded to the State Department of Community Affairs for their review.

City of Lakeland Asks for Aggregation

Legal counsel for the City of Lakeland began the original public hearing by presenting their arguments that “due to the potential impact on Lakeland of the second phase of the project” the 318 acre inter-modal rail terminal should undergo a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) that includes both the 318 acres and the 930 adjacent acres that the railroad has an option to purchase by 2010. Lakeland reasoned that rather than approve the 318 acre development order, the City Commission should send the complete 1200+ acre parcel back to the Regional Planning Council for the DRI process … a move certain to delay the rail terminal indefinitely. The city’s argument was framed around their contention that several aspects of the project triggered a requirement that the entire 1200 acres be reviewed simultaneously (aggregation) and certain environmental stipulations did not meet requirements of the city’s comprehensive plan.

Legal counsel for Evansville Western refuted the aggregation claim stating that the while the railroad has an option on the adjoining land, no comprehensive development plan or marketing plan existed. Evansville Western stated that at such time as a master site plan was developed they would pursue a DRI review on the remaining acreage.

City of Winter Haven Community Development Director David Dickey also presented specific ordinances and comprehensive plan subsections that found the development order under consideration to be in compliance.

Perspective: Aggregation or Aggravation?

The City of Lakeland expressed concern for the impact the Winter Haven-based project would have on that community. We would all to do well to keep that concern in perspective. Lakeland currently boasts 28 million square feet of exisiting industrial/warehouse space (source: Lakeland Economic Development Council) and another 5 million square feet under development as a result of a recent DRI approval. The Winter Haven Integrated Logistics Center (Phase II) is projected to be 3 million square feet of warehousing, 1.5 million square feet of industrial and 500,000 square feet of office space. Total – 5 million square feet. 

Thirty-three million sq. ft. of industrial/warehouse vs. 5 million. Where do YOU think the most potential for impact exists?

The question at hand is: When is the last time Winter Haven had a seat at the Lakeland DRI table. If this project’s size and scope is of adequate gravity to involve Lakeland … then perhaps it’s time we weigh in on their development projects. 

Further more it is a confusing position for the City of Lakeland to take when their Mayor has publicly stated his support for the Winter Haven location. It also runs counter productive to the following very positive steps that have evolved from consideration of the integrated logistics center (reprinted from earlier post):

• While there has certainly been measurable tension with our neighbors to the west, a spirit of cooperation has emerged. Representatives of both Lakeland and Winter Haven Chambers as well as the Central Florida Development Council, East Polk Committee of 100, Lakeland Economic Development Council and Polk Vision (to name a few) have met with officials from both the Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership in an effort to develop a Super-Regional Strategy Team encompassing the I-4 corridor. This effort, while in its infancy, has found many areas of common interest. 
• In organizing the previously mentioned Super-Regional Strategy Team, it quickly became obvious that no one entity can speak for all of Polk. A county of vast size and diverse interests has many agendas. Even so, there is far more on which we agree than disagree. To this end, Polk Vision has facilitated a new independent initiative tentatively dubbed “One Polk.” It’s purpose is to develop enough consensus on priorities to represent Polk in discussions with our neighbors to the east and west (Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership). Co-chairs Tim Campbell and Wayne Watters are in the earliest organizational stages. More definitive plans will be announced soon.
• Polk County’s unemployment rate shot up to 7.8% in August. There are those who predict it will go higher. While we do not propose any job at any cost, the Chamber’s evaluation of the potential jobs associated with the CSX project has convinced us these are not the jobs to turn away OR DELAY.
• Lakeland’s agenda includes rerouting freight traffic away from downtown. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently studying the feasibility for just such rerouting. We support Lakeland’s quest for the best solution possible.

The point here is that much good has come from confrontation. Calmer heads have prevailed and reasoned thought has emerged to find solutions and build consensus.

The solutions to the current economic turbulence, a variety of Polk infrastructure and construction agendas as well as striving to protect the quality of life we all have come to love and enjoy will take cooperation, rational thought as well as city, county and state resources.