Stalwart will construct a railroad spur and 3,400,000 SF of industrial buildings.
More than 20 years ago, the Eagles Crest development was approved for 437 single family houses, 180 townhouses, 35,000 square feet of commercial space, and a 5,000 square foot community center. The development land is a 410-acre site located north of Knights Griffin Road, west of Bailey Road and east of Paul Buchman Highway. However, the planned development never happened.
On May 12, the City Commission voted to rezone the parcel of land from Plant City Commercial, Residential-4, Natural Preservation (NP), and Hillsborough County Residential-1, to Plant City Industrial. Approximately 370 acres are in Plant City, while the other 40 acres are located in Hillsborough County. The development was renamed the Stalwart Planned Development District. The project will build 3,400,000 square feet of facilities for industrial uses, “excluding any uses dealing with adverse impacts (i.e. dangerous liquids, materials, or gases), bottling plants that require a high volume of water, or any use that creates any nuisance, including unreasonable dust, odors, noise, vibration, or glare such as, but not limited to, recycling facilities and concrete plants.” CSX railroad tracks line the west side of the development, so Stalwart will also contain a rail spur for unloading and loading materials and products specific to the site. A little over 190 acres of the property will be left as open space, and enhanced buffers and screening trees will be placed completely around the development.
In the evaluation of Plant City Planning and Zoning, the development aligns with the Northeast Master Plan to configure the area into a “village,” which the city plans to be a thriving and attractive part of Plant City. The city foresees an environment that is a mixed-use focal point providing a balance of housing, employment and civic uses. So, the area is planned to contain residential clusters, a series of permanent green spaces that keep people from having to travel to get to places to recreate facilities where residents can work and shop, and some agricultural land. Local government policies and zoning are to be set with the aim to preserve and enhance the “hometown charm” and character of Plant City…