The Charlotte County Planning Board on April 14 will review several requests for zoning and planned development changes, including homebuilder DR Horton for a residential development along the Burnt Store corridor.
Another applicant is seeking to increase the square footage for a large storage complex in Punta Gorda.
The DR Horton development at 12150 Burnt Store Road consists of 68.43 acres, with the firm requesting development of up to 230 residential units, a reduction of 48 units than were previously proposed.
This will require a transfer of 96 density units from the Coastal High Hazard Area due to the homebuilder changing the location of some residential units.
In a letter to the Planning and Zoning Board and Board of County Commissioners, Jie Shao, principal planner for the county, wrote, in part: “Based upon the analysis and conclusions set forth herein, in staff’s professional opinion, the application is generally consistent, as conditioned, with Charlotte County’s Comprehensive Plan, Charlotte County’s Code of Laws and Ordinances and other applicable guidelines.”
Should the Planning and Zoning Board on April 14 agree with her department’s opinion, its recommendation will be forwarded to the BOCC for the final decision.
Shao provided detailed history of the parcel in her report, stating it is part of an Emerging Neighborhood, she describes as generally near regional transportation corridors, typically have central water and sewer infrastructure and are in the path of future urban development.
“These neighborhoods have the opportunity to create a sense of identity for the community and to introduce planning principles supporting more sustainable neighborhoods prior to further development,” she wrote.
The Future Land Use Map designation for the site is Burnt Store Village Residential, allowing for up to five units per acre. Shao said the proposed planned development rezoning will decrease the already approved residential development rights from 278 units to 230 units, approximately 3.36 units per acre.
The Burnt Store corridor is bursting with new home construction, raising concerns among area residents who banded together to form the Burnt Store Corridor Coalition.
At numerous meetings, residents living along the corridor described what they consider an eroding quality of life due to development. The organization also urges more commercial development, such as a supermarket. Some residents must travel 8 miles each way to shop on U.S. 41 or in Lee County.
County officials maintain that property owners have the right to build on their land and choose what they want to develop, provided they meet land use and zoning requirements.
Attorney Derek Rooney represents an applicant seeking to increase the square footage of a storage facility, consisting of mini storage and recreational vehicle units, on 10.33 acres at 5221 and 5225 Taylor Road.
The owner wants to increase its mini storage units from 77,000 square feet to 110,000 square feet and its RV storage units from 68,000 square feet to 90,000 square feet. If approved, the overall square footage will total 200,000. The number of buildings would be reduced from 11 to eight.
There were conditions placed on the project if approval is granted.
Since the property is located southwest and west of county-owned Indian Springs Cemetery and privately-owned Charlotte Memorial Gardens, a study would determine whether there are archaeological resources.
If so, an archaeologist would be on-site to monitor work.
The Planning and Zoning Board meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. in the county’s administration building at 18500 Murdock Circle in Port Charlotte.
