(The following story by Rick Rousos appeared on The Lakeland Ledger website on August 13.)
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Central Florida Regional Planning Council on Wednesday approved the proposed 218-acre rail terminal site in southern Winter Haven. The approval, with 61 conditions on traffic, the environment and other factors, has been forwarded to the city of Winter Haven.
The vote to approve the development by a CSX subsidiary, Evansville Western Railway, was 10-1. The vote culminated a hearing on the proposed development of regional impact that brought out opponents from Lakeland and supporters from Winter Haven and East Polk County.
Lakeland City Commissioner Howard Wiggs, who serves on the planning council board, cast the no vote.
Minutes before the vote was taken, Wiggs made a motion that the vote be delayed for five or six months until the state Department of Transportation completes a study on rail routes and possible alternatives to routing trains through downtown Lakeland. The motion died for the lack of a second.
The Winter Haven Planning Commission will hear the development proposal on Sept. 24 and the City Commission is scheduled to take action Oct. 29.