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City of Lake Wales 2015 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element Goals, Objectives, and Policies Goal
City of Lake Wales 2015 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element Goals, Objectives, and Policies Goal
GOAL: It shall be the goal of the City of Lake Wales to provide a system for orderly growth and
development to ensure that the character, magnitude, and location of all land uses fosters
a balanced natural, physical, social, and economic environment. [9J-5-006(3)(a)]
Policy 1.01: Consistent with the time frames outlined in Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, adopt land
development regulations containing specific and detailed provisions sufficient to
implement the adopted Comprehensive Plan. The “Land Use and Development
Regulations” and other local regulations pertinent to land development shall be reviewed
and updated for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. Consideration shall be given
to making the regulation of land development as efficient and effective as possible and to
integrating all appropriate land development regulations into a unified code.
Policy 1.02: The adopted land development regulations shall regulate the use of land consistent with
the Future Land Use Element and the Future Land Use Map Series, shall ensure the
compatibility of adjacent land uses, and, at a minimum, shall:
Policy 1.03: The adopted land development regulations shall establish standards for densities and
intensities of use for each future land use category on the Future Land Use Map Series
consistent with the Future Land Use Element. [9J.5.006(3)(c)1,7.]
2. Residential
1. Low Density Residential (LDR)
2. Medium Density Residential (MDR)
3. High Density Residential (HDR)
4. Residential Rural (RR)
c) Other
a) Residential-Office (RO)
b) Public (PUB)
c) Conservation (CON)
An RAC is intended to be a major commercial area designed as a unit and integrated with surrounding
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developments in terms of layout; facilities for vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians; storm water management;
green space; and design elements.
Typical uses/intensity: Regional mall with more than one anchor department store and associated out-
parcel commercial, 300,000 SQ. FT. GLA and over. To permit a beneficial mix of uses, up to twenty-five
percent (25%) of the gross land area may develop as High Density Residential (HDR).
Development criteria: Located at intersections of arterial roads or arterials and collector roads.
Development through the Planned Development or DRI process is preferred. Uses within development
shall incorporate frontage roads or shared access to major roads. Spatially separated and buffered from
residential areas. Must be located outside of Wellhead Protection Areas and buffered from Conservation
Areas. Where central water and sanitary sewer are available.
Land use regulation: The land development regulations shall be amended to implement the RAC master
plan. Public green space shall be required to provide buffers, focal points, pedestrian and bikeway
connections, and recreation.
commercial and professional uses in shopping plazas to serve the City as a whole as well as surrounding
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residential areas and to allow residential uses in planned mixed-use developments.
Typical uses/intensity: Supermarket, department store, drug store, movie theater, home improvement
center, professional offices and personal services. 90,000 to 300,000 sq. ft. GLA. Maximum FAR = .60.
Residential uses shall constitute a maximum of 50% of the floor area on any site, and residential density
shall not exceed 6 units per acre.
Development criteria: On arterial highway. Where central water and sanitary sewer are available. CACs
shall be 200 to 800 acres in size and be located a minimum of 2 miles from any other land designated as a
CAC or RAC;
Policy 2.04:
The primary function of the General Commercial (GC) classification is to allow continued development
and infill of areas on the periphery of central business districts and to allow the continuation of existing
businesses in isolated pockets and along highways.
The classification is intended primarily for developed commercial and mixed use areas and is not
intended for designation of undeveloped properties or the creation of new, isolated commercial areas or
strip commercial development.
Typical uses/intensity: Retail stores, financial institutions, auto repair, professional offices, and personal
services. Maximum FAR = .40.
Development criteria: Arterial or collector roads. Existing “strip” commercial development may infill but
shall not be extended. Cross-access to adjoining uses may be required where warranted by potential
traffic impacts. Where central water and sanitary sewer are available. Buffering shall be required where
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adjacent to residential use. Frontage roads, cross-access to adjoining uses, connections to local street
networks, and pedestrian-bike path links shall be required as feasible when existing commercial uses are
expanded or changed or when new uses and structures are permitted;
Policy 2.05
The primary function of the Downtown District (DD) classification is to maintain the historic or
traditional central business district as a vital and focal point of the city through continued enhancement of
its accessibility, appearance, preservation, utilization, and facilities.
The DD area is intended to be a walking district with a mix of traditional downtown uses and residential.
Maximum FAR of 4.0. Residential uses shall not exceed 50% of the DD area.
Development criteria: Development must be consistent with the historic and aesthetic character of the
area. Use of downtown Design Guidelines is preferred. Mixed commercial/residential use of structures is
permitted up to 12 dwelling units per gross acre. On-street parking shall be retained where possible.
Creative use of existing structures is preferred over new construction. Development shall be in accord
with the CRA Redevelopment Plan.
Location criteria: Existing central business districts and immediately surrounding areas.
The NACs are also intended as village centers in planned residential developments. They should be
designed as community centers and integral parts of residential neighborhoods, with businesses located in
groups rather than in a strip along a roadway, and should be accessible via local roads and pedestrian/bike
paths from nearby residential areas. Residential uses and mixed-uses are allowed only in planned
developments.
The NAC classification is intended as an overlay district, optional to the primary designation of the land,
Typical uses/intensity: convenience store, drug store, bakery, florist, professional offices and personal
services. 20,000-90,000 sq. ft. GLA. Maximum FAR = .25 except in planned developments where the
maximum FAR shall be 2.0. Residential uses in planned developments shall constitute a maximum of
40% of the area within an NAC and shall not exceed 6 units per acre.
Development criteria: Accessible to surrounding residential neighborhoods. Where central water and
sanitary sewer are available. Direct access to a collector or arterial road. A minimum of a mile from a
Community Activity Center (CAC). Maximum size 20 acres, except that a mixed-use NAC designed as
a village center in a residential development may encompass up to 50 acres if approved as a planned
development project.
The BPC classification is intended for well planned, extensively landscaped business park development
rather than piecemeal development of individual lots.
Typical uses/intensity: light manufacturing and assembly plants, warehouses, office centers. Maximum
FAR = .75.
Development criteria: Access to primary shipping routes (highway and/or rail). Access to site by arterial
or major collector only. Development through Planned Development process is preferred. Spatially
separated and buffered from residential areas. Support commercial to serve employees of a business park
shall not exceed 25% of an area designated BPC. Where cental water and sanitary sewer are available.
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Minimum BPC area shall be 10 acres. A master plan shall be required prior to the subdivision of any land
for business park development. The plan shall show an overall lot and road layout, landscaped buffers to
adjacent lands, extensive landscaping within the park, and design guidelines for site development.
Typical uses/intensity: Manufacturing and processing plants, truck terminals, bulk products storage or
sales facilities, heavy machinery sales or repair. Maximum FAR = .75.
Development criteria: Access to primary shipping routes, (highway and/or rail). Access to site by arterial
or major collector only. Development through the Planned Development process is preferred. Spatially
separated and buffered from residential areas. Must be located outside of Wellhead Protection Areas and
buffered from Conservation Areas. Where central water and sanitary sewer are available.
This classification will be used along major roadways outside of Commercial Activity Centers (CACs)
and Regional Activity Centers (RACs).
Typical uses/intensity: auto dealerships, storage facilities, light manufacturing and assembly plants.
Types of uses not appropriate to LCI areas are high traffic generating uses such as retail stores, gasoline
stations, banks, and restaurants. Up to 200,000 GLA. Maximum FAR .60.
Typical uses/intensity: Single family dwellings, two- and three-family units, and multi-family units up to
6 units per gross acre. Commercial real estate, medical, professional offices up to .25 maximum FAR.
Development criteria: Uses may be office commercial or residential or combined. Off-site residential
uses shall be buffered from office commercial uses. Office commercial uses shall be permitted only upon
review of potential traffic impacts and access roads. Access to major collector and arterial roadways.
The LDR classification is intended to preserve the character of existing single-family residential areas
with large lots and to allow the continued development of these areas. It is also intended for classification
of vacant parcels, particularly newly annexed lands on the periphery of the City.
Uses/density. Housing up to 3 units per gross acre. Single family houses. Two- and three-family units,
and multi-family units allowed by planned developments only, depending on compatibility with adjoining
residential areas, the development suitability of the site, and the availability of public facilities and
services. Uses that are customarily found in residential neighborhoods and compatible with residential
development, such as religious, educational, public facility uses, and assisted living facilities with a
maximum FAR of .25. Development through the planned development process is preferred.
The MDR classification is intended to preserve the character of existing single family residential areas
and to allow the continued development of these areas. It is also intended to encourage redevelopment of
declining residential areas and to allow a variety of housing types on vacant lands within a half mile of
commercial areas and arterial highways.
Uses/density: Housing up to 6 units per gross acre. Single family houses. Two- and three-family units,
and multi-family units allowed by planned developments only, depending on compatibility with adjoining
residential areas, the development suitability of the site, and the availability of public facilities and
services.
Uses that are customarily found in residential neighborhoods and compatible with residential
development, such as religious, educational, public facility uses, and assisted living facilities with a
maximum FAR of .40. Development through the Planned Development process is preferred.
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Policy 2.13: High Density Residential (HDR)
The primary function of the High Density Residential (HDR) classification is to allow for housing at a
density not to exceed 12 dwelling units per acre in areas located within a quarter mile of commercial
centers and along major roadways.
The HDR classification is intended to encourage redevelopment of declining urbanized areas along major
roadways and to allow for new multi-family development convenient to commercial centers.
Uses/density: Single family houses, two- and three-family units, multi-family units up to 12 units per
gross acre depending on the development suitability of the site and the availability of public facilities and
services. Uses that are customarily found in residential neighborhoods and compatible with residential
development, such as religious, educational, public facility uses, and assisted living facilities with a
maximum FAR of .60. Development through the Planned Development process is preferred.
Development criteria: Future government facilities, recreation and park sites shall be permitted in all
Future Land Use categories except Conservation (CONS) consistent with protection of the environment.
Existing government facilties and recreation and park sites shall be designated PUB on the Future Land
Use Map.
Development criteria: Agricultural uses, residential development at a density of one unit per five acres (1
DU/5AC) and Rural Planned Developments shall be permitted.
Development criteria: Single-family homes, two- and three family units and multi-family units shall be
permitted depending on the development suitability of the site and the availability of public facilities and
services. A Planned Development is required. To permit a beneficial mix of uses, up to five percent of
the gross land area may be developed as neighborhood commercial or office. Typical uses include
convenience stores, drug stores, beauty parlors, and professional offices. Commercial and office uses
shall be compatible with the scale of the surrounding residential development. The Floor Area Ratio
(FAR) shall not exceed .25. RPDs shall contain a minimum of 160 acres; be served by a municipal
potable water and wastewater system; be adjacent to, or front on, a paved, public collector or arterial road;
and reserve, via a conservation easement, site-plan approval condition, or other similar land reservation
mechanism; no less than 50 percent of the development site as agricultural land use, open space, or
habitat protection. The maximum number of dwelling units to be approved for a RPD project shall be
calculated based upon the entire RPD site area (including the minimum 50% reservation area) with the
total permitted dwelling units to be clustered on the non-reservation portion of the site.
Location criteria: Developments that have received a Development Order pursuant to Chapter 380, F.S.,
shall be granted a DRI designation upon approval of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The permitted
densities/intensities of DRIs in the City of Lake Wales are listed as follows:
Eagle Ridge Mall DRI - This DRI is permitted for 1,200,000 SF of retail commercial uses on
179.1 acres.