BS Ranch Plan Returns To Polk Planners Wednesday

The controversial BS Ranch & Farm soil manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Lakeland will be back before county officials for review Wednesday when the Planning Commission convenes in Bartow.

County planners are recommending approval of the revised development plan if the company agrees to a long list of conditions designed to deal with odors, water pollution and other impacts that generated complaints from area residents and owners of businesses in the industrial park in which the 300-acre facility is located.

Conditions also include a process for dealing with citizen complaints and requires further changes in the operating plan if significant citizen complaints recur.

The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the County Commission, which will hear the case Dec. 5.

The staff report follows an extensive review of the facility’s plan and environmental permitting by consultants retained by the County Commission. The consultants’ comments and the company’s responses are contained in the staff report.

The review that preceded Wednesday’s case is in stark contrast with the applicant-driven review that preceded the original approval of the project in 2015 and the revision of the development regulations to accommodate this use. The County Commission has since revoked the changes. That doesn’t affect BS Ranch, but would apply to any future applicants.

Posted in Group Conservation Issues.