5 acres on Medulla Road cleared for homes instead of a business park

Anielys Salgado asked Polk County to change the future land use on about 5.14 acres near Medulla Road from Business Park Center to Residential Low, inside the county's Urban Growth Area. County staff recommended approval, noting the land sits next to existing residential property and that the area hasn't shifted toward non-residential uses since a similar request was denied in 2020.

The request drew pushback. The Planning Commission voted 4-3 to recommend denial on May 6, 2026, and the City of Lakeland asked commissioners to deny it — or, if approved, to require an avigation easement because of concerns about future residents complaining about the nearby airport. County staff said they didn't believe they could require that easement. A neighbor, Jamie Collins, spoke at the hearing asking that the land stay agricultural.

On May 19, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt the change. Staff noted the property allows farm animals under any land use designation. No specific housing plan, unit count, or builder is named in these records — this step only changes what the land is designated for.