(The following report appeared on the Lakeland Ledger website on October 14.)
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Central Florida Regional Planning Council will have a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday to review the 318-acre first phase of the proposed CSX intermodal facility, or inland port, for the transfer and distribution of freight. The hearing will be at Nora Mayo Hall on Third Street Northwest.
The CSX plan will be reviewed by the CFRPC, Winter Haven and the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
A report submitted to the CFRPC said the site contains 46 acres of wetlands and numerous protected or rare wildlife and plants.
The railroad’s plans have sparked opposition from people living next to it who fear the destruction of their rural lifestyle and Lakeland officials and residents who are worried that increased train traffic through that city will hurt efforts to improve downtown.