Polk County wants to loosen the rules for reusing old buildings and redevelopment areas

Polk County staff have filed a set of Comprehensive Plan amendments that would reshape how growth is handled countywide. The headline changes: modify Section 2.124-F redevelopment policies to allow higher-intensity development in the county's redevelopment areas without a separate Comprehensive Plan amendment or redevelopment plan, and create two new Future Land Use designations — Adaptive Reuse (for reusing existing buildings that once held conforming uses) and Conservation (for active recreation plus environmental preservation, but less intense than ball fields).

The package also includes a text amendment lowering the minimum useable area for Community Activity Centers from 20 acres to 10 acres, and a Future Land Use Map change tied to the Eastern Regional Utility Service Area served by the county's recently approved wastewater and potable water facilities. A related item would allow private schools of about 150 students in commercial land-use districts, for compliance with state law SB 182.

All of these are county-initiated and listed as In Review. County records note the changes have been approved by the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee.