The Brief
- Bartow leaders are considering a proposal to add more than 2,200 homes.
- Several residents voiced their opposition during public comment while citing concerns about water, schools and emergency services.
- City commissioners must approve five separate land-use changes for it to move forward.
BARTOW, Fla. – A massive development plan that Bartow residents were fighting was unanimously rejected after a major vote by city commissioners Monday night.
The meeting at Bartow City Hall stretched late into the night after hours of public comment. Many longtime locals are voicing strong opposition to the proposal, which would bring 2,245 new housing units to hundreds of acres in the city’s northeast and nearby unincorporated areas.
What they’re saying:…