TransDevelopment Group and Kearney Construction, the design-build general contract team for the planned intermodal and automotive rail terminal facility in Winter Haven, will postpone their May 20 2009 job fair. The event was scheduled to provide information to the local labor pool and to identify qualified Polk County suppliers and subcontractors interested in work related to the construction of the rail terminal facility.
Immediate construction of the rail terminal facility was needed to accommodate the development of SunRail, Central Florida’s commuter rail system. The Florida Legislature, however, failed to approve SunRail. As a result, the intermodal and automotive rail terminal facility will now be developed on a more deliberate timeline consistent with business demand.
TransDevelopment and Kearney Construction will reschedule the job fair and announce the date and location of the event in the future.
We have received a number of inquiries regarding subcontracting and vendor opportunities related to the Evansville Western/CSX project.
The Chamber has learned that the design-build team for the Winter Haven inter modal rail terminal, TransDevelopment Group of Atlanta and Kearney Construction of Tampa, will host a “job fair” for potential subcontractors and vendors on May 20, 2009. The exact location of the job fair will be announced at a later date (and will be posted here as well).
A more formal announcement will be forthcoming, but in the meantime any Chamber members that may be interested in bidding for work related to the Winter Haven ILC should save the May 20th date.
Ledger reporter Tom Palmer in a blog post today (January 7) reports that the Polk County Commission heard residents from the Sundance Ranch Estates demand the CSX Transportation buy their property located adjacent to the planned inter modal rail terminal. Speaking for the residents, Sharon Kiser is quoted as having noted, “Our concerns are being ignored.” But looking back nearly two years ago the residents of Sundance did their own ignoring of offers from CSX that would have involved them in the planning process. You can read that post here.
More troubling from this writer’s standpoint is the process that saw both Kiser and Commissioner Jean Reed wonder out loud if a fact-finding visit organized by the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce was a “staged presentation.” Speculation included whether trains and trucks were kept out of the area to provide a calmer, quieter impression.
Both observed that indeed Alliance was quieter than other sites they had visited. Expecting more hustle and bustle (traffic and noise) must have led to the conclusion that BSNF Railway and Hillwood Corporation would purposely alter their operations for an entire day (on at least three different occassions)!
The point of this post is this: Alliance IS a quieter, well run, well organized integrated logistics center because it was carefully planned to be that way (and there was existing residential comparable to Sundance when that ILC began 16 years ago). Winter Haven has that same opportunity.
Furthermore, the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has taken great care to do the necessary homework to evaluate the value, impacts and economic potential to this community. To allege that any portion of our due diligence would involve “staged” presentations is patently false and a slap in the face to those who hosted our visits.
Commissioners voted 5-0 to send a letter to CSX asking that they buy the Sundance residents’ properties while all lauded the project’s economic potential. In light of the current economic challenges facing the entire nation, the value of a well-planned, well-organized inter modal center and business park will be found in jobs, better wages, an expanded tax base and improved quality of life.
May CSX Transportation and Sundance Ranch Estates come to an equitable resolution of the matters at hand.
As 2008 comes to an end we offer our list of ten significant Winter Haven developments from the past twelve months. While the economy has slowed, there is still much positive local activity. A great many developments hold promise for the future. Here’s our selection - each is linked to the original blog post. What would you add?
In a conversation held this morning (December 4, 2008) Senator J. D. Alexander has learned from Secretary Thomas G. Pelham that he will recommend Department of Community Affairs (DCA) approval of the Winter Haven inter-modal rail terminal planned by Evansville Western Railroad (EWR). EWR is a subsidiary of CSX Transportation. The 318 acre project is a state-of-the art facility designed to facilitate transfer of containerized consumer goods via rail and truck.
The Development of Regional Impact (DRI) was approved by the Central Florida Regional Planning Council in August and the City of Winter Haven gave final approval for the project development order on October 29. The plans were then forwarded to the DCA for review.
Similar facilities are in place or proposed across the country to revolutionize the efficient transportation and distribution of consumer goods. The CSX Winter Haven project has the potential to become a significant economic development engine for the Central Florida area.
The potential projections for the rail terminal and related business park potential could eventually bring 8,000 new jobs to the area.
DCA approval clears the way for CSX to finalize plans to construct the inter-modal terminal. Construction on the site could begin in early 2009.
The Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors endorsed the project in December of 2007.
Update as of 12:21 p.m.: The News Chief has reported that Secretary Pelham has signed off on the development order and agreement for the truck/rail transfer center.
Meeting in special session, Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong, convened a special meeting of the Winter Haven City Commission for the purpose of holding the final public hearing on the development order for the Evansville Western inter-modal rail terminal to be built on 318 acres of land south of Winter Haven and north of Highway 60. Commissioners held a public hearing taking input from the municipalities of Lakeland and Lake Wales, Polk County Commission, Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and interested citizens.
The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. and just prior to 11 a.m. Commissioners voted unanimous approval for the development order for the project.
The Commission then entertained a motion to approve a development agreement with Evansville Western to begin the project. A public hearing was held with no public comment presented regarding the development agreement. The public hearing was then closed and the Commission unanimously approve the motion.
The approval will now be forwarded to the State Department of Community Affairs for their review.
City of Lakeland Asks for Aggregation
Legal counsel for the City of Lakeland began the original public hearing by presenting their arguments that “due to the potential impact on Lakeland of the second phase of the project” the 318 acre inter-modal rail terminal should undergo a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) that includes both the 318 acres and the 930 adjacent acres that the railroad has an option to purchase by 2010. Lakeland reasoned that rather than approve the 318 acre development order, the City Commission should send the complete 1200+ acre parcel back to the Regional Planning Council for the DRI process … a move certain to delay the rail terminal indefinitely. The city’s argument was framed around their contention that several aspects of the project triggered a requirement that the entire 1200 acres be reviewed simultaneously (aggregation) and certain environmental stipulations did not meet requirements of the city’s comprehensive plan.
Legal counsel for Evansville Western refuted the aggregation claim stating that the while the railroad has an option on the adjoining land, no comprehensive development plan or marketing plan existed. Evansville Western stated that at such time as a master site plan was developed they would pursue a DRI review on the remaining acreage.
City of Winter Haven Community Development Director David Dickey also presented specific ordinances and comprehensive plan subsections that found the development order under consideration to be in compliance.
Perspective: Aggregation or Aggravation?
The City of Lakeland expressed concern for the impact the Winter Haven-based project would have on that community. We would all to do well to keep that concern in perspective. Lakeland currently boasts 28 million square feet of exisiting industrial/warehouse space (source: Lakeland Economic Development Council) and another 5 million square feet under development as a result of a recent DRI approval. The Winter Haven Integrated Logistics Center (Phase II) is projected to be 3 million square feet of warehousing, 1.5 million square feet of industrial and 500,000 square feet of office space. Total - 5 million square feet.
Thirty-three million sq. ft. of industrial/warehouse vs. 5 million. Where do YOU think the most potential for impact exists?
The question at hand is: When is the last time Winter Haven had a seat at the Lakeland DRI table. If this project’s size and scope is of adequate gravity to involve Lakeland … then perhaps it’s time we weigh in on their development projects.
Further more it is a confusing position for the City of Lakeland to take when their Mayor has publicly stated his support for the Winter Haven location. It also runs counter productive to the following very positive steps that have evolved from consideration of the integrated logistics center (reprinted from earlier post):
While there has certainly been measurable tension with our neighbors to the west, a spirit of cooperation has emerged. Representatives of both Lakeland and Winter Haven Chambers as well as the Central Florida Development Council, East Polk Committee of 100, Lakeland Economic Development Council and Polk Vision (to name a few) have met with officials from both the Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership in an effort to develop a Super-Regional Strategy Team encompassing the I-4 corridor. This effort, while in its infancy, has found many areas of common interest.
In organizing the previously mentioned Super-Regional Strategy Team, it quickly became obvious that no one entity can speak for all of Polk. A county of vast size and diverse interests has many agendas. Even so, there is far more on which we agree than disagree. To this end, Polk Vision has facilitated a new independent initiative tentatively dubbed “One Polk.” It’s purpose is to develop enough consensus on priorities to represent Polk in discussions with our neighbors to the east and west (Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership). Co-chairs Tim Campbell and Wayne Watters are in the earliest organizational stages. More definitive plans will be announced soon.
Polk County’s unemployment rate shot up to 7.8% in August. There are those who predict it will go higher. While we do not propose any job at any cost, the Chamber’s evaluation of the potential jobs associated with the CSX project has convinced us these are not the jobs to turn away OR DELAY.
Lakeland’s agenda includes rerouting freight traffic away from downtown. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently studying the feasibility for just such rerouting. We support Lakeland’s quest for the best solution possible.
The point here is that much good has come from confrontation. Calmer heads have prevailed and reasoned thought has emerged to find solutions and build consensus.
The solutions to the current economic turbulence, a variety of Polk infrastructure and construction agendas as well as striving to protect the quality of life we all have come to love and enjoy will take cooperation, rational thought as well as city, county and state resources.
It appears that plans are afoot to ambush Governor Charlie Crist when he appears at tonight’s “Politics in the Park” event on Lake Mirror in Lakeland. Writing in a blog post in Lakeland, Billy Townsend presented the following:
Ask The People’s Governor About CSX At Politics In The Park
In fact, chant it at him while he speaks. C-S-X. C-S-X. No politickin’ without accountability.
The people’s governor says he’s coming to Politics in the Park Thursday evening. It’s his first real public appearance in Lakeland since the CSX deal became controversial.
Many, many people should ask him why he supports spending $650 million or so of Florida taxpayer money to help a private company set up its business plan, trash our city, and set back commuter rail everywhere but Orlando for decades. Particularly at a time when everything else - schools, health care spending, etc. - is cuttable. Others should ask him why it’s so easy for CSX to get a meeting with the People’s Governor when he only realizes Lakeland exists when he needs votes for John McCain.
(Some of you will recall that Townsend was employed by the Tampa Tribune and did a series of articles critical of the CSX/Central Florida Commuter Rail plans at the same time his wife was employed by the Lakeland Downtown Partnership.)
So while Mr. Townsend calls for the Governor’s ambush regarding the CSX project, he would do well to keep the following facts in mind …
While there has certainly been measurable tension with our neighbors to the west, a spirit of cooperation has emerged. Representatives of both Lakeland and Winter Haven Chambers as well as the Central Florida Development Council, East Polk Committee of 100, Lakeland Economic Development Council and Polk Vision (to name a few) have met with officials from both the Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership in an effort to develop a Super-Regional Strategy Team encompassing the I-4 corridor. This effort, while in its infancy, has found many areas of common interest.
In organizing the previously mentioned Super-Regional Strategy Team, it quickly became obvious that no one entity can speak for all of Polk. A county of vast size and diverse interests has many agendas. Even so, there is far more on which we agree than disagree. To this end, Polk Vision has facilitated a new independent initiative tentatively dubbed “One Polk.” It’s purpose is to develop enough consensus on priorities to represent Polk in discussions with our neighbors to the east and west (Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership). Co-chairs Tim Campbell and Wayne Watters are in the earliest organizational stages. More definitive plans will be announced soon.
The CSX project has the potential for tremendous economic impact in a good economy. How much more valuable will the potential jobs and development be in a troubled economy? How many communities or regions across the country would trade places for this economic engine?
Polk County’s unemployment rate shot up to 7.8% in August. There are those who predict it will hit double digits. While we do not propose any job at any cost, the Chamber’s evaluation of the potential jobs associated with the CSX project has convinced us these are not the jobs to turn away.
Lakeland’s agenda includes rerouting freight traffic away from downtown. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently studying the feasibility for just such rerouting. We support Lakeland’s quest for the best solution possible.
The point here is that much good has come from confrontation. Calmer heads have prevailed and reasoned thought has emerged to find solutions and build consensus.
The solutions to the current economic turbulence, a variety of Polk infrastructure and construction agendas as well as striving to protect the quality of life we all have come to love and enjoy will take cooperation, rational thought as well as city, county and state resources.
Of one thing we are sure, ambushing the Governor in downtown Lakeland is no way to address any of the above.
Updated 6:55 p.m, October 16: Friends in Lakeland intervened to diffuse this matter and Governor Crist spoke without incident. The efforts to extend cooperative hands across Polk County has proven effective and holds even greater potential for the future.
City of Winter Haven officials today dedicated a redesigned and upgraded Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) facility at Wastewater Treatment Plant #3 south of the city. The $15+ million upgrade is one of 60 such projects underway throughout the state and the first in Polk to become operational. (Update: 9-12-08: Jacksonville-based Haskell Co. built the $16 million project and Peter Haskell shocked city officials with a $300,000 refund of money his company didn’t spend.) Mayor Nat Birdsong noted, “It is unheard of to receive a refund of this magnitude. It just doesn’t happen.”
It did today.
Birdsong added, “We all watch wastewater go down the drain and, for the most part, would rather forget about it.” He went on to explain that the new AWT capability actually enhances Winter Haven’s sustainability in that the treated wastewater can be used to replace up to 60% of the potable water currently used in irrigation. And with every million gallons of AWT product used for irrigation — there’s a million gallons of potable water available for resident consumption. In the end, something we’d rather forget becomes an invaluable resource to sustain our community.
The AWT project eliminates the spray fields that were previously used at WWTP #3 and allows some 1200 acres to now be used for economic development purposes including the new CSX inter modal rail terminal.
The city’s successful conversion of the plant to AWT status raises the bar once more on their commitment to becoming a “green” community.
The photograph at right shows a structure designed to introduce chlorine into the wastewater to help clean it. The chlorine is later removed in another structure.
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council has approved the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) for the Evansville Western Railway Inter-modal terminal on 318 acres of land south of Winter Haven. The 10 - 1 vote sends the matter on to the Winter Haven Planning Commission and ultimately the Winter Haven City Commission for final consideration of a development order.
At the beginning of today’s public hearing, Evansville Western Railway and CSX officials presented a video animation of what the proposed inter-modal rail terminal will look like. It explains how the site will be laid out, buffered and accessed. Forward your email notification with this link to your friends and neighbors so they may see the potential for this great new Winter Haven project. The video is less than four minutes long. Just click on the arrow to view.
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council will conduct a public hearing on the inter-modal rail terminal planned for south Winter Haven on August 13 beginning at 9 a.m. in the pool side room at the Southwest Complex.
The Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has made it our business to do a comprehensive assessment of the potential for this project. Our due diligence has included two visits to Alliance, Texas to view first hand the operations of the BNSF Railway Terminal and the related Hillwood Gateway/Alliance Business Park. In May of this year the Chamber led a fact-finding visit of 20 Polk elected officials, government leaders and business interests. That visit included a comprehensive itinerary that reviewed the rail terminal and business park operations as well as visual, noise, traffic and lighting impacts.
Winter Haven, Polk County and Central Florida stand on the threshold of a tremendous economic opportunity.
State Senator Paula Dockery wants it relocated.
If you own a business in Polk County and especially Winter Haven, you owe it to yourself to review the following facts about this project. It will change the economic dynamics of this county and your business. It will provide good jobs and great opportunities for our citizens and our children. We also believe we have the brains, resources and creativity to make it a model distribution hub.
That is why we believe it deserves one more close look …
1. How many employees will be on the CSX site during construction of the inter-modal terminal?
800-1000 jobs (estimate)
2. How many employees will work on site when the inter-modal terminal is operational?
100-110 depending on the number that relocates from existing Orlando/Tampa facilities for automotive and inter-modal
This would be among Winter Haven’s mid-sized companies
3. How many trucks will enter and leave the inter-modal facility on an average day?
750 – 1000 truck trips on the high side (375 – 500 actual trucks) spread out over a 24 hour period. Traffic will be relative to train schedules which, at present, have not been finalized.
This is approximately twice as many vehicles as the estimates for the Winter Haven Wal-Mart Distribution Center on Lucerne Park Road
4. How many trains will arrive at the inter-modal terminal on a daily basis?
The number of trains arriving each day is directly related to the number of “lifts” done in the inter-modal facility. A “lift” is the process of putting a container of consumer product on or off of a railcar carriage. BNSF Railway (Alliance, TX) uses inter-modal trains that are 140 cars long plus power. Those trains haul double-stacked containers. To determine the number of trains per day you take the number of lifts per day divided by 280 containers on each train divided by the number of days the facility will be operational. Every 100,000 lifts require approximately one train per day to transport. If the Winter Haven ILC were to do one-third of Alliance’s annual volume, that would be 200,000 lifts per year or approximately two trains per day 365 days per year. Shorter trains would require more than two per day but actual length for the CSX facility will be dictated by the length of the shortest siding available (for allowing trains to pass) as well as the curve radius on the train route (the sharper the radius the shorter the train that can safely negotiate it). The Winter Haven facility will also receive automobiles. Including those trains, initial rail traffic could average three to four trains per day.
5. How will the terminal operation affect air quality and noise levels.
Based on findings of extensive computer modeling the combined effect of trucks, cars and locomotives operating at the inter-modal facility will have a negligible impact on local air quality. (Both particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations are predicted to be extremely low.) – Central Florida Regional Planning Council Staff Report and Recommendations, August 2008, Page 97.
In comparison with City noise limits, facility-related noise levels were not predicted to exceed the allowable daytime (61 dBA) or nighttime (50dBA) noise limits within the Winter Haven Noise Ordinance. The highest predicted facility-related noise level at the residential property line is 42dBA (comparable to the noise created by a dishwater operating in an adjoining room of a residential facility). – Central Florida Regional Planning Council Staff Report and Recommendations, August 2008, Pages 98, 99.
6. What about the concerns of the Lakeland community?
Winter Haven and Lakeland Chamber officials and other Polk entities have come together with the Tampa Bay Partnership and Central Florida Partnership to address overarching regional issues affecting a super region from Daytona to Tampa. The group has had two meetings and two more have been scheduled for fall. This open and cooperative dialogue has given birth to One Polk – a forum for addressing countywide issues and representing those positions in discussions with our neighbors to the East and West.
7. What is the potential for a business park?
There is a potential for five million sq. ft. of ancillary development in the future adjacent to the terminal. In addition there will be interest in surrounding development as a result of creating an industrial base – such developers as First Industrial, Liberty Trust, etc. The terminal will provide a high volume lower cost freight transportation solution for a state that will continue to grow into the future. By comparison, the Lakeland Economic Development Council Web site notes there is twenty-six million square feet of industrial/warehouse space currently in the Lakeland area. The LEDC site also notes that Lakeland has absorbed more than 1 million sq. ft. annually since 1987.
8. How many jobs may be associated with the ancillary development?
Once the terminal is completed and upon completion of the Development of Regional Impact findings, it is estimated than over the next decade up to 2,000 jobs could be created in the surrounding business park. CSX has projected 2,000 direct jobs.
9. What types of companies might locate in the area surrounding the inter-modal terminal.
Looking to Alliance, Texas for an example, here is a sampling of the companies that center attracted: County Workforce Board, AT&T, Bell Helicopter, Cardinal Health, Coca-Cola, Daimler Chrysler Services, Ford Motor Company, a branch of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fidelity Investments, Fortuna Pizza Pasta Subs, General Mills, General Motors, Hampton Inn and Suites, The Home Depot, IHOP, Kraft Foods, Manpower, Motorola, Phillips Electronics, Pitney Bowes, Ryder System, Snooty Pig Cafe, Texas Instruments, a US Customs Office and numerous other offices, retail operations and distribution facilities. The dynamics of the Winter Haven site may attract a different mix but similar results could be reasonably expected.
10. What potential tax revenues may be generated by the project.
The actual experience for Polk County and Florida will depend on our taxing structures and the development that occurs with regard to the inter-modal terminal. Looking to the Alliance Texas experience, that center has generated more than $535 million in taxes over the past sixteen years. While impossible to predict with certainty it seems reasonable to believe that an ILC one third the size of Alliance would produce significant tax revenues over time.
We believe this project of Evansville Western Railway, an affiliate of CSX Transportation, holds great potential for your business growth and success.
Take a moment and let Senator Dockery know you want it built where it is currently planned. You can send her an email:Senator Paula Dockery
While you are at it you can thank Senator J. D. Alexander for his support of the project by sending an email here: Senator J. D. Alexandar
Please note that the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce may, in our sole discretion, reject comments for any reason we deem appropriate. Links of value to the business community are welcome, but please use them sparingly - wield spam and you're banished forever. If you have an issue with a Winter Haven area business, please address that issue directly with that business. This is a moderated site and comments will appear if and when they are approved. We will review the queue several times daily, so please don't resubmit if your comment doesn't appear immediately.
As 2008 comes to an end we offer our list of ten significant Winter Haven developments from the past twelve months. While the economy has slowed, there is still much positive local activity. A great many developments hold promise for the future. Here’s our selection - each is linked to the original blog post. What would you add?
The Official Website of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
