CSX project clears last hurdle

CSX project clears last hurdle

Publi= shed: Friday, December 5, 2008 at 4:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 5, 2008 at 8:01 a.m.

WINTER HAVEN - After about two years of speculation and uncertainty, the CSX Integrated Logistics Center appears to be on its way to being built in Winter Haven.

Depar= tment of Community Affairs Secretary Thomas Pelham approved the development order= and agreement for the ILC Thursday.

DCA Spokesman James Miller said the DCA chose not to take any appeal for the IL= C.

"= ;The only thing that could hold it back is some sort of a local appeal," Mi= ller said.

The development order includes conditions related to noise monitoring and mitigation, buffering, lighting and the use of electric cranes. The develop= ment agreement includes conditions related to design standards, signs, landscapi= ng and site plan review.

DCA officials made no changes to the development order and agreement, which were approved by the Winter Haven City Commission on Oct. 29. The DCA had 45 day= s to review the documents and recommend any changes, if necessary.

Gary Sease, director of corporate communications for CSX, said the company hasn't received any official notice from DCA.

He sa= id construction will start in 2009, but didn't have an exact date.<= /span>

"= ;We continue to believe the Winter= Haven terminal will provide benefits to the area," Sease said.

Sease said he expects the ILC to be completed within 10 to 12 months after construction starts.

Great= er Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Gernert said on the chamber's Web site Thursday that the rail terminal and related business park could eventually bring 8,000 new jobs to the area.

"= ;The CSX Winter Haven project has the potential to become a significant economic development engine for the Central Florida area," Gernert said.

The Central Florida Regional Planning Council approved the project with a 10-1 = vote Aug. 13 and the Winter Haven Planning Commission voted unanimously in Septe= mber to recommend approval for development of the CSX facility.

During previous meetings with the CFRPC, Winter Haven Planning Commission and the Winter Haven City Commission, residents and city officials spoke for and against the project.

The m= ain issues people had with the project dealt with traffic and noise disturbance= .

Resid= ents of Sundance Ranch Estates, a subdivision that borders the CSX property on t= he east, have spoken out against the project. They fear the center will have n= oise and light pollution.

The I= LC will replace the existing intermodal and automotive facilities in Taft and = the automotive distribution facility near Tampa International= Airport. It will in= clude a truck, rail and warehousing hub for the transfer and storage of container= s.

Winter Haven city officials first announced a tentative agreement with Evansville Western Railway, a subsidia= ry of CSX, in 2006. In September 2007, the city signed a deal with the company= and sold CSX 318 acres for $22,000 per acre.

The proposed project will be located on the city's former sewer spray fields two miles north of State Road 60, five miles west of U.S. Highway 27 and southw= est of the CSX railroad right-of-way.

CSX h= as the option to purchase an adjoining 930 acres.

Acces= s to the property will be from = Pollard Road, which will be extended south to S.R. 60.=