Rezoning request could bring 999 homes to Burnt Store Road

A developer is seeking approval from the Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board to rezone 277.75 acres along Burnt Store Road to allow up to 999 housing units and as much as 195,000 square feet of commercial space.

The board is scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. April 13 at the county’s Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room 119, in Port Charlotte.

The proposed development spans 11 parcels, 10 fronting Burnt Store Road and one on Zemel Road. The site is outside the Coastal High Hazard Area flood zone.

The property already has zoning approval for up to 999 units. The developer plans to utilize previously acquired transfer of development units to achieve that density.

The applicant, Burnt Store Road RET LLC, is represented by certified planner Daniel DeLisi of West Palm Beach.

County staff noted a previous concept plan for the site expired Sept. 19, 2008. A request to extend that plan was submitted in November 2022, and the Board of County Commissioners approved the extension Feb. 28, 2023.

In a staff report, planners said the rezoning request, with conditions, is generally consistent with the Burnt Store Village Residential Future Land Use Map category and aligns with the goals and policies of the county’s Comprehensive Plan and the Burnt Store Area Plan.

The Burnt Store Corridor Coalition has expressed support for the project, providing a letter of support and unanimous approval from its board both in writing and during a recent Planning and Zoning Board meeting.

Environmental considerations are a significant component of the proposal. Of the total acreage, 64.17 acres consist of 17 wetlands. The project would impact portions of a creek, ditch and man-made borrow pond. County staff said those impacts cannot be entirely avoided due to site constraints, including planned roadways.

Under recommendations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the National Estuary Program and environmental studies, the developer has agreed to preserve 59.41 acres, or about 92.6%, of on-site wetlands, along with upland buffers.

The county requires preservation of land along designated greenways to create wildlife corridors. These corridors must be at least 75 feet wide, depending on existing vegetation and habitat.

Plans to widen Burnt Store Road include a wildlife crossing designed to accommodate small- to medium-sized animals within at least one of the greenways. The developer also must preserve and enhance land along a wildlife corridor aligned with the Zemel Canal along the southern boundary of the site.

If the Planning and Zoning Board recommends approval, the proposal will move to the Charlotte County Commission for final consideration at a future meeting.