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CSX Industrial Park Moves Forward

Thursday, March 4, 2010

WINTER HAVEN | The Winter Haven Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to revise the city’s growth map to accommodate the planned next phase of the CSX industrial park.

The proposal, which was initiated by Winter Haven’s planning staff, involves revising the growth map to change 932 acres from institutional to industrial and conservation.

There was no public opposition at Tuesday’s hearing.

The Winter Haven City Commission will consider the changes on March 22, when it will transmit the change to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for review.

DCA comments are expected by this summer.

Tuesday’s vote is a prelude to eventual development of the site as a warehouse and distribution center that will complement the 318-acre freight terminal that was approved as a development of regional impact in 2008.

The terminal will be developed by Evansville Western Railway, a CSX subsidiary.

The next step will be an application to develop the 932-acre site.

No one has submitted an application, but information in the backup information for the map change indicates that the ultimate build-out will contain 5.2 million square feet of warehouse and distribution facilities, 2.2 million square feet of light industrial facilities and 500,000 square feet of offices.

Development in the first five years will contain 500,00 square feet of warehouse, 50,000 square feet of light industrial and 30,000 feet of office.

Unlike the first phase,the second phase of the project will not face development of regional impact review because of a change in state growth law approved last year by the Florida Legislature.

The change exempts what are known as “dense urban land areas,” which are cities with at least 1,000 people per square mile.

Winter Haven, Lakeland, Fort Meade and Haines City in Polk County are among 236 Florida cities that are exempt from the process.

For more information, please contact Tom Palmer at The Ledger.

Testimonials
"The county's business environment and the ongoing support of the CFDC have helped us achieve [our] goal for many years and we look forward to our continued partnership."
- Charles Matthews, VP Operations, Florida's Natural Growers
"We initially targeted Polk County because of its obvious logistical advantages, but we were immediately impressed by the tremendous support and cooperation we received from the CFDC. A building can be built anywhere, but what makes a project...successful is a cooperative relationship with community leaders and the availability of a dedicated and reliable workforce."
- David Behm, VP, Aldi Inc.
"From a personal and business perspective, being new to Polk County has been a very positive experience. We are excited to live and work in Polk County and look forward to what the future has to bring in terms of growth and opportunities."
- Stacy Hackworth, Facility Manager, Ferguson
"We found the economic development atmosphere and support from Polk County to be a true asset in our decision to locate our new, state-of-the-art facility in Lakeland. When you are building the most advanced manufacturing facility your industry has ever seen, you have to have confidence in the long-term commitment of the community. We found just that in Polk County and are pleased to be one of their newest business neighbors and partners."
- Ross Dalton, President, GTECH Printing Corporation
"In 1962, State Farm opened its doors in Winter Haven, which is now our Florida headquarters. We are so proud to be a part of this great Polk County community. Polk County provides State Farm with a workforce that brings diverse talents and experiences to provide the quality service our State Farm customers expect and deserve."
- Jim Thompson, Sr. Vice President, State Farm Insurance