Planning Board OKs Burnt Store Road commercial zoning

PORT CHARLOTTE — Burnt Store Road residents are calling for a 41-acre parcel to be rezoned for commercial development.

The parcel, at the Burnt Store and Peppercorn Road intersection, is anticipated to lure small business and medical facilities that residents say are lacking in the area.

The Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board voted Monday to forward a recommendation for approval of the zoning change to the Board of County Commissioners after nearly two hours of discussion and public comment.

The change for the parcel was sought by owners Bill and Laura Fischer, who said residents approached them about bringing medical facilities to a commercial property in the area.

Burnt Store Corridor Coalition chairman John Fleming said the nearest medical facility for him and his neighbors is 14 miles away in either direction.

“Gentlemen, my pet has more options for health care than I do,” he said during public comment.

Craig Williams, another resident, spoke to his Army experience in logistics when raising concerns about a lack of grocery stores and convenience shops in the area.

“It’s not going to work if you just keep building residential,” he said.

County staff recommended against approval to the Planning and Zoning Board on Monday, saying changing “limited development” zoning to “commercial” would be premature due to the area’s current population.

However, representatives for the Fischers — as well as Burnt Store residents — argued an over-reliance on residential development has created an area lacking in needed services and left them at the mercy of long car trips for doctor’s appointments and essentials.

At one point, Planning Official Shaun Cullinan highlighted a recent demographics report to explain why staff though the population would need time to build up before commercial centers were needed.

“We’re not economists; that’s why we hired them,” he said during the meeting.

That prompted Fischer’s attorney, Amy Thibault, to object. That led to some tension with Cullinan and Planning Board Chair Michael Gravesen.

Gravesen apologized for his tone and granted Thibault 2 minutes of rebuttal time, which she used to reiterate the residents’ public comment requests.

Gravesen provided the sole vote against recommendation, with Doug Izzo and Stephen Vieira voting in favor.

Vieira, who offered the motion, noted he was worried about a possibility the property could be flipped without the needed services coming to the area.

However, he ultimately said that the county board should seriously consider the proposal for its own merits.

The Board of County Commissioners will take a final vote on the proposed rezoning at its regular meeting Sept. 10.