Two housing developments could bring 1,200 homes to Carpenter's Way

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·4 min read
There is rising concern about the functionality of Carpenter's Way given two proposals for housing developments could add more than 1,200 home to the area.
There is rising concern about the functionality of Carpenter's Way given two proposals for housing developments could add more than 1,200 home to the area.

LAKELAND — Two developers are seeking the city's approval to add more than 1,200 homes off Carpenter's Way inNorth Lakeland.

Tampa-based developer Ryan Companies US, Inc. has submitted a request to Lakeland's Planning and Zoning Board to make a modification to a prior Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 777 Carpenter's Way, along the north end of the road. If approved, the developer would have the right to build between 320 to 558 apartment units as part of the Lake Gibson Multifamily project.

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Attorney Tim Campbell said the developer is looking for the option to construct 320 market-rate, multifamily apartments on approximately 25 acres. The property is situated between Lake Gibson Village Health and Rehab and Lake Gibson Village, a senior living community.

In 2015, Lakeland officials approved plans that would have allowed up to 558 apartments for seniors to be built in five- and six-story buildings on the property. It is owned by Lakeland Senior Living No. Three. Ryan Companies seeks to purchase the land with an alternative option to construct multifamily apartments instead of senior living.

Campbell stressed the developer's request would reduce the total number of apartment units and lower building heights from five and six- stories down to a maximum of four stories.

"All aspects of this request reflect less of an impact on the surrounding communities," he said.

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Campbell said traffic studies show despite moving toward family-oriented housing versus dwellings for seniors, there would be no significant difference in the amount of traffic generated. He could not provide answers on that the proposed mix of apartments would be between one, two or more bedrooms.

Board member Jeri Thom asked Chuck Barmby, Lakeland's planning and transportation manager, if the city had intentions to speed up plans to improve the two-lane Carpenter's Way given the number of developments slated proposed for the area. Barmby said there is no funding set aside to improve the central roadway.

"Carpenter's Way seems to be the biggest point of contention with residents," Thom said.

Lakeland staff share similar concerns about the functioning of the roadway, Barmby said, as there's a need to address issues with the roadway given development popping up around it.

The Planning and Zoning board is expected to make a decision about Ryan Companies' proposed multifamily development at its next meeting on Dec. 20.

City officials may vote on whether to approve a proposal that would transform the former Wedgewood Golf Course into a housing development centralized around Carpenter's Way before then. It is anticipated to hold its first public hearing on the proposed development at its Nov. 21 meeting, according to Barmby.

Former Polk County Commissioner John Hall and his son, Jonathan Hall, of SJD Development, LLC. received the planning board's approval to potentially build 994 homes on the former golf course in November. Now, the developer must get the greenlight from the city commission.

The plans for developing Wedgewood Golf Course into Gibson Trails have undergone several revisions after receiving public outcry on building heights, density and potential traffic impacts. The original proposal calling for nearly 1,400 units has been reduced to 994: 60 single-family detached homes, 60 single-family attached townhomes and 874 multifamily apartments.

The October revisions focus on reduce the bulk, size and scale of the housing development to be in alignment with surrounding community, according to Attorney Bart Allen who represents SJD Development. In the area of Tract 2, to the Northeast end of the former golf course, the developer has agreed to lower the building heights to two- and three-story buildings instead of the original request for four-stories.

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The developer has also agreed to lower the maximum building height from three to two-stories section of multi-family housing immediately to the northeast of Carpenter's Way. This will remove about 50 units from this section of Gibson Trails.

One area of contention were the multi-family apartments slated for Tract 8, the western-most portion of the former Wedgewood Golf Course. With residential feedback on the density and parking concerns expressed, SJD Development re-envisioned the area as 60 single-family attached townhomes. Due to the change, the developer no longer requires a change of zoning on this land.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Ave. It is also livestreamed from the city's website at lakelandgov.net. 

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.comr or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl. 

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Housing developments could bring homes to Carpenter's Way in Lakeland