The proposed heliport, intended for helicopter landings, takeoffs, and storage, would operate within the industrial light I1 zoning district. The site, spanning approximately 4.24 acres, currently hosts various structures. The petitioner proposed operating hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no additional employees anticipated. Despite staff’s recommendation that the heliport would minimally impact public infrastructure and be consistent with the area’s character, the public comments portion of the hearing revealed significant opposition from residents.

William French, a resident whose home backs directly onto the property, articulated his distress, “These people fly these helicopters directly over our houses,” highlighting concerns about noise and potential accidents. Other residents echoed similar sentiments. Ed Monano voiced fears regarding safety during inclement weather, particularly during hurricane season. Marie Alvarez-Padet described the noise as disruptive enough to shake her windows and force her to keep her dogs indoors.

Long-term resident Joan Louise Morgan emphasized her preference for maintaining the neighborhood’s peace, expressing resentment toward increasing industrial activity. She remarked, “How much more industry do we need in this town?” and underscored the noise and safety concerns associated with helicopter flights, noting that accidents could have grave outcomes.

The staff responded to these concerns by noting proposed conditions to mitigate impacts, including limiting the site to the storage and flights of one helicopter. The board’s discussion revealed that takeoffs and landings would be limited to dawn-to-dusk hours, and the petitioner would need to obtain the necessary permits from federal, state, and local agencies. A site plan would need approval before the heliport could commence operations. Despite these conditions, the motion to approve the heliport passed with some opposition from the board members.

The meeting also included a request from Advent Health Pulk North Inc. to amend the existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance for their property on Cypress Gardens Boulevard, which includes the Advent Health Emergency Department and the River Lake Shopping Center. The proposed amendment aimed to modify signage regulations to improve visibility and wayfinding.

Tim Campbell, a representative for Advent Health, explained the necessity of the amendments, citing recommendations from the sign contractor. The changes would increase the number of monument signs, expand the total square footage for building signage, and permit a spire sign for the Emergency Department. Campbell assured the board that the design considered residential properties to the north to minimize light disturbance.

Public comments regarding this proposal included concerns from residents about water runoff issues exacerbated by recent developments. Sarah Test, a resident living north of the emergency room, detailed her concerns about drainage maintenance and the impacts of construction on local water levels. She suggested planting cypress trees to mitigate lighting and sound impacts from the facility. Another resident, Kevin Goule, expressed dissatisfaction with ambulance headlights and construction noise affecting his quality of life, opposing the proposed changes due to potential increased traffic and development disruption.

In response, staff clarified that the development would include a stormwater management system mandated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District to prevent exacerbating existing drainage issues. The board ultimately approved the amendment for Advent Health’s PUD.

Another topic was the administrative request to amend the Winter Haven Code of Ordinances concerning the city’s Urban Forest. The amendment aimed to incorporate language addressing tree management, protection during construction, and penalties for unauthorized tree removal. The existing landscape ordinance had not been amended since its adoption in 1988, and the new changes followed the adoption of the urban forestry master plan in November 2023.

The amendments would define tree types, the process for tree protection, and establish mitigation requirements for tree removal, including a fee in lieu of planting new trees if removal was necessary. A board member sought clarification on whether the amendments would address tree planting in retention areas, to which it was confirmed that the focus was on protecting and preserving existing trees, with future phases planned for planting requirements. The motion to approve the proposed changes passed unanimously.

Lastly, the Planning Board addressed land use and zoning changes for the Clawson Trust’s annexed parcel on Avenue E Southwest. The request aimed to assign neighborhood support future land use and Commercial Highway C3 zoning to a 0.91-acre parcel previously operating as a warehouse. The petitioner’s representative explained that the property had been misclassified under residential land use in the county, hindering potential sales and financing opportunities. The board approved the zoning changes unanimously.