New Jersey developer Moishe Goldshmidt has plans to expand his Lake Wales Commons development near the city’s municipal airport with a mixed-use, master-planned community with 2,950 homes called Stoneridge Park.
Goldsmidt’s Lake Wales Commons LP had already won approval this year for a mixed-use project north of S.R. 60 with 3,200 homes. Now he’s seeking annexation of another 1,202 acres south of the highway for Stoneridge Park, a mixed-use community that would add another 2,950 homes and a large industrial park.
The total size of Stoneridge Park is 1,287 acres, but 85 acres are already in the city limits. Goldshmidt has applied to annex the remaining acreage with a Mixed-Use future land use and Mixed-Use Planned Development (MU-PD) zoning. The property abuts the city limits just west of the airport. The L-shaped property is bordered to the west by the CSX railroad tracks along Crews Road.
City commissioners held a first reading and public hearing on a request for annexation and a future land-use designation for the project on May 20. They will review the proposals again at a second meeting before the final vote.
Lake Wales’ Planning and Zoning Board voted 5-1 to recommend approval at its May 1 meeting.
Shelton Rice, a lawyer representing the developer, spoke in detail about the project on May 20. Rice said they have been working on this project for years.
“This will be a benefit to the city and something everyone can be proud of,” Rice said.
As people travel east on SR 60 into Lake Wales, they will notice some dilapidated buildings that don’t create an appealing sight. However, developers are optimistic that this project, along with the Lake Wales Commons just north, which was approved last year, will help create a more attractive gateway to the city.
“We think the rail line makes this site unique. I think it will provide economic development-type projects on this property,” Rice said. “We believe this site will be ideal for industrial projects, as it has two rail lines adjacent to it, adjacent to the airport and good frontage on SR 60. It meets all the requirements for industrial developers.”
Developers believe they could have rail lines go directly through or beside facilities for easy loading and unloading.
The Stoneridge plans are organized into three main sections:
- 104 acres of mixed-use commercial land to the north, adjacent to SR 60.
- 365 acres designated for industrial use in the center.
- 749 acres of residential and mixed-use land located south and west of the airport.
A 10-acre commercial site would be adjacent to the residential area. Developers aimed to provide conveniences nearby, ensuring residents wouldn’t need to travel to the northern section and could find everything they needed close to home, Rice explained.
The PUD zoning would entitle Stoneridge for 2,400 single-family homes, townhomes, bungalows and twin villas. It would also allow up to 550 multifamily units, 4 million square feet of industrial space and 410,000 square feet of mixed-use development, which could include retail and offices. Unlike the Lake Wales Commons project, Stoneridge will not allow residential uses within the mixed-use areas.
Additionally, the plans allocate 71 acres of public-use land between the industrial and residential areas. The public use area could be schools, fire and/or police stations, passive or active recreation or government buildings.
“This will be open to the whole city and community, not just residents,” Rice said.
City staff raised concerns about what residents would see when driving south through industrial areas. Developers collaborated with staff to enhance landscaping and create buffers along the roads and sites adjacent to the residential area.
Rice said the residential area for Stoneridge will resemble that of Lake Wales Common, and both will help realize components in the city’s Lake Wales Envisions effort.
“Offering jobs close to where residents live is right in line with this project,” Rice added. “This project is an example of work, play, live and shop in one area. People don’t have to travel as far or be on the roads as much; they can go to downtown, but are not obligated to. They can find them nearby.”
Developers will begin this project from north to south, starting with mixed-use and industrial areas rather than the residential zone.
“There is a big need for industrial development in the city, and there is high interest in bringing high-paying jobs, full-time opportunities. Jobs that people can take care of their families and build a career,” Rice said.
The Lake Wales City Commission has approved the annexation of 558 acres for the Lake Wales Commons Development, a mixed-use project featuring 3,200 residential units along with retail space.
The acreage sits next to U.S. 27 and north of State Road 60. The property’s location is east of Winter Haven’s Intermodal Logistics Center and north of the Lake Wales Airport.
Lake Wales Commons LP, will be developing the project. They have planned for 1,800 single-family detached homes, 1,400 mixed-use apartments and townhomes, 750,000 square of retail/commercial/office space and 1.2 million square feet of industrial development.
This isn’t the first time the city has approved a larger master-planned community to bring more mixed-use and density to area. In 2021, the city approved a Planned Unit Development on 1,842 acres at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Thompson Nursery Road. That project — entitled for 6,100 residential units and 725,000 square feet of commercial, office and assisted living space — was sold to BTI Partners in late 2021 for $43.75 million.
Just south of Lake Wales Commons, 4,158 acres were recently bought by Richland Communities, known for its large master-planned communities. The builder paid 5R Ranch $50 million in cash for the land, which is located at the southwest intersection of S.R. 60 and US Highway 27. The property has a future land use of rural agriculture and doesn’t have any development entitlements.
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